French Minor

Read about what Cal Poly students have achieved:

Last summer, third year student Nico Julia had the internship experience of a lifetime at the French Embassy in Serbia. Read more about his experience HERE

French students—Cole Cleminshaw, Melodie Esnaashari, and Catrina Calkins—have been selected to participate in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) for the 2025–2026 academic year. Read more HERE

Anaïs Lohier, a French Minor student, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship to attend Yale University, where she will pursue a Master’s degree in Bioinformatics. Read more about Anaïs HERE

Cal Poly Tennis player, Romane Mosse, from Viroflay France, describes her experience of moving overseas to pursue her dream. Read more HERE

Bienvenue!

Welcome to the French program at Cal Poly!

Discover the Power of French: A Language of Opportunity

Why Study French?

French is more than just a beautiful, melodic language—it’s a global gateway to culture, career, and connection. Spoken by over 300 million people across 5 continents, French is an official language of major international institutions, including the United Nations, the European Union, and the International Red Cross.

Whether you’re pursuing academic goals, expanding your career, or simply exploring a new culture, learning French opens doors around the world.

Top Reasons to Learn French

1. A Global Language

French is the 5th most spoken language in the world and the second most learned foreign language after English. It is spoken in countries across Europe, Africa, North America, the Caribbean, and Asia.

2. Boost Your Career

French is a valuable asset in international business, diplomacy, fashion, hospitality, tourism, and more. Proficiency in French enhances your resume and opens up job opportunities in multinational companies and organizations.

3. Cultural Access

French is the shared language of global icons like Victor Hugo in France, Édith Piaf in music, Claude Monet in art, and François Truffaut in film—but it also connects you to the voices of Léopold Sédar Senghor in Senegal, Assia Djebar in Algeria, and Stromae in Belgium and Rwanda. Learning French opens the door to a rich, multicultural tapestry of literature, music, film, and art from across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond—allowing you to experience diverse cultures in their most authentic expressions.

Option to make it more brief:

French is the language of global voices—from Victor Hugo and Claude Monet to Léopold Sédar Senghor, Assia Djebar, and Stromae. Learning French connects you to a rich, diverse world of literature, music, film, and art across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond.

****I can link their names to their wikipedia page or biography so students can read about these individuals

4. Academic Advantages

Studying French gives you access to world-renowned universities in France and other Francophone countries, often with low tuition fees or scholarships for international students.

5. Travel with Confidence

From the romantic streets of Paris to the markets of Dakar and the beaches of Martinique, knowing French enriches your travel experiences and allows you to connect more meaningfully with locals.

Did You Know?

French is the official language in 29 countries.
It is the third most used language on the internet.
France is the world's top tourist destination, attracting over 80 million visitors a year.

Learn more interesting reasons to study French:

tinyurl.com/FrenchStatsJonShee

https://french.yale.edu/undergraduate/why-french

https://french.as.virginia.edu/why-study-french

https://sites.google.com/view/frenchatcalpolyslo

https://advocacy.frenchteachers.org/reasons-to-study-french/

Course Offerings

Students with little or no previous experience with French should begin with French 101. However, placement exams are offered every quarter to determine which level is best for you.

Language Courses