THE WORD "LANGUAGE" ITSELF IS OF FRENCH ORIGIN, a fact that suggests the dramatic reach and importance of French throughout history and in the modern world. French is the language of much of the world's greatest literature and philosophy. It is widely spoken in such regions as Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, a legacy of the colonial era. It preceded English as the international language and so remains deeply woven into the discourse of history and diplomacy. English itself bears the centuries-old imprint of Norman French, and Canada's history and culture, from the colonial era to contemporary politics, is in part a story of the clash and interplay between French and English. In the tradition of the liberal arts, the French program at Hamilton encourages students to escape the confines of a single language and grow toward a larger understanding of the world. More ...
Academic Program
STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
The French program encourages a range of research skills and
activities: laboratory work in language proficiency, outings to nearby
Quebec, and literary scholarship in Hamilton's extensive Burke Library
holdings. At the center of the program, though, is the Junior Year in France. Students study for a full academic year at the Université de
Paris III and other more specialized institutions; the curriculum is
known for its academic rigor and attention to individual learners'
needs. Students are immersed in the language, culture and history of
the French as they enjoy the intellectual and social experience of a
lifetime.
THE SENIOR PROGRAM
The Senior Program serves as Hamilton's integrating and culminating intellectual experience. At its center is the senior project, an extended research effort in which students use the knowledge and methods gained in their first three years of study. Each senior French major works closely with at least one faculty member while completing the project, which includes a senior research course and major paper. Seniors also demonstrate language proficiency in French with an interview.
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RESOURCES
The department sponsors the French
Club; a newsletter, La Gazette; a
weekend cultural excursion to Montreal; weekly radio
shows; and a series of lectures, films and presentations revolving around
French culture, history and language. Up-to-date computer facilities, language
laboratories, an audiovisual center and a recording studio are available for
student use. Qualified Hamilton seniors are
invited to join the College's chapter of Phi Sigma Iota, the foreign language
honor society.
The study of French is of great practical value for those interested in careers in international affairs, business, education, scholarship and other fields that require competency in a major foreign language. Just as important, though, is the appreciation it encourages for other cultures and, by comparison, one's own heritage. We share a world in which dialogue, coherent communication and mutual understanding are critical.
Junior Year in France
The College's Junior Year in France program is one of the College's most popular and successful study-abroad options. It is highly regarded for its academic excellence and cultural immersion. And, of course, it allows students to spend a full school year in one of the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities.
Close Interactions
French is by its nature a broad, interdisciplinary field that draws on a variety of perspectives and traditions: language, literature, the arts, history, politics and cultural study. The diverse, accomplished faculty builds on these perspectives to offer stimulating courses and culturally authentic viewpoints. Classes are small, with intensive one-on-one guidance and discussion.
The French Connection
Have you enjoyed any of these authors and writings — Hugo's Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Arthurian legends, Heloise, Zola, Molière, Racine, Diderot, Racine, Baudelaire, Sartre, Camus? They're all French in the original. A working knowledge of French will allow you to read some of the world's most enduring literature the way it was written.
The study of French is of great practical value for those interested in careers in international affairs, business, education, scholarship and other fields that require competency in a major foreign language. Just as important, though, is the appreciation it encourages for other cultures and, by comparison, one's own heritage. We share a world in which dialogue, coherent communication and mutual understanding are critical.
Junior Year in France
The College's Junior Year in France program is one of the College's most popular and successful study-abroad options. It is highly regarded for its academic excellence and cultural immersion. And, of course, it allows students to spend a full school year in one of the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities.
Close Interactions
French is by its nature a broad, interdisciplinary field that draws on a variety of perspectives and traditions: language, literature, the arts, history, politics and cultural study. The diverse, accomplished faculty builds on these perspectives to offer stimulating courses and culturally authentic viewpoints. Classes are small, with intensive one-on-one guidance and discussion.
The French Connection
Have you enjoyed any of these authors and writings — Hugo's Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Arthurian legends, Heloise, Zola, Molière, Racine, Diderot, Racine, Baudelaire, Sartre, Camus? They're all French in the original. A working knowledge of French will allow you to read some of the world's most enduring literature the way it was written.
The study of French is of great practical value for those interested in careers in international affairs, business, education, scholarship and other fields that require competency in a major foreign language. Just as important, though, is the appreciation it encourages for other cultures and, by comparison, one's own heritage. We share a world in which dialogue, coherent communication and mutual understanding are critical.
Junior Year in France
The College's Junior Year in France program is one of the College's most popular and successful study-abroad options. It is highly regarded for its academic excellence and cultural immersion. And, of course, it allows students to spend a full school year in one of the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities.
Close Interactions
French is by its nature a broad, interdisciplinary field that draws on a variety of perspectives and traditions: language, literature, the arts, history, politics and cultural study. The diverse, accomplished faculty builds on these perspectives to offer stimulating courses and culturally authentic viewpoints. Classes are small, with intensive one-on-one guidance and discussion.
The French Connection
Have you enjoyed any of these authors and writings — Hugo's Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Arthurian legends, Heloise, Zola, Molière, Racine, Diderot, Racine, Baudelaire, Sartre, Camus? They're all French in the original. A working knowledge of French will allow you to read some of the world's most enduring literature the way it was written.
The study of French is of great practical value for those interested in careers in international affairs, business, education, scholarship and other fields that require competency in a major foreign language. Just as important, though, is the appreciation it encourages for other cultures and, by comparison, one's own heritage. We share a world in which dialogue, coherent communication and mutual understanding are critical.
Junior Year in France
The College's Junior Year in France program is one of the College's most popular and successful study-abroad options. It is highly regarded for its academic excellence and cultural immersion. And, of course, it allows students to spend a full school year in one of the world’s most exciting and vibrant cities.
Close Interactions
French is by its nature a broad, interdisciplinary field that draws on a variety of perspectives and traditions: language, literature, the arts, history, politics and cultural study. The diverse, accomplished faculty builds on these perspectives to offer stimulating courses and culturally authentic viewpoints. Classes are small, with intensive one-on-one guidance and discussion.
The French Connection
Have you enjoyed any of these authors and writings — Hugo's Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Flaubert's Madame Bovary, Arthurian legends, Heloise, Zola, Molière, Racine, Diderot, Racine, Baudelaire, Sartre, Camus? They're all French in the original. A working knowledge of French will allow you to read some of the world's most enduring literature the way it was written.
After Hamilton
Hamilton graduates who majored in French are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:
Photojournalist, Time Warner, Inc.
Director of International Programs, Union College
Senior Vice President, International Licensing, Tommy Hilfiger USA
Asia Pacific Wind Energy Analyst, Emerging Energy Research
Medical Writer, Providence Journal
Chairman and CEO, Procter & Gamble
Managing Director/Partner, Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Clinical Research Coordinator, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
General Manager, Minnesota Twins
Executive Director, Estee Lauder
Associate Professor of French, Wesleyan University
Speech-Language Pathologist, Massachusetts General Hospital
