Department of French

Anika Marcotte

	Through the study of language and literature my competencies in critical thinking, analysis and cultural awareness were broadened and are key skills in my professional and personal life.

BA (Honours) '04, MA '06

As a Fransaskois from Regina, I was inspired to attend Dalhousie University during a Canada World Youth exchange in Québec and Burkina Faso. I undertook a Bachelor of Arts with double honors in International Development Studies and French. As part of my undergraduate studies I participated in the first year of the exchange program offered through the French Department with the University Cheik Anta Diop in Dakar, Senegal. This inspired my undergraduate thesis, which examined religion and development through French African literature.

This led to undertaking a Master’s degree in French at Dalhousie and having the privilege of receiving the Canada Graduate Scholarship-Master's, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada to complete my graduate studies. Through the study of language and literature my competencies in critical thinking, analysis and cultural awareness were broadened and are key skills in my professional and personal life.

My Master’s and bilingualism were key assets in joining the Federal Government through the Management Trainee Program – a three year federal program that provided hands-on work experience through assignments – which I undertook at Public Safety Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. I now work for Citizenship and Immigration Canada where the skills and experiences acquired from my studies continue to guide the way in which I contribute to policy and program development.