<p>What language are you hoping to study?</p>
<p>My son is a first year, and has taken two classes in the French Department. He says the professors are outstanding, and as firefly mentioned, the department offers two study abroad programs directed by Carleton profs: one in Mali, and one in Paris. Both are said to be fantastic.</p>
<p>The only fault I can find with the department (this is me talking, not my son) is that the upper level course offerings (that is, once you get beyond the language/grammar sequence) look a little thin when it comes to French literature; greater weight seems to be given to courses emphasizing French and francophone current and cultural events, and films. Not many course offerings in the classics of French literature.</p>