Stories

French studies alumni share their stories from the TAPIF program

Naiya Delaure:

If not for being a French major, I don’t think I would have even heard of the TAPIF program. The professors in the department encouraged me to explore post-grad options that would further my French skills as well as employ the language abilities I have gained during my time here at SCU. I entered the school not even wanting to minor in French, but now my post- graduation plans are centered around my French major. Going abroad for a whole year to help French students learn English will be an incredible experience that would not be possible without my French major, as you need to have strong French skills to join the TAPIF program. The professors from the French department were able to write me stellar letters of recommendation and support me through the whole process. I am so grateful to the whole French department and all they have done to help me through finding post-graduate plans that will further my career goals and my French language skills!

Bianca Romero:

I did not plan to major in French when I began my studies at Santa Clara, but after several quarters I fell in love with the coursework. Studying abroad in Paris my junior year changed how I viewed the world and how I viewed myself. After studying abroad in Paris I knew I wanted to return to France. I learned of the TAPIF program from the French department and decided to apply for the year after graduation. As someone interested in pursuing a career in education I am excited to get classroom experience and continue to improve my French language skills.

 

Callie O’Neil:

Thanks to the French program, I will be spending next year as an English teacher through the TAPIF program. I remember the day I first heard about TAPIF, it was the fall quarter of my freshman year while attending my intermediate French class. It was also around the time I was introduced to Nantes, the city where I eventually chose to study abroad. Little did I know that four years later I would be preparing for the same program that has been spoken of so highly.

At the time, I hadn't yet declared a French major, but the energy of the French program was infectious. With each new class I took, my love for the language grew stronger. The professors and fellow students in the program became my inspiration, leading me to complete a major, participate as a peer educator, embark on an immersive study abroad in Nantes, and now, prepare for a year as a teaching assistant in the south of France.

My life would be unrecognizable if I hadn't chosen to study French. I am immensely grateful to the French program for the incredible friendships I've formed, my love for language learning, and the life-changing experiences abroad that have shaped my self-discovery and global perspective." It is due to the support of the French program that I had the courage to apply for Fulbright and TAPIF. They helped me discern the possibility, provided recommendations for my application, and connected me with others who had previously participated in the program.

I express my heartfelt gratitude to the french program for nurturing my growth, fostering meaningful connections, and instilling in me a profound appreciation for culture, love, and language. Thanks to the support and experiences I've gained, I am ready for my next adventure in France!

Arshome Sahagun:

Through the skills built through my acquisition of the French language in tandem with my major in Psychology, I was able to broaden my understanding of the international human experience. I am able to connect and learn from others across the world, expanding the reach of my future endeavors globally as I intend to live and work beyond the borders of my native English language. As a result of my time in the program, I have gained valuable skills in critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural understanding. I have also developed a newfound appreciation for the power of language and the impact it can have on our lives, as learning a language is to unlock access to an expanse of new cultural awareness. Through my courses in the French program, I was able to meet copious people outside of my major and truly widen the scope of my academic learning experience. I have a great newfound appreciation for historical events, transcontinental cinema, and French literature and try to incorporate these into my weekly life. But most of all, I have been able to learn how the comprehension of language provides insight into the emotions, experiences, and beliefs of a culture that cannot be acquired through translation or observation alone.

Gabriel Webb:

I entered the French program spring of my freshman year not knowing what to expect save that I was daunted by the task of re-entering French after nearly four years. As I shook off my rust and got acclimated to the department, I discovered a passion for French that would translate into an almost immediate declaration of a second major. As I worked my way through the lower and intermediate courses, I worked closely with students whose role I would one day fill as Peer Educator. This was how I first learned about the TAPIF program, from talking to PEs and hearing from teachers about what an opportunity it would be. This rested as a possibility in the back of my mind but wasn't fully realized until I was fortunate enough to go on Study Abroad in Nantes my junior year. I went to Nantes fresh off of my first upper-division French course and found that while I was well prepared to get by, I was impatient to improve and come back again. Applying to TAPIF was a no-brainer for me, I was certain I wanted to return to France and I was extremely confident that by graduation my French skills would be more than adequate to live and work in France. Senior year only compounded this more and more, I connected with other students applying to TAPIF, I participated in the French Honors program, and enjoyed and grew in all my upper-division French courses. Now that I am leaving Santa Clara and heading to Nogent-Sur-Marne in the fall I have no doubts that I made the right decision and am prepared for whatever is to come.

Angie Alvarez:

I never planned on applying to TAPIF until after the deadline had passed, but because it was extended, I decided to take a chance. My entire undergraduate plan was focused on going to law school directly after college. I was pre-law and I even took the LSAT twice, but the closer it got to the application process I realized that it wasn’t at all what I wanted to do. I was simply going through the motions of a plan I had created since high school. Luckily, I had been in the French department since I was a freshman, and I had peer educated from the very beginning. I had known about the program, and as much as I wanted to partake in it, it never fit into my future plans. After deciding law school could wait, I immediately applied and hoped that I would be accepted. I had studied abroad in Paris and interned in a language school, so I had hoped that my previous experience would help me be accepted. I am very excited to use my months working through TAPIF to not only discover what I truly want to pursue, but also better my language skills and cultural understanding in a country I know and love.