Personal Statement French Studies Essay

Dear Sir, Dear Madam, I am writing in application for a place in your graduate program, namely the Ph. D. in French Studies with a concentration in Language and Identity, to start in the fall of 2006. I am currently completing my Master 1 at the Sorbonne University (Paris Ill), having also acquired my B. A. (Licence) in that institution. My Bachelors and my current Masters at the Sorbonne primarily consist of the study of French literature and dramaturgical texts from the 16th up until the present day. I have had the opportunity to study in depth classic authors uch as Moliere, Racine or Corneille. I have been especially marked by the latter author in his tragedy â€Å"Le Cid†. My education has also included the works of Rousseau, Beaumarchais, Montesquieu, Hugo, Zola Chateaubriand, Apollinaire, Aragon and other 18th to 20th Century writers. Many of the ideas advanced by these 18th Century writers went on to play a tremendous role in shaping France and Europe via their influence on the revolutionaries of 1789. Hugo and Zola also influenced their generation by exposing societal injustice in their works, most notably n â€Å"Germinal†and â€Å"Les Miserables†. Throughout my high school and university education I have studied foreign languages such as French and English. I have always had a particular passion for France (where I have lived for several years) and French culture and language. I was admitted to the Perm State University in order to learn French. In order to broaden my knowledge I enthusiastically took up the opportunity to move to France, where I have spent most of the last five years of my life, working and studying at the same time. When I arrived in France, I worked as an au pair (alongside my studies), as well as for a tour operator. I have also taught French to both teenagers and adults while in Russia, and Russian and French whilst in France. These experiences have greatly aided me in developing my teaching and communication capabilities. I also have a long-standing interest for history, art and politics, both within Europe, the US, the former Soviet Union and the wider world. I have found these interests to be extremely helpful when studying literature, ocieties and cultures during my education, as they enable one to understand the underlying meaning of texts which are at times hidden, or to place such texts in their broader context. During my education I have closely studied the evolution of the treatment of women in both France and Russia. It seems natural for me to advance as a thesis proposal comparative research into the influence of French and American 20th Century literature on the condition of women in France and the US, and to determine the impact that this had on other groups of society. This topic would allow me to examine issues ranging from personal and group identities to politics and philosophy. I will also be able to bring into such research my own background, as I have also studied extensively Russian authors like Chekhov who also focus on these issues in plays like â€Å"Three Sisters† or â€Å"Uncle Vanya†. I take a great interest in research work, may it be for my courses at university or during my internship in New Orleans, and find it both challenging and extremely rewarding. I have always wanted o graduate from such a prominent institution as Tulane University, which has a well- deserved reputation for excellence. More specifically, study in New Orleans, with Ph. D. in French Studies from Tulane University would constitute both a highly beneficial experience for me and an additional step towards becoming an expert in French literary culture and thought, possibly working in the academic field or within the broader intellectual community. ‘ am motivated and extremely hard working, and would relish the opportunity to study at your institution. I am grateful for your consideration.