French & Francophone Studies Major Jobs and Graduate School Acceptances 2019
French
Winnie Le
Majors: educational studies, French & Francophone studies
Hometown: Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Graduate School: University College London
Field of study: comparative education
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
All the meaningful relationships I nurtured with other Dickinsonians (my professors, my peers, my employers, my Toulouse host family, etc.) have greatly facilitated my personal growth, tremendously enriched my worldview and prepared me well for the future.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Being an English writing tutor and studying abroad in Toulouse (for both a summer semester and a spring semester)!
Gisele Betances
Majors: political science, French & Francophone studies
Hometown: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Fellowship: CORO Fellowship in Public Affairs
Purpose of fellowship: leadership development in public policy
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
I think that Dickinson has prepared me for life after college by really changing the way I think about the world and my place in it. It challenged me to think about the problems in our society and to analyze how those problems came about. It was this education that really helped me understand what I wanted to do after college. Dickinson also has prepared me for life by improving my writing skills. I didn't realize how important it would be until I was applying for fellowships.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I think what I anticipate the most about my career is getting to really put into action the knowledge I learned at Dickinson, hopefully using it to make my community better.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
I think the most defining moments of my Dickinson career are the people I have met and the community service I was able to do. I was a part of Alpha Phi Omega, a community service organization. It was there with the people that I met that I learned how important community is. That really grounded not only me but also how I focused my studies and the directions I took to become a better member of my community.
Internship Experience
I did an internship at Church World Services (CWS), which focuses on refugee resettlement. CWS is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was an amazing experience that really shaped my studies moving forward. Some of my duties there were:
- organizing biweekly cultural orientation for newly resettled clients
- working as a Spanish and French translator for Cuban and Haitian refugees
- aiding in administrative work
- and working with a caseworker with individual clients.
Rachael Franchini
Majors: French & Francophone studies, political science, international studies
Hometown: Ravena, New York
Employer: TAPIF - Teaching Assistant Program in France
Job title: English teaching assistant
Job Responsibilities
I will be assigned to one or more schools in the Toulouse region to assist middle and high school teachers in their English classrooms. I may be assigned to multiple schools at different class levels and will provide expertise as a native English speaker on language and American culture.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has prepared me for life after graduation in many different ways. My study abroad experience in Toulouse, France, has clearly informed my goals and my future. I am very grateful for all of the diverse and eye-opening classes I have taken via my three majors and the groups and organizations I have led and been a part of.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I am excited to return to Toulouse, where I studied abroad during my junior year. I learned so much about myself and had the most incredibly rewarding experiences in this city, and so I cannot wait to return as an employee rather than a student. Following my time in this program for the 2019-20 school year, I plan to attend law school and study international law. I know that my time abroad during my junior year and my future position in Toulouse are invaluable international experiences.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
The two most important aspects of my Dickinson experience have been the relationships I have made with my professors and my work on The Dickinsonian, Dickinson's student-run newspaper. I have worked as a research assistant for a professor, and I have formed incredible bonds with some of the most intelligent people I have ever met. I have so much respect for the professors at Dickinson, especially those in the international studies and French departments. The work that I have done as editor-in-chief of The Dickinsonian has been extremely important to me as well, because I have learned so much about journalism and learned countless practical skills, as well as finding out a lot about Dickinson as an institution.
Internship Experience
PoliticsPA: online political newspaper based in Harrisburg reporting on local, statewide and national political news. My position was as a contributing writer and this position was held remotely.
The Campaign of Elizabeth Esty (D-CT5): My position was as a campaign volunteer for House of Representatives member Esty. I helped with fundraising events, planning, calling constituents and other administrative tasks to support the campaign team. This position was based in Connecticut and involved travel throughout the fifth district of the state.
Andrea Barrows
Majors: educational studies, French & Francophone studies
Hometown: West Hartford, Connecticut
Employer: TAPIF - Teaching Assistant Program in France
Job title: teaching assistant
Job Responsibilities
I will be teaching English in one or more middle/high schools in Strasbourg, France.
How has Dickinson prepared you for life after graduation?
Dickinson has taught me how to write, think critically, advocate for myself and be independent. I've also improved my language skills through studying abroad in Toulouse, and that will help me as I move on to my next step of teaching in France.
What are you most anticipating about your career or postgraduate pursuits?
I'm excited to travel and explore more of France. I'm also excited to eventually teach in independent schools and potentially get a master's degree in education policy.
What are some of the defining moments of your Dickinson experience?
Study abroad, relationships with faculty/peers and involvement in the music department.
Internship Experience
I interned at King Philip Middle School in West Hartford, Conn., mainly with 6th-grade French classes. I helped with homework, group activities and classroom management.
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Published April 6, 2019