Standing in front of class, French teacher Rachel Dwyer tries to get students back on topic. While attempting the seemingly impossible task, she flashes back 12 years. She is sitting in the back of the same room as a student, talking over French teacher Suzanne Thibert. Thibert gets irritated and does something she rarely does.
“She gave me detention because I loved to talk,” Dwyer said. “I distinctly remember thinking that whatever I was saying was more important than what the teacher was saying.”
The two French teachers have worked together for five years and still go into every day ready for a new challenge. If they notice that certain topics are not getting across to their students, they work together on ways to improve the learning environment.
“We both thrive on new ideas,” Thibert said. “If we can teach a concept in a better way for kids we will change everything because we want to get better, better and better.”
Their adapting technique is working because they have inspired junior Alex Koenig and senior Brooke Christenson to follow in their footsteps as French teachers.
“You get to experience a different culture and learn about the different history,” Koenig said. “She’s [Thibert] a great teacher who cares about her students equally.”
The path to teaching the French language is not an easy one. Students have to complete a Bachelor’s of Science in Education, but also a Bachelors of Arts in Language. On top of those two degrees they have to do an abroad program in a French-speaking country. Students have to love the language and respect the culture to truly succeed in Thibert and Dwyer’s chosen career path.
“She’s [Dwyer] detailed-oriented and passionate about French,” Thibert said. “She has such a good memory too. She loves the French culture and the style and she is always right on top of that. And for the kids who travel to France with her, she’s right there to help them in anything they need.”
This summer’s trip to France will be their first class trip together to France since Dwyer graduated from high school in 2000. The two, who work best together, say that going on the trip to France together is ideal because they can co-guide the trip and fill in any gaps to the history the other might forget.
“I feel like we’re a family,” Thibert said. “She’s my little sister and I look out for her. We’re definitely a team.”