Language students meet with these Apprentice Teachers in small groups five hours a week, in addition to the five regular classes with a faculty member, to practice role-play, grammatical strucures, and conversational skills. Over the years, it has proved to be an invaluable aspect of our program. Kenyon students with good language skills have an excellent chance of becoming peer teachers and, if selected, they earn an hourly wage both for preparation time and class time. The best part of the experience of being an Apprentice Teacher is without doubt the rare opportunity to gain experience in a leadership role. This is for students who want to have a solid grounding in the history and analysis of French literature from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century.
Students also achieve some familiarity with current methods of literary criticism.
After completing the requirements for the Literature Major, students are prepared for more advanced study in French literary studies at the post-graduate level. Even if they choose not to pursue literary studies beyond Kenyon, they leave here with the ability to analyze and interpret a wide range of difiicult texts, the skills to express themselves subtly and effectively in writing and speaking, and familiarity with the oldest and richest active literary tradition in Europe. This is for students who wish to direct their study of French and Francophone culture by taking relevant courses in other academic departments in conjunction with their studies within the French program. In the past, students have concentrated on interdisciplinary studies involving French history, economics, art, politics or other fields. Courses taught by other departments, such as Modern French History in the History Department, or on the political philosophy of Montesquieu or Rousseau in the Political Science Department, may be used to satisfy the requirements for the Area Studies major, with prior approval of the course instructor.