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French Suite at Thatcher

The Thatcher Foreign Language/International House offers the opportunity to live in a residence hall dedicated to learning a foreign language and exploring foreign cultures. In this hall of 130 students, approximately half are part of one of the Foreign Language Programs and half are part of the International Program.

Participants in the Thatcher House French Language Program live together on a floor which includes a classroom/lounge, where they can socialize in the language. Also, they meet in the classroom regularly during the week for a specially-designed, two-credit conversation/culture course. An experienced graduate student from the French and Francophone Studies program teaches the course and organizes social and cultural activities.

A community develops around speaking French and taking part in cultural activities, from the frivolous to the serious. Participants play Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit en français, sponsor "Français au Café" (coffee and conversation in the Campus Center), screen classic and contemporary films from France, organize a French cooking workshop, host a fête crêpe for other house residents.

Both French majors and non-majors from a variety of disciplines make up the Thatcher House French Language Program. An important component of the program is a yearly trip to Quebec City. Students have found the French Language Program community an excellent place to prepare for study abroad in Paris, as well as a supportive community to return to after studying in France.

Whatever your plans, La Maison Française provides a place to experience everyday life en français without leaving the campus.

To qualify for the French Language Program you must have some proficiency in the language and a willingness to become more fluent.

You agree:

• To make a year's commitment to the program (exceptions made for a semester abroad).
• To enroll in a two-credit conversation and culture course each semester, taught on the floor.
• To enroll concurrently in a three-credit departmental course.
• To speak French as much as possible on the floor.

To apply:

French majors should contact the Undergraduate Program Director, Philippe Baillargeon baillargeon@llc.umass.edu, or the course coordinator, Carolyn Shread shread@frital.umass.edu. If you are not a French major you will need to fill out an application and schedule an interview with the Thatcher House French Language Program Coordinator.