A summer in Paris gave these BYU students the chance to see how the French language has transformed—and how their French could, too.
Since it originated, the French language has spread to several continents across the globe, with more than 25 countries listing it as an official language. However, the language that existed a thousand years ago looked and sounded much different from the French used today. This summer, BYU students studying abroad in Paris explored how the language and culture of France has changed throughout time. Their experiences helped them find confidence in their ability to communicate, and just as the language has evolved over time, their proficiency also evolved like never before.
French Firsthand
The study abroad, titled “Paris: French Then and Now,” was designed to teach students about the history of the French language and how it compares to Modern French. While in Paris, students visited museums to view texts demonstrating the linguistic changes that have occurred over time. For example, when viewing a copy of the Bible in French that used different spelling, students noticed that where Old French used a silent s, Modern French uses a circumflex accent (^). Annie Dunn (English ’28), one of the students on the study abroad, says, “It was cool to see what we were learning applied.”
The city became their classroom. As students traveled throughout Paris, they were tasked with making conversation with locals, like asking for directions or approaching someone at a museum to discuss a piece of art. Dunn says she appreciates how the study abroad pushed her to have conversations she may not have started on her own. For years, Dunn’s fear of making mistakes held her back from speaking French, but she says being in France helped transform her expectation from “speaking French perfectly to just speaking French.” She realized that even if she made mistakes, being able to communicate with others was what mattered most.
With plenty of opportunities to practice his French, Noah Hansen (Business Management ’28) also felt his confidence increase throughout the study abroad. “I always tried to engage with the people around me to learn more about them,” he says. Hansen spent as much time as possible conversing with those around him, including his host family. For him, the experience extends beyond Paris. He says, “When I speak French, I’m a more outgoing person.” Transferring that confidence back home has encouraged him to be more outgoing in his everyday life.
Adventures Abroad
While in France, the students also had time to explore the country. Dunn says it was the little moments that meant a lot to her, whether she was getting gelato with classmates, sitting at a park, or enjoying the Paris temple grounds.Hansen said a highlight for him was attending La Fête du Pain, an annual bread festival that takes place in Paris. He also loved visiting villages in the French countryside. “I just enjoyed being there and being with the people,” he says.
Both Dunn and Hansen are minoring in French, and their time in France left them with an increased passion for the language. Now that Dunn has spoken to people in French, she says she feels more motivated to practice. Hansen is even considering turning his minor into a major. Both students say studying the language while abroad helped connect what they learned in the classroom to the real world, giving them a deeper understanding of the language and increased motivation to continue learning it. Studying abroad rather than in the classroom “felt a lot more applicable,” Dunn says. “If you can go on a study abroad, I would highly recommend it.”
Learn more about upcoming study abroad programs on the Kennedy Center website.