Why Study French at K?
At K, you do not just learn French; you immerse yourself in the culture through study aboard, departmental activities, and engaging courses.
Studying French at K is so much more than just learning the language. With the availability of e-translators, the goal of contemporary French learning has evolved beyond grammatical knowledge to encompass new skills on how to think, understand, and grow both professionally and within your own life.
K offers a French Major and French Minor.
The department empowers you to learn the language through culture; from the Antilles to Quebec, from Africa to the Indian Ocean, there is a breadth of global traditions and cultural productions to draw from. Through courses like French Pronunciation, Creative Writing in French, Professional French, Afro-Perspectives, and Advanced Literature and Cultural Studies, you will explore how Francophone studies intersect with other disciplines: political science, history, sociology, science, art, etc.
Outside of the classroom, you have opportunities to practice your French with our native-speaking teaching assistants who host language labs and fun activities, such as café talks, film nights, field trips, and swearing nights for uncensored learning. Kalamazoo College is also a top school for study abroad, with French students getting to immerse themselves in the language and culture with programs in Strasbourg, Lyon and Rennes, France, as well as Dakar, Sénégal.
The global awareness, language, and critical thinking skills developed in the French department set the foundation for you to have a successful career. Notably, our alumni work in international trade and organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization, high school and college instruction, publishing, science, international banking and other fields.
What can you do with a French and Francophone Studies degree?
Below are some of the careers, employers, and graduate schools of our French alumni.
Careers
- French/English Teacher
- Foreign Service Officer
- College Advisor
- Attorney
Employers
- Teaching Assistant Program in France
- Americorps
- ACLU of Illinois
- U.S. Department of State
Graduate Schools
- Oxford University
- Columbia University
- University of Strasbourg
- Wayne State University
Meet the Current Departmental Student Advisor
Laura Oliveira (she/her)
Majors: French and Psychology
Study Abroad: Strasbourg, France
What drew you to the department?
First, it was the language requirement, but later I fell in love with the language and the French culture, allowing me to travel to places around the world and speak their language.
What is your advice to first-years and sophomores about getting connected to this department?
The biggest advice I could give is to be friends with your TAs. They are here only for a year and are usually very eager to make friends, especially if you are their student. They also work a lot with the faculty members and know them well, so it is easier to connect to the department through them.
What has been your favorite class at K?
My favorite class here at K was one that touched me very much and opened my eyes to the psychology field. My first-year seminar was about resilience which was an essential coping mechanism to learn as a young girl going to college. I still think about many things I have learned in that class.
What is your favorite thing about K?
My friends.
How have you taken advantage of the flexible curriculum or experienced breadth in your education?
I certainly have, especially in my first year here at K. I changed my area of professional interest and wished to explore some other subjects, so I decided to take a class on anthropology, another on psychology, and even one in drawing, which is one of my favorite classes I have taken here at K.
What is your Senior Integrated Project (SIP)?
I will be working at an organization during the summer that provides housing and a community for intellectually disabled adults. I will be writing about my experience there.
What are your career aspirations/next steps after K?
I wish to go to graduate school and become a therapist for children in their developmental stages.