Mary Beth Raycraft
Boston University
 College of Arts and Science
 Pardee School of Global Studies
 College of Communication
 College of Fine Arts
 School of Hospitality
 School of Engineering
 Questrom School of Management
 School of Education
 School of Rehabilitative Medicine
 College of General Studies
American Sign Language
African Languages: Amharic, Hausa, Igbo, Kinyarwanda,
Pular, Swahili,Twi, Wolof, Xhosa, Zulu
Classical Studies: Ancient and Modern Greek, Latin
Modern Languages: Arabic, Chinese, German, Hebrew,
Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, Turkish
Romance Studies: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
I.
Description of 5th-semester course “French for the
Professions” which incorporates the dynamic theme
of the “start-up”
II.
Suggestions for ways to integrate this theme into
beginning and intermediate classes with sample
activities
III. Ideas for better connecting with language
departments and offices across campus to get the
word out that “ language goes with everything”
Weeks 1-4
Faire des affaires dans le monde francophone
Doing business in the francophone world
Focus on geography, stereotypes, business/cultural
customs associated with France, Quebec and
francophone Africa
Guest speaker: Business executive who works in a French
company in Boston
Students explore internship opportunities via web postings
and prepare :
 an initial description of a company or organization that interests them

a culturally appropriate curriculum vitae
 A cover letter
 a mock interview script and presentation
 a thank you letter
 Coordinator of Paris Internship Program from BU
Study Abroad
 Center for Career Services Team does an interactive
presentation regarding students’ past, current and
future engagement on campus and beyond
 a new business venture
 a business working to solve a problem where
the solution is not obvious and success is
not guaranteed
 a state of mind
 Brainstorming about connections between the startup
idea and the culture
 Exploring geographic, economic social, cultural factors
as well as business practices in specific
countries/regions
 Investigating the successes and challenges of the
company : via the startup website, articles in the press,
youtube clips, startup competitions
Professor from School of Management specializing in
entrepreneurship
 Presentation regarding the concept of the startup
ecosystem and all of its components
 Discussion of startup activity in Boston and other
cities around the world
 Suggestions for identifying and analyzing a specific
startup as a focus for oral presentation/final paper
 Suggestions for contacting startup founders/teams and
exploring the BU startup lab
Incubators
Mentors
Accountants
Angels
Angel Groups
Attorneys
Bus. Services
Advisors
Target
You
Family
Accelerators
Alumni
Investors
Govt. Grants
Competitions
Universities
 Barcelona
 Beijing
 Berlin
 Mexico City
 Montreal
 Moscow
 Paris
 Sao Paulo
 Tel Aviv
 Email message/interview with the founder/director of
the chosen startup or Kiva entrepreneur
 Research paper on the startup company with
bibliography, including email correspondence with
founder/startup team
 Group presentation focusing on factors influencing
startup culture in a particular region or country
 Shark tank-style individual oral presentation/pitch to
investors
 create a list of the top five startups in a region and discuss their
similarities and differences
 work on individual or small group presentations focusing on a
specific startup
 report on a “startup weekend” event or competition
 do an email or skype interview with a startup founder
 explore projects seeking funding: kiva.org
 Center for Career Development in-class workshop in
English regarding career exploration
 Study Abroad representative presented an overview of
study/internship abroad opportunities in francophone
countries
 School of Management entrepreneurship specialist
presentation on the startup phenomenon and startup
initiatives at Boston University and in the Boston area
Careers and foreign language alumni panel
 Featured alums who are using language skills in
Arabic, French, Japanese, Spanish and Wolof in their
careers
 All language departments
 Language Center
 Placement test information
 Peer Tutoring/Language Link
 Study Abroad
 Globally Speaking Mini-Courses
 Language Residences
 Community Service Opportunities
C urious about foreign language classes and opportunities at BU?
M eet f aculty!
Find out more about our course of ferings and programs in 28
languages!
Sign-up for student organizat ions!
Have an international snack!
 Inviting incoming first-year and transfer students to
meet faculty, ask questions about courses, study
/internship abroad opportunities, meet leaders of
student groups in an international setting with music
an food
 Featuring representatives from all languages, student
performances, international food, and a restaurant gift
card giveaway
 Plans to collaborate with Study Abroad to do two alumni panels
1) internships abroad
2)
programs for recent graduates to teach English abroad (TAPIF,
Auxiliares, JET)
 More collaboration with other undergraduate schools – School of
Hospitality, School of Engineering in order to develop more
specialized language courses that would appeal to those students
 Exploring the possibility of embedding a mini Study Abroad trip
within specific language courses. For example, weeklong-trip to
Quebec for ‘French for the Professions”
 The startup phenomenon stands at the nexus of different
geographic, cultural, economic, and social factors and
provides a dynamic way for students to explore language
and culture.
 Inviting guest speakers from other schools on campus
allows for a fruitful intersection of ideas and sets the
foundation for future collaborations.
 Exposing students to campus resources, in particular Study
Abroad and Career Services, allows them to better connect
what they are doing in class with broader interests and
career goals
 www.kiva.org (Global social enterprise)
 www.maddyness.com (French startup newsletter)
 www.startupwestafrica.org (West African startups)
 www.builtinmtl.com (Montreal startups)
 www.barcinno.com (Barcelona startups)
 www.eu-startups.com (European startups)
 www.startupnoodle.com (Beijing startups)
 www.techinasia.com (Japan startups)
 Questions?
 Suggestions?