Ninabella Arlis (C’26) is a junior pursuing a joint degree between the College of Arts and Science and the McDonough School of Business. She enjoys journalism, pickleball, and theatre.
Last year I lived on the sixth floor of Arrupe, a nice dorm for a sophomore with its modern amenities and central location on campus. But what is most unique about this location is the Living Learning Community (LLC) that it hosts. Known as the French Floor, this LLC offered a unique opportunity to immerse myself in the French language and culture outside the classroom.
I first started French in seventh grade, when I transferred to a new school that had been teaching the language to the other students in my class since they were in kindergarten. This was a source of nerves for me, for sure, but also of excitement. I had been wanting to learn French for years – the glamour of Paris, the historic connection to ballet, the fashion-forwardness of it all meant every vision of my future included being fluent en français.
When I arrived at Georgetown I had six years of French under my belt and immediately enrolled in an intensive course, which met Monday through Friday, along with an additional “lab” in which students practiced French with a buddy learning English at a corresponding university in France. I continued to take intensive classes until I completed all the grammar classes, but this course of action and level of academic commitment is not critical to becoming a member of the LLC.
Applicants may have my level of history with the language or none at all; the only qualification is genuine interest and dedication to French. Each year they ask prospective students to write a few essays explaining their reasons for joining, ideas for activities, their previous experience with French, and if they have a preferred roommate. The year I did it we had a lot of students learning French but also students from Europe and many linguistics majors.
The French Floor fosters an environment where French is the default language of communication, whether it be meetings with the RA or informational signs in the hallways. It wasn’t just about language practice but also exploring the humanities and social sciences through a Francophone lens. The requirement to enroll in a one-credit experiential course tied to the LLC ensured that every resident remained actively engaged. From watching French films (without subtitles!) to playing board games and hosting guest speakers, the activities were varied and enriching.The academic portion of the French Floor includes weekly journal entries. We were encouraged to be as creative as we wanted. Some of my silliest include a recording of a children’s play acted out by my three suitmates and myself as well as a taping of a monologue from one of my favorite musicals: Les Mis. On some weeks, we could also attend events in lieu of journaling. The functions that didn’t count as replacements were otherwise fodder for our entries.
My favorite two events were a visit to Mount Vernon with the director of the French Floor and a visit with author Kim Thúy.
For the adventure into Virginia, I was joined by three other students from the floor, including my roommate, who I originally met my first year when I slid into her DMs because she had a French quote in her Instagram bio. We selected French brochures and followed our director on a tour, focusing mainly on George Washington’s actions involving France. On the day we visited, there was also a colonial market, including a patisserie and modiste, who let us try on clothes. We spent the whole day speaking in French and getting to know each other. I came out of the trip with greater confidence in my oral skills and a few more French friends!
