French

Major and Minor

Knox's program in French offers a full curriculum, both for students pursuing advanced work in French and for those combining study of French with a major in another field.

For more than 40 years, Knox College has operated the premier program for American students at the University of Besançon -- clear evidence of the strength of Knox's curriculum in French.

Off-campus study is popular among Knox students, especially so for those majoring in French and other languages. Approximately 12 Knox students a year attend the Besançon program, which also enrolls students from other U.S. colleges and universities.

The Program
Knox's major in French begins with a foundation in basic language skills, followed by in-depth study of French literature and culture, from medieval through modern periods. The major culminates in a seminar in which students undertake an original research project on a topic related to French or Francophone literature or culture.

The minor in French focuses on linguistic competencies in reading, listening, writing and speaking. It provides students the opportunity to continue gaining depth in their cultural knowledge and hone linguistic precision.

The department offers experimental context-based elementary language courses known as "Quick-Start." Students enroll in a two-term, intensive course that includes a two-week immersion program abroad. Since 1995, students have gone to to Berlin, Vienna, Lima, San Juan and Paris. They return to campus to continue their studies for a second term with an enriched understanding of the language's day-to-day cultural context.

Resources
The Dorothy Johnson '39 and Richard Burkhardt '39 Language Center includes a projection equipped classroom space located in the heart of George Davis Hall (GDH). The Center contains an instructor station, 24 advanced Macintosh workstations, and professional photo-flatbed scanning capabilities. The Language Center also houses two workgroup rooms equipped with individual computer workstations for small group sessions or individual privacy. The viewing room is capable of seating up to 20 people accommodating large-screen computer output and video viewing.

The campus cable TV system carries three foreign language channels -- SKOLA 1, a news network; SKOLA 2, an entertainment network; and Deutsche Welle, a German satellite channel.

Seymour Library subscribes to a variety of publications from other countries, including both mass circulation and scholarly journals.