Hannah Meeks ~ Hannah has been teaching private French parent/child classes and preschool classes for the past four years, and is entering her fourth session as a coach for the World Language program. In addition to teaching language, she is also an experienced preschool teacher, certified tutor, TEFL certified teacher, and mom to two elementary aged boys. In addition to her studies at university, Hannah learned French by living in Chatellerault, France where she was full immersed in the language and culture. She is passionate about exposing young children to the beautiful French language and culture and looks forward to a great year of language learning!
Hannah Jacobsma ~ Hannah became intrigued by the French language from a young age through doing ballet. It wasn’t until college that she became fully engaged in learning the language, and ended up pursuing a degree in French. During that time, she spent six weeks living in Arles, France, where she took a History of French Photography course. In college, she enjoyed the weekly French conversation group at a local coffee shop, and performed in different multicultural performances put on by the language department. In the autumn following her graduation, Hannah moved to Samatan, France, a village of just under 2,000 people, where she was an English Teaching Assistant in a middle school and trade school. Here, she loved teaching language through songs and stories, and enjoyed finding new ways to let students express their individuality and creativity through language. She also enjoyed teaching an adult English class at the local library! In January 2018, Hannah moved to Bozeman to work for an outdoor adventure camp for girls. She now works as a French coach, is the WLI-MT Program & Event Coordinator, and teaches K-5 ballet classes in Manhattan, MT! She is very passionate about empowering young people in all facets of life, and believes the power of cultural understanding can move mountains. She can’t wait to share the beauty of French language with her students this year.
Naomi Shafer ~ Naomi is a clown and a producer. She uses humor, playfulness and physical storytelling to turn power dynamics upside down. As the Executive Director of Clowns Without Borders USA, she produces clown tours in refugee camps, conflict zones and sites of natural disaster. She holds a B.A. from Middlebury College, an M.B.A. from Marlboro College, and a rubber chicken from the San Francisco Circus Center Clown Conservatory. Language related (if you want to add).
Naomi grew up in Vermont, where she started learning french in Kindergarten. She learned Russian as a teenager when she went to Moscow to clown. She has been studying Spanish since 2018, when she organized a clown tour to Guatemala, following the eruption Volcan de Fuego.
Naomi grew up in Vermont, where she started learning french in Kindergarten. She learned Russian as a teenager when she went to Moscow to clown. She has been studying Spanish since 2018, when she organized a clown tour to Guatemala, following the eruption Volcan de Fuego.
Frédérique Belelis ~ Born in Paris, I studied law at The Sorbonne, then worked as a lawyer for several years. As a mother, I became interested in education, so I studied for one year at Saint-Germain-En-Laye and received my certificate to teach elementary school. After teaching in Paris for four years, we relocated to Antibes in 2000, where I taught until July 2019. Most of my experience in the classroom is with 4th graders, but I also taught Kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd and 5th grades. I have also completed a course in teaching French to foreigners (F.L.E). Currently, I divide my time between living in France, near my 2 adult children and my mother, and here in Bozeman, MT. I love music, I like to paint, to cook ....I love to travel and to have friends from different cultures.
Marie Bathelot ~ Marie is from Amiens, in the North of France. She came to Bozeman to study at MSU 6 years ago for a year exchange. She loved that living abroad experience so much she decided to study a master’s degree in Linguistics and Didactics to become a French as a Foreign Language teacher. She came back to MSU 3 years ago to work with the French team in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures as a student teaching experience for a semester. After that, she went to teach in Indonesia and China. She is now back in Bozeman for a PhD in Adult and Higher Education starting in Fall 2019 and for a Graduate Teaching Assistant position for the Educational Psychology and Child Development class at MSU. She loves travelling, working in a diverse community and sharing her culture. She has also been practicing circus for 19 years and you will probably see her ride her unicycle around town.