Our Department of French and Francophone Studies sees language as an essential gateway to other cultures and other ways of being. We focus on the languages, cultures, and power relations that organize spaces where different varieties of French are spoken, and where history, politics and language merge in complex but interesting ways. At all levels, we teach an understanding of la Francophonie that reflects the contemporary issues and values of the French-speaking world. We both investigate and challenge the intellectual and ethical implications of France’s central position in today’s Francophone geopolitical reality.
French differs depending on where and by whom it is spoken and we welcome the diversity of its sounds, from Haiti, West Africa, Belgium to Quebec. As a department, we work hard to use and present these geographical and social varieties of French in our classrooms. We see no hierarchies between them, but we recognize that the French we teach is often constrained by the limitations of France’s cultural dominance. However, we refuse to essentialize the Francophone experience.
As foreign language speakers ourselves, we acknowledge that a 10-week language program is rigorous. By embracing equitable and inclusive pedagogy, we are committed to supporting ALL students and encouraging them to lean on us to succeed and thrive academically. We believe that learning a language is a door to understanding oneself and others better. Consequently, learning a new language serves the greater community as it promotes intercultural understanding, critical thinking, and social justice.
The worldwide presence of the French language is a direct consequence of European colonial expansionism and exploitation, which are still at work today. Francophone countries across the world bear the mark of colonialism because of unacknowledged acts of racism and social injustice. Part of our mission is to devote class time and space to identify and unpack the cross-cultural implications of institutionalized inequities.
As we pursue the study and teaching of culture, we cannot always avoid cultural biases, but we acknowledge how they impact all of us in and out of the classroom. We strive to create spaces where all feel comfortable to engage in constructive dialogue. We are a community, we need to help each other.
The history of the French language has seen a constant tension between rigid codification by institutions and the dynamics of social change, as it is visible in the discourse about gender representations. We are committed to using inclusive language that treats everyone with dignity and respect.