French All Around Us , livre ebook

CALEC - Fabrice Jaumont , Kathleen Stein-Smith

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190 pages

English

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French is literally everywhere - in our history and values, in our families, and in our neighborhoods and communities, from the croissant or macaron in our local café or bistro to family and place names across the country. These are the stories of French language and Francophone culture in the US, but, even more importantly, the stories of Franco-Americans - ranging from descendants of the earliest French explorers and French-Canadian immigrants to the newest arrivals in the US from throughout the Francophone world. This book is of interest to all of us, whatever our background, as the experience of French language and Francophone culture in the US has similarities to and intersects with the many languages and cultures that have contributed to the American experience.

Sujets

Foreign Language study

HISTORY

EDUCATION

Lettres et linguistique

General officer

Language

21st Century

General

United States

French

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Publié par	CALEC
Date de parution	17 septembre 2020
Nombre de lectures	1
EAN13	9781636072456
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

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Copyright © 2022 by Kathleen Stein-Smith and Fabrice Jaumont
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
TBR Books is a program of the Center for the Advancement of Languages, Education, and Communities. We publish researchers and practitioners who seek to engage diverse communities on topics related to education, languages, cultural history, and social initiatives.
CALEC - TBR Books 750 Lexington Avenue, 9 th floor New York, NY 10022 USA www.calec.org | contact@calec.org www.tbr-books.org | contact@tbr-books.org
ISBN 978-1-63607-162-6 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-63607-244-9 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-63607-245-6 (ebook)
This digital document has been produced by Nord Compo .
C ONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Foreword
Praises
Acknowledgements
Introduction - Kathleen Stein-Smith & Fabrice Jaumont
1. FLAM Kids: a network of US-French bilingual ambassadors for the future.
2. Francophone Immigration and Questions of Identity in New England: From Multiculturalism to Cultural Diversity
3. I am an American and Very Much a Francophone…Malgré Tout
4. Preserving French as a Heritage Language in the United States: The opportunity for another French Revolution in New York City.
5. Sisyphus on the Bayou: Pushing back against the rolling good times and the absurdity of writing about being French in Englis h.
6. French: Louisiana's Most Renewable but Undeveloped Natural Resource: Cultural Tourism as a Revitalization Tool for Louisiana Heritage Languages
7. The “cadaver” is thirsty: Perspectives on language activism in Louisiana
8. Speaking from the margins of the margin: An African American Perspective on learning French in Louisiana
9. We Are Pointe Au Chien
10. Crossroads of the Francophonie
11. Fais-toi plaisir, lis en français! – Living and passing on the French language and cultures through youth literature. Mélissa Baril
12. French Heritage in Minnesota
13. Rethinking the approach to Franco-American Culture in New England
14. Finding Franco-America: Language, community, and the Richelieu Clubs of New England
15. The Impact of Francophone culture on my life, and my thoughts and actions on advancing the cause of our culture in the United States
16. From France to F r an co- Amer ica: Foregrounding Personal and Community Connections in the Heart of French Studies
17. “It is all coming back!”: When a community revived its lost French, it inspired many others to do the same
18. French Language and Francophone Culture in New England and the French-Canadian Legacy Podcast and Blog
19. What it means to be Franco-American
20. The Question of a Franco-American Revival
21. My Story as a Franco-American
22. Fundamental beliefs: Stand to deliver
Conclusion: Toward a Re surgence of French Language and Francoph one Culture in the United States
References
Notes
About the Authors
About TBR Books
About CALEC
Foreword

From the streets of Wall Street to the beaches of California, listen, and you will hear this dulcet language, sometimes even monotonous, so particular and yet so resounding as it embodies such a large chunk of French-speaking cultures: The French language. Often categorizedas an official diplomatic language, it is much more – I am deeply convinced of that. As you read French All Around Us: French Language and Francophone Culture in the United States of America , you will discover the driving force of culture that is the French language. A fundamental tool for the socio-historical construction of a culture, it seems to me necessary to recall the fundamental place that languageoccupies in our interpersonal relationships and in our plural identities.
Often, when the exchanges are recurrent and take a preponderant place, internalized language and culture mingle with the adopted culture, creating multilingual and multicultural individuals and an adaptive subculture which, depending on the environment, will highlight different aspects of their multicultural identity. A true standard of Francophone cultures internationally, the French language has achieved the feat of bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds around the world-- bringing together 300 million Francophones in more than 80 countries. The following volume retraces the history of the French language and French-speaking culture in the United States in all its complexity and beauty.
From the implementation of the first French-American and French dual-language immersion programs in urban centers to the reappropriation of French culture by the French-speaking descendants of Louisiana or New England, the contributors, whether researchers or practitioners, tell the story of an atypical and fascinating cultural amalgamation.
In a globalized world where intercultural relations, although numerous, are sometimes delicate, cultivating a common history seems to be a necessity. From the building of the United States of America to the present day, Francophone cultures have always, in one way or another, existed on American soil, both inside and outside the North American borders.
Whatever the prism of the study, whether it is an institutional question - especially within international organizations like the United Nations - historical, cultural, or migratory, the conclusion is always similar.
Francophone culture, like its North American Anglophone counterpart, has a strong identity—a phenomenon which, far from creating a force of opposition, has on the contrary created a mechanism of attraction and reciprocal fascination. Many intellectuals such as Tocqueville have thus crossed the ocean from one land to another to observe the functioning mechanisms and the cultural particularities of this Other, so different and attractive. Close links were thus built between these two apparently diametrically opposed cultures, one originating from old Europe, from its former colonies and former protectorates, for the other of the New World.
This corpus of texts thus sits between the essay, the textbook, and the sharing of experiences to allow the reader to immerse themselves in this multicultural world apart. From page to page, myriad politico- linguistic issues, sociological discussions, and personal feelings mingle to sketch out the reality of French and Francophone cultures in the United States.
—Philippe Etienne Ambassador of France to the United States. Washington, DC – January 2022
Praises

French language and Francophone Culture in the United States is a fascinating travel, deep into American culture and the many Francophone components of the country. I should like to highlight the contribution of the Association for the Advancement of French Language and Francophone Culture in the United States book project to a better understanding of the vitality of the Francophonie, its diversity and its presence in the daily life of so many people living in the United States.
In 2018, for the first time, a US State, Louisiana, joined the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). The OIF, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2020, was born in Niger (Africa). From 21 founding Member States, the Organization grew to one of the largest intergovernmental Organizations with 88 Member States and Governments, on five continents. The adhesion of Louisiana represents a milestone, which raises our awareness on the longstanding practice of French in Louisiana, its current challenges and opportunities. The vitality of French Language and Francophone Cultures in so many other US States is heartwarming. It is fragile though, and we feel responsible for this unique heritage.
Education is critical for the future of the Francophonie as emphasized in many contributions, all brilliant in the scope of insights and perspectives provided. I am humbled by the amount of work and passion, at all levels – parents, students, educators, authorities -, that make bilingual education in French a reality in American public schools in 2022. I express my warmest congratulations to all contributors and sincerely thank them for this very inspiring endeavor. Your call to action is heard. We will fully play our role.
—Ambassador Ifigeneia Kontoleontos Permanent Observer for the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) to the United Nations
Through this collection of essays, I understand my own family’s story more clearly. In the 1960s, my mémère, pépère, and my dad moved from a rural town in Québec to Maine to work in Biddeford’s textile mills. They were French-speaking immigrants who felt pressure to keep the French language from the next generation. My grandparents believed success could not be realized for their kids and grandkids unless they sounded more like those of English descendants.
As a child, I did not learn French at home. However, as an adult, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for my Franco heritage. Becoming Maine’s Speaker of the House has given me a new perspective. I am only the second Franco speaker in Maine’s history. I now believe we have the opportunity to help a new generation of French-speaking immigrants recognize the importance of protecting language and culture—and treasuring it. This text is a testament to the resilience of those who have preserved the language and traditions that are at the heart of who we are.
—Representative Ryan Michael Fecteau, Speaker of the House of Representatives, The State of Maine.
Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their appreciation to everyone who has encouraged and participated in this Association for the Advancement of the French Language and Francophone Culture in the United States (AAFLFC) book project and to all supporters of French language and Francophone culture in the United States and beyond. This project has been a wonderful experience from the very beginning, bringing together many voices, each with a unique story a