Indiana University Northwest -- Department of Modern Languages -- French Studies
Bonne année 2016! I am happy to say Francophone country.
“bienvenue” (welcome) to students, faculty,
staff, alumni, and members of the
community to the fourth edition of “La lettre
du faucon rouge,” the newsletter of the
French programme at Indiana University
Northwest. Along with our usual news and
information, the featured Francophone
destination for the 2016 edition is the
fascinating country of Belgium.
This has been a busy year for us in
French Studies in terms of research and
teaching. In addition, we
were very excited to see
one of our students (Miss
Allison Cox) take part in
an Indiana University
study abroad internship
programme in Paris
during
the
summer
months of 2015. Readers
can learn more about Allison and her
experience in Paris on page 4 of this edition.
Speaking of studying abroad, several other
students of French at IU-Northwest are
planning on attending school in southern
France next year, and we could not be more
pleased to assist them with this endeavour.
To this end, several new scholarships have
been made available for our students going
overseas. It is our goal that everyone who
studies French at IU-Northwest will have the
opportunity to pursue academic work in a
The principal goal on which we are
focusing much of our attention this year is
the construction of a viable online option for
the study of French. Our aim is to reach
beyond the traditional on-campus setting in
order to bring our locally-based courses to
everyone with a computer, wherever they
are around the world. Because French is an
international language, reaching learners
around the world via new mediums is a
must. As technological advances continue
to make our global neighbourhood feel
increasingly smaller, the need for an
acquisition of a second language and a
stronger connection to the diverse cultures
that speak it becomes more important than
ever. To echo the travel guru and author
Rick Steves, learning a second language
and travelling are the best “political acts”
than a person can make as one becomes a
more globally astute citizen of our
multicultural world. On a related note in
terms of thinking globally, I was honoured to
have been featured in an article published
by IU International Magazine that focused
on the importance of what it means to
become an “internationalist” (i.e. a person
who acquires deeper knowledge about the
importance of connecting to many global
cultures and peoples).
As everyone is aware, this past
year or so has not been an easy one for
Editors Note: I was in Paris conducting academic research
mere days following the attacks that took place in the City of
Lights in November 2015. Like many, I was shocked by what
happened, but also happy to see Parisians maintaining their
joie-de-vivre despite the tragic circumstances.
The three photos
on the right show
how Parisians
remembered the
victims and
showed resolve
during that time.
All photos in this issue were taken by Dr. Scooter Pégram
2015 - 2016
many Francophone countries, and people
around the world have been deeply affected
by several tragic events happening in
French-speaking regions (namely, France,
Lebanon, Tunisia, Mali, and Burkina Faso).
As for me, I have visited each of the
aforementioned countries several times in
the past and I also happened to be in Paris
on academic research mere days after the
attacks in that city last November (see
related section below left). Although
tragedies such as these link us all together
as humans, French-speakers were able to
convey a better understanding of the
unfolding news to others. Events such as
these underline the importance of learning a
new language and acquiring a cultural
competence that differs from our own. It is
this very resolve that we maintain in the
French programme at IU-Northwest as we
provide our students and the Northwest
Indiana
community
with
a
solid
internationalist French curriculum that
brings the diversity of the Francophone
world to our little corner of the planet.
As always, we thank you for your
everlasting support as we continue to be a
vital part of the IU-Northwest academic
community. Bonne lecture!
page
2
Featured Destination: Belgium
One of the most interesting Francophone countries in the
world is Belgium. Nestled just to the north of France,
Belgium is full of meaningful culture and history. In fact,
many important things, culinary or cultural, are Belgian
in origin. For example, whilst many people may have
heard about Belgian waffles, beer, and chocolate, few
are aware that “French Fries” are not “French” at all, for
they have long been a staple of Belgian cuisine.
However, Belgium is more than just culinary delights. For
example, some of the world’s most famous cartoonists
are Belgian as were many of the greatest Flemish
painters of the Renaissance era. In regards to politics,
Brussels is the country’s capital and it is the central
administrative city of the European Union and is also the
home of NATO and other important international
organisations.
Because of its geographic position as one of the Low
Countries, Belgium has been at the crossroads of
Western Europe, both positively and negatively, for
centuries. Previously settled by the Romans (who named
the area “Belgica”), followed after by centuries of
domination by various monarchs and fiefdoms,
including the Dukes of Burgundy and the Habsburgs,
the country finally unified as “Belgium” in 1830. Despite
this, the country endured several further invasions and
occupations by the French and more recently the
Germans during the numerous continental wars that
occurred across Europe since its independence.
Following World War II, Belgium was a natural choice to
be the seat of the newly-created European Union due to
the country’s diversity and multiethnic makeup.
Belgium is a country made up of two very distinct
regions (Flanders and Wallonia). Located in the
northern half of Belgium is Flanders, the Dutch-speaking
region that is home to many of the most well-preserved
Medieval cities in all of Europe. The southern half of
Belgium is the French-speaking Wallonia region, where
vast forests and much of the country’s heavy industry is
situated. In the middle of these two regions in the
capital-region of Brussels, which is one of the largest
French-speaking cities in the world, and home to the
fabulous “Grand Place,” the famous Mannekin Pis
statue, and many of the country’s cultural institutions.
Many Belgians have left their mark on world history and
culture, such as René Maigritte (surrealist painter),
Hergé (author and illustrator of the Tintin cartoon series),
Jacques Brel (singer and poet), many Flemish and
Baroque painters, Jean-Claude Van Damme (actor), and
Axelle Red (an internationally popular French music
singer). The country has also long been known as a
haven for the study of science and Monsignor Georges
Lemaître is credited with proposing the Big Bang theory
of the origin of the universe in the 1920s.
Belgian French Slang & Expressions
‘Toquer à la porte’ (frapper à la porte) = To knock on a door
‘Un zot or Un maf ’(fou) = Crazy
‘Septante’ (soixante-dix) = Seventy and the following nine
numbers (e.g. septante-deux, septante-trois)
Nonante (quatre-vingt-dix) = Ninety and the following nine
numbers (e.g. nonante-deux, nonante-trois)
‘Babeler’ (bavarder) = To have a conversation
‘Un dringuelle’ (un pourboire) = A tip given for a service
rendered
‘Douf ’(un chaleur étouffante) = A heatwave, or very hot
(e.g. Il fait douf ici)
‘Une mitraillette’ = A sandwich on a baguette made with
meat, fries, and sauce. Very popular!
‘Tomber de son jus’ (être étonné) = To be surprised (e.g. Je
tombe dans mon jus)
‘Une boule’ (un bonbon) = Candy
‘Rattaquer’ (commencer) = To start
‘Faire bebelle à’ (flatter) = Compliment someone
‘Non, peut-être’ (oui, bien-sûr) = Yes, of course
Belgian trivia, did you know?
- The world famous decadent fast food delight that is known
as “French Fries” are not, and have never been French at
all. The origin of this dish is Belgian.
- Belgians never eat their waffles with any sort of syrup,
maple or otherwise. Instead, this delightful street food
dessert is usually topped with fruit or whipped cream.
- Belgian beer is renowned the world over, and the country
is home to more than 800 different types of brews.
- The Grand Place square in Brussels is regularly named by
many travel magazines as being one of the most beautiful
public spaces in the world. Additionally, many cities across
Belgium retain their medieval charm and are perfectly
preserved and frozen in time (notably Brugge, Ghent, and
Antwerp, amongst several others).
- Over 90% of the world’s diamonds are exchanged at
wholesale distributors located in the city of Antwerp,
making it the planet’s diamond capital.
- Europe’s first modern health resort opened in the 18th
century in Spa, Belgium (thus, creating the word “spa”).
- The world’s first large-scale indoor non-market shopping
complex (i.e. mall) is the Galéries St-Hubert in Brussels,
which is still open.
- Belgium has more comic writers and illustrators per capita
than any other country in the world, even Japan.
- Belgium produces 220,000 tonnes chocolate per year
(measuring around 22 kg of chocolate per person in
Belgium).
- Both the name of the Euro currency and the design of the
€ symbol were proposed by Belgians. Brussels is the capital and administrative centre of the European Union
Common Market.
All photos in this issue were taken by Dr. Scooter Pégram
page
Study Abroad scholarship for IUN
students (Frank Caucci Scholarship)
The Frank Caucci Memorial Scholarship, so named for the
late Dr. Frank Caucci (who was a long-time professor of
French and former Chair of the Department of Modern
Languages), has been established to enable IUN students
to further their knowledge by living and studying in another
country. Students of French or Italian who have a GPA of
3.0 or better in their language courses and who have been
accepted into an overseas study programme
administered or affiliated with Indiana University are
eligible for this award. The amount awarded will be
determined in part by the number of students who will be
studying abroad in any given year. We are pleased to offer
current students this great new opportunity for funding
and everyone is encouraged to apply for an IU study
abroad programme and this scholarship.
3
Study Abroad Spotlight - Allison Cox
1. Why did you want to study in Paris, and
what were you hoping to gain from such
an opportunity?
A: I have decided I want to be an
international fashion merchandise buyer.
Since I did not go to school for this
particular subject, I thought studying in
one of the fashion capitals of the world
would be a great start in reaching my
goal.
2. What was your favourite part of your study abroad
experience?
A: My favourite part about my experience was getting out
of my comfort zone. I have travelled many times before,
but going alone made me more independent and able to
think on my toes. I also learned to navigate foreign towns
and submerged myself in the language which are things I
could not do without this experience.
3. Do you feel how your French language
skills improved because of this unique
experience?
A: It is hard to say. It is like a foreigner
comes to the United States to practice
proper English. Almost everyone uses
slang in Paris just like in the U.S. However,
I learned to speak more fluently and
transition from sentence to sentence very
smoothly which is great.
4. Some people say that a study abroad experience
“changes you.” Is this correct, and if so, how did your
experience leave a lasting mark on your life (in other
words, how did you personally benefit from this
experience)?
A: The experience changed me in regards to adapting to
new surroundings. At this point, if I were to be placed in
another country right now, I would immediately be able to
adjust and go where I need to go. This benefits me
tremendously considering I want to work internationally.
Study Abroad - IU French
Indiana University offers students a variety of overseas study
options, including in many French-speaking countries.
Students who choose to study abroad in a Francophone
country have outstanding opportunities to learn about a
unique culture and history that differs from their own, all whilst
improving their reading, writing and speaking abilities in the
French language. The following programmes in
French-speaking countries are sponsored by Indiana
University: Aix-en-Provence, France (semester or year),
Rwanda (semester or year), Rennes, France (semester or
year), Paris, France (summer), Québéc City, Canada
(summer), and Dakar, Sénégal (summer).
Financial Aid is available for all overseas study programmes.
In addition to traditional sources of financial assistance,
IU-Northwest students who wish to study in a
French-speaking country are encouraged to apply for the
Frank Caucci Memorial Scholarship (please see related
section).
5. Why should IUN students in French go and study in a
Francophone country? What advice might you give our
students?
A: Other than that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity,
it gives you the full picture on the language and culture. My
perception of this is much more vivid than before I left. My
best advice is to steer away from what you know. Try new
foods, talk to people who do not know English, and visit the
little places without tourists. It is worth it!
6. Being from Northwest Indiana, how well were you able to
adapt to life in Paris?
A: Considering that others thought I was European, I
adapted very well. I spent most of my life learning about
foreign cultures so it was easy to adapt to something new.
7. What was your favourite meal in Paris?
A: It is a tie between escargot and steak au poivre. They
both had unique tastes and are hard to get in Northwest
Indiana. I think that is why I like them so much.
8. Any additional advice or tips for our students who may
be considering overseas study?
A: Do not let finances get in the way of going abroad.
There are many scholarships available for anyone who
needs them. Also, networking is very important.
All photos in this issue were taken by Dr. Scooter Pégram
page
4
Student Spotlight - Sydney Raynor
1. Why did you choose to study
French?
I decided to take French in high
school only because the
majority of my classmates were
taking Spanish. I wanted to try
something different. After my
first semester of French, I
realised I really enjoyed the language and it was easy for
me to understand. Although high schools only require three
years of a language I decided to take French all four years.
It was not until my fourth year of French that I really felt
challenged. We were studying the history of France, and for
me it was very difficult to read and comprehend the history
of a country in a language other than English.
2. What is your favourite French subject so far?
So far, I would have to say that philosophy and literature are
some of my favourite French subjects. Although they are
challenging, I have learned so much. These subjects have
not only taught me about the history of many famous writers
and thinkers, but these subjects have also taught me
perseverance, patience, and serious critical thinking skills.
Studying these subjects in French has opened my mind to
so many different perspectives, and for that, I am forever
grateful.
3. What was the most challenging French subject?
The most challenging subject I have endured thus far is
conversation. It is one thing to sit in a classroom and learn
all the grammar aspects of the language, but to take all the
knowledge you have and form a conversation off the top of
your head is very difficult for me. I really have to think about
what I am trying to say. As much as I love learning about the
history and literature aspects of French, I am really excited
to finally be in a conversation course.
Pi Delta Phi
The IUN chapter of Pi Delta Phi (French honour
society), known as Xi Gamma, was founded in
2007 and has inducted over 25 present and
past students into this prestigious organisation.
To become eligible for membership in PDP, students must
have a GPA of at least 3.0 in all French courses and have
completed one upper-level course. All students of French
are encouraged to become lifetime members of PDP and
earn the right to be recognised at commencement with
honour cords.
4. Do you plan to continue with French studies once you
graduate?
Of course! It is really important to me that I know a second
language. Many countries other than the United States
teach languages to children before high school, that way
they are already bilingual by the time they become adults.
5. What are the advantages to studying in a small
programme at IUN?
The biggest advantage I would say is the class size and the
relationship with the professors. Being able to learn in a
smaller setting really helps with the learning process. The
professors really take their time to make sure you
understand and comprehend the material. Whereas at a
larger university, the relationship with the professor may not
be as strong making the learning process a lot more
difficult.
6. Have you used French outside of IUN?
The only experience I have with using French outside of
IUN is when I watch French films, or read French articles.
Fortunately, I will be leaving to study abroad for a year in
Aix-en-Provence, France this upcoming fall semester. I
cannot wait to take everything I have learned over the last
five years and put it to purposeful use. My goal is to
become fluent in the language by the time I return to the
states.
Above photo: Mannekin Pis dressed
for the holiday season.
Attention former French majors / Minors: Please keep us informed about your news (alumni news, life events, achievements, jobs, studies, etc).
Please send your information to Dr. Scooter Pégram ([email protected]) so we can highlight your accomplishments in future newsletters!
All photos in this issue were taken by Dr. Scooter Pégram