Katelyn Bushnell

Economics and French Majors with Mathematics minor, 2020

Currently in Bayreuth, Germany

“The chance to be part of the French Program was one of the primary reasons I chose to attend UAF, and I am not in the least disappointed with my decision, as the program offers unparalleled opportunities for student success. In the first place, there was never a dull moment in any of my classes with Dr. Matusevich, from whom there is always something interesting to learn. Two of the best things I did in class were to write phonetic transcriptions of famous French poems and play a grumpy maid in a piece of French theatre! The French Club was also a cornerstone of my experience. I always looked forward to Monday nights, where, as a community, we all enjoyed drinking strong coffee, eating Nutella-filled crepes, watching French films, playing fun games, and, of course, practicing our French with each other and with native speakers. As well as enhancing my student experience in Fairbanks, the French Program also allowed me to live in two francophone countries: Quebec City, Canada – where I spent a summer attending a French immersion program at Laval University (funded by a competitive fellowship I received from the SPFFA) – and Rennes, France – where I studied on exchange at Institut d’études politiques de Rennes. Both experiences boosted my confidence and French proficiency immensely, and through them I was able to learn how to navigate and thrive in unfamiliar environments. Now I am transposing valuable skills I learned in the UAF French Program to tackle a new language and culture, as I am currently pursuing a MA in Philosophy and Economics at the University of Bayreuth, Germany.”