French Department on track to offer new minor

At the beginning of the 2022 fall semester, the French Department intends to offer a minor for the first time. Once the department receives approval from the rest of the faculty, students will be able to register for this new track. 

There are two potential tracks for students: either six courses, including two courses at the 300-level, if they place out of the language sequence. For students who begin in the language-sequence (125 through 127), five courses, including two listed as 300-level, will be required. 

On March 7, the French Department faculty hosted a lunch to meet prospective French minors. Along with interested students, several current French majors attended, sharing their perspectives on French studies. The Colby Echo spoke with some of the professors and French majors about their experiences with the French Department and their thoughts on the new minor.

Professor Carl Cornell is excited for the new minor. Until now, the French Department has offered only the language sequence, which is a College distribution requirement, and the major.

“It will open up French to a whole part of the study body who might not have been able to take French before,” Cornell said.

The minor, he believes, will be perfect for people who cannot commit to completing the major but wish to continue studying French after the language sequence. 

“They’re going to still be able to continue taking French throughout their time at Colby and get credit for it,” Cornell said. 

He believes that by studying French, students can supplement their other academic interests.

“It really opens up your perspective on the world. It allows you to bring a new perspective to other subjects you’re studying,” Cornell explained.

The faculty of the French Department specialize in a variety of subjects, including Francophone African culture, early modern studies, and sustainability. Students can always find a professor who shares their interests. 

“We’re a really interdisciplinary department,” Cornell said.

In his own research, Cornell explores how French cities have transitioned from the post-industrial era to the era of sustainability.

In addition to enriching their academic interests, a background in French can help students in their post-college careers.

“When you go to find a job, you’re able to bring that new perspective to wherever you work. It’s a real selling point when you enter the job market,” Cornell said.

Professor Mouhamedoul Niang, who serves as the Chair of the French Department, agreed with Cornell that the minor will extend the study of French to students who, for whatever reason, cannot complete the major.

“In offering students a minor, we are hoping to be able to create that opportunity for the students,” he said.

Niang believes that studying French can expose students to new cultures to which they would not have otherwise been exposed.

“Taking French is a great opportunity to engage with various cultures from the Francophone world,” he said.

In his research, Niang investigates the representations of space, gender, and body in the works of Francophone African writers. Lately, he has begun investigating the ways in which Africans construct and defend their identities. He loves sharing his research with passionate students.

“Teaching is something that I think drives me and makes me want to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said.

Sara Gardner ’22 majors in French and started taking French courses during her first year at the College.

“I think it started my [first-year] year when I was taking it for the distribution requirements,” she said. “I just really liked the faculty and also the other students in the classes. So I figured I would just keep taking classes. And then it kind of turned into I was like, only a few classes away from a major.”

Gardner also believes that the new minor will benefit students by making French more accessible. 

“I know I had a lot of friends freshman year who were trying to do a pre-med track, and even though they were interested in French, the major just wasn’t super accessible to them,” she said.

Gardner said that if students want to become involved in the French Department, then they should join the French Club, of which she serves as treasurer. All students are welcome regardless of their language ability.

~ Matt Rocha ’23