On Campus Outreach

CIFS has identified three key target groups for its supported outreach activities: K-12 teachers, businesses and the general public. For K-12 teachers, CIFS is aiding in the development of an immersion module at the Wisconsin Summer Institute, a series of statewide multimedia workshops. For businesses, CIFS coordinates the French Business Internship Program. For the general public, all of our events are free and open to the public. Additionally, CIFS allocates financial support for the Alliance Française immersion summer camps for children, the artist-in-residence program, the Maison Française, and the Wisconsin Film Festival.

Wisconsin Summer Institute

The Professional French Masters Program has an intensive four-week immersion module for teachers and professionals who cannot participate in the regular academic year program. Participants take advanced courses in French language and culture and will participate in cultural activities such as lectures and films for university credit. The University's current summer and evening options do not provide the larger cultural experience that these classes offer. The Wisconsin Summer Institute will partner with the American Association of Teachers of French to target a regional/national audience.

Conferences, lectures, symposia

All of the conferences, lectures and symposia sponsored by the center are free and open to the public. The Center will continue to extend these invitations through the Alliance and the European Studies Center. Please visit the CALENDAR link for a schedule and description of upcoming events.

French Business Internships

For over a dozen years, the Department of French and Italian and the School of Business have been active in the assignment of students to internship positions in French companies and organizations. To date, approximately 150 students have taken part in the program, which is designed to allow each participant to interact with the French industrial, commercial and business community at the highest practical level. A UW-Madison student in any discipline may apply to the French Business Internship Program. The Program has several objectives:

-To enhance the students' understanding of business and related systems
-To establish ties with French firms and the business community
-To develop the linguistic skills of each participant
-To compliment the students' professional experience

This program's success rests on the initiative, attitude and creativity of its students, which in turn, generates continued interest and goodwill on the part of the host firms. In the best business tradition, it is a win-win situation.

For more information regarding Candidate Selection, Work Assignments, Responsibilities, and Report Guidelines, click here.

La Maison Française at UW-Madison

The Center strives to boost the outreach activities of the Maison Française through support of its advertising and promotional efforts for activities such as its joint sponsorship with an instructor from Madison Area Technical College of a French language discussion group.

In 2002, CIFS contributed to a successful fund-raising evening that was co-hosted by the Director of the House, the French Consul General and the President of the Madison Alliance Française.

French Film Festival

One to follow in 2009 with Cinématèque.