Current Student
Program/Degree: Languages, Cultures and Literacies, PhD

Year Graduated: 2015
Program/Degree: C&I L'éducation en français en contextes de diversité MA

I originally come from the South of France and I have been living in Vancouver since 2008. I am passionate about teaching and languages. I taught English as a Second Language in middle schools and secondary schools in France before moving to Vancouver where I now teach French as a Second Language at the elementary- and secondary-school level. I love traveling. My husband and I both put our jobs on pause from Sept. 2015 to Sept. 2016 and traveled to the US, Central and South America, New Zealand, South-East Asia and Europe alternating between different modes of transportation (cycling, walking, taking the bus or the plane).

Please tell us how you first discovered your program.

I was already a student at SFU (I completed my Masters through the Faculty of Education in Sept. 2015)

Please tell us why you chose the Faculty of Education at SFU for your studies.

Because of the specific programmes, it offers the notions of languages, cultures, and literacies, in French and in English.

Who is a faculty member you have enjoyed working with and why?

Dr. Diane Dagenais as she was my main supervisor for my Masters and is again my supervisor for my phD. She is passionate about languages, cultures, literacies and teaching. Every time I talk to her, she has many ideas and recommendations for me and I always leave our meetings refreshed and excited about the next step in my academic journey.

What inspires you to learn and continue your education?

I love learning things by hearing about other people's experiences and by discussing similar and diverging interests. I admire people that share their knowledge with others and aspire to be better and better at articulating my own thoughts to share them with other people. In a world where change has become a norm, I think that being a lifelong learner is a valuable strategy and a helpful attitude in the long run.

What would you say to prospective students who are considering graduate school in the Faculty of Education?

I would ask them what in particular they are interested in (programme, study/research interests, etc.) and would share my positive experience in my field of study/research.

Is there anything else you wish to share?

On top of being a teacher, a student, and a traveler, I recently became a mother. My son, Milo, is 4 months old, and even though being a phD student at the same time as a full-time mom comes with its challenges but I am happy to have the opportunity to do both.