For more than thirty years, the French Department has participated in an assistantship exchange program administered by the French government. Each year a French assistant comes to Grinnell from France and, in exchange, Grinnell graduates have the opportunity to serve as English-language assistants in French secondary schools. Recently, up to ten Grinnell French majors have been nominated in a single year for such assistantships, thanks to an increase in the number of positions. Those selected teach twelve hours a week for one academic year. This is a wonderful chance for Grinnell students to spend time in France since it is generally very difficult to obtain a work permit.