College Students' Perception of France and the French Language

Abstract

French enrollment in institutions of higher education has been dramatically decreasing since the 1980's all over the United States. A survey has been conducted in a small-sized college in southeastern Wisconsin to determine what students in all language classes thought of France and the French language and why they selected or did not select this language. A comparison between those students enrolled in French and those enrolled in other foreign language classes was made. The results showed that there were misperceptions about France and the French language. The comparison revealed that these misperceptions were the same for both groups. Students did not see France as an economic power nor did they see the practical applications of the French language, therefore they selected a language other than French at the college level or discontinued studying French after they had completed their language requirement. The fact that students did not select French and that French language students discontinued studying French may be an explanatory factor for the decrease in French enrollment at the college level.