Centenary, French university kick off Louisiana Escadrille

SHREVEPORT, LA — This week Centenary College hosted a French diplomat and university officials, as well as ten students from across Louisiana, to kick off a new graduate education partnership called the Louisiana Escadrille. The guests joined Centenary President David Rowe and others at a reception on campus Monday evening. William Arceneaux, President of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, or CODOFIL, was also in attendance.

CODOFIL logo

"We really enjoyed welcoming our French guests to campus and are glad to enter another innovative partnership," said Dr. Rowe. "Centenary's focus is on preparing leaders for a changing world, and a key part of that is intercultural knowledge and experiences. This program is another example of Centenary expanding opportunities for our students."

The Louisiana Escadrille is an exciting new program that brings together Centenary College, CODOFIL, the University of Rennes, and the Consulate General of France in New Orleans. Participants in the Louisiana Escadrille are graduate students recruited by CODOFIL as exemplary potential teachers of French as a second language or teachers who would be qualified to use French as a medium of instruction for teaching other subjects. These students will complete teacher certification coursework through both Centenary and the University of Rennes, France, ultimately gaining a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) from Centenary College.

The program started this week with a three-week session on the Centenary campus. Once complete, the students will travel to France where they will spend a year teaching English at French high schools. The students will then return to complete their M.A.T. at Centenary and be placed in Louisiana schools to teach French.

For more on Centenary's M.A.T. program, visit Centenary.edu/education/graduate.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.