Where We Go
Intensive French Program in Martinique
Four Week Study
Students will spend four weeks exploring Martinique's contemporary society on this Caribbean island whose history was shaped by France's colonial policies and politics. In order to understand the profound effect of history on today's Martinicans, students will enroll in a course at the Université des Antilles International Center for Research, Exchanges and Cooperation in the Caribbean and Americas, located on the Schoelcher campus. This course is comprised of guest lectures, class discussions, site visits, and an individual research project that will allow participants to better comprehend the island's complex identities through the study of its historical, geographical, political, artistic, economic, ecological, and linguistic landscapes.
Course Description
A. On Denison’s Campus
To help students reflect critically on seminal issues of slavery, race, and identity in Martinique, we will meet every other week during the spring semester.
Students will also develop a short proposal for an individual field project related to their interests. Topics should examine social, political, ecological, or economic issues, or modes of cultural expression such as painting, ceramics, dance, music, cinema, and literature.
B. In Martinique:
Students will attend lectures given by prominent faculty guest-speakers, followed by class discussions to further explore aspects of their talks.
Students will work on their individual field project, meeting at least bi-weekly with the Denison Program Directors
Credits and Prerequisites
Students will earn a total of 3 credits that will count as a French Denison course: 2 credits on site and 1 mandatory credit of directed study to prepare for the Martinique program (to be taken in Spring 2018). Participants must have completed 2 French courses beyond French 211 or obtained the Program Directors’ permission.
Cultural Activities
During our stay, students will participate in guided fieldtrips to discover various aspects of the island’s landscape, and visit several museums, possibly including Guadeloupe’s recently opened Memorial ACTe, a museum and active research center on the Slave Trade.
Housing
Students will live with local host families, carefully selected by the Université des Antilles’ CIRECCA’s director, so that they can truly experience a linguistic and cultural immersion.
Meals
- On weekdays, students will have breakfast and dinner with their host families. They will eat lunch at the University cafeteria.
- On weekends and holidays, host families will provide all 3 meals.
Insurance
Students must have health insurance that will cover them while abroad.
Program Costs
- Tuition, room and board, cultural field trips, airfare CMH-Martinique: $3,850
