French Program

French is one of the easiest languages for English-speakers to master.¹  French is considered by many to be the Romance language most similar to English.  About 45% of all English words can be traced to French, so learning French can also improve your English-language skills, too.²

Absolutely! The culture and economy of the United States has become increasingly diverse and globalized. Knowledge of a language other than English is a highly sought after professional qualification as well as a valuable life skill. In addition to increased brain function, such as improving memory and communication skills, learning French increases your career prospects in a variety of fields such as accounting, aviation, business, government, health care, law enforcement, teaching, technology, research, the visual arts (graphic design, media arts and design, etc.)  and many more.

Yes! Here are some statistics. The French-speaking world accounts for 19% of world trade in goods.³  France has the 7th largest economy in the world (2020).⁴  It also has the largest exclusive economic zone in the world (2018).⁵  France is one of the top five investors in the United States,⁶ and it is the third biggest foreign employer in the U.S. (after the U.K. and Japan).⁷

Finally, one out of ten employees in the U.S. working for a foreign-owned company are employed by a French subsidiary.⁸  There is not a single American state without a French business within its borders.⁹

Language majors in the US earned the highest average starting salary of all liberal arts majors.¹⁰  They also have better employment prospects overall. In a study of over four million resumes, the college liberal arts major with the fewest underemployed graduates was “Foreign Languages, Literature, and Linguistics” (2018).¹¹

In 2019, 22% of US companies said they relied on having employees who could speak French. This makes French the third most requested/relied-upon non-English language by US companies after Spanish and Mandarin.¹² French was the second most tested foreign language by employers, tied with Mandarin, after Spanish (2019).¹³  Online job listings seeking bilingualism with French almost tripled from 2010 to 2015.¹⁴  From 2012-2017, the demand for bilingual workers in the United States more than doubled.¹⁵

Yes! By 2050, French is expected to be the third most spoken language in the world.¹⁶ The number of French speakers has increased by 25% from 2010 (and by 7% since 2018)¹⁷ to over 320 million.¹⁸ The total number of French speakers in the world has tripled since 1945.¹⁹

You must be a current student to take a French class at Cypress College. When the registration period for the term opens, review the class schedule and choose a course level and day/time/modality that fits your needs and your schedule. Then enroll for your chosen course via myGateway.

If you are not a current student, you will need to go through the admissions and orientation process before you can enroll in a French course. Go to the Admissions and Registration page and follow the steps there to apply.

Yes. To skip FREN 101 or 102, contact Professor Karen Le Cornet (klecornet@cypresscollege.edu) to request a waiver of the prerequisite. She will assess your French proficiency. If you are proficient enough, you will be granted a waiver.

I want to take French for fun or just to learn. I do not plan to transfer to a 4-year university. Is there a non-grading option? Yes, there is an audit option. Auditing a class means that you will not receive any college credit for the class, but you will be able to attend lectures, learn French and participate in activities. To audit a class, first send an email to Karen Le Cornet (klecornet@cypresscollege.edu) to request permission. Then go to Admissions & Records Forms and submit an Audit Request online.

The type of job you can get in a French-speaking country depends on your major, skills, and experience. Moreover, you have any of the following options:

1. you can choose a different major while taking French courses
2. you can double major in French and another discipline
3. you can minor in French

If you want to work in France or another French-Speaking country, it is important to first learn as much French as you can. Start with taking a French course at Cypress College where we offer four levels:  FREN 101, 102, 203, and 204.

Once you have completed the elementary levels (101 and 102), consider certifying your ability to use French in your chosen job sector by getting the Diploma in French for Professions (Diplôme de Français Professionel, DFP). To receive the DFP, you will take and pass an online exam as well as an oral interview. This diploma is recognized by the French Ministry for the Interior and is valid for life. Moreover, you may take the exam in various centers in the U.S. The DFP certifies various French proficiency levels for the following sectors:  Business; International Relations; Tourism, Hospitality, Catering; and Healthcare.

In addition to the DFP, below is a list of certificates and associate degrees that can boost your resume by combining French skills with your professional interests:

• Advanced Airline Customer Services Certificate
• Advanced Flight Attendant Certificate
• Advanced Travel/Tourism Certificate
• Airline Customer Services Associate in Science Degree
• Associate in Science Degree Career Technical Education – Tourism
• Associate in Science Degree Travel/Tourism
• Computer Science Associate in Science Degree for Transfer
• Associate in Science Degree Pre-Engineering
• English Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer (AA-T)
• Environmental Science Associate in Science Degree for Transfer (AS-T)
• Geology Associate in Science Degree for Transfer (AS-T)
• HOTEL – RESTAURANT – CULINARY ARTS
• Associate in Arts in Journalism for Transfer
• Business Economics Certificate
• Business Management Associate in Science Degree
• Business Management Certificate
• Small Business Management Associate in Science Degree
• Small Business Management Certificate
• Legal Videographer Certificate
• 2D Animation Certificate
• 3D Animation Certificate
• Advertising and Emerging Technologies Certificate
• Character and Background Design for Animation and Game Art Certificate
• Digital Cinema Arts and Industry Certificate
• Digital Cinema Production Certificate
• Digital Cinema Techniques and Technologies Certificate
• Digital Illustration Certificate
• Film, Television and Electronic Media Associate in Science Degree for Transfer (AS-T)
• Graphic Design Associate in Arts Degree
• Graphic Design Certificate
• Motion Design Certificate
• Post Production Basics for Cinema and Video Certificate
• Storyboarding Certificate
• Merchandising Associate in Science Degree
• Merchandising Certificate
• Recreation Assistant Certificate
• Acting for Stage & Screen Certificate
• Associate in Arts Degree Theatre Arts Performance
• Associate in Arts in Theatre Arts for Transfer Degree (AA-T)
• Costume and Makeup Design Certificate
• Lighting and Sound Design Certificate
• Musical Theatre Performance Certificate
• Technical Theatre Certificate
• Theatre Design Associate in Science Degree

Having French skills widens your career opportunities and gives you a competitive edge in the job market. Your opportunities will increase in many industries such as:

• Business: You could work as an accountant, marketing manager, or business consultant for a French or Canadian company.
• Consulting firms: Consulting firms are another great option for people with French skills. French consulting firms often work with French and international companies on a variety of projects, such as market research, strategy development, and IT consulting. If you have strong French skills and an MBA, you could work as a management consultant for a consulting firm.
• Education: You could teach French to English speakers or teach English in France and its overseas departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guinea, Réunion and Mayotte). The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) only requires a Bachelor’s degree and intermediate proficiency in French. French minors can apply. It is a great entry-level position that also gives you international work/living experience.
• Fashion: France has a long history and heritage of haute couture, ateliers and boutiques. Many fashion houses (Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton) and luxury brands (Balmain, Cartier, Hermès, Yves St. Laurent) are headquartered in France but have a global network. You could work as an apparel associate, sales associate, stylist, visual merchandiser, or retail buyer.  
• Finance: French banks as well as accounting and investment firms are always looking for bilingual employees. Many have a global network, which include subsidiaries and branch offices in the U.S. and abroad. Some examples are BNP Paribas (Bank of the West), Société Générale, and Crédit Agricole.
• Hospitality: You could work as a tour guide, hotel receptionist, or restaurant server in a hotel or restaurant and assist French-speaking clients or customers.
• Information and software: You could work as a software engineer, product manager, technical writer, or IT security engineer for a French tech company.
• Law: French law firms are increasingly hiring bilingual lawyers to help them with international transactions.
• Media: French media companies are always looking for bilingual journalists,  content creators, editors, public relations specialists, social media specialists, and production assistants.
• Medical: You could work as a French translator, interpreter, or medical assistant in a hospital or clinic in the U.S. or abroad.
• Technology companies: France is a major player in the global technology industry, as French is fourth most widely used language on the internet.²¹ If you have strong French skills and a background in technology or media, you could work for a French animation company such as Illumination Entertainment, Folimage or Studio Ghibli (French branch) as well as French tech companies like Criteo, OpenDataSoft and Vestiaire Collective.
• Tourism: You could work as a travel agent, airplane attendant, tour guide, or event planner for French-speaking tourists.
• Trading companies: French trading companies are some of the largest and most successful businesses in the world. They operate in a wide range of industries, including import/export, logistics, accounting and finance. If you have strong French skills, you could work as a business development manager, market researcher, or financial analyst for a French accounting firm or trading company.

We have an amazing and experienced tutor named Vy Nguyen who has been helping our students since 2021. She is here to support you throughout the semester. I encourage you to see her for help with French conversation practice (speaking), learning grammar, reviewing writing assignments, or studying for exams as often as needed.

Vy provides free French tutoring services at the Learning Resource Center. She is usually available for walk-ins and appointments on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays. Please send her an email (mhuynhnguyen@cypresscollege.edu) to schedule an appointment or to ask about details on tutoring services.

The French Program is transitioning to become Zero-Textbook-Cost (ZTC), which means all course textbooks for its courses will be free! Beginning fall 2024, FREN 101 course materials will be available online via a downloadable PDF. Beginning spring 2025, FREN 102 will also be ZTC. Additional free instructional materials will be given in the classroom and/or embedded in Canvas. Second-year French courses (FREN 203 and FREN 204) will be ZTC by spring 2026.