Written on February 7, 2009 at 3:51 pm by Jennie

Not much has changed.

Filed under Random {24 comments}

I keep spending too many hours online searching for a new place to live in the countryside and for that perfect PhD program that I can apply to in a few years. The problem is that I don’t know where we will be moving to this summer, so it’s impossible to actually find a new place. And I don’t know how long we will be in France, so there’s no point in looking at grad schools in North America when we may not go there soon. Plus it’s really hard to find a PhD program in French that will let me focus on pedagogy and linguistics instead of literature.

I’m still feeling frustrated and helpless and restless. I haven’t even bought our tickets to my sister’s wedding this summer because I don’t know where David will be working or how much vacation he will have (or even which airport we should fly out of.) Even though I only work 3 days a week, time is going by fast in some ways and slow in other ways. It’s already time for me to write a lettre de demande de renouvellement motivée so that I can renew my lectrice contract for the 2009-10 school year. Winter vacation starts in one week, during which all I plan on doing is finishing up the vocabulary lessons for the rest of the semester and working on my website, which is what I do every weekend anyway.

The lousy weather and the fact that our electric radiator just broke is putting me in a bad mood again. I know it’s still February, but winter is dragging on too long. I want spring more than anything right now. I want a new apartment. I want David to find a new job that doesn’t pay him a ridiculously low salary. I want to have some idea of what my life will be like in 2010 instead of constantly wondering and worrying.

Maybe I’m just jealous of friends who are moving to new apartments and starting PhD programs this fall. I want that. Right now.

P.S. What are people’s opinion of PhD programs in France? If I do manage to do an M2 next year, and we do stay in France longer than expected, I’d like to try doing my doctorate here in didactique des langues. I’ve always been told that American Master’s degrees are worth much more than French ones, but what about PhDs?

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http://allezallie.wordpress.com/ Allie

I think a lot of the assistants are feeling this way now. It’s going by fast and very few of us have any idea what we’ll be doing next. I too wish I was like some of my friends who know exactly where they will be in July, let alone 2010.

Allies last blog post..Paris Weekend: Day 1
http://allezallie.wordpress.com Allie

I think a lot of the assistants are feeling this way now. It’s going by fast and very few of us have any idea what we’ll be doing next. I too wish I was like some of my friends who know exactly where they will be in July, let alone 2010.

Allies last blog post..Paris Weekend: Day 1
Cherlyn Glanville

If looking in the US have you checked into the University of Indiana http://www.indiana.edu/~grdschl/graduate-degree-programs.php You can do a combo or phd with phd minors in some of the areas that interest you. I did some summer French fellowships through them as a French teacher with more focus on pedagogy, linguistics, culture and modern technology added into summer studies in Lyon. I was impressed with the school’s linguistic programs and leadership.
Taught French for 20 years – now taking sabbatical and doing masters in school library and info sciences for a mid-life partial career switch. I would say the phd programs over here are more rigorous but it also depends where you plan to do most of your career work. If you plan to settle and work the rest of your life and carrer in Frrance- then it would be best to do you doctorated there. If you plan to return to the US eventually then it would be better to complete it here. My two cents. Cherlyn Glanville
PS I have been impressed with your website.
quick weather question Il fait soleil but in written format would one not still write Il fait du soleil?
Cherlyn Glanville

If looking in the US have you checked into the University of Indiana http://www.indiana.edu/~grdschl/graduate-degree-programs.php You can do a combo or phd with phd minors in some of the areas that interest you. I did some summer French fellowships through them as a French teacher with more focus on pedagogy, linguistics, culture and modern technology added into summer studies in Lyon. I was impressed with the school’s linguistic programs and leadership.
Taught French for 20 years – now taking sabbatical and doing masters in school library and info sciences for a mid-life partial career switch. I would say the phd programs over here are more rigorous but it also depends where you plan to do most of your career work. If you plan to settle and work the rest of your life and carrer in Frrance- then it would be best to do you doctorated there. If you plan to return to the US eventually then it would be better to complete it here. My two cents. Cherlyn Glanville
PS I have been impressed with your website.
quick weather question Il fait soleil but in written format would one not still write Il fait du soleil?
http://www.ielanguages.com Jennie Wagner

Hi Cherlyn, I was actually just looking at Indiana’s program today. I do like their minors with the French PhD, and I noticed that one of the lecturers, Kelly Sax, has the exact same research interests as me. It seems like a good match… now if only I knew where we were going to be living in a year or two from now. I honestly don’t know if we’ll stay in France or not, so it’s impossible for me to plan ahead, which is killing me!!

Most French people will tell you that Il fait du soleil is not French. It’s only said in small parts of the country. Il y a du soleil is acceptable though, or just il fait soleil.
http://www.ielanguages.com Jennie

Hi Cherlyn, I was actually just looking at Indiana’s program today. I do like their minors with the French PhD, and I noticed that one of the lecturers, Kelly Sax, has the exact same research interests as me. It seems like a good match… now if only I knew where we were going to be living in a year or two from now. I honestly don’t know if we’ll stay in France or not, so it’s impossible for me to plan ahead, which is killing me!!

Most French people will tell you that Il fait du soleil is not French. It’s only said in small parts of the country. Il y a du soleil is acceptable though, or just il fait soleil.
http://parkerjarnigan.googlepages.com/ Parker

I feel your frustration with the lit focus…a major reason I didn’t go the French route after undergrad is just that. I know a few people in the field and it looks like uc santa barbara brings several different departments together to allow for an “emphasis” in applied linguistics. maybe that or something similar could be what you are looking for.

still enjoying the blog, keep it up
http://parkerjarnigan.googlepages.com Parker

I feel your frustration with the lit focus…a major reason I didn’t go the French route after undergrad is just that. I know a few people in the field and it looks like uc santa barbara brings several different departments together to allow for an “emphasis” in applied linguistics. maybe that or something similar could be what you are looking for.

still enjoying the blog, keep it up
Myles Freborg

It looks like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has multiple programs fitting your description.

Here’s the link– gook luck!

http://www.french.illinois.edu/grad/programs.html
Myles Freborg

It looks like the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has multiple programs fitting your description.

Here’s the link– gook luck!

http://www.french.illinois.edu/grad/programs.html
Myles Freborg

;(

good* luck
Myles Freborg

;(

good* luck
http://www.soyezlabienvenuechezmoi.blogspot.com/ Dedene

Best of luck choosing! Whatever your choice, I hope you will be happy with it.
Good luck!

Dedenes last blog post..The last snow and the last potimarron
http://www.soyezlabienvenuechezmoi.blogspot.com Dedene

Best of luck choosing! Whatever your choice, I hope you will be happy with it.
Good luck!

Dedenes last blog post..The last snow and the last potimarron
http://www.wickedfrenchkiss.com/ Erica

Jennie, as you know, I’m American but doing my PhD in France (in American history/politics/civilization). I was told that a French PhD can be very valuable in the US, as a French PhD is significantly longer (350, 400, 400+ pages) than an American PhD.

[I attended an "internet studies" conference in the US in the summer of 2007, and a lot of the other participants were doing their PhD in the US. "100 pages" or "150 pages" were what they were told to write !]

The other important thing is to have American jury members. I know that my thesis advisor is often called to the US to be on American juries, and I plan on having at least one or two American jury members. From what I can tell, this “validates” your PhD in the US, so to speak, giving credence to your research based on American standards.

The other possibility is a co-tutelle (where you work simultaneously with an American university and a French university, and you get a degree from both). I’m not doing one, but I know of a woman in Paris who is.

Whatever you decide, good luck !!
http://www.wickedfrenchkiss.com Erica

Jennie, as you know, I’m American but doing my PhD in France (in American history/politics/civilization). I was told that a French PhD can be very valuable in the US, as a French PhD is significantly longer (350, 400, 400+ pages) than an American PhD.

[I attended an "internet studies" conference in the US in the summer of 2007, and a lot of the other participants were doing their PhD in the US. "100 pages" or "150 pages" were what they were told to write !]

The other important thing is to have American jury members. I know that my thesis advisor is often called to the US to be on American juries, and I plan on having at least one or two American jury members. From what I can tell, this “validates” your PhD in the US, so to speak, giving credence to your research based on American standards.

The other possibility is a co-tutelle (where you work simultaneously with an American university and a French university, and you get a degree from both). I’m not doing one, but I know of a woman in Paris who is.

Whatever you decide, good luck !!
http://www.webtaz.blogspot.com/ taz

Allo Jennie,

J’espère que tu trouveras ta réponse pour ton PhD. Je te comprends, ne pas savoir ce qui nous attends c’est parfois déprimant. Ajoute à cela des trucs comme un radiateur qui casse, déjà qui fait pas chaud dans l’appart… Grrr. Vivement que le printemps arrive!
À bientôt
http://www.webtaz.blogspot.com taz

Allo Jennie,

J’espère que tu trouveras ta réponse pour ton PhD. Je te comprends, ne pas savoir ce qui nous attends c’est parfois déprimant. Ajoute à cela des trucs comme un radiateur qui casse, déjà qui fait pas chaud dans l’appart… Grrr. Vivement que le printemps arrive!
À bientôt
chenlin

Good luck to you! enjoying what you choose.
chenlin

Good luck to you! enjoying what you choose.
http://www.lindamathieu.com/ Linda

I have no idea about their PHD programs if any but have you heard of St Anne University in Nova Scotia? It is a French university. I was looking into their Intensive French course a while back.

Lindas last blog post..Rabbi on a Bicycle
http://www.lindamathieu.com Linda

I have no idea about their PHD programs if any but have you heard of St Anne University in Nova Scotia? It is a French university. I was looking into their Intensive French course a while back.

Lindas last blog post..Rabbi on a Bicycle
http://blondeinfrance.blogspot.com/ Andromeda

Hey, just wanted to say I totally get the frustrated thing, and the not knowing what the summer will bring! I would even take skipping summer and going into next winter, just to finally be somewhere settled! Good luck with everything!

Andromedas last blog post..Ten silly things
http://blondeinfrance.blogspot.com Andromeda

Hey, just wanted to say I totally get the frustrated thing, and the not knowing what the summer will bring! I would even take skipping summer and going into next winter, just to finally be somewhere settled! Good luck with everything!

Andromedas last blog post..Ten silly things