Nancy Callahan

My name is “Madame Marie-Odile” and I profess that French should be started at an early age. I began speaking French at the age of 2 years old and grew up in a bilingual family. I obtained a degree in French, English and Education. My career path took me in another direction and I have shared my love of the French language and culture through teaching French in After-school programs for the towns of Fairfield and Stratford.

I have also privately tutored adults in French. I have actively participated in the programs of the Alliance Française of Northwestern CT since moving to this area and look forward to sharing my enthusiasm and wealth of cultural materials with the children of the area through the Alliance Française programs.

Mme Marie-Odile teaches the children’s classes and is the current President of the AFNWCT.

Joanne Hutchings

Joanne Hutchings received an Associate’s Degree from Western CT State University and then devoted time to raising four children. She then decided to return to college and attended Fairfield University where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies with a concentration in French.

She was a substitute teacher for three years in the New Milford Public School system and enjoyed the experience so much that she enrolled once again at Fairfield University and received a Master’s Degree in Education.

She taught high school French (levels I – IV) for eight years at the Waterbury Arts Magnet School in Waterbury, CT and in addition to teaching at WAMS, taught one class of French III this past school year at John F. Kennedy High School, also located in Waterbury.

Recently retired from teaching in the public school system, she is excited to continue promoting the learning of the French language and culture at our Alliance Française.

Madame Hutchings teaches classes for adults and teens and is the current Language School Director.

Leola Gulino

Born of French-speaking parents, Leola attended bi-lingual schools for twelve years.  She is fond of saying that she was doing analyse grammaticale and reading Moliere in eighth grade.  She continued graduate work toward an MA and a DML (Doctor of Modern Languages) at Middlebury College Language Schools in conjunction with studies at the Sorbonne (Ecole de Perfectionnement des Professeurs de Français à l’Etranger) and the University of Florence.  After fourteen years of teaching French at the University of Connecticut (Torrington), LeMoyne College, and Wesleyan University, she left academia for a second career in international business and traveled extensively.  After her retirement, she taught English as a second language and trained ESL teachers.  She recently moved to Southbury and is delighted to be a part of the Alliance Française.

 Anik de Giverny Claflin

Born, and raised in France, I have taught French for the last 16 years to adults and children at the Alliance Française of Northwestern Connecticut; Melrose School, Brewster, NY; Chase Collegiate School, Waterbury, CT ; Region 15 School District, St. Rose of Lima School, in Newtown, CT.

Having travelled around the world, I appreciate the importance of learning languages and believe in teaching languages early in life having experienced the excitement of young children learning French in Pre-School and After-School programs. I love teaching the language and culture of my native country.

I currently teach French at Immaculate High School in Danbury, CT, and two Adult classes for the Alliance Française of NWCT. I reside in Southbury, CT, with my husband John and our daughter Léa, a freshman in college this year. We travel to France every summer to spend time with my family on the coast of Vendée, and visit Paris whenever we can.

Dr. Yolande Bosman

Recently retired as Region 15’s Head of Modern Languages, Dr. Bosman began teaching French at Pomperaug High School in 1974. For many years she was also the Consul Honoraire de France, after which time the French Government knighted her.

Dr. Bosman will be teaching the Teens Advanced French IV class.  Excerpts from past student reviews:

“Dr. Bosman is a LEGEND!”

“Great French teacher…. can be pretty tough, but you learn French soo well in her class!

Anette Roth

Anette Roth is German and has teaching experience in French, German and English in secondary and higher education. She is a graduate of the University of Mainz, in Germany with a degree in Translation Studies, Linguistics and Cultural Studies. She also obtained her Masters in Translation/Applied Linguistics in French, English and German. In addition, she has taught with the Institut Français for DELF certificate classes. She has recently moved to Connecticut with her husband and is the mother of three grown children.

Bonjour, my name is Christine Afiouni and I was born and raised in the south of France, in Provence. I studied English and German for many years and I am passionate with foreign languages and understand the importance of sharing my knowledge with English-speaking people who wish to learn French. I love that learning a foreign language also teaches you about a different culture.

I received a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in international business and foreign languages from Aix-Marseille University, France. I have also taught French to teens and adults in a private environment for many years. I live in New Preston, Connecticut, with my husband, a 19 year-old daughter and a 17-year old son who are bilingual, and our rescue dog (he’s bilingual too!) We travel to France as much as we can to see my family there.

Evelyne Purdy

I bring to the Alliance Francaise Language School my native language and extensive educational experience. I received my Bacalaureat de Philosophie from the Universite de Rennes. From the Universite de Rouen I received my Licence d’Anglais. I taught English in a French Middle School before coming to America.
In America, I taught French at Berlitz in Stamford and Westport. I also tutored homebound students for the Ridgefield School System. I have taught at the UConn Torrington Branch and I also developed and taught a French Culinary Class at the Swiss Hospitality Institute in Washington, CT.
I have been a member of the AFNWCT for over 20 years and have been a participant in many of its activities. In the past few years, I have been on the Finance Committee of the Alliance Francaise and more recently I have been on the Board in the capacity of Secretary and
presently Vice President. I am currently teaching an Advanced Conversation course for Adults.