My name is Béatrice Spinali, and I have been a French teacher for middle-school and high-school for the past 24 years in Westchester County, NY.

As a native speaker, born and raised in the South of France, it’s a passion of mine to teach and share my language and my culture to my students. I also have a deep appreciation of any francophone cultures and I love spending long weekends in Montréal or Québec city (relatively close geographically to my hometown) and immerse myself in this proud linguistic region and its authentic old French.

Last year I finally realized a dream of mine by taking my seniors and juniors to the South of France where I was able to share with them not only the Provençal culture that I exposed them to through literature and stories, to show them unique beautiful sites and amazing landscapes painted by Van Gogh,  but also to have them meet my family! This trip was not only a school trip, it was the discovery to see my students so immersed and so grateful for what I taught them for so many years. 

Traveling and experiencing France that way has made me more aware of what students are interested in , and how I can accommodate and foster their curiosity through language and culture.