French

I am Midwest heartland to the core: Born in Ohio, raised and educated in Michigan. I graduated from Farmington High School in 1967; Hillsdale College, B.A., 1971; University of Michigan, M.A., 1972, and Ph.D., 1981. I have served as Professor of French at Hillsdale since 1972. I am married to Professor Emeritus (English, Hillsdale College) Richard Templeton. My interests include family, literature (of course!), travel, theater, contemporary film, and our four spoiled pets (three kitties, one cocker spaniel).

As a generalist and Francophile, I’m interested in all things French. I am currently exploring French-Canadian contemporary literature addressing the social concerns particular to the French experience in the new world. My research is closely connected to my teaching and is primarily in 19th and 20th century French literature and culture. Currently, I am preparing a seminar on Victor Hugo: the man and his masterpiece, Les Misérables. I periodically return to France to remain current in her culture and language.

One of the great advantages of teaching French at Hillsdale is that it is never boring. I have the opportunity to teach such a wide variety of language and literature classes that it is difficult to pick a favorite. French 101 is exciting as students move from learning the most basic vocabulary to actually communicating in the language by the end of the semester. I am also partial to French 201 (third-semester) because it is the class where most students find they can “think in French,” read literature as it was written, and communicate on an adult level. I enjoy all French literature classes, especially those dealing with 19th and 20th-century works.

In my 30-plus years of teaching, I’ve had too many exceptional students to single out one. Success for me has been defined by the student who discovers that he/she can read a novel in French and thereby access a whole new world, or by another student who is able to travel to France and finds he/she can not only cope, but thrive, in that new world. My profession is more than teaching a foreign language, though that is an essential first step. It is to bring students in contact with the different ideas and perspectives of another culture, to give them the tools to open them up to life-expanding experiences. The maturity and personal growth I’ve seen in so many students in the course of their education, both in the foreign language classroom and beyond, have been most gratifying to me.

The opportunities to interact with students and colleagues in my own and other disciplines and the emphasis on a traditional curriculum make Hillsdale exceptional. The idyllic setting is perfect for the contemplation and pursuit of knowledge, yet the school offers truly cosmopolitan opportunities: music, art, theater, lecture series, student organizations for virtually any interest, etc.

Students considering Hillsdale should carefully assess what they are looking for in a college education. The smallness and personal emphasis of Hillsdale provide many opportunities to excel, to know professors and classmates, and to discuss important ideas inside and outside the classroom. If they are accustomed to a variety of restaurants, shopping malls, museums, etc., they will have to adjust to a more pastoral life. We have hills but no mountains, and it gets cold in the winter. However, students find Ann Arbor, Lansing and Toledo short commutes, and there are enough charming coffee houses and small restaurants in the area to offer refuge from the cold. Most importantly, the education they will receive at Hillsdale is solidly grounded in time-tested verities. The liberal arts orientation of our school provides an excellent preparation for any career requiring strong skills of expression and the ability to think and support one’s ideas.

I most appreciate the intelligence and fine character of the students I encounter in my classes. There is genuine civility and a welcoming atmosphere of campus warmth. Students sincerely want to learn and are willing to work to strengthen native skills and to cultivate new ones.

ellen.justice-templeton@hillsdale.edu