Program Coordinator: Bérénice Le Marchand, blemarch@sfsu.edu
Undergraduate Advisers: Blanca Missé, bmisse@sfsu.edu (A-L), Anne Linton, aelinton@sfsu.edu (M-Z)
Graduate Adviser: Bérénice Le Marchand, blemarch@sfsu.edu
The French program offers a challenging and enriching experience for those who are interested not only in the French language but also in French and Francophone culture and society. French is one of the very few languages spoken all over the world, ranked the sixth most widely spoken language after Mandarin Chinese, English, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic. Today, more than 220 million people speak French throughout the world: roughly 51% live in Africa and the Middle East, 40% live in Europe, 8% in the Americas, and 1% in Asia/Oceania. As a result of population growth there will be more than 700 million French Speakers by 2050, 80% of whom will be living in Africa. The French Program is excited to offer an an avenue to engage with this expanding and diverse Francophone cultural and linguistic world.
We offer full-fledged Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts programs and focus on developing proficiency in the language in a sociocultural context by offering a variety of courses and by conducting courses in culture and literature in French. Great importance is placed on participatory classes, which are small and practice-oriented, to help students adapt themselves to a changing world. Excellent computer facilities and a multimedia center provide support for our educational program.
SF State is located in San Francisco, a cosmopolitan city with a large and active French community, which makes it a great place to study French. Students are also given a number of opportunities to study in France. Through the California State University’s international programs, selected students may study at Aix-en-Provence and in Paris. Such opportunities give students practical experience in everyday French life and culture, helping to build and reinforce these skills.
If you are an undergraduate student and wonder which class to take, you can take a placement test and see an adviser. Please contact an adviser for further details.
Visit the current University Bulletin for complete course descriptions and class schedule.