Thursday, May 11, 2017

The Host Family Experience:  What Was I Thinking?!
Zachary M. Jones


What were you thinking, Zach?! I ask myself as I wait on the street corner to be (basically) adopted by a French family.  It would have been so easy to just stay in the dorms with your own privacy, perfectly-working wifi, and everything right there for you!  Why did you think you had to be so bold and adventurous and stay in some strangers’ home?!
At this very moment, aside from questioning what in the world I was thinking when I signed up for this, I’m sweating down my neck and back with my backpack on and huge suitcase by my side, looking around for any sign of them.  Cars zoom by left and right, and I wonder if they've already hauled right past me.  What car am I even supposed to be looking for?  
I think to myself:  Zach, I can’t imagine what you look like right now. The only thing missing to make you look even more out of place at this point is a Nike baseball cap and white sneakers! The Montpellier sun is beating down on the Earth, and there is the faintest salty sea breeze from the Mediterranean.  Deep breaths, Zach.  Just breathe, I tell myself, having hopes that this lame zen technique will work.  My heart is beating through my chest and I can hear each pump of pure adrenaline run from my toes, up my spine, and out my ears.  I am minutes away from finally meeting ma famille française.  I’m physically shaking and emotionally numb, yet feeling every emotion run through my body: fear, excitement, uncertainty, stress, ...but most of all, anticipation.  Anticipation for the adventure ahead of me.  Les aventures chez ma famille française.  
A chugging little Peugeot comes whipping around the traffic circle, and something inside of me knows instantly that this is them.  I just feel it.  All of these feelings instantly subside as I am surrounded.  Bisous are given left and right, all of my luggage is taken out of my hands.  Before I know it, I’m part their family -fully accepted as their American son.  
Fast forward four months, and I’m at our kitchen table holding back tears as we enjoy our last meal together.  I’m showered in small gifts and praised for how much my French has improved.  I’m thinking, irrationally of course, of what I can possibly do tomorrow morning to miss my flight back to the States and stay here with them forever.  I think of all the amazing people I’ve met along the way, and what job I can land tomorrow that will allow me to stay here forever.   
What I initially thought was extremely true.  It would have been so easy to just stay in the dorms with my own privacy, perfectly working wifi, and everything right there for me.  But that wouldn’t have changed me as a person.  I wouldn’t have been forced to try hundreds of kinds of French cheese, learned the inside scoop of the upcoming French election, or try blood sausage in fear of seeming rude or ungrateful.  I wouldn’t have learned half of the swear words that the French use when driving, or have had to look up how to say, “Umm...I think I might have clogged the toilet upstairs”.  I wouldn’t have had a French brother to watch le football  with at the bars, learned the traditions of a French Christmas, traditional French gender relations, or made connections in my French city that will last a lifetime.  
If you go abroad, please take my advice: Go all the way.  If the opportunity is available to you, live with une famille and learn the culture from the inside out -literally.  I’m sure  you’ll ask yourself What was I thinking?!, but I promise you that you won’t be the same person that you are today.  Profitez-en !












“A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for”

Friday, January 8, 2016

About the Blogger

Mikayla Kozlowski


Madeleines at The Discovery of Proust Presentation Spring 2015


The Department of World Languages and Culture's Communications Intern for Fall semester 2015 was the department's very own junior French Adolescence Education major, Mikayla Kozlowski. 

Mikayla knew from a very young age that she wanted to become a French teacher and that passion has never wavered. She also knew from the moment she heard about Fredonia that it was the school for her; she applied Early Decision her senior year and was accepted into the French Adolescence Education program for Fall 2013. 




Mikayla has been active on campus, holding Executive Board positions throughout her college career in clubs such as Treasurer of French Club, Civic Engagement Chair of Teacher Education Club, eGroups Coordinator of Elevation, and President of French Club. In her spare time, if and when she has some, she tutors students and adults in the community, in French! 

This Spring semester 2016 she will be studying abroad in Paris, France, an experience she has been saving for since she was 13. Due to her enrollment in a SUNY university she is able to enroll in other SUNY study abroad programs. Her specific program is through SUNY Oswego, and she will be studying at La Sorbonne in Paris while also completing a unpaid internship at a preschool in Paris and living with a host family, also in Paris. 

After she completes her undergraduate program, along with the thousands (not really) exams for initial teaching certification, Mikayla plans on continuing her education at Graduate School at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, mastering in French Linguistics. 

As exciting as the final semesters of her Fredonia journey are, she is torn between excitement and sadness with the thought of leaving the university full of experiences, professors and classmates that taught her so much and shaped her life. When Mikayla returns from studying abroad she will complete her methods courses for teaching and student teach, graduating Spring semester 2017.

To follow Mikayla's journey studying abroad you can read her blog www.mllekozlowski.unblog.fr (it is in French so Google Translate will be necessary for some)

Friday, December 4, 2015

Why Fredonia?

Check out the Department of World Language and Culture's YouTube channel!

Channel Name: World Languages Fredonia

Students from the Department of World Languages and Cultures explained why they chose Fredonia, why they stayed at Fredonia, and why everyone should come to Fredonia in our new video!



https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdpgmtbOL0NHt3pB5kniUiQ?view_as=public

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Culture Fest Fall 2015

Kickoff to International Education Week!






On November 16th the Center for Multicultural Affairs hosted Culture Fest as part of International Education Week. The night began around 7:30 PM and included performances by a Capella groups, spoken word and slam poets and cultural dancers and performers. 



Tables of Fredonia's multicultural clubs bordered the Williams Center MPR and offered a variety of crafts and activities for attendees. Latinos Unidos and French Club were some of the clubs that were involved. 



Overall, it was a great night of cultural learning!
Flueron Rouge Belly Dancers

Monday, November 16, 2015

Where is the Department of World Languages and Cultures?

Check out our new video that shows you exactly where to locate our department!

No more excuses not to add a major or minor in Spanish, French, Latino Studies, or Italian Studies!


Stop by anytime to speak to a professor or our Department Chair, Juan De Urda!

Gracias!
Merci!
Grazie!

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

French Club Hosts Events for National French Week

National French Week



Each November the American Association of Teachers of French organizes a week of events (Wednesday to Tuesday) to celebrate the French culture and language. 



French Club's Executive Board at the French Formal Dinner
l'Alliance Des Amis Français, Fredonia's French Club, celebrated this week-long party for their second year in a row from November 4th-10th with movie nights with International Club, free food, formal dinners, library displays, and more! Check out some pictures from the events and make sure not to miss next Fall's celebration and events!

Popular fairy tales by French authors display in Reed Library


Screening of the film, "Les Intouchables"













Free crêpes at Centre Point


French Club meets every other Wednesday in the William's Center S226 at 8:00 PM.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Tourism and the Importance of Foreign Language

Hospitality is an ever growing industry with the continuing globalization of the world. 



That being said, the type of visitor that tourist destinations sees varies greatly in culture, region, and expectation. The tourism industry must cater to the needs of these varied individuals through the customization of services offered to these guests. This was an attribute that was clear to me during my time interning for the Walt Disney Company.

During my time as an intern, I worked front desk at one of Disney’s deluxe resorts in Walt Disney World. My responsibilities included checking guests in and out of the hotel, answering questions, giving directions and anything I could do to make their stay more comfortable.


Rita's name tag!
Each day, I interacted with guests from not only across the country but from around the world. This sometimes presented a challenge for myself and co-workers because of language barriers, however, there were ways around this challenge. For example, we had a language line, which enabled you to be able to talk directly with the guest. The language line was connected to a phone and each person would be on one end. You would talk into the phone and the language line would translate your words into the target language and vice versa. The language line was a beneficial tool for interacting with guests on a personalized level. Another way we could combat the language barrier was through multilingual staff.


If you work for the Walt Disney World and speak another language, in addition to English, you can take an oral examination to demonstrate your abilities in the other language. Upon passing the examination, you receive a new name tag that notes the other languages you speak. For example, I took the exam for French and after passing I received a new name tag that said “Français” on it. The language being noted on the name tag is a way to let non-native English speakers know that they have the option to speak in their native language, if that is more comfortable for them. Speaking in someone's native language with them demonstrates that an extra effort was given to make the guest comfortable and demonstrates a sense of respect for his or her culture as well. This ensures the guest that their individual need will be tended to and that the company aims high to make the guest feel more welcome in an unknown environment.

Hospitality is such a crucial element in the tourism industry for both the guest and the company. By making the guest comfortable and at home, the guest feels secure and is more likely to return, which will generate future income for the company. At the same time, tourism and hospitality are more than just producing an income. It is an opportunity to showcase different places and cultures, demonstrating what makes them unique and travel worthy.


By Rita Cain