However, the program goes beyond the basic skills to include learning about the cultures of France and French-speaking countries and examining other attitudes and traditions and relating them to the students' own world. At the upper levels communication of ideas and feelings through literature leads to classroom discussions. Use of French is also strongly encouraged outside the classroom at the French table in the dining hall, at occasional informal gatherings in teachers' homes, at the state French convention and in any way possible on campus.
All students write regularly in journals.
Students have the opportunity to take the National French Exam and usually score quite well. After completion of studies in French, the students should have a broader understanding of the world they live in as well as the capacity to communicate effectively in a second language. During the first two years the students acquire a basic proficiency in speaking, comprehension and writing. An interactive video program rich in cultural material serves as a basis for class discussions, which are conducted almost entirely in French. Audio tapes and other supporting materials are used at home.