Why Study French?

• The French language is widely spoken on all continents including Antarctica (Dumont d'Urville, Terre Adélie), on and under water (Cousteau Foundation & Comex), in space (Ariane Espace & Airbus), and in cyber space (French is the second most used language on the Internet)

• French is actively used in cultural, literary, and scientific theories

• The francophone region of Quebec is a neighbor and active commercial partner of the United States

• According to the conclusions of the 9/11 Commission Report (Norton, 2002): "There is a third [problem] [...]: The limited pool of critical experts - for example skilled counterterrorism analysts, and linguists" (page 401); "Recommendation: The CIA Director should emphasize developing a stronger language program, with high standards and sufficient financial incentives" (415); "The FBI should fully implement a recruiting, hiring, and selection process for agents and analysts that enhances its ability to target and attract individuals with educational and professional backgrounds in intelligence, international relations, language, technology, and other relevant skills" (426). Consequently, both the CIA and FBI now aggressively recruit instructors, agents, analysts, translators, and interpreters in a list of specific languages that includes French. Other government agencies and non-profit organizations are now more interested in employees mastering a foreign language such as French

• In 2004, the strong opposition of three nations (France, Germany, and Russia) to a military intervention in Iraq resulted in diplomatic tensions and extensive reporting, debates, and discussions in the American media. While France is smaller than both Germany and especially Russia and has a much smaller military than Russia, it is still the country that was rapidly at the center of all discussions, what would soon be named "French Bashing" by some journalists. The fact that the opinion of such a small country without much military power created so many reactions (for or against) in the United States proves that there is a long history of Franco-American relations (and a necessity to analyze these relations) that cannot be ignored. As with any debate, the people who are able to know and to master both sides will have an advantage
  

• Paris, France is the number one tourist destination worldwide

• French double majors are very marketable when applying for law school, medical school, and other graduate programs

• French majors can also become teachers or professors

• From Marie Rolfe (URI Yourcenar Class of 2005), professional beach volley player, Dig Deep Inc.: "You have no idea how welcoming the world can be to people who make the effort to speak foreign languages. This summer (2005), I traveled with my team to Russia, Portugal, Italy, France, California and Quebec! In Russia, I met other Canadians who spoke French. In Portugal, while I was in a bank waiting in line a portuguese asked me something and when he realized I did not understand what he was saying he switched to French. For three weeks in Italy, French helped me a great deal to understand Italian and it was much easier to start learning Italian after knowing French. In California where I practiced for three weeks, we met and became friends with two French guys who then invited us to visit them in France and London. French is useful all around the world and knowing other languages opens a whole world of communication."
  

• French (as any other foreign language) is good for you even if after you graduate you never use it again for the rest of your life (very unlikely though) in your career or in anything else you do because going through the process of learning French gives you skills and qualities that are useful and very marketable no matter what you do: memorization, analytical, reading, and writing skills, and it teaches you how to manipulate fiction and reality
  

• How many people do you know around you who speak French? Not those who took an occasional class in high school or in college or who listen to audio tapes in their car, I am talking about people mastering the French language. "Not too many" is probably the answer. Do you know why? Because learning and mastering French is difficult and not everybody has the motivation to do what it takes. Also, not too many people speak French as their first language in the United States. This means that any student who ends up mastering both the English and French languages in this country will send the message that they are indeed able to master something very difficult, they can handle and work in a foreign, challenging, and demanding environment. Finally, as Crissa Carlotti (teacher of French at East Providence High School) reminds us, when these graduates apply for positions seeking a specialist in French or Francophone culture/language in the US, they will rarely be in competition with native speakers who were born and raised in that language and culture thus increasing their chances to be hired
  

• It is precisely because the entire world speaks English that now more than ever knowing another language such as French gets you ahead. Let's take two American executives coming to France to negotiate with two French executives. First Case Scenario: all of them speak English but only the two French executives speak French. Second Case Scenario: all of them speak both French and English. In the first scenario, the French executives will have the advantage to know that whenever they break into French (for instance using their cell phone) the other two will not understand what they are saying. In the second scenario, the American executives have the liberty to decide if they will let their French counterparts know they speak French. Even if the entire meeting is conducted in English, the French executives will know that whatever they say in either French or English, their counterparts will be listening in. In conclusion, if everybody speaks the same language, you need another language that only you and your associate will understand when needed

• One final reason to major in French at URI: when you decide to invest such an important amount of money in a college education, you end up choosing a school and eventually a program that you trust. What you are doing is that you give this university your money and you expect in return to reach a certain level in your education that will allow you to have an exciting life and career afterward. This also means that you trust the professors and advisors of that institution to guide you and to help you in reaching that level. And you are right because this is exactly what I am doing as advisor and professor. I cannot guarantee you the jackpot or a specific job once you graduate. What I can guarantee you, however, is that if you become a French major at URI, I (and all my colleagues in the French and Francophone Studies Program) will be there for you from day one until the day you graduate and beyond, we will do our best to train you in such a way that it will increase your chances of choosing your future once you graduate. It is our strong belief that the skills you will learn in French will help you accomplish any other task more effectively, hence increasing your chances for a bright future.