North Central College - Naperville, IL
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French

Why choose French at North Central College?

Adding another language to your skill set is a great way to prepare for international business, graduate work or world travel—and a great way to wow potential employers. Include a secondary education minor in your studies and you’ll also be equipped to teach high school French. At North Central we keep our classes small to ensure that you receive all the personalized help and attention you'll need. After completing a placement test you’ll meet with your advisor to make sure you begin your studies at the level that’s best for you.

You can also:

  • Use short-term learning opportunities to conduct research through a Richter Independent Study Fellowship or D-Term travel to French-speaking areas.
  • Expand your linguistic and cultural proficiencies by studying abroad for a term through our exchange program in Angers, France.
  • Participate in the French Club and the annual Modern and Classical Languages Festival.
  • Travel to countries like Haiti to volunteer for ministry and service.
  • Take advantage of the Roberta I. Myers Language Resource Center for one-on-one tutoring or audio and video support.
  • Earn an English language learning (ELL) minor to qualify to teach English abroad in a French-speaking country.

News

Natalie Cummins
Natalie Cummins earns 2012 Outstanding Major in French Award
Natalie Cummins of Bloomington, Ill., was awarded the 2012 Outstanding Major in French Award during Honors Day May 15 at North Central College.
Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams to address North Central College Commencement
Aaron Williams, director of the Peace Corps, will deliver the address June 9 at the 147th Commencement ceremony of North Central College.
Michael Lunberg, Consistorial Councillor in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany
German leader who lived in divided Germany gives two lectures
North Central College hosts lectures April 2-3 by Michael Lunberg, who grew up in East Germany under communist state, was involved in peaceful opposition.
more news

News

Graduate School

Recent graduates in French have been accepted at:

  • University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science

Careers

Recent graduates in French include:

  • International trainer
  • Special collections librarian
  • Travel guide
  • Translator
  • Teacher

Feature

Priscilla Martinez

French, political science and global studies: international business major

The travel bug bit Priscilla during her years at North Central. She studied abroad in Angers, France, during fall term of her junior year. Other trips took her to Greece, to Kenya for a research project and to Guatemala to learn about coffee production through Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE). "Once you start traveling, you get addicted," she says. "Every time you experience a new culture, you come back with fresh insights about a global or personal issue."

Priscilla knows she chose the right place to continue the French studies she started in high school and to prepare for a career in international relations. "North Central courses are small, and the professors will alter their syllabus to help us grasp the concepts," she says. "It’s very easy to get individual attention and ask for help here."

Feature

Erica McCauley

French

Erica volunteered for a service trip to Haiti while a student. “That mission trip truly changed my life. I met one of the most influential professors in my college career and added global studies as a second major as a result. I even became more dedicated to my major in French, Haiti’s official language.”

Her renewed dedication to studying French also resulted in closer connections with her French professors. During her senior year, she studied abroad at L'Université Catholique de l'Ouest in Angers, about 90 minutes by train from Paris, and was named North Central’s outstanding major in French.

Erica was initially attracted to North Central because of New Visions Summer Company, a traveling Christian theatre group sponsored by the office of ministry and service. Once on campus, she found she appreciated the student-teacher ratio. Her favorite part of college, however, “has been forming long-lasting relationships with my professors.”

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