FIAF Instructors | French Institute Alliance Française, New York City

AIT-JAFOUR, Samira
Mme. Ait-Jafour has been teaching at FIAF since 2001. She holds a degree in teaching from the Ecole Normale Superieure, and has extensive experience in teaching French as a second language and participating at various projects in different institutions. She has been responsible for a wide range of pedagogical activities at FIAF, notably the teacher training sessions and pedagogical counseling. She is an official examiner for the DELF and DALF certifications from the French Ministry of Education. In addition to giving preparation classes for these exams, she is also certified to organize training sessions for teachers.

ALLAMAR BONSIGNOUR, Ouarda
Ouarda Allamar Bonsignour arrived in New York in March 2007 and joined FIAF in February 2008. She lived previously in Paris, where she was a publisher for ten years in 2 well-known French education publishing houses. Ouarda holds a Bachelor's Degree in French spoken literature and a Master's Degree in French literature and language from the University Paris XIII. Besides teaching French, Ouarda studies Vocal Arts at Julliard School.

BALI, Fatiha
Fatiha Bali was born and raised in Paris. She grew up in the heart of Montmartre. She holds a MA in Information and Communication (with a Major in International Affairs & the Media) from the University of Paris VIII (Saint-Denis). Freelance journalist for some local newspapers in France, she also worked in PR before coming to NYC in 2001. Freelance translator and a teacher of French for the past 6 years in a language school in NYC, she also teaches French at Columbia University for the MBA and SIPA (School of International Public Affairs) non-degree programs.

BARNY, David
David is a native of Orléans, France. He first obtained a Master’s degree in English with an emphasis in American civilization from his home university. David started his career in languages as an ESL teacher in France, but after spending a semester in the United States for an academic research project, David became more interested in sharing his native culture and language with non-native speakers and started a career in teaching French as a second language. After completing a Master’s Degree in the Arts of Teaching Languages with an emphasis in French from the University of Southern Mississippi where he taught for two years, David moved to New York with his wife and started teaching at FIAF in the fall of 2012.

BEER, Muriel
A native of Strasbourg, France, Muriel has extensive experience teaching all levels of French at FIAF to people of all ages. Her experience includes teaching at Fordham University and implementing a French program for young children at one of the Montessori schools in NYC. Muriel is also an examiner for the Professional French exam, DFP - le Diplôme de français professionnel. She holds a degree in English from University Marc Bloch in Strasbourg and simultaneously studied FLE (français langue étrangère); a program designed to teach French to Foreigners. Muriel also completed an English language program at the British European Center in Oxford, England. In NY, she also studied acting and performed many plays at Le Studio dramatique.

BELLEC, Anne
Anne was raised in Versailles and has lived in the United States for more than 20 years. She attended business school both in France and the US and holds an MBA in International Management from the University of Dallas. In addition to holding marketing and sales management positions in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, she has taught French to both children and adults in various settings at all levels including community college (Brookhaven, TX), private and corporate lessons, and Business French. In New York, Anne has taught French privately and at EFNY - Education Française à New York, to francophone second and third graders.

BELNEAU, Michelle
Born in Haiti, Michelle Belneau has been working in the field of French as a foreign language for a long time, as a teacher of French at the Instituto angloamericano in Mexico for more than ten years and as a representative for Hachette Livres for 14 years. She holds a diploma in teaching French as a foreign language from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and has been trained also at the CAVILAM in Vichy, France.

BERGER, Sylvie
Sylvie Berger was raised in Paris where she received her French pastry degree and worked as a pastry assistant at "La Grande Epicerie". She also worked as a culinary consultant for "Cuisine TV" in Paris.

BEUF Caroline
Caroline, who has been on the FIAF teaching staff since October 2010, has also taught at the French Cultural Center in Stavanger, Norway for two years. She holds a Master of teaching of French as a second language from l’Université LYON 2 Lumière, in her original region in France. At the same level, she has also studied French Literature before she moved to Paris to study Art History in l'Université Paris 1-La Sorbonne. Caroline specialized in Contemporary Art and Photography in her essay about the French photographer, Raymond Depardon. Focused on studying languages for her own travels, she is also passionate about films and museums.

BLANTON, Maïté
Maïté was born and raised in Mons, Belgium. She moved to the United States in 2007 after marrying her husband who serves for the U.S. Army. She received a Bachelor’s degree to teach French and French as a second language from the Haute Ecole Normale de la Communauté Française in Mons, Belgium. In 2008, she obtained a Masters degree in Adult Education from the University of Phoenix. In 2010, she graduated from Liberty University with an Educational Specialist degree in educational leadership. She is currently working on her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. She has taught private and group lessons with a very diverse public from children to adults.

BONIN, Emmanuelle
Emmanuelle Bonin was born in Perigueux in Southwest France. She spent her childhood in the vibrant city of Lyon well known for its gastronomy, its cultural events such as the Festival of Lights and the Modern Dance Biennale. She holds a bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education and a diploma for youth leaders. She worked for several years in daycare and recreational centers with children ages 3 months to 14 years old. She is a dynamic, optimistic person who is eager to share French culture and language with American children.

BIDAULT DE L'ISLE, Thierry
Mr. Bidault de l'Isle holds a degree in International Politics and Economy from the Université des Sciences Politiques in Paris, a diploma in Literature from the Sorbonne, and a degree in Commercial Laws from Paris-Assas. After his Military Service where he studied satellite systems, he taught French in Paris at a college and at the Alliance Française. He moved to the US in 1995 and obtained a Certificate in English from Columbia University. He worked in D.C. as instructor at Discovery, the FCC, IMF, and World Bank, then came back in NYC in 2005 to teach at the Fiaf. Mr. Bidault de l'Isle also provides tutoring to diplomats, executives, teachers, etc. He has extensive experience with the banking and business sectors, as well as the UN and international NGO's. He is specialized in Business, Economy, Etiquette, French History, International politics, Telecommunications, and wines. He is the author of a simplified French Grammar « L’Essentiel », a book entitled « Secrets of France », a book on the French History « Histoire de France Résumée » and a booklet about French wines. He is also Editor in Chief of a bilingual magazine written in part by teachers.

CAMBIER-WEINSTEIN, Peggy
Peggy Cambier-Weinstein has been affiliated with FIAF since 2004, where she specializes in providing private tutoring to individuals and small groups. Peggy, who grew up in Lille, in France's Nord region, received a degree in Translation and Interpretation from the Institut Superieur d’Interpretation et de Traduction in Paris. As a teacher and translator, Peggy has extensive experience working on engagements concerning business, politics, and the arts. In addition to French and English, Peggy is also fluent in Spanish. Peggy lives on the Upper West Side with her American husband and their two daughters.

CASEY, Françoise
A native of Strasbourg, France, Madame Casey has studied languages and teaching in France, Germany and England. She has been teaching at FIAF for over 10 years, as well as having served as head of the FIAF children’s program for many years.

CASSEUS, Marie-Thérèse
Madame Casseus holds a Master’s degree in French Literature and Romance languages from Columbia University, and taught there before coming to FIAF in 2000.

CHIBANE, Selma
Madame Chibane came to FIAF in 2002. She was born in Algiers and holds a doctorate in veterinary medecine. She has a long experience in the teaching of French as a second language and was actively involved in FIAF’s “French Start” Program for the New York City Board of Education.

CLARK, Caroline
Caroline Clark arrived in the United States in July 2010. She has taught at FIAF since November 2010 and teaches French classes in Montclair, NJ. She lived previously in Northern France where she studied Sciences of Education for three years at the University in Lille. She obtained a Masters Degree in 2006 from the French Ministry of Education to teach children between 2 and 12 years old. She spent one year in primary school before teaching at a special needs school.

DEVOUASSOUX, Anne-Sophie
A native of Chamonix, France, Anne-Sophie grew up in contact with different cultures at an early age studied Italian, English, and Spanish. With a part-time job as a journalist for local news papers she obtained a Bachelors in History and a Masters in Sustainable Development at the Alpine Institute of geography in Grenoble, France. She decided to discover the world and worked for an American company as a trip leader around the globe. She finally settled down in New York and followed a teacher training program in teaching French as a second language, specialized in young publics.

DORGANS, Laetitia
An outstanding teacher, Madame Dorgans has been a member of the FIAF staff since 1968. Born in Bernac, France, she holds a degree in law and political science from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Toulouse.

DOUIOU, Fatima
Mademoiselle Douiou has degrees in education and French from the Université Blaise Pascal de Clermont-Ferrand. She has over 18 years of teaching experience, and joined the FIAF staff in 2002. Madamemoiselle Douiou is also a guidance counselor for international students at the New Immigrants Program of the New York YMCA.

DYL, Eleonore
In 1996, Eleonore graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in Stage Management and Theatre Production. Since then she has worked on film and theatrical productions with international directors such as Irina Brook and Luc Bondi. Eleonore started to direct her own projects in 2003. In 2006, she received a price from the Swiss government to develop a personal theatrical project in NYC. Since then, she divides her time between NY and Europe. Currently, she is working in NY for the Marie-Christine Giordano Dance Company as Director of Theater Education, collaborating with Gilles Vuissoz on the surrealist film “ La Baignoire du Champ” (to be released in 2010), and working on her next production, a stage adaptation of a graphic novel.

FOUCHER, Philippe
Prior to coming to FIAF in 1999, Monsieur Foucher taught at Harvard University and at the University of North London. He was also on the teaching staff of the Alliance Française in London for over 10 years. A native of Tours, France, he holds a Master’s degree in the teaching of French as a second language from the Université F. Rabelais de Tours.

FORST, Sophie
Sophie Forst is a native of Paris. She lived in Switzerland, Algeria and has been living in the United States for 14 years. She has been teaching French since 1996. She has worked as a cross-cultural consultant since 1998 and as a translator specializes in Arts, Law and Finance.

GIRARDO SCUTIFERO, Alexandra
Born in France, Alexandra holds a BA with honors in Modern Foreign Languages from the Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis and a degree in French Teaching as a Foreign Language from the Université Stendhal de Grenoble in France. She taught at the Centre Culturel Français de Milan in Italy for 8 years, at the IULM University of Languages and Communication of Milan for 5 years and also at the University of Milan for 4 years. She taught numerous classes in Business, general French and translation. She is a certified examiner of DELF and DALF (diploma of French language).

GONTIER, Frank
Frank Gontier grew up in Nice, and has lived in the US for 14 years. He holds a Masters Degree in Law from Paris-Assas and Fordham University, and is currently completing his Masters degree in French Studies at Montclair State University. He is an experienced teacher, having taught both at private and public schools. He started working for FIAF in 2011, and teaches both children and adult courses at the Montclair branch.

HAUTECLER, Françoise
Françoise was born and raised in Brussels. She holds a Master's degree in Psychology from Louvain-la-Neuve, and a diploma in Developing Countries Studies. She has extensive business experience in the private sector, having worked in several countries. She has taught French in Vancouver and is now teaching adults in various professional environments as well as at the FIAF Language Center in New Jersey.

HOFMANN, Sarah
Born in Asia and having grown up between France and the D.C. area, Sarah has lived, worked and traveled the French-speaking world over from Mali to Haiti to Montreal. She has had the privilege to have taught both ESL (English as a second language) as well as FLE (Français langue étrangère) to students of various ages and backgrounds. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from universities in the U.S. and France in the Humanities and Arts. Currently she is pursuing a degree in Education in NYC.

IBRAHIM, Soha
Soha Ibrahim is a Trainer of Teachers and of Pedagogical Leaders - Secrétariat Général de l’Enseignement Catholique – Paris – France. For 13 years, she taught French to middle and high school students and was additionally the principal of a bilingual school. She was subsequently appointed Academic advisor (Conseillère Pédagogique) to the General Secretary of Catholic Schools of Egypt. She was also responsible for a monitoring committee which organized partnerships between middle and high schools in Alexandria and Marseille, Arles, La Ciotat. She has a Bachelor of Arts, French department, from Alexandria University - Egypt, a diploma of TOT (Trainer of trainers) – from University of Besançon – Franche-Comté France. She also has a certification of « Habilitation des Correcteurs et Examinateurs du DELF A1, A2, B1, B2 » from the Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques (CIEP), Sèvres – France. In July 2001, she was decorated by Mr. the Minister of French National Education in recognition for her efforts in promoting the French language.

LARKEM, Nasser
Born in Villeneuve d’Ascq in the north of France, Mr. Larkem has travelled far and wide to share his enthusiasm for the teaching of French, with appointments in France, Spain, Texas, New Mexico, and the Middle East. He has recently arrived in New York from a teaching position in the Centre Franco-Saoudien in Dammam, Saudia Arabia. He has also served as an interpreter of French, Spanish and English for the French national soccer team for the World Cup championships. He holds a masters degree in History from New Mexico State University, and a degree in applied foreign languages from the University of Charles-de-Gaulle in Lille, France.

LEMOINE, Clémence
Clémence Lemoine was born and raised in Montpellier, a dynamic city in the South of France. She holds a degree in English literature and civilization and a master’s degree in Teaching French as a second language from the University Paul Valéry of Montpellier. While graduating, she taught French at the Alliance Française of Montpellier and had the opportunity to work for one year in SUNY Geneseo, New York Upstate. On the campus, she taught and led various projects and events related to the Francophone world. She is currently working at FIAF as an instructor for adults and children.

LORIOT, Emmanuelle
Emmanuelle Loriot Apruzzese was born in Paris, France and spent her formative years in Paris and Montpellier. She began her teaching career in 1994 in Paris, before moving to Cairo, Egypt where she specialized in teaching French as a foreign language in primary and secondary schools (IBO schools). She moved to New York in 2000 where she taught French at the FIAF between 2000 and 2005 at all levels and in 2003 was appointed FIAF Pedagogical and Exams Coordinator. During this period, she also taught French at Marymount University in New York. In 2005, she completed a Master's degree in linguistics and management (Teaching French as a Foreign Language) at the Centre de Linguistique Appliquée in Besançon, in southeastern France. She is currently teaching for EFNY (Education Française à New York) to francophone second and third graders at PS234 and PS84 and recently earned her Teaching Certification for the State of New Jersey. Passionate about languages, Emmanuelle has studied and speaks German, Arabic, English and Spanish and is currently studying Italian. She has traveled extensively in Europe, North America and the Middle East where she pursued her longtime hobby of photography and has exhibited her work in Paris and New York.

MARTINS, Cyrille
Cyrille Martins has been teaching French as a Second Language for 6 years for all levels and ages. While enrolled as a Masters student in France, he received a degree in child psychology. He taught in New York City in an elementary school and a middle school. Independently, he had the extraordinary opportunity to teach Chinese students in Paris (DELF B2 and DALF C1) for 2 and a half years. Cyrille does not only teach General French, with his Master in Finance and Economic, he teaches also French Business, Financial Market, and Economics. He has taught for over two years at FIAF.

MAY, Denise
Madame May, a native of Paris, has been teaching French as a Foreign Language at the French Institute Alliance Française for many years now, much to the pleasure of her students. She holds a Master’s Degree in French Literature from La Sorbonne. In the past, she has taught high school students in France, Canada and United States and has worked as a Language Consultant for Executives.

MESNARD, Pierre
Pierre Mesnard is a Paris native who started teaching at the Alliance Francaise in September 2006. In France, he studied psychology and literature. Pierre also holds a French teaching diploma from Alliance Française de Paris. He worked as a journalist and copy-editor for several publications in Paris. He is also a fiction writer.

MIKALA, Sosthene
Originally from Gabon, Sosthene Mikala is a highly talented bilingual interpreter and teacher, with over 12 years of professional experience in legal and educational environments. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Democracy and Cultural Pluralism from the New School University in New York City, where he has lived for 16 years. He also hold certificates in language proficiency and communication skills from New York University. Prior to coming to FIAF in September 2009, Sosthene has taught French and English at Columbia-Barnard College for the Science and Technology Entry Program, and French at Prep for Prep in Manhattan. His brilliant personality like sunlight shines warmly on all people and turn their faces on his way. Sos has also done work for ABC and NBC news as well as the United Nations. Fun, gentle, passionate, knowledgeable, generous, kind and unique, he is very devoted to the promotion of the French language. This motivational speaker enjoys the intricacies and the nuances of the language which he speaks with an exceptional sense of humor. Although, he has family in Paris, he personally resides in West Orange, New Jersey by Montclair where he currently dispenses courses at our FIAF's branch in Montclair.

MINOR, Yvonne
Yvonne Minor is a native of La Dordogne, France. She holds a Master's degree in French, has worked as an interpreter, and has extensive experience teaching French - including A.P. - in public and private high schools in New Jersey.

MURATI, Shyret
Shyret Murati grew up in France and has lived in the US since the 1990s. She holds a degree in Romance Letters and Languages from the Université Libre de Bruxelles as well as a Masters Degree in Italian. She pursues graduate studies at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She is a creative and experienced teacher, and has taught all age groups and levels, from elementary to College (Ecole Supérieure de Sciences Juridiques et Marketing, Brussels). She has also been a certified teacher for New Jersey Public Schools for many years.

NOIRÉ, Marie-France
Madame Noiré is a native of Nancy in the Lorraine region of France, and holds a Master’s Degree in French Literature from the Université de Nancy, France. She has extensive teaching experience in high schools and colleges in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. A devoted yogi, she is the co-founder of the Kripalu Yoga Teacher’s Training Program. She actively promotes yoga through teaching and writing. She is the co-author of two books on personal and spirtitual growth, L’art de s’Ouvrir à la Vie and Vivre Consciemment au Quotidien.

OLDENBURG, Chantal
Madame Oldenburg holds a Master’s Degree in Modern Literature from the Université de Paris III Sorbonne Nouvelle. She has taught French as a second language for more than 15 years, and has also given courses in Business French and French literature. In addition to her courses at FIAF, Madame Oldenburg teaches at the New York University School of Continuing Education and at the New School.

PALUEL-MARMONT, Aurélia
Aurélia Paluel-Marmont was born in London and raised in Paris. In Paris, she studied French literature as well as history, geography and law, while teaching French literature and grammar to teenagers. She holds a Master's Degree in both medieval history and corporate law from the University of Paris X Nanterre. After studying law in Paris and London, Aurélia was admitted to the Paris bar in 1998 and practiced as an attorney in Paris before moving to NYC in 2001 where she is raising her four children. During all these years, Aurélia has always enjoyed instructing French as a first and second language to private students and small groups.

PARTOVI, Sanaz
Sanaz Partovi moved to New York from Paris in 2006. She holds a diploma in Language Sciences and Performance Studies from Paris. As a dancer and choreographer, she has toured Europe and North America with various dance companies and has appeared on renowned stages such as l’Olympia in Paris and also on French national TV. Sanaz has been teaching French as second language to children and adults for many years in Iran and France. Her works also include translation of theatre scripts from French to Persian and English. Sanaz’s experience in the arts world brings a unique perceptive to her teaching style and pedagogy. Now in New York alongside teaching French she also works as a dance and pilates instructor.

PROST, Anna Caroline
Anna Caroline Prost comes from the golden island of Porquerolles, in the Mediterranean Sea. Raised in Provence, she studied American Literature and Civilization at the University of Nice, before undertaking a PhD in African American Art with the University of Toulon, in Provence. She is also pursuing a Masters in French Taught As A Foreign Language with the University of Grenoble. She has previously taught in London, where she was conducting her research. She has lived in New York since September 2006 and has been working at FIAF since October 2006.

PUJA, Béatrice
Beatrice Puja holds a Baccalaureat en Mathematiques Elementaires from the Lycee Francais de Lima, Peru, a Bachelor of Sciences in Biology from the Gayetano Heredia School of Medicine in Lima, Peru, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Comparative Religions from Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and a Masters of Sciences in Socio-Political and Economical Studies with major in Linguistics from the London International School of Linguists, Dublin Center, Ireland, in Spanish, French, Italian and English. She taught English and French at the School of Tourism of Madrid, Spain, French and Italian at Limerick School of Commerce, Ireland and at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, and has been teaching at FIAF since 2003.

REICH, Ginette
Madame Reich, opera passionata, has been teaching at FIAF since 1982. A native of Clairvivre in the Dordogne region in France, she lived for many years in Israel where she taught French at the French Embassy of Tel Aviv, as well as Hebrew to American students in Netanya. She holds a Master’s degree in the teaching of French as a second language from New York University.

ROCHETEAU, Fanny
Originally from Le Mans, France, Fanny has been in NYC for two years. She has a Master's Degree in English Linguistics, Literature and Civilization from the Université du Maine, France though she started her career as a French instructor at the University of Arkansas in 2008. She loved the experience so much that she decided to concentrate her efforts into being a" travelling ESL teacher." She has taught English in public high schools in France and Chile respectively, for a United Nations program. She is a knowledgeable, fun and entertaining instructor who has a passion for her country and can give some very useful insights on her own culture.

RODAS, Soledad
A native of Lyon, France, Madame Rodas has been teaching at FIAF since 1999. She has an advanced degree in Education from the Université de Lyon, and has studied Spanish at the Université de Santander in Barcelona. She has a long experience in primary-age education in schools in both France and Spain, and has done volunteer work as an educational coordinator in Equator.

ROURE, Anne-Sophie
Anne-Sophie Roure is a French native who grew up near Toulouse and later on in Alsace. She has been living in the US for 13 years, in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and now Montclair, NJ. She holds a master of History from Strasbourg University and a master of Sciences in Historic Preservation from Columbia University. She worked for an international non-profit organization for a few years before moving to Montclair NJ four years ago. While raising her three boys, she started her own business, importing and selling books in French for children, and has enjoyed teaching French to adults and children.

ROUSTAÏ, Guitty
Mrs. Roustai holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Development from the French Ministry of Education and has worldwide experience teaching young children. In New York, Mrs. Roustai has taught at Lyceum Kennedy, the Fleming School, and the Dalton School. Mrs. Roustai is the founder of La Croisette French Language Center, which for the past 14 years has provided an afterschool French program for toddlers, consultant services for establishing French programs in public and private schools, and a teacher training program.

ROWLAND, Caroline
Madame Rowland is truly an international teacher, having taught French in Turkey, South Africa, Spain, England, Germany, Martinique and the United States (Oregon, Wyoming, and Miami). She has been teaching at FIAF since 2001. She holds an advanced degree in the teaching of French as a second language from the Université de Haute-Bretagne in Rennes.

SCHMIDT, Jean-Philippe
M. Schmitt was born and raised in the city of Nancy, in the Lorraine region where he obtained his BA with honors with a double major in English linguistics and literature and in Teaching French to foreigners at the Université de Nancy 2, France. Then he moved to the Chicago for his graduate studies to pursue a degree in French Linguistics specializing in phonetics and phonology. Jean-Philippe Schmitt has taught English to High School students and BTS in France as well as French and ESL at Northern Illinois University. He was the head of the French Residential Program and the assistant director of the Foreign Language Residence Program at NIU. He joined the FIAF in 2011 where he teaches adult and Children's classes.

SIEGEL, Stéfanie
Mme Siegel has been teaching at FIAF since 2000. She holds a Baccalaureat in Literature, an Advanced Degree in Economics, Political Science and International Affairs from the Prominent Institute of Political Sciences, a degree from the Ecole Nationale des Langues Orientales Vivantes in Russian, and a Master's degree in Education from Hunter College. She has over 20 years of teaching experience in France (Saint Germain-en-Laye), and in New York City at the Lycée Français (History, Geography, Economics) and Hunter College High School, and 10 years at The Dalton School (French). She also has extensive business experience as an executive in Marseille, Paris, and New York City (export, film, and fashion). Moreover, she worked as an editor at the Press and Information Division of the French Embassy in New York City.

SIU, Jennifer
Jennifer Siu was born in Paris and raised in Lausanne, Switzerland. She attended business school in Lausanne (Switzerland) and hold a certificate of business administration. She worked in Lausanne for the department of health in the accounting and financial service. She moved to New York in 1983 where she worked for the United Nations at the peacekeeping operations department. She then worked as a teacher for grades 7 to 12 at Long Beach public school. She attended Stony Brook University for six years. She holds a bachelor degree in arts, majoring in education and a master’s degree in French literature. She’s been working at the French Institute since May 2007.

TADESSE, Emebet
Madame Emebet Tadesse has 23 years of teaching experience for all ages and levels. She also served as a translator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She also taught FLE (Français Langue Etrangère) for adults at the Lutheran World Federation Department for Mission and Development in Ethiopia. She has additionally taught private lessons in Ethiopia for children with difficulties learning French. She has taken teacher trainings at l’Université Stendhal (Grenoble), Centre Universitaire d’études Françaises and at the Centre de Linguistique appliquée at L’université de France a Besançon.

TAGHZOUTI, Kaoutar
Kaoutar was born in Meknès in Morocco. She studied fundamental studies in private law in French language at the University Moulay Ismail of the legal, economic and social sciences of Meknès in 2008. After graduation, she turned to education in which she was trained lly to teach French in schools as well as at the French Institute of Meknès until 2011. Also in 2011, she joined the FIAF teaching staff and teaches toddlers, kids, and teens.

THOMMERET, Loïc
Dr. Thommeret holds graduate degrees in literature and French as a Foreign Language from the Sorbonne, as well as a PhD from the University of California. He has nearly three decades of teaching experience at the collegiate level, internationally and domestically from coast to coast. His classes have focused on French language and grammar, with an emphasis on literature from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment. He also pursues an active academic career, with translations of books and articles on subjects from French colonization to French fascism. A specialist of early modern French literature and civilization, he has numerous publications on the 18th century which have been widely regarded as groundbreaking work on forgotten literature of the Enlightenment.

THURMAN, Justine
Justine Thurman is French and American and grew up in Paris, France. She earned a degree in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College, in Boston, MA, and in Acting from the Lee Strasberg Institute of New York. She has taught French in Brooklyn schools and through the French Alliance of Boston and is happily a part of the FIAF of New York.

TRODEL, Yvette
Yvette is a Parisian native who is delighted to return to New York City and rejoin the FIAF faculty. She studied in France and England, where she attended the Middlesex Polytechnic (now Middlesex University), studying French and History. She has received a Teacher’s Certificate from the London Polytechnic. During her extensive travels, she has taught all levels of French in various schools. While living in Hong Kong, she taught high school at the Hong Kong International School. In London she taught in the Adult Education system of the London Board of Education as well as at the Canadian High Commission, teaching Embassy staff. In New York, Yvette was the Canadian Consulate teacher and also worked at the Alliance Francaise for 17 years. Before leaving New York, she taught full time in a high school, from eighth to twelth grades (AP French, Advance Placement Literature). While living in London, she joined a theatrical group and performed in many classical and modern French Plays, the theater being one of her passions. She holds a certificate of "Membres a vie des Professeurs de francais de Londres", Life membership of London’s French teachers.

UZEL, Olivier
M. Olivier Uzel was born in the city of Lorient, Brittany, and lived in Madrid and Paris for more than seven years before moving to New York. He holds two Masters' degrees: one in Management of Communications and Media from AudenciaSciences.com and the other in Foreign Languages and International Affairs from the Sorbonne University. He has today an extensive experience with multimedia marketing and non-profit organizations. Also working as a consultant for the United Nations in the field of Public Relations and Communications, he holds a conference in Intercultural Management for the University Paris IV La Sorbonne since 2011. Olivier has been working at the FIAF as a Business French Professor. Prior to this experience, he was also teaching private sessions for adults within different companies. Passionate of sociology and photography, he is also a gastronomy and wine amateur.

WINKLER, Edith
A professional actress in Switzerland, Austria and France for over 15 years prior to coming to FIAF in 2001, Madame Winkler brings her wide experience in the theater arts to the benefit of her classroom. She holds a degree in Drama from the Ecole Supérieure d’Art Dramatique de Strasbourg, and dual degrees in the teaching of French as a second language and German literature from the Sorbonne. She has taught language and theater in both France and the United States. In addition to her performances on television, stage and screen, she is an accomplished singer, songwriter and published poet. She has recently completed a CD recording of her songs. She is also an active translator of German theater works and plays into French.

YONOSSI, Zarina
Teacher since 1991 in various levels including French literature at FIAF, Madame Yonossi holds a diploma in the teaching of French as a second language from the Université Paul Valery (Montpelier, France), a doctorate in French literature from the Université de Paris-X Nanterre (“Le cycle de l’eau et du feu dans Salammbô de Flaubert”) and also a degree in political science from the Institute d’Etudes Politiques d’Aix-en-Provence, France.


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