The study of a foreign language can be a life-changing experience. In learning to communicate with speakers of another language, we look beyond our customary borders and broaden our worldview while gaining insight into our own language and culture. Spoken by over 200 million people, French is the second most frequently taught language worldwide after English, and 28 countries around the world claim French as an official language.
The study of French at the University of Maine at Fort Kent offers students an opportunity that may be unique to all of the United States - the chance to study French in a truly bilingual community. Fort Kent is located in northern Maine's Vallée St. Jean where the majority of adults are bilingual in French and English and French can be heard spoken daily on the streets and in the local shops and restaurants. Even right here on our campus a large percentage of faculty and staff are native French speakers. In addition, Fort Kent borders the most francophone region of New Brunswick, with the town of Clair, N.B. just minutes away and the province of Québec a mere ten miles north. Local radio and T.V. broadcasting include numerous francophone Canadian stations. Here at UMFK, the possibilities for authentic French communication are virtually endless.
The prime objective of the French Program at UMFK is to help every student become skilled in using the French language in all types of communication. Course offerings include language and conversation courses, as well as advanced courses in French and Francophone literature, culture, and cinema, and the methods of teaching French. Our library contains an extensive collection of French materials and films and we are home to the newly expanded Archives acadiennes, an important regional historical and cultural archive that collects manuscript and audio/visual materials relevant to the history, culture, and folklife of the Acadian people of the Saint John Valley.
The French program strongly encourages its students to take advantage of our remarkable exchange program with the francophone Université de Moncton at their Edmunston campus located over the border only 20 miles away from UMFK. Students have the opportunity to study almost any university-level subject en français for full academic credit. Students may also participate in any U-Maine system French exchange program and receive full credit here at UMFK.
With our close proximity to Canada, the knowledge of French is an asset for nearly any major. Possible career opportunities include teaching and bilingual education, translation, international business, banking, and diplomacy. In addition, minoring in French is an excellent idea for students of any major especially business, nursing, and forestry as familiarity with a second language and culture can only enhance a student's preparation for a career in any profession.