Institut Polytechnique de Paris
Ecole Polytechnique ENSTA Ecole des Ponts ENSAE Télécom Paris Télécom SudParis
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International Center for French Language and Culture

The International Center for French Language and Culture of Institut Polytechnique de Paris aims to promote excellence for all international students and faculty members arriving on our campus, in all aspects of their experience of French and Francophone language and culture.
International Center for French Language and Culture

Our missions

The International Center for French Language and Culture is organized around three distinct pillars: culture, research and education.

Its objective is to carry out activities with high international visibility on the campus, to create a real synergy around French programs for all international students and researchers, and to present the various activities of IP Paris in the field of French studies within all its programs (in English and in French).

The Center's Management

Olivier BERTRAND is a university professor. He holds a Doctorate (Sorbonne Nouvelle) and an Habilitation to supervise research (HDR), he has been teaching at the École polytechnique since 2003 and was vice-president from 2006 to 2009, then president of the Department of Languages ​​and Cultures from 2011 to 2017. Specialist in medieval French, philology and history of the French language, he is a member of the Research Laboratory "Lexiques, Textes, Discourses, Dictionaries" and professor of historical linguistics and medieval lexicography at CY Cergy Paris University since 2012, where he was successively Director of the French Center (2013-2014), Director of the Department of Modern Letters (2014-2015), Research Project Manager (2015-2016) then Vice-President Research of the University from 2016 to 2018. Olivier BERTRAND is an ERC laureate for European Research (2009-2013), CNRS bronze medalist (2011) and Knight of the Academic Palms (2017). Lecturer at Sciences Po Paris, at the Ecole des Mines and at ENSTA Paris, he is a member of the jury of the external Capes of Modern Letters, of the internal Agrégation of Modern Letters, and vice-president of the jury of the external Agrégation of Modern Letters (2014-2017). He is also a member of the jury for the entrance examination to École polytechnique and ENS ULM (series B/L).

Isabelle SCHAFFNER has been a professor of French language and literature at the École polytechnique since 2004. She holds a PhD in French and comparative literature (The University of California) and a doctorate in American literature (Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris III). Isabelle SCHAFFNER is a member of the Research Laboratory LinX (Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Human Sciences, École Polytechnique) & an associate member of the Research Laboratory ITEM-CNRS (Institute of Modern Texts and Manuscripts, ENS). She specializes in French and comparative literature, and conducts research on French and American Naturalism. Isabelle SCHAFFNER began her academic career teaching in the United States, at the University of California and then at Georgetown University (Washington DC). From 2001 to 2010, she taught French language and literature for American university programs/institutions in France (NYU, Columbia University, Middlebury College, The University of Southern California, The American University of Paris) as well as at ENSTA, Sciences Po and the ENS. She was responsible for the French Section at the École Polytechnique from 2007 to 2018. She is a member of the jury for the entrance examination to the École Polytechnique and Member of the expert jury for the Eiffel scholarships, French History, Languages ​​and Literature category.

In addition to all the activities already carried out by the academic departments of IP Paris, the Culture section of IP Paris proposes activities, projects, visits and cross-cultural events on IP Paris campus in order to encourage stronger linguistic and cultural integration and to foster intercultural exchanges.

Activities 

  • Cultural and linguistic exchanges (creation of inter-program and inter-language pairs);
  • Cultural activities, projects and events: 
    • Cultural and linguistic integration
    • Intercultural discussions on major topics involving scientific, societal and ethical issues,
    • Invitation of writers, poets, academics and experts on various topics (creative writing workshops, writers in residence).

Contacts

Audrey STAVREVITCH, Télécom SudParis

Antoine GUIBAL, École Polytechnique

Based on the expertise of the faculty members, the Research section will focus on two missions:

  • Develop French language and literature: societal issues
  • Launch a "Francophonie" Chair

Activities

  • Organization of an annual cycle of conferences on French and Francophone language, culture and literature.
  • Creation of an annual interdisciplinary study day
  • Initiation of partnerships with French and international institutions in order to promote French and Francophone language and culture

Contacts

Isabelle Schaffner, École Polytechnique

In addition to the courses offered by IP Paris in its various departments of Humanities, Literature and Language departments, the International Center for French Language and Culture will organize cross-disciplinary activities.

 

Activities

Academic Board 

The Academic Board of the Centre de français is composed of representatives from international relations departments and French teachers from the five school composing IP Paris. Its objective is to evaluate cross-cutting teaching proposals. It is led by the co-directors of the Education section and works closely with the Department of Humanities, Art, Literature and Languages (SHALL).

Cécile Brossaud, Télécom Paris

Julie André, École Polytechnique

Director: Olivier BERTRAND

Deputy Director: Isabelle SCHAFFNER

Culture

Audrey STAVREVITCH, Télécom SudParis

Antoine GUIBAL, École Polytechnique

Research

Isabelle Schaffner

Education

Cécile Brossaud, Télécom Paris

Julie André, École Polytechnique

"Rencontres littéraires" lecture series

Tuesday November 28, 2023, 11am-12.30pm, conference with Pierre-Louis Fort (University Professor at CY Université) in the Gay-Lussac amphitheater

During this conference, Pierre-Louis Fort will talk about Annie Ernaux's La Place (1983): "Annie Ernaux, une écriture du réel".

Tuesday February 13, 2024, 11am-12.30pm, conference with Delphine Grouès (Sciences Po Paris) in the Gay-Lussac amphitheater

During this conference, Delphine Grouès will talk about her novel Cordillera (2023).

CULTURE

In addition to all the activities already carried out by the academic departments of IP Paris, the Culture section of IP Paris proposes activities, projects, visits and cross-cultural events on IP Paris campus in order to encourage stronger linguistic and cultural integration and to foster intercultural exchanges.

Activities 

  • Cultural and linguistic exchanges (creation of inter-program and inter-language pairs);
  • Cultural activities, projects and events: 
    • Cultural and linguistic integration
    • Intercultural discussions on major topics involving scientific, societal and ethical issues,
    • Invitation of writers, poets, academics and experts on various topics (creative writing workshops, writers in residence).

Contacts

Audrey STAVREVITCH, Télécom SudParis

Antoine GUIBAL, École Polytechnique

Based on the expertise of the faculty members, the Research section will focus on two missions:

  • Develop French language and literature: societal issues
  • Launch a "Francophonie" Chair

Activities

  • Organization of an annual cycle of conferences on French and Francophone language, culture and literature.
  • Creation of an annual interdisciplinary study day
  • Initiation of partnerships with French and international institutions in order to promote French and Francophone language and culture

Contacts

Isabelle Schaffner, École Polytechnique

In addition to the courses offered by IP Paris in its various departments of Humanities, Literature and Language departments, the International Center for French Language and Culture will organize cross-disciplinary activities.

 

Activities

Academic Board 

The Academic Board of the Centre de français is composed of representatives from international relations departments and French teachers from the five school composing IP Paris. Its objective is to evaluate cross-cutting teaching proposals. It is led by the co-directors of the Education section and works closely with the Department of Humanities, Art, Literature and Languages (SHALL).

Cécile Brossaud, Télécom Paris

Julie André, École Polytechnique

Director: Olivier BERTRAND

Deputy Director: Isabelle SCHAFFNER

Culture

Audrey STAVREVITCH, Télécom SudParis

Antoine GUIBAL, École Polytechnique

Research

Isabelle Schaffner

Education

Cécile Brossaud, Télécom Paris

Julie André, École Polytechnique

"Rencontres littéraires" lecture series

Tuesday November 28, 2023, 11am-12.30pm, conference with Pierre-Louis Fort (University Professor at CY Université) in the Gay-Lussac amphitheater

During this conference, Pierre-Louis Fort will talk about Annie Ernaux's La Place (1983): "Annie Ernaux, une écriture du réel".

Tuesday February 13, 2024, 11am-12.30pm, conference with Delphine Grouès (Sciences Po Paris) in the Gay-Lussac amphitheater

During this conference, Delphine Grouès will talk about her novel Cordillera (2023).