Amanda Best
Class: 2019
Graduated with French and English Literature majors in 2019
Having graduated from Sonoma State with a degree in French and in English Literature Studies, I am now pursuing a Master’s in Philosophy in Literary Translation at Trinity College Dublin. The SSU French and English departments have helped prepare me for the intensive language and linguistics studies involved in the pursuit of my degree by introducing me to a wide range of topics and fields of study. The emphasis on both literature and culture provided through the French Department curriculum has helped me to start out as a more thoroughly prepared translation studies student, as knowledge of both elements are essential to producing quality and marketable translations. The wide variety of topics covered by the curriculum allow for varied interests and exploration of French culture and language; the senior seminar on Franco-American literatures and cultural studies, the Medieval and Renaissance literature courses, and the French history course have all provided me with wonderful starting points for my portfolio and dissertation, and I know they will continue to be a solid foundation for my work as a literary translator going forward. Being accepted into such a prestigious institution to continue my studies is a dream come true, and I owe many thanks to the faculty and staff of the French department for bolstering my success with unyielding support and encouragement.