French is an official language of over forty countries and is the first or second language of over two hundred million people worldwide. Our program in French strives to connect students at the University of Florida with these people and places, providing them access to the cultural and professional possibilities of today's global reality. At the same time, we forge links between the present and the past, as our courses allow students to explore the exceptionally rich liberal arts tradition of France from the middle ages through the modern period. We do so especially with regard to poetry, fiction, drama, and language, while also relating to cultural production in the fine arts, architecture, music, philosophy, and history.

Our faculty brings together scholars with diverse research interests, ranging from Old French epic poetry through post-colonial theory, from women writers in pre-Revolutionary France to contemporary French film. These nationally and internationally recognized researchers are also dedicated teachers who draw on their own scholarship to offer a variety of courses in literature, civilization, cinema, linguistics, and language. In addition, the Department of Romance Languages offers a unique program in Haitian Creole. One goal is to form students with critical and analytical skills grounded in the humanistic experience of great works of literature and the disciplines of modern linguistics. Moreover, our courses are chosen not just by majors and minors in French but by students in fields such as history, art history, political science, other languages and literatures, and African and Caribbean studies, as well as by students in business and the sciences, who participate in our program in order to enrich their own.

One of the most important opportunities we provide is our six-week summer study abroad program in the south of France (UF en Provence), which gives students the opportunity for intense and authentic exposure to French language and culture. The program allows students from the beginning to the advanced level to study a variety of subjects in either French or English while gaining invaluable international experience.

By stressing cultural, linguistic, and critical skills, we prepare students to succeed in further study, and the training we provide gives our graduates and important advantage as they pursue careers in an increasingly competitive global environment. We take particular pride in participating in the College's Pathways to Teaching initiative to train much- needed teachers for America's secondary schools.

While our program readies students for the wider world, our faculty also sees itself as an integral part of the university community. Our intellectual interests lead us not only to interact with international scholars but also to team up with scholars in other departments of the university in interdisciplinary endeavors. The lectures, films, and other events we organize bring French and francophone culture to Gainesville. Most importantly, our close interaction with students helps them to develop the communication skills and cultural sensitivity essential to good citizens of the campus and also of the world.

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