Julia Jones

BA Honours '15

I graduated with a BA Honours in French in May 2015. When I arrived at Dalhousie, I already had an interest in French thanks to my high school French teacher and my love of travel, but I was still undecided on my major. However, the French Department impressed me right away with its small class sizes, tight-knit feel, and knowledgeable and encouraging professors. From my very first class, my professors provided helpful feedback and were always available to provide extra assistance or even just conversation practice. I was also impressed by the diverse classes offered by the department and the passion and enthusiasm that each one of my professors brought to his or her subject of expertise, whether it be grammar, literature, culture, linguistics, or translation. At Dalhousie, I saw firsthand how studying French opens doors to different cultures, great works of literature, and new friendships, all of which made me realize that French was the right choice for me.

There was no shortage of opportunities for me to improve my French, not just in class but outside as well. In my third and fourth years, I became involved in the French Society, serving as vice president and then as president. The wine and cheese socials, café and croissant conversation clubs, language trivia events, and movie nights that we organized were all great occasions to socialize with like-minded students, professors, and members of Halifax’s francophone community - all while practicing my French conversation skills.

A highlight of my degree was my year studying abroad in Dijon, France. While there, I lived with a French host family and took language and culture classes at the Université de Bourgogne. My time abroad was an incredibly formative experience for me; I travelled across France and Europe, and made friends from all over the world, and learned about French culture firsthand in my daily life. Most importantly, being immersed in a francophone environment improved my oral and written French significantly.

Additionally, I enjoyed the academic challenge offered by the honours degree option, which gave me the opportunity to study a subject I was fascinated by (the historical novel) in depth through my honours thesis, with the support and supervision of one of my professors. I finished my degree confident that I was well-prepared for more advanced studies in French in the future.

After graduation, I worked for two years as an English-language teaching assistant, first in Normandy, France, and then in Shawinigan, Québec. Once again, the French skills that I had acquired at Dalhousie proved invaluable. Although my job required me to speak English with my students, a good knowledge of French was crucial in all other aspects of my daily life, from apartment hunting to grocery shopping to chatting with colleagues in the staffroom. Thanks to my studies at Dalhousie, I had the necessary language skills to feel at home and flourish in two small communities with almost no other English speakers, all while acquiring valuable work experience.  

I can’t thank my professors and the French Department enough for providing me with the knowledge and support to acquire strong French skills, as well as an appreciation of French literature and culture. I left Dalhousie with a strong desire to use French in a future career, and I am currently about to begin a Master’s degree in Translation Studies at Concordia University, with the goal of becoming a professional translator after graduation.