Department of French

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Andrea Blackie


         

 

      

My experience in the French Department at Dalhousie was an overwhelmingly positive one.

BA '09

I graduated from Dalhousie with a BA in French in 2009, and was the recipient of several departmental awards during my studies, including the Prix de l’Ambassadeur de Suisse au Canada. After serving as the Secretary of the French Society during my first year at Dal, I then served as Society President for the last two years of my undergrad. From hosting students and department staff for wine and cheeses, to putting together multilingual movie nights with the Spanish Society, organizing events was always a great way to bring together fellow Dal francophones and francophiles.

My experience in the French Department at Dalhousie was an overwhelmingly positive one. Whether I was taking classes in French grammar, literature, writing, or translation, the professors always showed great dedication to their students and passion about the subject. I also enjoyed the stimulating in-class discussions, and the support from tutors in the Cercle français was invaluable.

After graduation, I travelled overseas for the first time to take a contract as an English Language Assistant at a high school and technical college in the Lorraine region in northeastern France. The linguistic confidence I gained from my studies at Dal made a world of difference for me when it came to communicating with my French colleagues, travelling throughout francophone areas in Europe and North Africa during holidays, and making new friends (where, in many cases, the only common language we shared was French).

After my sojourn in France, I relocated to Vancouver BC, where my bilingual capabilities gained me a position within a well-reputed financial institution. I have also been pursuing my dream of working in publishing by co-founding Param Media, which has been the recipient of numerous industry awards.

I will always be grateful for the support and guidance I received during my time studying French at Dalhousie, and for the skills I was able to develop as part of my liberal arts education there. My passion for the French language was able to bloom during the years I spent at Dal, and it's a passion I’ve carried with me ever since.