UW-Madison senior Hunter Adams spent last year traversing the lively streets of Paris and upon his return, he did not want to lose the knowledge gained from the experience abroad, a knowledge that he held at a very high premium.
He thus decided that living at the French House, 633 N. Frances St., would be the best opportunity for him to maintain his level of communication.
\Spending a year in Paris really improved my French, and I was worried that I might lose it once I returned to the States because there aren't all that many opportunities to practice, especially with native speakers,"" he said.
The French House provided the perfect opportunity for Adams to maintain his speaking skills. The house, a university residence and French cultural center for the university community, is home to more than 30 residents, resident assistants and French assistants, who are graduate students from France and spend a year living in the house.
""The French House gives residents the opportunity to be both independent and part of a wonderful group of people who share the same love for the French language,"" said Andrew Irving, director of the French House. ""They are not all French majors, but they do wish to continue speaking French on a daily basis.""
Irving highlighted the importance of the French assistants in the house's community.
""[They] help to keep our French modern and allow authentic French-language interaction to become a normal occurrence in this little city tucked up in the Midwest,"" he said.
At the French House, residents communicate daily using French in every aspect of their lives. This even includes French television via satellite, according to Irving. Such interaction creates a rare environment.
""I think the fact that we speak in French all the time creates a unique atmosphere that allows for greater bonding than in typical dorms,"" said Katherine McIver, a graduate student, who lives in the house.
The French House at UW-Madison opened its doors in 1918 and was the first environment of its kind in the country. Although the house has shifted locations and overcome financial hurdles in the past 80 years, the goal of the house remains the same.
Residents come to the house with varying levels of French competency. Most have taken at least four to five years of high school French or three semesters at the college level.
""We require that residents be able to communicate, at least at a basic level, so that at no time will they feel like outsiders if the conversation were to go far beyond their level,"" Irving said.
Students considering living in the house must complete an application and be recommended by a French instructor. The strongest applicants will be comfortable with their French-speaking abilities, motivated towards oral improvement and enjoy living in a communal environment.
Students who do not live at the French House can take advantage of its unique atmosphere every Wednesday for dinner, followed by a French film and Friday for lunch by reservation. The French House is also host to French 301/302, a one-credit conversational class that meets weekly for lunch within the house's friendly confines.
