French Language
Why study French? This is the second most studied language in the world after English. It is an international language with many Francophone countries in Europe and Africa especially; in fact, there are over 200 million people in 43 countries who speak French. Since French is an official language of many international and intergovernmental organizations, students interested in government and international relations will find French especially helpful. But there are sound reasons for knowing French in the fields of science, medicine and business as well. The headquarters of the Human Genome Project is in Paris; the first nuclear-fusion plant being built anywhere and the headquarters of the European Space project are also in France. France and other French speaking countries are prime business partners; countries with whom we enjoy robust and fairly equal trade. Dannon, Michelin, BIC, Mack Trucks are a few of the several thousand French companies with subsidiaries in the US.
If your interests are in the arts, French is also a good choice for you. It is a world language in the fields of culinary arts, fashion design, art, theater music and dance. Americans and the French have long enjoyed a rich appreciation of each other’s cultures-from the influence of French Enlightenment thinkers on our founding fathers to the adoption of Jazz and Blues by the French. Writers, too, have enjoyed a cross-Atlantic exchange. Les Miserables, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Three Musketeers, The Stranger, and The Little Prince are as well known in our country as the works of Poe and Twain and Steinbeck are in France. Wouldn’t it be meaningful to read the French works in the native language?
As with any language acquisition, studying French will help students master your own language. Learning the structure of a new language will make you more aware of the structure of English. Because of our shared linguistic history, the study of French is especially useful in expanding and enriching English vocabulary. Learning French is also a useful base that will facilitate the later study of other romantic languages. At Collegiate Academy, our outlook is global. We want our students prepared to contribute in any number of fields, but it is our belief that students will not be adequately prepared unless they are more aware of cultural differences. We will be delighted to help our students take their place in the global community with an ability to speak a very marketable second language—French!
French Language I
Course Number: #1950
Credit(s): 1
Open to Grade(s): 9 and 10
French Language II
Course Number: #1951
Credit(s): 1
Open to Grade(s): 9–12
French Language III
Course Number: #1984
Credit(s): 1
Open to Grade(s): 9–12
French IV/Advanced Placement French Language
Course Number: #1985
Credit(s): 1
Open to Grade(s): 10–12