According to studies, it is incredibly hard for anyone over the age of ten to learn a new language since the majority of brain development happens before young adulthood. However, despite most never even meeting a French person before high school, many French students have really improved in French enough to fluidly speak and understand native French people. And for this amazing improvement, they have to give their thanks to their prof de français, Madame Vaughan.

If you search up “passionate” in the dictionary, Madame Vaughan’s picture would be there. She is as fiery as her red hair may suggest, and she loves to share her passion with all of her students. For instance, she encourages students to fully participate in speaking and listening, and she’ll often give examples of French culture and life that apply to our learning. There are so many times that she goes on  side topics, but they all only help enhance the topic on hand. With these tangents, Madame keeps the class involved and on their toes, ready to take any notes or ask questions, even if they’re in her sixth-period class.

Madame also makes sure that everyone is involved in the activities that the French program does. For example, when the French students from Trevoux come over to be hosted, the host students are not the only ones who interact with them. Madame goes out of her way to dedicate entire days for speak with and learn from these students and also will encourage them to communicate on social media or for people to volunteer to take a student for a day. In addition, she requires the students in her class to take the National French Contest and guides many to winning a medal, usually gold or silver. She understands that people can benefit so much from the unique experiences from the French program, and ensures that each student experiments with each one, so that truly no student is left behind.

Furthermore, Madame Vaughan is very supportive. She engages people to speak with their partners more often than most teachers do, telling them to speak about their days or really rant about what is bothering them. She creates a safe, open environment for every student filled with support for them, openly encouraging them to advocate for themselves and their grades. Not only that, but she also gives so many extra-credit opportunities to help boost grades. It’s clear that Madame really does care about her students, and she doesn’t want them to fail, which really shows how kind-hearted she is. Not only that, Madame will very often stop her lectures to give motivational speeches to her students, often talking about self-confidence and mental illness. She has a giant heart that makes her go above and beyond in helping her students get the grades they need and want.

Madame Vaughan’s passion and kindness make her a teacher who really stands out in AHS. She understands students so well and takes her time to do her best to support them and to help them boost their self-esteem, grades, and knowledge of the world. Her passion and love for her work are so grand that it is infectious and can really get her students involved and interested as well. Madame Vaughan is really unique and amazing, and she continues to make the small French program loud and excited.