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What can I do with a Foreign
Language?
Teach English in France!
Every
year, the French Ministry of Education and the Cultural
Services at the French Embassy offer approximately 1,600
teaching assistantship positions in French primary and
secondary schools and in the French teaching colleges ("IUFM")
in all regions of France and the DOM-TOMs (overseas
departments).
Leanna Wilson
'07
 Leanna Wilson was a French and International Studies
double major at Monmouth College from 2004-2007 and
graduated Cum Laude. She was a member of Crimson Masque,
French Club, NSCS, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Pi Delta Phi,
tutored in French and English composition, and directed
a play in Spring 2007. For the Fall 2006 semester,
Leanna traveled to Le Mans, France with the
International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) where she
studied translation, geography, and French literature,
in addition to a course especially for exchange students
to learn basic language skills and French culture.
Leanna is currently work towards a Global Master's in
International Relations from Webster University, a
program that sends students to campuses around the world
while earning their degrees. French has proved to be
very useful as one of the locations she where she will
be studying this year is Geneva, Switzerland. Another
benefit is the ability to do research with a wider range
of materials because there is no language barrier.
She says, "In this shrinking world there is no way to make one self
more appealing to an employer than to have a second
language."
“Earning a Master's Degree in England, Holland, Austria,
or Switzerland did not seem to be an obvious choice
while studying in the middle of a cornfield in Illinois,
but I am going to study in all of them! It sounds a
little overwhelming, but Monmouth College really
prepared me for the work that I am currently doing.
Every eight weeks, I move to a completely different
campus with different teachers and courses. It is only
the first month in London, and I am studying
International Relations. With my fellow students coming
from all different backgrounds, I was worried about
keeping up with the course work, but I have found that I
can pull knowledge from many of my undergraduate
classes, and more importantly I am familiar with how to
do the work. Who knew that all of those research papers
I had written would have been such good practice. Of
course, it does help that when I have finished with
classes and homework that I can go sightseeing!”
Terri John '07
 I'm currently working as an English teacher in a private
language school in a town in Catalonia. As I'm living in
Catalonia, Catalan is the main language rather than
Spanish. People are so proud of their unique language,
culture, and history, and the majority of people that
I've spoken to do not identify with Spanish culture.
Catalan was banned under Franco, but it's made quite a
comeback. I've learned so much about Catalan culture and
politics, as well as some of the language, which seems a
bit like a cross between Spanish and French. Obviously,
having a background in Spanish has made understanding
Catalan considerably easier. Also, basically everyone
here understands Spanish so I'm able to use it when I
don't know the Catalan. Teaching English can be
difficult since I didn't actually study either teaching
or English, but it can be fun, too. I think that I learn
as much from the students as they learn from me. I don't
intend to make a career of teaching English abroad, but
it has been a good experience. Currently I'm hoping to
attend graduate school for international studies. I
haven't planned much further than that, to be honest.
Emily Bouchard '05
While at Monmouth, Emily majored in Public Relations,
and minored in English and French. An active participant
in SOS and Alternative Spring Break, she also was an RA
and Hall Director. During her junior year, she
participated in a study abroad program, attending
classes at the American University in Paris. Currently
an Event Producer at Ivan Carlson & Associates, her
background rich in a variety of cultural experiences
provide unique inspiration for her event designs.
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