French major finds her voice - from campus to Cannes

Emily Adamo, a French major in the department of Romance Languages, wrote about her personal language journey – from her first course to her participation in the UGA en France 5-week summer program directed by Senior lecturer Debbie Bell and then the AIFS Semester in Cannes. Already achieving B2 level proficiency, Emily's story provides a wonderful example that tout est possible!

As February approaches, I find myself nearing the one-year mark since I left for Cannes, France, to spend four months studying and interning on the French Riviera. The summer before, I participated in UGA en France, UGA’s summer study away program, which solidified my desire to live abroad for a full semester. Those five weeks confirmed that I was ready for a longer, more intensive experience. As I looked through the study abroad portal, the AIFS Semester in Cannes, France stood out to me as my perfect fit.

After months of preparation—filling out paperwork, securing my visa, and building an extensive Excel packing list—it was time for my program to begin, and Campus International de Cannes became my new home. My mornings began with three hours of intensive French language classes, where my peers and I practiced grammar, conversations, listening and writing. We listened to francophone music and watched movies centered on French history and culture, which pushed us to both comprehend and discuss complex ideas in French.

In addition to my language class, I took two weekly seminars that allowed me to apply what I learned each morning to real conversation and discussion. My French Theatrical Expression class focused on pronunciation, training my mouth to form unfamiliar sounds and my ear to recognize subtle differences in tone and rhythm. In French Society, we discussed politics, cultural norms, and contemporary social issues, gaining insight into France beyond its reputation of delicate pastries and the Eiffel Tower.

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Thank you, Emily, for sharing this reflection of your academic journey.

Image: Photo of Gilbert Hall, UGA North campus, home of the department of Romance Languages.