Aquinas College has been recognized as one of
only about a dozen testing sites in the United
States for international certification in the
French language. Dr. Michel Pichot, an associate
professor of French who came to Aquinas in
2002, managed to reach an agreement with the
Paris Chamber of Commerce to have the College
recognized as an official exam site.
“It’s very important for students who want to
work in businesses where French is spoken,” said
Pichot, who attended a three-week workshop in
1997 that certified him to teach business French
and establish examination centers. He teaches the
preparatory class for the exam at Aquinas.
Pichot says having a regional exam site located
here “puts Aquinas on the map” in the eyes of
the Paris Chamber of Commerce. Pichot hastens
to add that there is a need for qualified French
language professionals not only in France, but
wherever French companies establish themselves,
including Quebec, Canada.
This French diploma is highly respected in the
U.S., Canada and Europe. Students who succeed
in obtaining the diploma are considered to have
an in-depth knowledge of the French language
and can work in any business-related field where
the language is spoken. The exam has four parts:
understanding business conversations in French;
analysis of various French business documents;
business letter writing; and an interview in French
regarding articles from the French and English
business press.
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