Your idea of French culture might not comprise much more than wine and cheese, cafe au lait and croissants. If so, you must have missed the Department of Romance Studies' tribute to National French Week, a "week-long celebration of all things French" promoted by the American Association of Teachers of French.
Co-sponsored by the Department of Romance Studies, Duke in France and the Center for French and Francophone Studies, National French Week at Duke was organized in an effort to provide "a wonderful opportunity for students to learn more about French culture--beyond food," explained French language program Assistant Director Deborah Reisinger.
Activities and events were planned for every day this past week, from last Thursday through this Wednesday. The French Department kicked off the week with a festival Thursday afternoon in front of the Languages Building, attended by students, faculty members and several members of the Durham community.
"The event was very authentic," freshman Nina Reynolds remarked. The celebration continued that night with a screening of the film Chacun cherche son chat ("When the Cat's Away").
The founding of a Duke chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society, occurred Friday evening.
"[This] was long overdue," said Clare Tufts, director of the French language program. "It seemed like the perfect time to finally get it organized."
"We have been trying to find a way--or ways--for some time to have better communication with our majors and minors," she continued. "Professors see them in their classes... but there has never been another forum for getting to know each other."
Festivities continued through the weekend, with a screening of Marius and Jeannette Saturday night, followed by a Tahitian dance demonstration and lesson that drew crowds Sunday. Highlights for the rest of the week included a poetry recitation by French 76 students Monday and a French cheese-tasting that featured a short interlude of student-performed French drama to wrap up the week Wednesday night.
So does any of this reflect a renewed interest in French among Duke students?
The language requirements that were implemented with Curriculum 2000 have slightly increased enrollment in French classes, Tufts said. However, the number of students continuing in upper-level courses has more noticeably mounted. Study abroad has generated increased interest as well, she said.
The celebration of National French Week was intended as a means of fostering the continuation of this trend. Although some students participated because of class requirements, Tufts and Reisinger said they were pleased with attendance overall. Others said they plan to make the success of both National French Week and a French culture day--held on campus last spring--a tradition on campus.
Junior Simonne Lawrence was required to attend two events for her French 2 class, but she said she most likely would have gone on her own.
"It was a great idea. I didn't think it would be as well-attended as it was. It was good to experience for ourselves the things we had talked about in class. I would definitely go next year."
French culture will be kept alive throughout the year with various events and activities, including film screenings, class-oriented poetry recitations and trips to the Duke Primate Center to learn about French-speaking Madagascar.
Reisinger emphasized the growing ambition of French department faculty members as student interest in French-related activities on campus heightens: "Some universities don't want to take [National French Week] on," she said. "We hope it catches on [at Duke]."
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