How Learning French Changed My Life
Maria’s French-Language Journey
When I was a small child, I told anyone who asked that I wanted to live in France when I grew up. Fast forward a couple decades and not much has changed! I truly consider myself a life-long lover of French language and culture. Keep reading to learn more about my French-language journey.
Childhood
My mother used to play cassette tapes at bedtime to help me sleep as a toddler. My very favorite was a tape that told the story of Boucle d’or et les trois ours, or Goldilocks and the Three Bears, in French. Though I was young, I still remember listening to that tape as I fell asleep, enjoying the unique, rhythmic quality of French for which the language is famous. I loved reading Ludwig Bemelmans’ Madeline book series and I watched the The New Adventures of Madeline TV show and the 1998 Madeline movie more times than I can count. I dreamed of speaking perfect French, seeing the Eiffel Tower, and eating French baguette before I even started elementary school. It wasn’t until much later, in high school, that I would realize what a profound effect my early penchant for French would have on my life.
High School
At the end of eighth grade, when it came time to choose classes for the first year of high school, I was given a choice between four languages: German, Spanish, Latin, and French. Though many of my peers opted for Spanish, and at the time I couldn’t put my finger on why exactly I was so enthralled with French language and culture, I confidently chose French as the language I would pursue in 9th grade.
I remember walking into French class for the first time and instantly adoring the French paintings, the interactive French calendar, and the silly posters with phrases like Zut ! J’ai oublié mes devoirs ! on the walls. Over the next four years, I participated in every activity having to do with French that I could. I joined and eventually became an officer of my high school’s French club, where we spoke French and did fun activities like making crêpes and playing pétanque. I went annually to Le Congrès Français, a gathering of my county’s French-learning high schoolers, and won first place in the dictée (French dictation) contest each time. Additionally, I took the annual National French Exam and even got a perfect score and a first place in the United States ranking my junior year. I was also awarded French Student of the Year and gained membership in the Société Honoraire de Français. I participated in a French exchange program, which remains one of the best experiences of my life years later. In short, while I was in high school, if there was an opportunity to learn about French culture or to use my language skills, I did everything I could to participate – including becoming Jalen’s personal French tutor from practically the moment we began seeing each other. My interest in French blossomed into a passion that continued into my college years.
College
I came to college unsure of what I wanted to pursue as a major, but positive that I wanted to take French classes. To see where my level of French stood in regard to college courses, I took a language placement exam at my university. My score was high enough to fulfill my general education language requirement, which allowed me to begin taking French classes at the 300 level as a first-year student.
After taking a few French classes per semester, participating in a weekly French conversation circle, and declaring a major in International Affairs and a minor in French, one of my French professors called a meeting with Jalen and me. He encouraged us to declare double majors, helped us make plans to ensure that we would graduate on time, and ultimately convinced us to take the plunge. I went on to take all sorts of interesting and challenging French classes, such as Business French, French Cinema, and Québécois Literature. My involvement and success in my major led to my attaining the French departmental scholarship, membership in Phi Sigma Iota, and a scholarship for my study abroad trip to Canada. Senior year, I composed an essay in French that I discussed at my university’s annual scholarship showcase and also wrote and presented a thesis in French to the Modern Languages and Literatures department. Just as in high school, I seized every opportunity during undergrad to discover the francophone world and improve my French. I graduated college with a burning desire to make use of what I had learned and a plan to incorporate French into my post-grad life.
Post-Grad
Almost immediately after graduation, Jalen and I signed up to take the DALF C2 exam to certify our French fluency for life. We spent two weeks preparing, drove to Charlottesville to take the exam, and ultimately merited the C2 diploma. I was so excited to have certifiably reached fluency and to have secured internationally-recognized documentation that would aid us in our future endeavors.
We also got to work preparing for the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF), an English teaching program in France to which we were accepted about two months before graduation. I was thrilled to have secured employment in France and I loved returning to the same region where I first spent time in France on my high school exchange. The program gave me the opportunity to explore corners of France that I hadn’t yet discovered and to work in an international context of cultural sharing.
In the summer of 2020, after a lengthy application process, I was admitted to the Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne and began studying for my master’s degree in Public Law: European Integration and Global Governance that fall. Going to law school in France was a challenge, especially in the midst of a pandemic, but I managed to successfully defend my master’s thesis, complete an internship, and graduate with highest honors in 2022.
After graduation, I found a full-time position in France dealing with International Relations in the context of Higher Education. I am overjoyed to have begun my career abroad and look forward to developing professionally in the French workplace. These accomplishments are only the beginning of a future that I know will be filled with French – no matter where I end up.
A French Future
My French-language journey began when I was a little girl and there is no end in sight. Every once in a while, I think that I couldn’t possibly love French more, but I always prove myself wrong. I know that my love affair with French will continue my whole life through.
If you’re on a journey to French fluency or have questions about my experience, let us know!
@the_francofile My decade-long journey that took me from being the French-loving girl in the USA to the American girl in France! 🇺🇸🇫🇷 #americaninfrance #learnfrench #languagelearning #studyabroad #moveabroad #liveabroad #expat #expatlife #tapif #frenchschool #internationalstudent #lifeinfrance #frenchlife ♬ Ticking – TIN
2 Comments
Stephanie
Loved reading about the development of your passion for the French language, truly inspiring, and made me wish I had come across these opportunities early in life. Nonetheless, I am happy that I am now on the road to pursue my dream of studying this beautiful language.
Jalen & Maria
It was certainly lucky for me that I found one of my greatest passions early in life. Early or not, though, it’s always a good time to pursue your interests and goals! Thanks for reading.