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OBJECTIVES
OF THE SOCIETY:
- To
promote among the students of the University and Secondary
Schools an interest in the French language and French culture.
- To
create an awareness of the influence of the French and their
society on the local and world arena. This encompasses
their cultural, historical, political, economic, literary,
artistic and scientific contributions to the world’s societies.
- Through
financial aid, to help University students pursuing the
French Language course, to travel to Martinique and France
where they attend certain Universities for a period of 3
to 5 weeks.
- To
offer assistance in any way possible to students studying
French at the Secondary School level.
THE EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
President-
Carla Bascombe
Vice-President-
Crystal Bastien
Public Relations
Officer- Avian Daly
Treasurer-
Aneisha Ramjit
Secretary-
Nirmaala Katwaroo
THE
FRENCH BOARD
In
order for the members of the Society and the University community
to keep abreast of our activities from week to week, we are
placing a French Board at the Centre for Language Learning
(CLL). The Public Relations Officer will be in charge
of this board and it is her duty to update any information
that is posted here.
ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY
- Secondary
Schools Theatre Festival
As
part of our attempt to create relationships with secondary
schools and create an interest in French language and culture,
every other year the UWI French Society will host a Theatre
Festival for secondary school students. We invite them
to perform an extract from a play or literary text that they
are studying at Advanced Level in order to make learning an
interesting, fun and profitable experience. The festival
runs for a couple of days at the beginning of the second semester
and different schools will participate on scheduled days and
each day the schools and students with the most noteworthy
performances are awarded with appropriate prizes and certificates.
Every
year, a group of students from the French language programme
travel to Guadeloupe for approximately three weeks.
This trip takes place during the long holiday period (July/August)
and is hosted by CORECA (Contact et Recherche Caraïbes), a
non-profit organisation made up of cultural activists and
academics. In addition to attending various cultural
shows and places of interest, the group attends lectures on
different topics. The trip gives the group the opportunity
to immerse themselves completely in the culture of Guadeloupe
and, in part, the French Caribbean whilst simultaneously allowing
them to explore the social and historical climate of the country.
It is beneficial to the students in many ways due to the fact
that they get to practise their linguistic skills while staying
with a host family and enhance their general knowledge about
the culture which they are studying. Although this trip
is not a direct activity or production of the UWI French Society,
we do what we can to offset some of the expenses involved,
to make it easier for the visit to be fully enjoyed.
The
Buddy programme was established in 2002 for the students of
French at the University. This programme matches up
a Year Two French student with one or two Year One students
in order for the latter to be able to not only feel comfortable
in their new surroundings, but to also offer any needed advice,
suggestions and to address any concerns or queries that these
new students may have. We believe that it is indeed
profitable to both parties, as the more experienced students
are able to offer support and everyone is able to gain knowledge
about each other, thus diminishing any gap that exists between
the year groups.
Our
French Library is situated at the Centre for Language Learning
(CLL) (Language Lab East) and is run voluntarily by the French
students. It allows for Francophiles to borrow from
a wide range of material, inclusive of audio and video cassettes,
magazines and books, which meet the academic, linguistic and
entertainment needs of the individual. Membership is
free and notices will be put up on our French Board concerning
the opening times for each semester.
Whilst
it may be true that an endless range of options does not exist
with respect to exposure to totally French culture in Trinidad,
we have one prospect that is brought to us –the annual European
Film Festival. Now housed at Movie Towne, the Film Festival
gives us, the UWI French Society, the opportunity to view
some of the productions of the French movie industry, simultaneously
allowing us to immerse ourselves in the culture. It
can take many forms such as a drama, comedy, cartoon or suspense.
The UWI French Society recognises this Festival as a possibility
for us all to bond while enjoying a common interest.
It is our desire to take advantage of this by providing transport
and making arrangements for this to become a reality.
- Fundraisers
(soirée etc.)
SOIREE
For
the past couple of years a cultural soirée has been held with
the aim of raising money for a group of French students to
travel to Guadeloupe during the July/August vacation.
The Executive Committee of 2005-2006 realises that it would
be a good idea to cement this as a traditional French Society
activity, so that each year the public and the students have
something to look forward to. It is organised by the
students themselves and, at the last soirée for example, diverse
performances took place at the chosen location and guests
were also treated to delicious refreshments that were included
in the ticket price, as well as an art gallery which featured
a spectrum of local artistry.
CAKE/PASTRY SALE
In
a further attempt to connect the students with a bit of French
culture, we are organising a cake and pastry sale, where one
can purchase items that are traditionally French, such as
croissants, again in a bid to raise money for the Guadeloupe
trip.
THURSDAY ACTIVITIES
Meetings
and other activities are traditionally held on Thursday afternoons
at 1 p.m. and, whilst they normally take place at the Centre
for Language Learning, we will host our activities at other
venues (where possible) in order to cater to a wider membership,
i.e. non-French students. The present executive has
decided that we will focus on four key activities that will
be rotated from week to week, in order to maintain both the
interest and the participation of the members of the Society.
These activities are as follows:
- movies
- conversation
club
- picnics
- general
meetings
NB:
The above mentioned activities are simply a guide as the UWI
French Society may plan other activities/events to replace
them.
The
UWI French Society shows French movies for two major purposes:
(i) educational and (ii) recreational. Viewing these
movies helps the students enrolled in the French language
course with the listening comprehension component and they
also provide all members of the French Society a chance to
relax and enjoy one of the aspects of French culture.
We,
the UWI French Society appreciate that a language is not simply
to be learned within a vacuum. That is to say that we
understand the need to practice what we learn in the classroom.
This is why we have decided to form a Conversation Club, where
members can get together and converse about a variety of topics
that will be faced in the syllabus as well as in society in
general. It will take various forms such as debates
and presentations. This Conversation Club is not
at all exclusive to the French students of the French Society.
We invite all members who are interested in participating
as its purpose is promoting and sharing an interest in French
language and culture. We are also seeking to create
participation among the Francophone students who are enrolled
in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) programme, so that
our members can have the opportunity to communicate with members
of the French community.
Taking
into consideration that one of the objectives of the French
Society is to promote French culture; our picnics will not
take the stereotypical/traditional form of a food basket and
a blanket in a field. Rather, we will attempt to integrate
selected aspects of French culture whilst using the opportunity
to encourage forming relationships among members in a leisurely
envirnoment.
Due
to the fact that the Centre for Language Learning (CLL) is
the hub for the language students, the meetings of the French
Society will take place here. All are invited to these
meetings at which the President will be the chairperson.
The purpose of general meetings is to get feedback as to what
the members are interested in seeing done by the Society or
for them to voice their opinions on what they would like to
change. Meetings will also be used to let members get
more in-depth knowledge as to any major events or fundraisers
and to solicit volunteers or form committees to make these
successful.
WHY LEARN
FRENCH?
EDUCATIONAL
AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
In today’s global community, the ability to speak more than
one language has grown, and continues to grow in importance.
Spoken on five continents by more than 200 million people
in 43 countries, French provides an important link between
us, the English speaking Caribbean, and the rest of the world,
with special focus on the French speaking Caribbean.
The possibilities that exist for personal growth, cultural
exchange and even economic integration for the individual,
society and the economy cannot be ignored. There are
many occupational and educational opportunities that are waiting
to be exploited by persons who can speak French and those
who are willing to learn the language.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Educational opportunities for studying French while at UWI
include the opportunity for exchange between the University
o the West Indies and French Universities for a semester or
a year. These exchanges facilitate personal growth and
development and literally open a new world to the individual.
Students make lifelong links with the French country, have
an increased appreciation of different cultures and use their
experiences to make a significant contribution to the university
and country.
Many
French students opt to take up teacher/assistant position
offered by French schools, whereby students teach English
in these schools for the period of year. This allows
the student the chance to live in a francophone country and
practice the language in its natural environment. This
is offered to student show have completed Year Two of their
studies and without exception, students who accept the offer
see vast improvements in their level of French during their
stay.
Some
may not want to take a year off from their studies for the
teacher/assistant post but can still fully profit from a trip
to Guadeloupe for all students in second year organised by
the French Society. This trip is semi-educational, fully
recreational and will also give exposure to the French Caribbean
lifestyle.
For
those who are interested in continuing post-graduate studies,
they should know that University education is free in France,
and can be made available to foreign students. One can
pursue one’s Masters or Doctorate in a French institution
of learning and at the same time reap all the benefits of
living in a different country and culture.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
French
is both an official and working language of the United Nations.
For all budding economists, doctors, engineers etc who consider
the United Nations a viable career option, the French language
will definitely be an asset. Consider also how proficiency
in a foreign language will enhance your career opportunities
elsewhere. Whether in the sciences, social sciences,
arts, or humanities, recruiters in business, banking, government,
education, the media, etc. are increasingly looking for people
with foreign-language abilities. Recently, the Kiplinger
Washington Newsletter stated that the most sought-after job
candidates in the years to come will be those that combine
technical skills and foreign language proficiency.
Other
important factors to note which indicate the impact that French
has on the business world and economy are:
- American
companies have more than 2,000 subsidiaries in France and
1200 French companies have subsidiaries in the US which
employ 400,000 workers
- Official
language of the European Union, the world’s largest trading
bloc
- English-and
French-speaking Canada, a member of NAFTA, is the US’s most
important export market
- Official
language of business and trade in more than 25 African countries
FRENCH IS
USEFUL FOR MAJORS OR CAREERS IN:
Art,
architecture, cinema, cuisine, civil engineering, dance, diplomacy,
fashion, film studies, international studies, linguistics,
literature, medicine, music, philosophy, religious studies,
science, space/aeronautics, technology, telecommunications,
theatre.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
In
addition to enhancing your professional opportunities, studying
French can have other significant benefits. First, it
can provide the chance for meaningful travel to France or
the francophone world (Québec, a number of Caribbean islands,
many African countries, Belgium, Switzerland, Tahiti, etc.)
Second, in learning about the differences and similarities
of another culture, you achieve a new perspective on your
own. French is a language rich in culture, and has a
unique wide range across the globe. French is the international
language of cuisine, fashion, personal car products, architecture,
art theatre, and dance globe so learning French is a great
opportunity for cultural growth and exchange.
In
addition, those interested in the French language are welcome
to join the FRENCH SOCIETY AT UWI and can participate
in all the exciting events and outings of the group.
SO HAVE A
GOOD YEAR WITH US AT UWI AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON AT OUR
FRENCH SOCIETY MEETINGS!
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