Annie's story
 

In my high school in northern Minnesota, French was the only world language offered. I took it in ninth grade then as an independent study class in my senior year. At Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts, I was required to take a year of a world language. Since I had already dabbled in French, I took French and later graduated from Mount Holyoke with a major in French and a minor in Art history.

I fell in love with French and my exotic French professor in my first year of college. She told me that if I wanted to, I could major in French. She also told me that I would need to get to France asap. I called home and told my parents, “I’m going to major in French!” I don’t recall how they reacted. Then I asked, “Can I go to France this summer?” They answered, “No.” In the end, I was able to host two young French women (including my professor’s cousin) that summer. I am still in touch with both of their families.

Later, I spent my junior year in Montpellier, living with a French family and taking classes at l’université Paul Valéry. My college professors chose me to become une assistante d’anglais in a French high school the year after graduation. I lived with another French family and took classes at l’université Jean Monnet. Over the course of three summers, I completed my master’s degree in French at Middlebury College in Vermont. I earned my Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA) in Teaching French at University of Minnesota, Duluth.

I spent 29 years teaching high school French in five Minnesota school districts. Highlights included taking students on trips to France (twice to Martinique) and bringing the Québécois group, Le Vent du Nord, to Lakeville for a concert. I loved my 21 years in Lakeville and am pleased to be returning there for the 24-25 school year. I will no longer be teaching French, but I will maintain the friendships I formed grâce au français, and I will continue to enjoy French literature and film.

I would be happy to help you bring your students to A Vous la Parole, and I would be happy to serve as a teaching consultant for any of your French class projects.

Vive le français!