New Faculty: Benjamin Cherel Brings Expertise
In Language Pedagogy to French Department

Lecturer in French Benjamin Cherel teaches a course on contemporary French civilization, an appropriate topic for a man whose interests range over as broad an area as Cherel's do. That multiplicity of interests makes him feel at home in a liberal-arts setting as he begins his second year at Bryn Mawr. He wishes that the option of a small liberal-arts college had been available to him as an undergraduate in France, he says.

"In France, after the baccalaureate [the degree awarded upon completion of secondary school], a student must choose a single course of study and follow only that," Cherel explains. His first exposure to a liberal-arts curriculum — through Swarthmore College's study-abroad program at the Centre Universitaire d' Études Françaises (CUEF) in Grenoble, where Cherel earned an advanced degree — "was a revelation," he says.
"I think very highly of the liberal-arts system; it gives students the time to learn what truly interests them and allows them a lot of flexibility in designing a course of study. They can even build their own majors if they choose to."

Cherel's undergraduate major, which he pursued through the master's level at Grenoble, was an interdisciplinary program that combined sociology with French literature. "It was very unusual in France," he says. "Most programs would require a narrower focus." He confides that in addition to sociology and literature, skiing took up a fair portion of his time — Grenoble is famous for its slopes.

Cherel continued his studies at Grenoble, where he took an advanced degree in Français langue étrangère, the French equivalent of English as a second language. As a specialist in language pedagogy, he taught courses at CUEF, where he encountered the Swarthmore program at Grenoble. Swarthmore's French department hired him for a one-year appointment, and he found the environment of a small liberal-arts college so congenial that he ended up staying three years instead of one. When a permanent position opened at Bryn Mawr, he says, he jumped at the chance.

"I am delighted to teach here and enjoy all of the advantages we have at hand: small classes, highly motivated students, a wonderful Language Learning Center that helps us integrate new technologies into our pedagogy, and a renowned French department, thanks to the continuous and remarkable work of Grace Armstrong and my colleagues."

Cherel scours the offerings of the French news media daily for material to use in his teaching and maintains an extensive archive that he organizes into topic folders. He has high praise for the Language Learning Center's Chris Boyland. "I love to attend her workshops — she is doing a great job of showing us new pedagogical applications of technology. She has helped me incorporate a variety of digital media into my teaching, including French and Francophone music."

This semester, Cherel is teaching introductory and intermediate language courses, as well as the advanced style and translation course. Next semester, he will teach the second semester of the introductory course and the course on contemporary French society and culture.

In the meantime, he is helping the department to assess and update its curriculum. "We are re-envisioning everything we do," Cherel says.
He is excited about his role in helping Bryn Mawr's French department maintain its excellent worldwide reputation, he says.

"I feel honored to be here and proud to be associated with this institution," he says, "not only because of its high academic standards, but also because of the philosophy and attitudes inherited from its Quaker heritage. I admire the College's commitment to social justice and to making educational opportunities available to underrepresented minorities, economically disadvantaged students and international students. Their presence here represents a great educational treasure."

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