Welcome

Membership

Activities

Learning French

Scholarship

Photos

 

       

 

     Award:                     A $1200.00 scholarship 

 

     Purpose:                  To support the study of the French language and culture.

  

     Eligibility:                 A local college student who currently has at least

                   sophomore status and has declared a major or minor in French.

    

      Use:                          To be applied to an academic program or purpose

                                        specified by the recipient.

   

      Deadline:                 Applications must be e-mailed by April 1, 2013.

   

      Date of Award:      The scholarship winner will be notified during the

                                        last week of April 2013.

 

      Questions:               Contact L. Mathews at 616-550-7057.

 

Application and recommendation forms can be

downloaded by clicking on the links below.

                               

Click Here for the Scholarship Application                              Click Her for the Scholarship Recommendation Form

----------------------------------------------------------------------

2012-2013 Alliance Française de Grand Rapids Scholarship Winner Carina Roethig

Aspirations and Future Goals

Carina E. Roethig

 

   Growing up bilingual in Germany as the daughter of an American mother from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a German father, from Dortmund, Germany, I have always been drawn to languages. Thanks to my bi-cultural background, it became clear to me very early in life, that my future profession would have something to do with different countries, cultures, and languages. I started learning French at the age of 12 with a native speaker from France with origins in Mali, Africa, on a private basis and later in German Gymnasium. When I got the chance to live and study abroad in Bagnols-sur-Cèze, Languedoc Roussillon, France, in 2005, I completely fell in love with the French culture, the people, the country, the French “joie de vivre”, “la convivialité française”. Many things in France were similar to Germany, but living in France really opened my mind to so many new things like enjoying life, taking time for family and friends, having a wonderful meal and enjoying every bite. My French friends have inspired me and still inspire me at every visit to be my true self.

   In 2009, I passed my bilingual German and French “Abitur”, now known as the Abi-Bac, an achievement of “les relations franco-allemandes” in Paris in 1972 by the French president, Georges Pompidou, and the German chancellor, Willy Brandt.  After having studied two years at the University of Muenster in Germany as a French and English major, I decided to continue my studies here in the US, at Grand Valley State University because I was impressed by the American way of college. At the beginning, I was worried to move away from Europe in August 2011, in fear of loosing my French, because France and my friends there were so easy for me to visit. And today, I can say, I don’t think I have ever been more involved and have never spoken the French language more than in the U.S. at Grand Valley. Words cannot express the amazing friends I have made here through the International Students Club

Alliance Française de Grand Rapids * PO Box 2514 * Grand Rapids, MI 49501