From teaching students in Paris to attending a wedding in China, Elisabeth Johar, Trinity’s newest French teacher, has created a life in which she is always looking to experience new cultures and broaden her perspective of the world.
Originally from Brittany, France, Johar moved to the states at the age of 16 to attend college at Bryn Mawr University. During college, Johar began what would become a long legacy of teaching, through tutoring the French students at her university.
“I started tutoring French a long time ago in college. They needed people to help..so I helped them [run] drills and that kind of thing…and I really liked it,” Johar said.
Following her time at Bryn Mawr, Johar continued pursuing her love of languages and passion for teaching through working with international students at the University of Notre Dame, Drexel University, and the University of Delaware. Additionally, Johar ran a language program that educated the spouses of international students in English.
“It’s all about education, helping people learn [and] helping people fit into their environment[s],” Johar said.
Once she had established the foundation of her career, Johar decided it was time to take her talents overseas. In 2005 Johar arrived in Xi’an, China, the home of the terracotta soldiers and capital of the Shaanxi province. She worked for a company in Xi’an teaching English to students of all ages for around a year and a half.
While abroad, Johar discovered a plethora of new experiences, one of her favorites taking place in a Western region of China occupied by the Uyghurs. There, she attended a wedding where she met people from a variety of areas including Uzbekistan, China, Uighur regions, and the West.
After returning from China, Johar attended Columbia University’s Teachers College, where she received her master’s degree and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate.
Johar’s next big adventure abroad began in a place not very foreign to her: France. For the last five years, Johar has enjoyed teaching English at Lycée Fénelon, and showing her husband and two sons the country in which she grew up.
“France is so beautiful. There’s just so many things to see and discover,” Johar said.
Right behind Johar’s latest adventure in France follows a brand new one in Winter Park at Trinity Preparatory School. New to Florida, Johar has recently enjoyed exploring the area and finding ways to involve herself in the community. One of which has been joining the Winter Park Bach Festival Society Choir.
“It’s been really fun to get to know the area, discover a little bit and learn the Trinity culture,” Johar said.
Now at Trinity Johar aims to educate and create an environment in which her students can thrive. Johar cites her favorite aspect of teaching to be the moment when she sees the information all fall into place for each student. She describes it as “a click.”
“When I see students who… maybe struggled in learning a language all of a sudden [experience] a click, I see that I can help them,” Johar said. “I really love that.
