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Two �ۿ۴�ý grads selected to serve as English language teaching assistants in France

Two 2025 graduates from The College of �ۿ۴�ý were chosen for the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) cohort for the upcoming academic year. Elizabeth Kotora ’25 and Sarah Parker Lowery ’25 will work with secondary school students (ages 11-18) in the French cities of Bordeaux and Nantes, respectively, from Oct. 1, 2025 through April 30, 2026. Both women majored in French & Francophone studies and education.

TAPIF is a French government initiative that places approximately 1,300 recent American graduates into French public schools to assist with English instruction for an academic year. The program offers placements across all 30 regions of metropolitan France as well as in the overseas departments of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Martinique, and la Réunion.

Marion Duval, associate professor of French & Francophone studies, noted that the College has a strong track record of success with TAPIF placements. “This opportunity reflects the strength of our French & Francophone studies as well as our education programs, and highlights �ۿ۴�ý’s commitment to preparing students for global engagement,” said Duval, who also served as the Independent Study advisor for Kotora and Lowery. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see our graduates step into international roles.”

While abroad, Kotora and Lowery will gain a transformative, hands-on experience through real-world teaching practice, deepen their language fluency, and foster intercultural understanding. Alongside American students, France welcomes more than 4,300 foreign language assistants from 70 partner countries each year.

Between her education field placements and teaching assistant role for multiple French professors at �ۿ۴�ý, Kotora has benefitted from working with elementary students all the way up to college students. She said she also improved her language skills while writing her Independent Study, an 81-page research paper completed in French.

“The fact that I didn’t get to study abroad influenced me to find a program that allows me to go to France and immerse myself while also teaching,” explained Kotora, who elected to stay on campus and focus on her music ensembles and Greek Life commitments. “TAPIF is the perfect program.” Following her year in France, Kotora plans to pursue a master’s in French linguistics and pedagogy before securing a teaching position in Ohio, hopefully near Cleveland.

Lowery is looking forward to returning to Nantes, France where she spent a semester studying  abroad in fall 2023. “�ۿ۴�ý has really prepared me for the teaching aspect of this program,” said Lowery. “The professors and small class sizes helped foster a positive learning environment and experience for me.” She used these experiences in �ۿ۴�ý classrooms to help a student learn English through French while student teaching and spent time tutoring middle school students during a job funded through the American Rescue Plan following the pandemic.

In addition to working with students, Lowery says she’s looking forward to improving conversational French with native speakers, plus the cultural immersion via food. “France is notorious for having a lot of boulangeries and pâtisseries, so I am excited to be able to pop into one on a whim!” Lowery’s long-term plan includes teaching French in an American high school, but she says she’ll keep an open mind to staying in France if opportunities arise.

“We’re proud of Elizabeth and Sarah Parker for embracing this challenge and representing �ۿ۴�ý in France,” said Duval. “They will be excellent ambassadors of our values and educational mission.”

Featured image: Sarah Parker Lowery ’25, Associate Professor Marion Duval, and Elizabeth Kotora ’25 gather at the French & Francophone studies end-of-year departmental celebration dinner.

Posted in Homepage Featured, News on June 6, 2025.