American Association of Teachers of French	French Club
French Connection	Alumni and Career Opportunities
French Media and Cultural Links  1   2

Why Study French?

French is spoken by some 500 million people around the world, including 2.5 million people in the US. It is the second most frequently used language on the Internet. France plays a major international role in medicine and science; for instance, the greater Paris area has the highest concentration of mathematicians in the world. The French section of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers students many opportunities to study French language and culture in a variety of contexts. Whether you are interested in reading French literature, exploring the rich complexity of French-speaking cultures, preparing for an international career, or a combination of all three, the French program at UAHuntsville can help you achieve your goals. Whether you major, minor, or simply take a few courses, studying French will help you develop invaluable intercultural skills that will help you achieve success in later study or employment in the rapidly globalizing workplace. For more information on our program, please contact Dr. Kwaku Gyasi (gyasik@uah.edu).

Degree Options in French

At UAHuntsville, you can pursue the Foreign Language major or minor with a French focus, or you can complete the Foreign Language and International Trade (FLIT) major with a French concentration. If you cannot major in French or FLIT, you can combine a minor in French with another major. The coursework for these degrees focuses not only on improving your ability to communicate in French, but also helps you develop expertise in various aspects of French culture, from literature to the workplace. Exciting courses taught in recent semesters include seminars on French and Francophone literature, as well as a professional French course covering topics such as French for business and social work. The French Program is a great way to enhance your studies in another discipline and help prepare yourself for a globally-engaged career or further academic study.

Internships

Students who major in French or FLIT are required to complete an internship. This enables students to apply their intercultural and linguistic skills outside of the classroom. You can choose to intern locally or abroad. Locally, students have interned with a variety of local companies specializing in a variety of areas, from translation to international trade. Our French Interns have worked throughout France-from ESTACA, an engineering school in Paris to Lyon. You can work with the department internship coordinator, Karl Keller, to develop an internship that corresponds to your interests and goals. Contact Mr. Keller for more information and for internship applications (karl.keller@uah.edu).

Study Abroad

UAHuntsville enthusiastically promotes a French study abroad program at the CIEL Institute in Brest, France. This program offers a range of classes for students at the Intermediate level. Students are fully immersed in the language during their homestays with local families, which adds a cultural and personal aspect unique to the program. Students also enjoy beautiful views of the Atlantic Ocean, excursions to local attractions or to Paris, as well as cultural activities during the evenings, such as wine tasting, cooking classes, lectures and movies. For more information on the study abroad programs please contact Ms. Ms. Betsy Allison (betsy.allison@uah.edu).