Initiatives to promote the French language in the United States

Why?
The south west of the United States is a multilingual territory: the history and geography of this region bring the issue of language to the forefront. In addition, many expatriates are settling in the United States, increasing the demand for bilingual or international schools. The French language is far from being left out of this framework: because of its prestige and the large community of French and Franco-Americans, this language is a major asset for personal improvement as well as for professional insertion. Today, French is the fourth most used language in the United States. To make a difference, why not learn it?

What?
Several schooling options are available, in addition to extracurricular activities promoting French:

• You can already distinguish the French as Foreign Language program (if you are American), the Dual Language Immersion Program (whether you speak French or English... or both!), and the French Curriculum Schools (if you are looking for accredited French education in the US);
• Then, depending on the program you choose, you will have the opportunity to take either the American Baccalaureate, the French Baccalaureate (French curriculum), or the International Baccalaureate (IB). The goal? Bilingualism!

Who?
The Consulate supports French or Franco-American schools that have been approved by the French Ministry of Education (mainly the Lycées Français), or American public and private schools that wish to implement or foster a French program or course.

• The French high schools abroad benefit from the support of the French government to maintain their quality of education and to intensify cultural exchanges with France.
  

• We also help American or Franco-American organizations that want to promote the French language and/or culture. Multilingualism is a major issue for all schools today. Whether you are a parent, a teacher or a school principal, you should know that there is a great deal of flexibility in setting up these French programs to meet the aspirations of all students. In all cases, this allows for immersion in both languages, and leads students to bilingualism. In short, the choice is yours!

How?
Don’t panic, we can help you both logistically and financially in your quest to maintain or acquire French classes.

• Are you a member of the teaching staff of a school? While French high schools benefit each year from the scholarships distributed to students by the AEFE, we can help American schools develop a French program by offering advice, organizing visits to other schools, and providing financial, recruitment, and professional development support through the French Dual Language Fund. If you are interested in opening a DLI program in your school, please click here. We also offer all schools a wide range of pedagogical resources, programs and events, such as contests and calls for projects to stimulate educational activities around the French language and culture. For schools under agreement with France, don’t forget that it is possible to obtain the Holy Grail, namely a FrancEducation labelwhich attests to the excellence of your teaching program.

• Are you a parent? We can help you find a school that meets your aspirations and your child’s specific needs. We can also provide you with an income-based scholarship if you decide to enroll your child in an AEFE-accredited French curriculum school.

• Are you a teacher or do you aspire to be one? We regularly offer training programs to French teachers in France, or to Americans who would like to teach French. If you are in the latter case, you may be interested in TAPIF, as well as our Multi-State Pathways to Teaching French. On top of that, we help you improve your teaching skills throughout your career by organizing professional development workshops and summer institutes. Also, we often update our website with a list of available teaching jobs. Finally, we provide teachers with resources and assistance, helping them to implement recreational and artistic projects (theater, films, contests, lotteries, etc.). In particular, ourCinéSchool program is dedicated to spread the French-speaking film culture, allowing students to watch a selection of films and then tackle them in class through various activities.

Why?
The Consulate is also reaching out to universities and colleges to strengthen the teaching and learning of the French language, and to establish new partnerships and Franco-American exchange programs. In today’s hyper-connected and multicultural world, we must support innovation and research by building bridges between American and French institutions, and by allowing young professionals to use their language skills to improve their performance. It is clear today that the job market is competitive, and bilingualism is a significant advantage in obtaining a well-paying job. French is the third most requested language on the American labor market, particularly in sectors such as insurance, healthcare, finance, and humanitarian aid. We are therefore also developing the learning of professional French.

What?
Our goal is to promote Franco-American cooperation and research. Through the debates of ideas and events that we organize with university French departments or volunteer Francophile professors from any department, we increase the knowledge of opportunities related to France or the French language in the higher education community. In addition, we also accompany institutions that wish to create partnerships with their French counterparts.

Who?
For all universities and colleges that are interested in the development of the French language and the opportunities it will bring to their students. In particular, we support university departments of French or European Studies. For some time now, we have been focusing our attention on community colleges to build new partnerships with these institutions and to offer mobility to their students.

How?

• In the university setting: We promote partnerships between American and French universities / community colleges that foster student mobility. By the way, don’t miss our annual calls for projects (Transatlantic Mobility Program, Community College in France, etc.)! We also provide various scholarships to American university students and researchers who wish to study in France and benefit from its academic excellence. For instance, through our Graduate Scholars in France and Chateaubriand Fellowship programs, we are able to support the stay of Master’s and Ph.D. students in France, while our Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) is specifically designed to allow American students to obtain a teaching certificate at a French university while working as a language assistant. On the French side, we enable French doctoral students and scholars to study in the United States thanks to the Fulbright grant program supported by the French Embassy. For your information, Campus France has listed all available scholarships here.

• Outside the walls: We firmly believe that the French language experience acquired at university can open doors for new graduates in the United States. With this in mind, we work with you to create an alumni network that promotes France in the U.S. and is a practical way to help each other find jobs. We also organize conferences and job fairs at universities so that the students can meet with leaders in French language education and business representatives. Finally, we help universities add professional French to their course offerings.

Below are the non-profits and companies promoting the learning of French abroad. Their courses can be an excellent extra push (extracurricular French) or an introduction to the language of Molière.

• The Alliances françaises: The Alliances are a network of schools that promote French culture and language abroad, particularly in the United States. Recognized as being of public utility, these local foundations under private law benefit from the supervision of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs thanks to their common mission of spreading the French language abroad. They can award DELF or DALF diplomas to students who have acquired a sufficient level of French during their training at an Alliance. Many events and festivities are also organized by the Alliances to promote French culture. Find more information here.

• The AEFE: The Agency for French Education Abroad is a national public institution managed by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. Its mission is to manage and support the promotion of the French language and to strengthen relations between the French and foreign education systems. It is notably the AEFE that distributes the FrancEducation label of excellence, that trains all the personnel of its network and that provides school scholarships to French families, as well as Excellence-Major scholarships for foreigners who want to study in France. Find more information here.

• FLAM: These extracurricular French language associations are for resident, expatriate or bi-national families for children between 3 and 18 years old. They offer you the possibility to learn French or to maintain your level, all at very affordable rates. The objective is to allow students who wish to continue their studies in France, or to reinforce their French identity. Find more information here.

• The CNED: The National Center for Distance Learning is open to all people of all ages, to follow a French school or higher education course online, in initial or professional training. In addition, American school principals can benefit from the CNED’s help to complete and diversify the school’s course offerings. Find more information here.

• Campus France USA: This association is mainly for American students who wish to pursue their studies in France and who need assistance and logistical support to apply to a university, find housing, etc. Campus France also provides scholarships to Americans who make this choice. Find more information here.

To get updates on our projects and programs, follow us on social media: Instagram, X, and Facebook, subscribe to our newsletter, and check regularly the consulate, cultural services and Albertine Foundation websites.

If you have any questions, please contact Benoît Labat, Higher Education and French Language Attaché: benoit.labat@frenchculture.org.