Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts degree in French provides opportunity for students to study the language, literature and culture of France and Francophone countries. Students gain a respectable measure of competence in reading, writing and oral/aural skills in the French language. To help gain proficiency, students can attend a weekly French coffee hour. A conversation course sometimes involves speaking to people in France live via teleconferencing.

Students can take upper-division French courses abroad, either through Kent's own year-long program with the University of Bordeaux or with any accredited study abroad program offered by another university. Such programs may be for one semester, one academic year, or one summer. They most benefit students who have already acquired a strong command of the language here before leaving, however.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Perform tasks at intermediate high and advanced low levels of proficiency as described by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Proficiency Guidelines. Proficiency, in ACTFL terms, is understood to describe a range of qualities rather than an absolute norm and will vary according to task type, language function, topic, skill (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and so forth.
• Contribute to most informal and some formal conversations with sufficient accuracy, clarity and precision to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion.
• Read a wide variety of and complex texts written for native speakers of French and not edited or adapted for non-native speakers.
• Write cohesive summaries, narratives and descriptions of a factual nature in French.
• Demonstrate a knowledge of French history and culture and understand the diverse nature of culture throughout the ages.
• Discuss cultural differences, distinguishing between fact, opinion and stereotypes.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with diverse ethic and cultural groups.
• View concepts, issues, events and themes from the perspectives of diverse ethnic and cultural groups.
• Esteem diversity.
• Maintain an ongoing assessment of their own cultural values and behaviors.