French for the Future » Featured Student: Jenna Gonzalez

Featured Student: Jenna Gonzalez

September's featured student is Jenna Gonzalez.

Photo credit: Peter Walsh/ Telegraph-Journal

Jenna is an Anglophone student in her 5th year at the University of Moncton. She is studying in Education with a major in history and a minor in French as a second language. She loves playing soccer and plays on a team during the summer.

She is passionate about music and sings in the choir music department’s choir at university. Last year, she even got the chance to sing in an opera’s chorus. As well, she plays the clarinet in an ensemble.

As a part time job during the school year, Jenna was a student-mentor for the bridge group, a special faculty for Anglophones in their first year at the University of Moncton. During her spare time, Jenna loves to read, take nature walks and go see shows.

Next year, Jenna plans to continue her studies at the Masters level to complete a degree in education management.

Find out more about Jenna through her blog entry and in this Telegraph article!

Name: Jenna Gonzalez
Age: 21
Grade : 5th year university
School :University of Moncton
Lives in : Moncton, New Brunswick
First language : English
Favourite music : Indie
Favourite French expression : « Ben voyons donc! »
Favourite way to practice French outside of school: I speak French with anyone and everyone (my friends, my coworkers, waitresses, cashiers, strangers, etc.)
Why is it important to learn a second language?: In New Brunswick, it’s very important to be bilingual to get a good job. There’s also a very beautiful Francophone culture here in the Maritimes and it’s hard to discover and appreciate it without speaking the language.
In her opinion, the coolest French country is: I know everyone has been saying France as an answer here, but I say it’s Canada. In Canada, French is spoken in many provinces with so many different dialects and cultures. We cannot speak of a single Francophone culture in Canada. Furthermore, and I may be a bit biased, I think that Acadians are the most generous and warm people in the world.
How she will use her French skills in the future: Because I’m studying in education, I’m planning to teach in immersion. I will teach history and French in Anglophone schools. French, my second language, will become my principal language of communication.
Where she would like to travel: I can’t wait to finish my studies so that I can travel all around the world! I really want to travel in Europe (England, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, etc). I would also love to go to South America, especially Peru!