French
Alexis Dubreuil '23
Why did you decide to study French?
I decided to study French because I speak the language (brokenly) at home with my family. I come from a Haitian American household, so my dad speaks Creole, and we try our best to speak good French, but it's not completely there. My grandparents do speak it fluently as well, and I'd like to have good conversations with them. Lastly, I just love linguistics, and one day I'd like to know the basics of the Romantic languages.
What are some of your favorite classes so far?
I really enjoyed my French 301 class because my technical French skills grew the most in that class. I am currently in French 230, Oral French, and I also quite enjoy that class. Essentially, it is a speaking course where we speak for three hours a day about various subjects. I enjoy learning about Francophone culture, whether that be in France or other French speaking countries, such as Morocco.
Tell us about a unique experience or project you've worked on for your major.
A unique project or experience that I've had within my major was during my Jan Term course. We spoke French the entire time, and my partner and I had to present a project on the Paris Catacombs from the point of view of a historian and a ghost. It was fun.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about majoring in French?
If you're considering the major, you already know that French is difficult. And it's not going to get any easier. Sometimes I feel like the language is so pretentious what with all its random conjugations and exceptions and tenses, but that is also what makes language and linguistics beautiful. As you continue to grow in the language, you are going to be increasingly surprised with what you can comprehend, and you'll fall more in love with it. AND you get to go to a French speaking country and live there for a bit. So, stick with it. I believe in you!
What's your dream job?
I am also a political science major, so I would love to work in the State Department at some point as an ambassador or the aid to an ambassador.
What is something that has surprised you about your major?
I was surprised that we are REQUIRED to go to a French speaking country to graduate. That excites me!