March is Francophone month, and March 20th is International Francophone Day. This spring on March 20th FRIT hosted the Second Annual Francophone Day for High School French Students and Teachers. “Part of the goal of the program is to encourage students to continue studying French and to share its relevance in the world,” says Associate Faculty in French Kate Schlosser. “But another important goal is to celebrate the diversity of the Francophone world.”
Schlosser planned and led this year’s event, which had to be virtual due to Covid restrictions still in place at the university in March. She organized a full day of presentations from undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty members, some live and some prerecorded.
“The presentations covered a lot of literal and figurative ground,” says Jennifer Willging, who was serving as Interim Department Chair at the time. “From the home countries of several of our students (Guinee, Mauritania, Morocco), to Francophone film and music, to testimonies on the multiple benefits of studying French and world languages in general.”
Maimouna Dieng, an undergraduate student, talked about her Mauritanian culture. “The Francophone event was a great experience,” says Dieng. “I was able to share some traditions and parts of my culture that I’ve never gotten to share before. I focused on different cultures in Mauritania and covered food, dance, and politics. I hoped to show the positive side of Mauritania that isn’t usually shown in the media.”
Holly Engel, a graduate student in FRIT, talked about her decision to come to graduate school and shared her research on depictions of evil in films by Alfred Hitchcock and Henri-Georges Clouzot. “I think it’s extremely important to advocate for language and cultural learning,” says Engel. She hopes that this event inspired attending students to continue studying French or at least to think more about cultures outside the U.S.
Undergraduate student Janhavi Sahasrabudhe talked about how she became a French minor. Sahasrabudhe reflected that she would have loved to attend an event like this when she was in high school. “I think it’s important for high school students to realize the importance and benefits of studying a world language,” she shared.
Thierno Diallo, another FRIT graduate student, talked about the youth literature of Guinée-Conakry. “My goal was to present my country, Guinée-Conakry, which is Francophone and a member of the Francophonie organization, through its youth literature,” says Diallo. “In Guinée-Conakry there are over 24 ethnic groups, each with its own language and culture,” he explains, “and the French language serves as a common language in these communities. As a result, the French language plays the role of a bridge between local communities. For me, then, celebrating Francophone Day means celebrating the potential of language to unite our people in their linguistic and cultural diversity.”
The diversity of topics presented at the event reflected the diversity of the Francophone world. It also allowed us to celebrate our own Francophone community at the university. “I have such an attitude of gratitude to be a part of such an amazing and dedicated Francophone and Francophile community,” says Schlosser.
We extend a huge thank you to Schlosser for organizing this beautiful event, and to all the students and faculty who prepared thoughtful and engaging presentations.
Full program of events
Bienvenue chez nous
“Deux films québécois: ‘14 jours, 12 nuits’ (Jean-Philippe Duval) et ‘La déesse des mouches à feu’ (Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette),” Wynne Wong, Professor of French
“Mauritanian culture and film,” Maimouna Dieng, Undergraduate Student
“Manie musicale,” Kate Schlosser, Associated Faculty in French
“Getting to Grad School and WWII thrillers,” Holly Engel, Graduate Student
“Careers Using French,” Paige Barton, Graduate Student, Department of Spanish and Portuguese
“Culture guinéenne à travers la littérature de jeunesse,” Thierno Diallo, Graduate Student
“Comment voyager en France - Travel Tips for Students,” Awo Onwudiwe, Undergraduate Student
“La nourriture française,” Sara Alqasem, Undergraduate Student
“How I became a French major/minor,” Janhavi Sahasrabudhe, Undergraduate Student
“World Media & Culture Center Interactive Virtual Tour,” Monica Jacobs, Program Coordinator, Center for Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
“On Board(hers): Telling Immigrant Stories Through Dance,” Lucille Toth, Assistant Professor of French
“How I Became a French Major/Minor,” Sogbe Camara, Undergraduate Student
“Camara Laye, l’auteur guinéen de L’Enfant noir et ‘À ma mère’," Ramatou Traore, Undergraduate Student
“Conversations Unbound,” Kate Schlosser, Associated Faculty in French
