Students who study French at Grinnell share a common sense of exploration: they seek to understand different cultures, to travel outside the United States, and to communicate ideas in a language other than their native tongue. At the same time, their paths of exploration express their individual interests: from biology majors using French to study ecosystems in Madagascar to philosophers delving into the existentialist writings of Jean-Paul Sartre, students with diverse intellectual and personal goals find French to be an important part of their thinking.

In the classroom, the student experience is characterized by interaction and discussion. French language classes emphasize communication and daily practice at conversing in modern, idiomatic French. The "séance pratique," a language practice session, is an integral part of first-year language study where beginners interact with advanced students and the language assistant. In the second-and third-year courses, students integrate their language skills into a deeper exploration of culture and literature: a typical classroom day might involve a discussion of Renaissance love poetry, a presentation on the German occupation of France during World War II, or a debate about representations of ethnic identity in the contemporary French press. The most advanced courses are taught as seminars in which small groups of students focus on a specific topic, such as modern Francophone theatre, and explore it in depth. Students also have the option of doing a Mentored Advanced Project (MAP)-a capstone experience that culminates in the production of original work at the advanced level.

A large percentage of French majors are double majors. Recent graduates have combined French with math, biology, political science, history, anthropology, chemistry, philosophy, and art. Students can also study French as part of an interdisciplinary concentration such as Africana Studies, Gender and Women's Studies, Global Development Studies, and Western European Studies.

Students also serve as members of the Student Education Policy Committee (SEPC). The SEPC organizes social events, participates in job searches and faculty reviews, and discusses matters concerning the French department curriculum.

Advanced French majors can also serve as Assistant Teachers (AT's) for French 101, 102, and 103, leading the séances pratiques. This is a particularly worthwhile opportunity for students who are interested in becoming French teachers after graduation.