French
Today, French is spoken on every continent on earth—and locally, right here in Bloomington-Normal. Designated a critical language by the Department of Defense, French also functions as a working language of many major international organizations such as the United Nations, the Red Cross, the European Court of Justice, and the International Olympic Committee.
Studying French opens doors to careers in government, public service, tourism, hospitality, health services, business, law, technology, fashion, communication, and education. Studying French improves your written and spoken communication (even in English!), equips you to succeed in a global workforce, and encourages a broader perspective on what it means to be human.
French News
Student hopes to have future career working with immigrant population
An update from Ray Gomez, current French and Spanish double major.
French learners benefit from classes and mentoring from Francophone specialist
Associate Professor Jennifer Howell values foreign language education at Illinois State and looks forward each year to mentoring students committed to lifelong learning, sustainability, social justice, and global citizenship.
French and Spanish alum finds career in the Navy
An update from Anthony Pyanoe, M.A. '04 from Languages, Literatures, and Cultures with a focus on Spanish and French.French Alumni
"The process of learning a foreign language educated me beyond grammar and linguistics. It has encouraged me to move out of my comfort zone, view the world from different perspectives and communicate while traveling abroad."
—
Addie CaDavid '12
French minor and international volunteer
Interdisciplinary programs
Students can also participate in the several interdisciplinary programs at Illinois State: