ATS3235 New Caledonia and global French: Immersion into post-colonial francophone cultures in South Pacific

The study program enables students to develop a critical understanding of the diversity of postcolonial situations through a close encounter with New Caledonian cultures and languages through a seminar series and first hand experience of these cultures through immersion. They will examine political and cultural discourses which frame the situations of various groups and cultural artefacts which emanate from them - both tangible material objects and intangible experiences, spaces and feelings.

Starting in Nouma, students take level-appropriate language training at the University of New Caledonia or CREIPAC, engage in global and intercultural learning through classes, seminars, and field trips. During this phase students develop their individual research projects and the focus for their video documentary.

They then travel to small Kanak communities where they get first hand experience of Kanak culture.

Students come back to Nouma, where they refine their research project through a series of discussion seminar.

Students come out of their experience equipped with a more sophisticated understanding of the diversity of postcolonial situations through a close encounter with New Caledonia's melting-pot, through the many cultures and languages, all bound by the official language, French, the language of the colonial power and yet the only language enabling one another to communicate.