Students studying French at Carthage are exposed to the language and cultures of French-speaking countries from the first day of their first French class.

Beginning courses (French 101 and 102) focus on the spoken language and are usually taught by young college graduates from a French-speaking country. These Target Language Experts (known as TLEs), forge strong connections with their students, greatly advancing a student's conversational skills and understanding of the French culture. TLEs also teach an advanced Conversation course.

Further language acquisition courses at Carthage (French 201, 202 and 301) allow students to develop their language skills by using French in structured communicative settings, replacing grammar drills with role plays, skits and games that are carefully structured to strengthen and increase students' language skills.

In upper-level content courses required for the major and the minor, even more emphasis is placed on culture — past and present. Students develop their proficiency in spoken and written French by reading, writing and talking about everyday life, politics, history, media, film, literature, art and architecture in France and in other countries where French is the official language. Students take an active role in classroom activities which are centered on group discussions and student presentations.

The French major is structured around a semester or more spent in a French-speaking country. Study abroad is required for the major and many French minors also elect to study abroad. Students spend a semester (or a year) living and learning in a French-speaking country, putting themselves in real communicative situations with native speakers. This experience is a big part of what prepares Carthage French majors to be culturally aware and linguistically proficient professionals in an interdependent world.

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Study Abroad

Students who major in a modern language at Carthage must spend a full semester or year abroad. Read more ...

Faculty Spotlight

Isabel Rivero-Vila
Assistant Professor of Modern Languages

"It has been a privilege to work at Carthage College. Working here has offered me the possibility of dedicating myself to my passion: foreign languages in general and specifically, teaching French and Spanish. It is a dream come true." Read more.