International Studies Program in the French-Speaking World

In the International Studies Program in the French-Speaking World, you will acquire French language ability and learn about the countries and regions where French is spoken.　In particular, the program is recommended to those with the following goals:

Keio has many partnership agreements with universities in the French-speaking world. Students generally apply in the fall of their sophomore year and go abroad from the fall of their junior year to the spring of their senior year. While it is possible to obtain a double degree at ESSEC entirely in English, ESSEC also offers many classes in French. To have a fulfilling study abroad experience, we recommend building a foundation of knowledge of French and French-speaking society and culture during your first two years at Hiyoshi Campus.

The French-speaking world extends far beyond European and North American countries like Switzerland, Belgium, and Canada and encompasses many developing countries and regions in Africa and the Caribbean. This program is also a good fit for those who wish to work in international roles related to these regions in the future.

Other than French language courses, the main courses recognized in the International Studies Program (French-Speaking World) are as follows:

During university, I decided that if I was going to study a second foreign language, I wanted to take my studies as far as I could. That's why I joined the International Studies Program and took intensive language courses. The program provided an opportunity to deepen my understanding of French culture, which would have otherwise been impossible through required courses alone, and to get a sense of the differences in the way the Japanese and French think. The program exposed me to a new sense of values and broadened my interests beyond France to include culture and philosophy. Most importantly, I was able to meet mutually encouraging friends and excellent professors, who all served as motivation for my study of French. When it came time for me to go on my student exchange program, my professors gave me advice, and my classmates who had already gone abroad listened to my concerns and helped me prepare. The Faculty of Business and Commerce also offers a wide range of activities outside of class, such as France-related training and film screenings, creating an environment in which students can enhance their French language skills while studying for their major. Why don't you take advantage of the International Studies Program and add French to your repertoire?

What is the point of studying a new foreign language in a world where English has become the world’s de facto lingua franca? For me, it always warms my heart when I see people from other countries trying their best to speak Japanese when they visit Japan. I think this is because it makes me feel as though they are interested in our country and are making an effort to respect and understand me. Therein lies my reason for learning a foreign language. This program, which provides an opportunity to comprehensively study a foreign country's language, culture, history, and social issues, is perfect for someone like me who has a deep interest in the diversity of the world. I just so happened to stumble upon French. The France I saw, heard, and touched through this program was a little different from the picture I had of France as a child, but the more I learned, the more interested I became, and this program showed me just how warmhearted France can be. That aside, I didn’t simply learn language skills and book knowledge in the International Studies Program. I also acquired the courage to venture into the unknown, and this has allowed me to grow greatly as a person. As you take on new challenges in your university life, why not add the International Studies Program to your toolbelt?