Did you know that French is one of only two languages spoken on five different continents? Or that French is the first or second language in forty-nine countries or regions and is spoken by 125 million people around the world? Or that the two official languages of the Council of Europe, headquartered in France, are French and English? Or that some forty to fifty percent of English vocabulary comes from French?

Duke students interested in learning French can start studying the language at the beginning level or can continue their study of French by placing into the appropriate level when they arrive at Duke. The department sponsors both a summer study abroad program (Duke in Paris) and a semester/year study abroad program (Duke in France). Students are encouraged to plan early in order to attain an advanced level in French and to work into their study plans the possibility of studying abroad in a French-speaking country.