Program Highlighted | French
Intorduction by | Professor Anne-Marie Brousseau
Interview with | Tina Hosseini
Date | September 2001

Interview | Tina Hosseini

Tine is an Innis College fourth year French Studies Student.

Innis: Would you introduce yourself?
Tina: My name is Tina Hosseini, although my first name is Baharak people usually prefers to call me Tina.

Innis: What attracted you to study French language and literature?
Tina: I originally started U of T with a major in Human Biology. Because I've studied French in High School my mother said ' why don't you continue French so that you don't loose it' and I ended up taking one course in my second year with an amazing professor. It was her course that actually gave me the idea that I think this is really the field that I should be in instead of Human Bio., so I dropped that and continue with French Literature.

Innis: Given that there are so many programs offered by the Faculty of Arts and Science, how did you decide to pursue this program? What role did advice/influence from peers, mentors, relatives, and others play in your decision?
Tina: Originally, like I've said, it's just the fact that I really enjoyed the course that I've taken. I enjoyed it to the point that I was willing to change my program for it. There really wasn't anything, later after I dropped my program, that's when I told my friend that I have dropped out of Human Bio. I think it's also once I've got into it, considering the fact that it was also something I hated back in High School. I hated literature in high school once I got in it then I found all these things that was so close to me and I was so close to literature than I didn't originally. So, then I found a way to express my personality and myself through my program. So, it was a personal kind of thing.

Innis: How would you rate the facilities and opportunities offered by this program in the University of Toronto?
Tina: I think personally I was lucky, because I had no knowledge of any of the professors in the French department. But somehow for some reason I ended up taking the courses with the best professors. From personal experience they were amazing, I think the French professors were amazing. But then you also happen to take some course with some professors that aren't good but the ones that are good makes up for the ones that are not.

Innis: What aspect(s) of this program do you find fascinating or inspiring - curriculum, professors, practical experience, field courses, etc.?
Tina: I think it's the professors. I think it's the professors because I still don't know, even though I've been already accepted for my masters, I still don't know what I want to get in to. I don't know what I want to study for my thesis or whatever. So, I think that shows that I'm not interested in a specific author or a specific period. I am interested in the professors in the department and whatever they are interested in, I end up being interested in it as well. So, I think it's the professors they are really good.

Innis: Of all the courses in this program that you have taken so far, which one did you enjoy the most, and why?
Tina: Well, the first one I took was FRE240 and everyone is suppose to take that, it's a pre-req. Although I didn't do too well in that, considering my other courses later on, that was the course that made me change my program. I think that is very good especially if you take that with Madame DeHou_____? From then on I think the courses I was interested in were the ones where the professors would a lot of discussion during the class also where there was a lot of research. So, I ended up like the courses in the third and fourth year because it was the kind thing where during the year you would write one or two essays and that was your grade and that was want I enjoyed it was more research.

Innis: Do you think that for students that are interested in French Language and Literature they need to have a background in French?
Tina: I think so, because even though I am not a native speaker my French is fluent. I think in order to get something out of the program you'll have to completely understand what you are reading and then be able to communicate. I do find there are some students that are anglophone, they don't speak French very well, but they are brilliant and they manage. But I think in general I would definitely recommend if you want to take the program that you have a solid background. I do see students that don't, in a fourth year course. They don't speak French properly and they might even be very good in literature, but it doesn't matter because if you are not able to communicate what you know what's the point of taking anything.

Innis: Are there things that you might have done differently while completing this program?
Tina: No, I am pretty satisfied with my choices. Like I've said, I am lucky because I end up taking the courses that were really good. I remember one year I had taken all these courses and I didn't know any of the professors. Then later on after I've registered I went to see the department because I never consulted with them before taking the course but that year I went to see them to show them what I've taken. The chairperson, he said these are like the best professors in the department so I was really lucky.

Innis: Would you have chosen another area to complement this one?
Tina: Yes. Obviously because it a literature program any other literature would have definitely complimented this one; English literature or any literature. Being Persian, if I had any kind of know of the literature of my own country. I think that would definitely enriched the French literature. It doesn't matter where you are from if you know the literature of your own country I think it is definitely a very good background for studying the literature of another country or the arts in general.

Innis: What are some things that you wish you had known before?
Tina: Well, I think if I had known that literature was something that I was really good at I would have started with Human Biology. That was a year of my life that was wasted. So, I think, it's too much to ask for, but if there were something back in High School they would test you. Not those little test that they gave you in High School, but the in depth ones. I know in France they do that: where two years before going to university the student knows for sure what they're good at and what they should be going into. So, if we could do something like that we wouldn't have students in third and fourth year still not knowing what they want to do.

Innis: What suggestions do you have on how this program might be improved for other students?
Tina: Looking at the grades that we give the professors at the end of the year that would help, taking our comments into consideration that would help. Also if there were more places for the student to get in contact with people. Not only one secretary that they can talk to, if there were actual students in the maîtres (masters) or in the Phd. That could be available in the department that the student can talk to. I find that we don't have enough people that we can ask our question, and if we want to do research who do we talk to. It's the kind of thing where the person having to go and find all these people. Although the department is really good, I think that there should still be more students involved in the department-helping Undergrad. students.

Innis: What is one piece of advice that you would give to someone who is interested in pursuing this program?
Tina: Like for any other program you have to make sure you really like it because it's difficult. It's very difficult although some people might not think so. If you planning to pursue a master and Phd. it very difficult. So you have to like it and you also have to have mastered French some how because otherwise you are wasting your time.

Innis: As a student in this field, I am sure you have researched the job market. What kinds of employment opportunities are there?
Tina: I actually haven't researched the job market. My actual field is not French Literature this is the educational side of my life, the other side of my life has nothing to do with school or university, so my job has nothing to with this. But, I have friends in the field who have easily found teaching jobs during the summer. I did it for a year actually, I taught English and French. So, I think that they are. I don't know as far as once you get your honours what you can do with that, because I haven't research it. I think for someone who can speak French well, there are obviously a lack of teachers. I don't think you really need the teacher's certificate or diploma because I've taught without having one. I am sure that there are a lot of job opportunities for people with the French language.

Innis: What types of jobs are you interested in obtaining in the future?
Tina: Like I've said, French is not my career but I do want to write. I actually want to publish a few things. So, the French literature has definitely been extremely helpful in developing my writing ability.

Innis: Are the any additional comments?
Tina: I think that you should look into who teaches what and you will find sometimes that even the subject doesn't appeal to you, in the beginning, if the professor is good you will enjoy it. You should look into who is good and you shouldn't necessarily listen to what other students tell you because they have different points of view. You should do some research on the professors. Go into the website for the French department they are right there and they tell you what they've published. The first year you should be taking the courses with the best professor because that builds you for future years. So, I insists on the professors.

Innis: Will you be studying French in Graduate?
Tina: Yeah, I appied two weeks ago and I received my letter approval. I will be pursuing French Literature and even do some research next year and I'll be doing my PHd. after that.

Innis: On behalf of Innis College I would like to thank you for coming out and lending us your time.
Tina: Thank you for having me and if this interview will help anyone that will be great.

For furher information about the program in University of Toronto and beyond, click here.