Lawrence University Lecture Looks at French, American Cultural Differences

APPLETON, WIS. -- Gerald Seaman, associate professor of French and assistant dean of the faculty at Lawrence University, offers a primer on French culture Tuesday, April 17. Seaman's address, "French or Foe," at 7 p.m. in the Wriston Art Center auditorium, is free and open to the public.

Based on the course, "Languages and Cultures of Europe," which he taught the past three summers in England to American students to help them develop cultural awareness and sensitivity, Seamanšs address will examine the differences between French and American cultures, focusing on an empathetic understanding of French behavior, customs and values.

A specialist in medieval French literature, Seaman joined the Lawrence faculty last fall after spending eight years at the University of Evansville, where he was the chair of the department of foreign languages. He earned his bacheloršs degree in political science, international studies and French at the University of Wisconsin Madison and earned his Ph.D. in French literature at Stanford University.