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Professors

Teachers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Geneviève Aurore has a Master's degree in French Literature from Portland State University and has taught at both Portland State University and Portland Community College, in addition to experience as a journalist. Geneviève teaches Beginner and Intensive French classes at all levels and also creates thematic conversation classes as well, such courses on the contemporary policier novelist Fred Vargas.

Mireille Balland is a native of France and a long time Oregon resident. She's been an adjunct faculty from beginners to advanced level at PSU and Lewis & Clark college and an instructor at Alliance Française for many years. Prior to coming to Oregon, she was a consultant in Paris, France to large French companies for managing the career of their managers. She holds a MA in French from PSU, a mechanical engineering degree from Institut National des Sciences Appliquées in Lyons, France, and a certificate of business management from University of Lyons.

Lucie Bonvalet has two Master's degrees (English and FLE - teaching French as a Second Language) as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Originally from Dordogne, Lucie has taught French to adults and teenagers in high schools, conversation centers and cultural centers in Japan (both Kyoto and Tokyo) and in England. She has also taught French at Portland Community College.

Cathy Coltrin studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and earned her BA in French from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught French for many years at Lakeridge High School in Lake Oswego and now specializes in teaching in-depth Beginning French to daytime classes. Cathy enjoys including fun activities in her curriculum, such as noontime visits to Cercle Français lectures, outings to Le Bouchon, and music whenever possible.

Jane Fabulet-Roberts is originally from Rouen and attended l'Ecole internationale de théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris and melds a passion for theater with her love of teaching. She is passionate about teaching French Languageas a second language and puts emphasize on body language, phonetic and pronunciation. She taught for 3 years at the Portland French school in drama and after-school programs and is now developping French language programs using theatre, games and other hands-on method in different schools in Portland. She is the co-foundator with Carine Zimber of the French Language Theatre Company "Fabulations".

Sylvain Frémaux was born in Paris and has taught the language and culture of his native France to Oregonians of all ages since 1990. He has served on the French and music faculties of Linfield College, Lewis & Clark College, Pacific University, Portland Community College and Western Oregon University, where he designed and taught a variety of interdisciplinary courses in both French and English. He also taught French at University of Southern California, Alliance française of Los Angeles, and Yale University. As a scholar and translator, his publications include: Diary of a Twentieth-Century Composer: Alexandre Tansman, 1897-1986 (winner of the 1998 USC Stefan and Wanda Wilk Prize); Life of Father Croquet, Missionary in Oregon (Portland, 1997, translated from French); French Music from the Enlightenment to Romanticism, 1789-1830 (Amadeus Press, Portland, 1996) by Jean Mongrédien (translated from the French); and The Compositional Process in Robert Schumann's First Symphony: Draft, Score, Revisions, and Publication, 1841-1853 (New Haven, Yale School of Music, 1983). Sylvain is the founding director of FranceTours, LLC and has led annual tours and travel courses throughout his native France since 1997. His thematic tours have included Retracing the Steps of Joan of Arc; Touraine-Garden of France; Explore the Valley of the French Kings; and The City of Lights. Sylvain holds a Bachelor's degree from USC and a Master's degree from Yale. In October 2007 Sylvain took on additional responsibility as the Alliance's Education Manager.

Nathalie Gerts has a BA in Philosophy and completed studies of French Literature at the Sorbonne (University of Paris). She earned an FLE (Français Langue Etrangère) Teaching Degree from the worldwide headquarters of the Alliance Française in Paris and is also certified by the French National Ministry of Education. Initially a teacher in French elementary schools, she has also enjoyed a career in the tourism industry in Paris and the U.S., and has taught French in the public school system in Oregon as well as Linn-Benton Community College. In the spring of 2006 Nathalie completed training by the French Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques as a certified examiner for DELF/DALF. Nathalie is also a teacher at FAIS/Gilkey International Middle School.

Pierre Metens is originally from Belgium where he studied pedagogy and sociology at the Université de Liège. In addition to teaching 101 and 202 classes this term at the Alliance, Pierre is also a voice talent for recordings of commercials and guided tour in French for Bruce International

Laurelin Muir has a Master's degree in French and has taught at both the high school and university levels. A certified teacher in both Oregon and Louisiana, she has over six years' experience teaching adolescents through adults. While attending high school in Toulouse, Laurelin developed a deep love for the South of France and an interest in issues of immigration and linguistic diversity within "le hexagone." (Laureline is in France 2007-2008 but will be back at the Alliance next fall.)

Jérôme Poncet was born in Strasbourg and grew up in Normandy. He has a BA in English litterature and one in communication. Certified by the French National Ministry of Education, Jérôme taught 2 years in French elementary schools (Seine Saint Denis) before moving to Oregon where he is also teaching at FAIS/Gilkey International Middle School.

Sandra Séguinot, originally from Bordeaux, has a degree in Geography from the University of Marseille, with a specialty in GIS (Geographical Information Systems). She obtained a Brevet d'Aptitude aux Fonctions d'Animatrice (certification in camp counseling) in 2002 and has worked as a camp counselor with children aged 4 to 18, later completing additional training to quality her as a trainer for camp counselors. In France Sandra tutored students of all ages in French, Geography and History and just recently moved to Portland where she started at the Alliance in November 2007.

Oana Talpalaru studied at the University in Montpellier, France for several years, and has a diploma in Modern Languages (English and French). She is presently completing her Masters at Portland State and in the spring of 2006 completed training by the French Centre International d’Etudes Pédagogiques as a certified examiner for DELF/DALF.

Stéphanie Valenduc, originally from Lille, has a Masters in FLE (teaching French as a foreign language) from the Université Stendhal, and a Masters in literature from the Université Charles de Gaulle. She taught French in Paris for the Association Elizabeth and preparation classes for the Baccalauréat in Bourgoin-Jallieu, France. Her work experience includes five years with France Télécom in Paris and Lyon and a year at FAIS.

Stephanie Nichole Van Hook has bachelors degrees in French and Philosophy from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and is currently a Masters candidate in conflict resolution (in her words: "je m'intéresse au niveau du processus corporel d'esprit qui se mainfeste linguistiquement envers la perception du conflit, autrement dit, l'imagination.") She earlier developed an ESL program for the Alliance Française de San Francisco and lived and taught for two years in Benin in French-speaking West Africa, for the Peace Corps. Stephanie has worked part-time for the Alliance Française de Portland since 2007; she teaches ESL to corporate clients as well as French for beginners, and is a member of the North American Sartre Society.

Marie-Pierre Wolfe, originally from Lyon, has also lived in Japan, Paris and New York. Marie-Pierre was one of the founders of the French Elementary School program of the Eugene 4-j public school district and more recently served as a school principal in France before returning to the US where she enjoys teaching at the Alliance as well as serving on its board.

Carine Zimber, originally from Montpellier, France, has taught beginning and intermediate French at PCC. She also taught as a TA at PFS and currently is developing a French curriculum for a Montessori program.

Operations / Management

Dorothy Don, Business Manager, has more than 8 years of experience in accounting management for nonprofit arts & culture groups including local theater companies. She's been an Alliance student for 3 years and participated in the Alliance's inaugural Loire Immersion program in 2007.

Sylvain Frémaux, Education Manager, was born in Paris and has taught the language and culture of his native France to Oregonians of all ages since 1990. He has served on the French and music faculties of Linfield College, Lewis & Clark College, Pacific University, Portland Community College and Western Oregon University, where he designed and taught a variety of interdisciplinary courses in both French and English. He also taught French at University of Southern California, Alliance française of Los Angeles, and Yale University. As a scholar and translator, his publications include: Diary of a Twentieth-Century Composer: Alexandre Tansman, 1897-1986 (winner of the 1998 USC Stefan and Wanda Wilk Prize); Life of Father Croquet, Missionary in Oregon (Portland, 1997, translated from French); French Music from the Enlightenment to Romanticism, 1789-1830 (Amadeus Press, Portland, 1996) by Jean Mongrédien (translated from the French); and The Compositional Process in Robert Schumann's First Symphony: Draft, Score, Revisions, and Publication, 1841-1853 (New Haven, Yale School of Music, 1983). Sylvain is the founding director of FranceTours, LLC and has led annual tours and travel courses throughout his native France since 1997. His thematic tours have included Retracing the Steps of Joan of Arc; Touraine-Garden of France; Explore the Valley of the French Kings; and The City of Lights. Sylvain holds a Bachelor's degree from USC and a Master's degree from Yale. In October 2007 Sylvain took on additional responsibility as the Alliance's Education Manager.

Linda Witt, Director of Operations, has a Bachelor's degree in French and International Economics, K-12 teacher's certification, and was certified by the Chambre de Commerce de Paris and the French National Ministry of Education as Traductrice Commerciale. She has 10 years of experience teaching adults (software and professional skills training) and 3 years' experience teaching French in Montessori environments, and several years' experience managing language schools in Bellevue, Washington. Linda is also active in promotions and fundraising for various organizations including the French American International School, and is on the Board of Directors of the French American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest.