Why study French
Students seeking a Concentration in French will be preparing for work or travel experiences in a global and multilingual world. A Concentration in French may help prepare students for a life and career in international business, communication, education, bilingual technical writing, or government service in French-speaking parts of the world. According to the Economic Department of the Embassy of France in the US, there are 17,700 jobs created by French companies in Tennessee, making France #3 for jobs created in Tennessee by foreign companies. In addition to French-owned companies, students may seek employment in companies with French or French-speaking clients, or in government agencies that recruit multilingual employees (such as the Department of Defense, Department of State, FBI, and CIA). According to TN Transfer Pathway, you can make a median salary of $63,500 per year in Tennessee with a degree in Foreign Language.
Austin Peay has a dynamic and experienced faculty in French and Francophone Studies, which provides students with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in the language and cultures of the French and Francophone world. Dr. Karen Sorenson's PhD is in 19th C. French literature and mid-19th C.art criticism. Dr. Christophe Konkobo holds a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in French and Francophone Studies. A specialist in theatre and cinema of the Francophone world, his current research is on Theatre in Burkina Faso. There are currently approximately 325 million speakers of French around the world, including approximately 141 million speakers of French in Africa. It is the official or co-official language in 29 countries on five continents. Students seeking a Concentration in French will be preparing for work or travel experiences in a global and multilingual world.
APSU students of French engage in curricular and co-curricular experiences that advance their learning and knowledge of the Francophone world. The program in French and Francophone Studies include French immersion weekend, Study Abroad in Quebec, France, or West Africa, and the APSU Exchange programs in Orléans, France and Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada. Students may use credit from a Study Abroad or Exchange program in a French-speaking country toward their Concentration in French.
What will I learn
- Acquire a knowledge base that includes advanced language spoken by approximately 325 million French speakers.
- Acquire knowledge of the cultures of the 29 Francophone countries of the world.
- Prepare students for life and work in a global and multilingual society.
- Serve the needs of students who would like to prepare for careers in international business, communication, or government service in French-speaking parts of the world.
- Give students opportunity to build their oral and written proficiency skills and content knowledge in French.
- Study abroad opportunities in Quebec, France or West Africa which provide real-world
opportunities to speak French and explore the French-speaking cultures of the world.
