The Department of French at Nagapattinam has a distinguished history, dating back to 1844 with the establishment of the institution. Initially led by eminent French Jesuit Fathers such as J. Bourdot, V. Allard, H. Ginhouse, and others, the department primarily focused on teaching the French language to European officials. Over the years, the department has continued to thrive, with Fr. Bergerson leading until 1976, supported by faculty like Fr. Annase SJ and Messieurs A. Clemet, Antony Maria, Michael Joseph, and S. Sandranad, who made French accessible to local students.
In 1978, Dr. M.A. Savariar took over the leadership and established "L'Association Francaise," which remains an integral part of the department even today. Professors such as Mr. Antony Raj, Ms. Cynthia George, Mr. Anandham Richard, and Mr. Hermon Carduz further shaped the department's development. Currently, Ms. M. Mohanalakshmi heads the department.
The department's primary aim is to foster an understanding of the French language and culture among Indian students. French is offered from the beginner level, progressing through preparatory stages towards A1 level proficiency. The curriculum covers language skills, French civilization, literature, and culture, utilizing innovative and engaging teaching methods such as PowerPoint presentations, interactive activities, and online quizzes. The number of students enrolling in the French course has been steadily increasing, with students from francophone countries like Rwanda and Cameroon also showing great interest in the program. In addition, the college library boasts a large collection of French literature, including novels, short stories, and language learning resources.
The department also offers a range of extracurricular activities through the French Association, including workshops, invited talks, and cultural events. An inter-departmental French cultural event provides a platform for students to showcase their talents. Events like ecriture creative (creative writing), poesie (poetry), peinture (painting), cuisine francaise (cuisine), elocution (elocution), and chanson francaise (French song) are held annually, adding a vibrant cultural dimension to the department's activities.
