By studying foreign languages, students acquire not only a linguistic skill, but also an understanding of other peoples' literatures, histories, and cultures. They gain a new perspective from which to view their own country, way of life, and language. Knowledge of a second language is an important facet of a liberal arts education. Proficiency in a second language at the 201 level is a graduation requirement.

The French program emphasizes listening, reading, writing, and speaking in all language courses. The department also offers courses in French literature and the literatures of Francophone Africa, Canada, Asia, and the Antilles. At least 80 percent of Kalamazoo College students study abroad, and for students interested in French, there are study abroad opportunities in Strasbourg and Clermont-Ferrand in France and in Dakar, Sénégal.

Coursework and off-campus experiences are complemented by on-campus opportunities that maintain or improve a student's language skills. Viewing French language films, reading French publications, conversing with classmates and native speakers at the French table, and attending area cultural events are among the opportunities offered.

Faculty members meet students inside and outside the classroom, participate in campus activities, and counsel students regarding career choices in music, high school and college teaching, science, publishing, government, international trade, international banking, non-governmental organizations, and other fields. French majors and minors at Kalamazoo College have traditionally done well in obtaining French government teaching assistantships for teaching English in France after graduation.

Placement

All incoming students who have previously studied or have had significant exposure to French must take the College's placement test in French. Those students who wish to receive credit for language courses that they have taken at another college or university before enrolling at Kalamazoo College must take the French language placement test and test into a higher-level course than the one for which they are seeking credit. To fulfill the college's language requirement, students must either successfully complete the third quarter course (FREN 201) or be placed into a course higher than 201 by the department's placement test. Any appeal of the placement test results should be directed to a French faculty member. Placement can also be determined by a student's score on the College Board's SAT II test or the Advanced Placement test in French. Students with three or more years of high school French may not earn credit for FREN 101.

SAT II

Students with scores of 425 or lower (and with fewer than three years of high school French) will be placed in FREN 101 or 102; 426–500 = FREN 102; 501–550 = FREN 102 or 201; 551–624 = FREN 201; 625 or higher = FREN 202, 203, or 301. If an SAT II score indicates a choice of two levels, a student should consult with a French faculty member for placement. A score of 700 or higher may qualify a student for more advanced courses.

Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit

An Advanced Placement (AP) score of 4 or 5 in French language can be counted as one credit toward the French major or minor provided that the student take French 203 or beyond as her/his first French course at the college. Such students must still take the French language placement test.

An Advanced Placement (AP) score of 5 in French literature can be counted as one credit toward the French major or minor, provided that the student take French 203 or beyond as her/his first French course at the college.
In order to receive credit for two courses toward the major based on AP examinations, the student must begin her/his coursework at or beyond the French 301 level.