Jeanne d'Arc captured by the Burgundians at Compiègne. Mural in the Panthéon, Paris, c.1886–1890
What is French?
The study of French includes instruction in language, literature, linguistics, and culture. Students of French studies acquire the skills required to not only speak the language, but also to learn about and appreciate French societies, cultures, and artistic expressions. The guiding principle of the curriculum is that one of the best ways to understand a culture is directly through its language.
French Degree(s)
French with a Teaching Endorsement Option, BA
The study of French includes instruction in language, literature, linguistics, and culture. The BA in French leads to a BA degree without teacher certification. In order to receive a recommendation for state of Washington certification, students must complete the professional teacher certification program.
Contact
Sheryl Bernardo-Hinesley, World Languages - Education Advisor
bernars3@wwu.edu | 360-650-4852
Janna Cecka, Secondary Education Department Manager
WCE.Advising@wwu.edu | 360-650-3347
French, BA
The French studies program is designed to help students develop a solid grammar and vocabulary base that allows students to become effective communicators with an equal emphasis on cultural awareness.
Contact
Lindsey Smith, Assistant Professor of French
smithl74@wwu.edu | 360-650-3925
French/German, BA
The study of both French and German becomes a meeting place for true diversity. Integrating these multifaceted programs provides an opening to the world through a wide range of courses.
Contact
Lindsey Smith, Assistant Professor of French
smithl74@wwu.edu | 360-650-3925
French/Spanish, BA
Students of both French and Spanish studies acquire the skills required to not only speak the languages, but also to learn about and appreciate French and Spanish societies, cultures, and artistic expressions. The guiding principle of the curriculum is that one of the best ways to understand a culture is directly through its language.
Contact
Lindsey Smith, Assistant Professor of French
smithl74@wwu.edu | 360-650-3925
French — Elementary, BAE
The French - Elementary program satisfies the academic major requirement for teacher certification with an endorsement in Elementary Education and must be accompanied by the professional preparation program in Elementary Education.
Contact
Teacher Education Admission, Woodring College of Education
TeacherEd.Admission@wwu.edu | 360-650-6161
Lindsey Smith, Assistant Professor of French
smithl74@wwu.edu | 360-650-3925
French at Western
The French studies program is designed to help students develop a solid grammar and vocabulary base that allows students to become effective communicators with an equal emphasis on cultural awareness. The department emphasizes the diversity and multicultural aspects of the Francophone (French speaking) world through civilization, culture, literature and sociolinguistic courses. Training includes both language structure and literary analysis. Language structure is taught both holistically and analytically — with multimedia technology, study abroad, language skills courses, and linguistics courses. Literary analysis is an essential component to the curriculum, and the department provides instruction in history and culture, as well as literary theory.
The BA in French leads to a BA degree without teacher certification. In order to receive a recommendation for state of Washington certification, students must complete the professional teacher certification program. Please see the Department of Secondary Education for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.
The French studies program is designed to help students develop a solid grammar and vocabulary base that allows students to become effective communicators with an equal emphasis on cultural awareness and imparts skills to future foreign language teachers so that they may similarly enable students to begin the acquisition of foreign languages.
The Modern and Classical Language Department is part of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Explore Courses
FREN 101 - Elementary French
FREN 331 - La France: société et culture
FREN 332 - Civilisation et Culture du Canada Francophone
FREN 440 - Etude Sociolinguistique
FREN 460 - French Cinema
Related Minors
Hands-on-Experience and Internships
Beyond the Classroom
Students can participate as facilitators in the WELP (Western Employees Language Program) program, which gives students first-hand experience teaching French to speakers of other languages, or get involved with the “On Parle” program, which helps high school students develop their French conversational skills.
Study Abroad
Many students apply to the TAPIF (Teaching Assistant Program in France), which offers students the opportunity to work in France for seven months teaching English to French students of all ages. Each year three to eight students succeed in obtaining the assistantship and are sent to schools in various French cities.
French Club
The French Club puts on the Table Française, a weekly table at the local pizzeria for students to converse in French. The students meet once a week for discussions, social gatherings, and cultural activities.
What can you do with French?
Students in the French program graduate with career and continued education plans from locally to all over the world.
French careers
- Interpreter
- Foreign Correspondent
- Foreign Service Officer
- FBI Agent
- Educator
- Linguist
- Travel Writer
- Communication Consultant
- Elementary Teacher