french major?

College Majors
1

<p>what can you do with a french major? any suggestions for a minor that would get me somewhere?</p>

2

<p>I have a married mom with a son about your age. My minor was Romance Languages (e.g., French, Italian). My major was communications. I had enough credits for a technical minor (math/engineering/physical science), but opted not to declare it. I never used the minor, but I was glad to have such a broad exposure to language, culture, and lilterature. I ultimately became a defense systems program manager. But I believe the level of polish and well-roundedness that studying foreign culture brought to the job was a definite asset for me. I also spent a year studying in France...definitely worth it, though I would advise you to go to learn about the French culture and its people, not to "do" the tourist thing. It's a great experience to travel and learn, absorbing what's around you...observing people and family life...traveling to famous and out-of-the-way places...immersing yourself in the language to point of dreaming in French, not English. A truly wonderful experience.</p>

<p>At the time, I thought I could teach conversation or literature, become a translator, use my languages in conjunction with my journalistic training, work in international banking, become involved in fashion merchandising, serve as a diplomat or foreign operative, work as a travel coordinator, work in a foreign embassy. There are many career paths that you can take...though unless teaching is your first choice, I'd probably minor in it.</p>

<p>The beauty of the study of foreign languages is a long abiding love of travel and culture and people and ideas...something you'll carry with you all of your life and from which your future family will benefit.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>That was a great post Orange Blossom, thank you. My 11th grade daughter is intense about French and wants to major in it. I would like to bring this thread up front and hope that more than a few people contribute, in particular, career paths for French majors. Her interest in the language, arts, films, novels, is deep, but I am uncertain about how to think about / guide her when the time comes to think about a career. (She does not want to be a teacher. She is smart, #1 in her class and placed 11th in the National French Exam.) I want her to think of Middlebury,but, underestimating herself, she is shy, but when it comes time to apply I will have a lot of (welcome–we have a good rapport) influence.’</p>

<p>Hoping for replies!</p>

4

<p>Some links:
<a href=“Want to Use French at Work? Here Are Your Best Bets”>http://french.about.com/od/francophonie/ss/jobs-using-french.htm&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“frenchdegree”>http://www.utm.edu/staff/globeg/frenchdegree.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://french.virginia.edu/undergraduate/whattodo”>http://french.virginia.edu/undergraduate/whattodo&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Start Exploring | Hiatt Career Center | Brandeis University”>Start Exploring | Hiatt Career Center | Brandeis University;
<a href=“http://french.arizona.edu/undergraduate/why-study-french”>http://french.arizona.edu/undergraduate/why-study-french&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.frenchcrazy.com/2011/08/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-fluent.html”>http://www.frenchcrazy.com/2011/08/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-fluent.html&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“Johnson: What is a foreign language worth?”>http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2014/03/language-study&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“So You Want A French Degree? (Oui, Oui)”>http://www.forbes.com/sites/emilylambert/2011/08/03/so-you-want-a-french-degree-oui-oui/&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“What's The Point Of A Degree In French? : NPR”>What's The Point Of A Degree In French? : NPR;
<a href=“http://careers.washington.edu/Podcasts/2009/What-can-you-do-with-a-French-major”>http://careers.washington.edu/Podcasts/2009/What-can-you-do-with-a-French-major&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>Zapfino, what heroic effort you made into compiling that post of links!. I thank you with enormous thanks! It is late here in NY (well, latish) but I will certainly consult these links with verve tomorrow. How kind you are! PS, if you care to PM me, I would be intrigued to know why and how you are interested in this subject, enough to compile such a exhaustive list!) Thank you, DW</p>