I studied Latin with 4 courses (I, II, III, Literature, and I’m currently self-studying AP. I also self-studied while doing these courses with books like Wheelock’s and Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata). I studied French on my own during eighth and ninth grade, and the amount of French I was reading and producing at the end of that year was pretty intermediate, and I have a textbook called “la nouvelle anthologie française” which is written for fourth year high school French students and is basically a primer containing authentic French Literature which explains obscure expressions in either modern French or English (though the former is more widely used). I can understand it without a great deal of difficulty. We also have the old French teacher here, who actually used to teach AP, and could be a great resource (she already has lent me some good literature books). I’m also taking Chinese I and Spanish I, but Chinese does not offer the opportunity of AP. I also was not impressed by the way the Chinese class was taught (we learned simple words, and can’t really use it for expressing ourselves which is the main goal of languages, no?). I’ll probably take AP Spanish senior year, and I think AP French can be a demonstration of my skills in French and my love of learning languages.
Is there a high-demand for French teachers? Classics is probably not the “practical” major but if I do major in Classics I was hoping to make a practical degree out of French.
Not “high demand”, but it’s still very important in blue ribbon/upper middle class public schools in the Midwest and East Coast and especially private/day/boarding schools. Hence the NESCAC recommendation (“signaling” and networks will be important for such positions). Because Spanish is often chosen as a “default”, French is a choice, which means students who may have different perceptions of language learning. (Then again, there’s just one AP French exam at B1/1+ level, v. Spanish which has two APs, one at B1 and one at B2 level. But you’ll find very few excellent schools that don’t offer French. The difficulty will be in securing a position there, hence “signaling” through the college you choose).
Note that the AP French exam is NOT literature but follows ACTFL guidelines for 5 skill language teaching (communities, cultural analysis, etc. as well as ability to read/write/speak/understand/mediate). Try to take classes either through dual enrollment or through summer programs to solidify your early knowledge and start working on all skills.
Typical books for that level would include Kif Kiffe demain, for instance; watching Plus Belle La Vie and short (2’30 or so) news reports from France 2 or France 3; reading Le Parisien/Aujourd’hui en France… You might try reading How the French think; the Bonjour Effect…
Do you think I could find a job in teaching French?
And I know—the College Board cut out the AP French Literature syllabus in 2008. I’ve taken a look at the AP French syllabus, and I am seriously considering it. I’m going to talk to the French teacher who used to teach it, and see what she says.
I feel like I can communicate effectively in French though culture is something I would have to study in depth.
And some of the things it asks you to do on the exam I have done in real life. I’ve written emails to different people, I communicate, I read and answer questions, listen to spoken French. Culture is where I’d fall though.
I used Assimil to learn French (both French with Ease and Using French) and although it contained cultural notes, I don’t feel that it is enough to compare cultures. My Spanish class on the other hand does this well—our textbook is called “Entre Culturas” and means “Between Cultures.” A French version has been created called “Entre Cultures,” but these books aren’t too good for autodidacts. School textbooks are something I generally like to steer away from when I teach myself and use something more accessible like Assimil, Teach Yourself, or Berlitz.