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French House
French House Terms and Conditions
CONDITIONS FOR ADMISSION
I. Criteria used in the selection of residents:
1. Completion of French 203 or its equivalent.
2. Motivation for living in the House.
3. Willingness to comply with the goals of the French House as expressed in the information, LA MAISON FRANÇAISE.
4. Recommendation by at least one faculty member of the French Department (to be requested by the student). Students who have lived in the House previously must have a positive recommendation from the native speakers of that period of residence.
5. Participation in a Study Abroad Program in France or Francophone country (going and/or returning).
6. Declaration of a Major or Minor in French.
7. Enrollment in a French Course during the semester of residence.
II. Factors considered for room choice (1 double, 2 singles):
1. Number of semesters in residence halls at Macalester (following Office of Residential life priorities).
2. Academic classification.
III. Length of residency:
1. Because there are frequently more applicants than spaces available in the House, students will be accepted for one semester only and must reapply each semester. Fall Semester, priority goes to new applicants who haven't lived in the French House.
2. A student who does not comply with the goals of the French House as found in this Information Sheet can expect not to be selected for another semester of residence and may even be asked to leave the House during the semester. In either case, this in no way affects the student's room contract with the college (i.e. he/she will be placed in other college housing or
must go through the usual procedures, as stipulated by the Office of Residential Life, to move off-campus.
IV. Screening:
Applications of residency in the French House are screened by:
- the Director of the French House
- the resident Native Speakers
- the Chair of the French Dept.
LA MAISON FRANÇAISE
WHY LIVE IN THE FRENCH HOUSE?
1. Living in the French House will give you an opportunity to work on your spoken French. It will provide you with an everday spoken vocabulary and an opportunity to develop fluency.
2. You will become better acquainted with French culture and with a world view which may be different from your own.
3. This living situation will provide and intensive preparation for study in a French-speaking country or a helpful reentry after study abroad.
It is a privilege to live in the French House and its reidents must be willing to endorse its goals. They must speak French, participate in the evening meal which is at the heart of the communal French-speaking experience, agree to live cooperatively and respect the rights of the other residents, and participate in the programs of the French House. Living in the French House is not a matter of personal convenience to avoid living in the dorms. Residents should also realize that the existence of language houses at Macalester could be jeopardized by problems in the functioning of any language house.
LIVING AGREEMENT FOR THE FRENCH HOUSE
1. Residents are expected to use French as the language of communciation in the house.
2. Four evening meals will be taken in common each week. This will provide an opportunity for discussions in French and for community building. Evening meals will be prepared by the residents and the native speakers. Evening meals will take place M,T, W, TH from 6:00 to 8:00 PM (the exact time to be decided).
3. Residents must be willing to cooperate in household maintenance, etc, and must be thoughtful of others living in the house with regard to cleanliness, etc. A cardinal rule should be "always leave a clean space after you: count on no one but yourself to perform your share of the work."
4. Residents should be willing to establish a community and to respect other with regard to music, noise, etc., to be tolerant to human foibles, and enter into interactions of good faith and goodwill.
5. Residents must be willing to take some responsibility with relationship to programs at the house, should help the native speakers plan them and should participate in them.
6. Residents should be willing to help the native speakers with their adjustment to the United States. They should also help them understand the organization and functioning of Macalester College, especially with relationship to the functioning of the house.
RELATIONSHIP TO THE FRENCH DEPARTMENT
One of the faculty members of the French Department is in charge of:
1. Selection of the residents for the house (in cooperation with the native speakers and in consultation with the department chair).
2. The furnishings and general upkeep of the French House.
3. Liaison with the Residental Life Office.
4. Consultation on cultural programs.
The French Department seeks support of its academic program through the French House activities. These are two kinds: a) activities on a regular basis initiated by the native speakers and the house residents and approved by the French Department faculty liaison; b) activities iniated by the French Department such as special conferences or lectures, receptions for students returning from study abroad, a breakfast for graduating seniors and their families, etc. In these cases, the French Department will work cooperatively with the native speakers on arrangements and give enough lead time (normally two weeks).
THE NATIVE SPEAKERS
The Native residents fulfill the following roles in the French House:
1. They ensure that French is spoken, that students have an opportunity to learn about French culture and that the house functions well.
2. They are the coordinators between the department and the house. In case of major problems or conflicts, the department should be notified immediately. When a difficult situation is not attended to right away, it may quickly get out of hand.
3. They are the coordinators between the French House and the Office of Residental Life.
4. The native residents are expected to present a written report at the end of the school year.
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