Language and Literature
French
One of Western Civilization’s Dazzling Cultures
For centuries, a classical liberal arts education has involved the study of foreign languages, as well as their cultures and histories. Few languages rival French in terms of its beauty and its extraordinary contributions to the fine arts, history, literature, and philosophy. With an emphasis on those liberal arts fundamentals, Hillsdale’s French program offers an exciting opportunity to expand your understanding of France’s influence on the world. You’ll study the works of Rousseau, Flaubert, and Camus to draw connections between French culture and your own. You’ll have the option to immerse yourself in the language and French way of life at the Institut de Touraine in Tours, France. You’ll become a member of a global community of over 300 million French speakers by studying the only language alongside English that is taught in every country. French is offered as both a major and minor.
Why Study French at Hillsdale?
Hillsdale’s French program is particularly strong in literature. You will read great works from all periods of French literature in the original language. Ponder the absurd with Camus and Ionesco, the Enlightenment with Diderot and Rousseau, and medieval chivalry with Chrétien de Troyes. Advanced literature seminars explore topics such as theatrical representation and staging, the fantastic in 19th and 20th-century literature, and perspectives on the principle of laïcité. In addition to literature courses, French majors and minors take a selection of courses in French civilization, advanced conversation and grammar, and French for business. Beginning and intermediate French classes focus on the rich cultural traditions of the Francophone world. You’ll read about the popularity of extreme sports on the island of La Réunion along the coast of Africa, the rich chocolate traditions found in Switzerland and Belgium, and the job experiences of a special news correspondent in Canada.Featured Faculty
French
Sherri Rose
"Learning is a life-altering adventure. It begins with the strangeness of discovery, a spark of curiosity, and, when pursued with vigor and sustained reflection, leads undeniably to a powerful transformation of the self."
Sherri Rose, French
French
Jan Starczewski
By engaging with a variety of authentic texts and media types, my students make meaningful use of the French language within real-world contexts.
Jan Starczewski, French
French
Anna Navrotskaya
Featured Courses
Featured Course
French Civilization and Culture II
Read More about "French Civilization and Culture II"A study of French life and culture from the Revolution of 1789 to the 20th century.
Read More about "French Civilization and Culture II"A course designed to increase the student's range of self-expression in the speaking and writing of French.
Read More about "Speaking and Writing French"A close reading of major works of the 17th-century Golden Age.
Read More about "Classical French Literature"Featured Course
Survey of French Literature from the Middle Ages through the Eighteenth Century
Read More about "Survey of French Literature from the Middle Ages through the Eighteenth Century"The major themes and movements of each period are examined through representative works.
Read More about "Survey of French Literature from the Middle Ages through the Eighteenth Century"A study of novels representing the literary currents of Realism, Naturalism, and Existentialism in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Read More about "The Modern Novel"Study Abroad
The Institut de Touraine in Tours provides Hillsdale College students with a unique opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of French language and culture.
Pi Delta Phi
A national French honorary, Pi Delta Phi seeks to promote
excellence in the study of French literature, language, and culture.
What Can I Do with a French Major/Minor?
Possessing skills in a second language can give you an advantage in any number of professional fields. Learning a second language takes determination and regular practice. Living in another country helps you develop empathy, flexibility, resilience, and other important life skills. French majors find careers in education in the United States or abroad, diplomatic service, the military, international business, marketing, and the Peace Corps; or go to graduate school for medicine, law, or countless other fields.
Most importantly, your knowledge of French language and culture will open a door for you into a whole new world, rich with history, philosophical and political arguments, artistic creations, problems, and solutions, as well as the pure intellectual joy that comes from learning something new.
Unique Features of French at Hillsdale
- Creative writing assignments from writing poetry in French to performing a play co-written with your classmates.
- Work as a department tutor for beginning and intermediate students.
- Workshops with artists and researchers from France. Recently campus visitors include Boubacar Ndiaye, a French-Senegalese griot and storyteller; Yves Citton, a professor and author; and Patrice Pavis, a theatre scholar.
- Pi Delta Phi French honorary hosts activities such as film nights and excursions to museum exhibits, restaurants, or the opera in cities such as Ann Arbor, Toledo, and Detroit.
- Speak French at the weekly French table in the dining hall.