Confidence Multiplied: Just One of Many Takeaways from the Duke in Montréal French Language Summer Program
By Erin Butrico
“...I don’t think I realized how much I would be out and about in the city to learn. And I loved that.”
Explain why you decided to do Duke in Montréal.
Duke in Montréal was the perfect fit for my summer. For starters, I decided a bit late in the game that I wanted to major in French. I thought that I would have to overload to get all of my French courses in, but this program helped to fix that problem.
Secondly, I loved the idea of an immersive course. I knew that this course was not just a sit-in-the-classroom-and-take-notes kind of thing, but an interactive, hands-on way of learning. As I was headed to France in the fall, and was comfortable with my written comprehension (but extremely uncomfortable with oral comprehension, and speaking the language itself), I knew that this interactive program would give me confidence to survive in France.
Thirdly, when I showed interest in this program, Madame Reisinger responded with the utmost enthusiasm. I’ll never forget going into her office to talk a bit about the program, and leaving so genuinely excited about the course, the different site visits, and the itinerary in general. That was contagious, and ultimately led me to chose this program as my summer plan.
Compare how your French skills changed after doing this program.
My French skills changed enormously after this program. Coming in, I could read and write French perfectly. If you gave me a passage and asked me to analyze it, I could do it no problem. If you asked me to write a 10-page paper, I would also be fine. But listening to the radio and understanding? Having a conversation with store clerks in French? Impossible. This program changed that.
By having class for a few hours a day, and then having the opportunity to go out in Montréal and do projects on the culture there, we were forced to engage with French-speakers. We were thrown into the heat of the French language, forced to interview Montréal citizens, engage with government officials during our site visits, and having meals with Madame in French. Little by little, the spoken language became more and more familiar, and I really became comfortable with it.
I felt brave to try speaking myself, but was assured by the fact that I could use English, as a fall-back, if I didn’t understand the person I was speaking to (thanks to the high rate of bilingualism). This program changed my confidence and made me more open to the language. I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
Describe how your ideas and perceptions of Montréal and Québec changed as a result of doing this program.
I didn’t have any real ideas of Montréal and Québec coming in (besides that they were French-speaking!), but I came out with a deep appreciation for them both. These two cities are filled with culture – I learned this through my study of Little Italy and the Juste pour Rires Festival for my two projects.
I learned that these cities have millions of layers. They love to dance, they love to create. They love good food, and encouraging people to learn French. They are proud of their version of French, and have laws to uphold its usage. What a fascinating place.
Thinking back to what you expected this program to be like, would you say anything surprised you or turned out differently?
I think I was surprised with how much freedom I had in Montréal. I knew that class wouldn’t be all day, and that a lot of learning would be done outside the classroom, but I don’t think I realized how much I would be out and about in the city to learn. And I loved that.
I loved working with volunteers, in the Juste pour Rires program, to really feel immersed in the French language. I loved taking videos of the different festivals, and interviewing individuals on their work, Québec culture, and their take on summer in Québec, in general. I loved being able to roam around and not forcefully learn something, but easily absorb culture, language, and understanding as you walk and explore.
Tell us about your greatest takeaways from this program. How did this program prepare you for Duke in France?
For me, the greatest things I gained from this program were: (1) comfort with the French language (2) a sense of spontaneity, and (3) confidence with ambiguity.
This program really exposed me to French: not only in the classroom, but in the streets, with our discussions, and interactions with Madame. This program really taught me how to be spontaneous, go with the flow, and be open for any endeavor we were about to undertake (whether it be visiting the American consulate, drumming at the African drum festival, volunteering with Québec youth at the Juste pour Rires festival, by ourselves).
This program taught me that it’s okay to not understand – it’s okay to be vulnerable and not have a clue what is going on in a different country with a different language. This program taught me that persistence in trying the language, being open to critique, and slowly absorbing what you learn into everyday usage, will make you a better speaker of the language. I carried all of these traits over into France, and they have been extremely helpful.
What kind of student would succeed on this program?
A spontaneous, open-minded student who is curious about marketing, is enthusiastic about the French language, and is unafraid to make conversations with strangers.
What advice do you have for other students considering this program?
Take advantage of everything! Go to all the festivals, try the poutine, talk to as many Québec youth as you can. Speak in French at every opportunity – don’t feel nervous trying. You’ll only get better by practicing. See every museum; spend a bit of time in each festival. Profitez bien – Québec rocks.
Erin Butrico ‘18
Duke in Montréal, Summer 2016
Duke in France/EDUCO, Fall 2016
One mundane question that I received from every single person I discussed politics with in Europe has stuck with me: 'Why is Trump so appealing to Americans?'
Nikita Gawande, “Brexit, Trump and My Summer in London,” Duke Campaign Stop 2016
Who says you can’t eat your way through Italy and get course credit for it?
Tara Nagar and Isabella Turchetta are computer science majors at Duke who both chose to spend this semester studying abroad at the Umbra Institute, an American study abroad provider in Perugia, Italy. Recently, they both sat down with Umbra staff to discuss how their classes here have directly influenced life abroad, and how this experience has developed their multicultural perspectives.
Photo: On our field trip to learn about truffle hunting in Città di Castello.
You’re taking a course about the history and culture of food in Italy – tell us about that!
We’re taking HSIT 350: The History and Culture of Food in Italy at the Umbra Institute. It’s been our favorite course this semester because it looks at history and food studies from a unique perspective. We’ve had the opportunity to take a number of field trips to visit local producers. On our last excursion to Città di Castello, a small city near Perugia, we met with a local truffle producer to learn the art of truffle hunting.
Our class discovered the challenges facing truffle hunters and how the foraging experience is directly linked to the ability of the forager to train the family dog. One of the best parts of truffle hunting is that it seemed like they were treasure hunting. The truffle hunter just follows his dog, essentially looking for treasure that he cannot see or smell, and the worth of the truffle is literally like finding a precious coin.
We also learned how spores are spread on the land in order to cultivate truffles, and about the land rights in Italy that allow anyone to hunt wild truffles on another’s property, but prohibit hunters from trespassing on cultivated land.
What kinds of exploring have you done on your own time?
We decided to spend our fall break traveling throughout Italy and learning even more about Italian food culture! In class, we learned about the influence of the Arab conquest in Sicily and how Arabs brought citrus over to Italy for the first time. We did an in-class food tasting to complement class reading assignments related to citrus and honey, and we got to try all kinds of foods we would otherwise not get the chance to eat. Our professor brought us classic acacia honey, lime honey, and pistachio honey from Sicily to help us taste and understand different regional foods. The class inspired us to go see it for ourselves, so we included Sicily in our fall break plans!
What kind of cultural observations have you made about Italy?
Well, for one, I’ve learned it’s extremely important to Italians to blow-dry their hair. They literally think you are going to die if you go outside with wet hair! And there’s the Italian food etiquette that implicitly prohibits eating “on the go” and ordering a cappuccino or other milk-based drink after 11 a.m. Doing either of these things will attract odd stares from the locals.
Restaurants have a really relaxed atmosphere. They are not looking to turn tables, they want you to enjoy the food and the experience. At the same time, you have to be patient with waiters who take their time bringing the check to the table.
Overall the Italian culture is refreshing because it places an emphasis on community and allows for tasks to be accomplished at a relaxed place. Italians regularly take walks through the city center or spend time sitting in public spaces just to catch up with friends.
How has it been living in Perugia?
It took some time to adjust to the lack of pressure and rigid schedules. Achieving a sense of accomplishment is different when it’s not all about task completion. But I just love living in Perugia. It is not a place that you would necessarily think to visit on vacation, because of its size, but it is where you get to know local people and they get to know you. Here, you get to branch out of your comfort zone and go into the city to meet lots of Italians.
Duke students interested in studying at the Umbra Institute will follow the application process for Duke-Approved study away programs.
A Spanish Festival Unlike Any in the United States
By Lauren DaSilva
The people of Alicante, a small town on the Eastern coast of Spain, consistently look forward to an extremely important annual tradition: Las Hogueras de San Juan. This festival lasts a week and is centered around the wooden sculptures built and beautifully painted by local artists.
In addition to the sculptures, there are daily parades featuring locals in traditional costumes and mascletás that are fired off in the town plaza. At the end of the week, the wooden sculptures are set on fire (by local firemen) and the crowd that gathers to watch is soaked with water. Fireworks are also shot behind the buildings symbolizing the burning of each sculpture.
This festival is unlike anything we have in the United States and is celebrated by individuals of all ages, showing how strong the sense of community in Alicante is.
I am very grateful that I got to experience this festival and for my host family's willingness to share with me.
Oxford Course Sharpened My Writing, Debating, and Argumentation Skills
By Tiffany Ho
Studying abroad with Duke in Oxford is a very worthwhile experience. I took a course called Science, Ethics, and Society, in which we studied and debated about various ethical issues. It was a precious experience to take a course in a collegiate university and be able to discuss my essay with my tutor in a one-to-two setting each week. But most importantly, the course sharpened my ability to construct arguments, to write effectively, and to engage in philosophical debates (a friend even noted my improvement in English fluency!).
When I was not reading in the Bodleian Library or in the Radcliff Camera, I liked to spend my time absorbing fascinating information in one of the resourceful museums or go for a run to get to know Oxford better. I definitely fell in love with the place by the end of the program.
The pub culture was also a refreshing experience to me: pubs are great places for people to have relaxing conversations, and people drink to enjoy the drink and not to get drunk.
Oh, almost forgot everyone’s favorite day of the week – Wednesday! Why? Because we got to learn something interesting from a guest speaker, have a warm conversation with each other during the reception and indulge our palates with a very nice three-course dinner.
Another bonus is that I made some really amazing friends from the program. Thank you, family and friends, for giving me this opportunity and making my time in Oxford wonderful and unforgettable.
The photo was taken on July 14, a one-day excursion to London organized by the program, by Altamash Rafiq.
Daily Experiences in Costa Rica Make for a Unique Lifestyle
By Harry Liu
"It is the everyday interactions with my host family that I cherish and will miss the most!”
Studying abroad in Costa Rica gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in an entirely new culture. The Ticos, what the Costa Ricans refer to themselves as, live by the motto "Pura Vida,” or Pure Life. Staying with a Tico family for a month allowed me to experience and live out the Pura Vida lifestyle.
The photograph was taken during one of my visits to a fería, or local market. The first thing I did with my host family was visit a nearby fería. Going to the market is truly a social experience.
We chatted with each other the whole walk to the fería. In addition, I met some neighbors there and my host mother introduced me to them. Afterwards, we inspected the locally grown fruits and vegetables of each stand and talked to the vendors. For dinner, in addition to the rice and beans, I had a full plate of fruits, which we just bought together. There were papayas, mangos, pineapples, and watermelon slices!
The Pura Vida lifestyle is best summed up as the combination of the many daily experiences that Tico has. The experiences I’ve had taught me that in order to fully immerse yourself in and understand a culture, you have to keep an open mind, be flexible, and completely embrace it. In other words, you have to challenge yourself to try new things.
The photograph of the fería shows just one of the many unforgettable memories that I have had this summer. It is the everyday interactions with my host family that I cherish and will miss the most!
“I became aware of the less obvious differences which shape culture and sense of belonging...”
One of the highlights of my time in Costa Rica was receiving a bird's eye view of the city of San Jose. This picture highlights the differences between my view of Costa Rica and the view out the window of my dorm at Duke.
At the beginning of the trip, I attempted to minimize the cultural differences in Costa Rica. Through my interactions with my host family, I became aware of the less obvious differences which shape culture and sense of belonging. Music, art, and food are obvious parts of culture, but so are interactions between families, moral viewpoints, and social classes.
Overall, my experience in Costa Rica has affected how I view and define other cultures, and I can't wait to return to Duke and apply my new knowledge to other classes!
