Professors
Teachers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Teachers in Our Current TermLucie 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.
Francine Martinie Chough is a native of Autun, near the Burgundy region. After a career in teaching in Autun at the Lycée Bonaparte, and in the hotel business in Paris at the Paris Sheraton Hotel, she received a Bachelor degree in English and French from Lewis and Clark College. She taught French in a Montessori school in Vancouver, WA then decided to get a Masters degree in Education from Loyola College of Maryland with an emphasis on Montessori Education. She has taught 3 years as a Montessori Elementary teacher, and has taught 1st through 5th grade at the Catlin Gabel School in the Lower School where she developed the French curriculum. She has taught all levels of students from preschool to adults. At the Alliance she is teaching beginner and intermediate classes.
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 likes to include lots of activities and music in her classes.
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-founder with Carine Zimber of the French Language Theatre Company "Fabulations".
Christelle Fourmeaux was born in Orchies and grew up in the North of France. She has a BA in English literature and a Masters in French as a second language. She taught French at the University of Mississippi for 3 years. Certified by the French National Ministry of Education, Christelle also taught in French elementary schools (Grasse) before moving to Oregon where she teaches at FAIS/Gilkey International Middle School.
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.
Murielle Helgeson grew up in Normandy and studied in Paris, where she completed her PhD in Comparative Constitutional Law. She has taught French Constitutional Law and Comparative Politics at the University Paris X-Nanterre, and European Politics at PSU. Since 2009, she is also the librarian at the Portland French School.
Kathryn Mascorella has a Masters in French from Middlebury College in Paris/La Sorbonne and a BA in Pedagogy from Colorado State University. In addition to French, she enjoys Italian, German and Spanish. Kathryn tutors and manages the make-up class program in addition to her work as Development Office and Office Administrator.
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.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.
Marie-Eve Thifault is originally from Montréal, Québec where she earned her BA in Teaching French as a second language. She taught classes to newly arrived immigrants in an elementary school in Montréal. Marie-Eve has earned her Master's degree from San Diego State University in French and Francophone Literature. During her studies, she also taught French at SDSU. Before moving to Oregon, she taught French for three years at Pinewood School, a private school near San Francisco. Since moving to Portland, Marie-Eve has been teaching at Willamette University. Her passion for the French language is contagious; her main goal is to transmit this love to her students.
Alice Wegner, who is a native of Arras in northern France, taught at universities in Finland and France, as well in Montessori schools in the U.S. She is currently on staff at FAIS and is completing her Masters in Teaching French as a Foreign Language.
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.
Teachers doing tutoring or future projects with the AllianceSylvain 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. Sylvain holds a Bachelor's degree from USC and a Master's degree from Yale.
Carole Giraud is originally from Poitiers. She has a Masters in Education and Media and was a key organizer of the recent festival of French Short Films that played in Portland, Seattle and Astoria. Carole hosts some of our conversation groups in addition to teaching Connexions and private lessons.
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.
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.
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.
Katy Lebris, originally from Rouen, earned a master's degree in Foreign Languages and Literature, and taught at universities in England and Ireland. She worked for two years at PSU in lower division French. She is now working toward a PhD in French and Comparative Literature, and will be teaching at Linfield College and for the Alliance in 2010.
Operations / Management
Linda Witt, Executive Director, 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 on the Board of Directors of the French American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest.
Kathryn Mascorella, Programs Administrator, Development Officer and part-time Instructor, has a Masters in French from Middlebury College in Paris/La Sorbonne and a BA in Pedagogy from Colorado State University. In addition to French, she enjoys Italian, German and Spanish.