Linda Fenouil | Conversation du lundi; B1 and B2 Classes
Hello! My name is Linda Fenouil. I was born in Nice in the south of France where I grew up and spent most of my adult life. In Nice, I worked in a research laboratory (CNRS) for 12 years.
I am married and I have three grown children. My family and I came to Louisville in 1993 when my husband took a position as a software engineer.
I started working with the Alliance Française in 2002. It is a beautiful adventure that lasts.
Laurent Farina | Private Lessons
Bonjour à tous
Je me prénomme Laurent. I was born in Nice, South of France. I moved to the United States in 2023, settling in Louisville with my wife, who is native from the city. Former lawyer and teacher in international and constitutional law at the Law School of Nice, I am currently the co-owner of “Ça et Là,” a company based in Louisville. Passionate about music (current lead guitar of the French band « Record At 7 »), sports, motorcycling, history and reading, I dedicate my free time to pursuing these diverse interests
Véronique Strange | True Beginner A1, Private Lessons
Bonjour,
Je m’appelle Véronique Strange.
I was born in Grenoble, in the French Alps. After a Master’s degree in history and my first job in Paris as a writer in a cultural travel agency, I decided to further my studies in California – as the First Gulf war was taking a toll on travels in the Middle East. It was at the Alliance Française of San Francisco that, in 1992-93, I discovered my love of teaching French.
Since then, my career has been revolving around this beautiful language: as a French teacher, but also as a translator, a proofreader, a writer and even as a tester in the software industry, (where I met a very friendly American engineer who was to become my husband.)
When I am not teaching French, reading or writing, you will find me gardening, volunteering at the animal shelter, or walking in the historic districts of Lexington.
Lusumbi Dibaya | Private Lessons
Lusumbi Dibaya is a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo. After arriving in the USA in 2001, he pursued his education at UofL and graduated in 2004. Since then, his passion for teaching French has been unwavering. Having experienced the challenges of learning English and teaching French, he has gained a crucial experience that shapes his teaching philosophy.
He firmly believes that learning a foreign language can significantly impact one’s confidence and may even discourage their desire to learn if not handled properly. To address this issue, Lusumbi is dedicated to creating a stress-free and culturally competent environment in his classes. He treats his students as unique individuals and places their learning abilities in the highest regard.
Since joining Alliance Française in 2017, Lusumbi has taught all levels and conducted in-person classes, providing his students with a rich and rewarding language learning experience.
Joseph Mackenzie-Rollinson | Conversation du mercredi, Private Lessons
My name is Joseph Mackenzie-Rollinson and I am delighted to be counted among the wonderful teachers that make up part of the team here at the Alliance Française de Louisville. Being of British origin and spending much of my life living between England and France, I learned from a young age to appreciate enormously the great cultural differences between these two countries.
In France I consider myself an adoptive Burgundian as it was in the town of Semur-en-Auxois (68 miles west of the city of Dijon) where I was able to learn, experience and live all that I know regarding French language, culture and (most of all !) gastronomy thanks to my godparents who owned a Hotel-Restaurant located in the walled section of the town. Later in life I worked at the local Anna Judic High School in Semur as an English teacher, upon where I met my future (American) wife, Julia. It was love at first sight and after graduating from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in modern languages (French and Spanish) I then decided to move to Louisville and we were married in April 2009.
I have been working at Alliance Française de Louisville for 3 years where I teach the advanced conversation class ‘Selon Nous’ as well as some private classes. I also work at Humana in downtown Louisville where I often have the chance to use my Spanish language skills in my day to day work. When not working I love to train in the weight room at the gym as well as preparing myself for the many running races which take place here in Louisville during the year. I am passionate about French literature and for all world cuisine and I am also a lover of playing the piano, even if I not the most talented in playing it!!! I can’t wait to get to know you in one of the Alliance Française classes where you will soon find out the fact that ‘practice makes perfect’. A bientôt I hope!!!
Aminata Thioune | Children’s Classes/Les Petits Amis
My name is Aminata Thioune. I was born and raised in Senegal West Africa. After completing my Bachelor’s degree in English and American Studies, I obtained a scholarship to come to America. I’ve been living here for the last 24 years. I started at Alliance Française in 2019 and have been teaching French ever since.
Anne-Marie Lucchese | French for Travelers
Bonjour! Je m’appelle Anne-Marie. I was born and raised in Louisville and have been teaching at L’Alliance Française de Louisville since 2009. In addition, I was a former board member from 2005-2009 and was the office manager from 2009-2017. I am a UofL graduate having received both a BA and an MA. Currently, I am a graduate teaching fellow at Stony Brook University studying and teaching Italian.
I have lived and worked in Paris and Montpellier, France. For five years, I was a host family for the French students from Montpellier. I also lived with the French students for two summers on campus at UofL. Additionally, I interned for the Press Department at the Embassy of France in Washington, DC. As well, I was a Group Study Exchange participant with Rotary International in the southwest and central regions of France. For two years, I was the French teacher at St. Leonard (preschool-8th grade). I have attended language schools in Verona, Milan, Taormina (Sicily) and Turin, Italy and Cologne, Germany, and I have continued my Italian studies online with the school in Verona for the past few years. For ten years, I was a foreign language editor (Italian and French) for ProQuest, and I have taught Adult ESL classes for JCPS for the last few years. I thoroughly enjoy teaching foreign languages to students of all ages. I am happy to be a part of AF de Louisville!
Jennifer Shirley | Private Lessons
Jennifer Shirley has been teaching High School French since 1998 and currently teaches French 1-AP 4 at Assumption High School. She lived and taught in France on a Fulbright Teaching Exchange. She studied abroad in college and participated in the Sister Cities Exchange Program. She has an MAT plus 21 additional graduate hours in French. In her free time she enjoys yoga, camping, hiking, and traveling. She is so excited to teach at AF Louisville!
Jason Wade | A1 and A2 Classes; Private Lessons
Jason Wade is a passionate educator with dual undergraduate degrees in violin performance and French. He honed his linguistic and teaching skills in Nancy, France, serving as a Lecteur d’anglais at the Université de Lorraine for two academic years. Upon returning to Louisville, he earned his Master of Arts in French and participated in the Montpellier Work Exchange Program. Jason is now is the Citizenship Coordinator at Kentucky Refugee Ministries and teaches French part-time at the University of Louisville and l’Alliance française.
Emeline Ulliman | B1 and Grammar Classes; Private Lessons
Bonjour à tous! My name is Emeline Ulliman, and I am a native of Épinal, France. I received my B.A. and M.A. in English from the Université de Lorraine (Nancy campus), as well as an M.A.T.L. in French and TESOL from the University of Southern Mississippi, where I taught beginning French for two years.
I’ve also taught French for the State Department in Arlington, VA, and middle-school English in France. I joined the Alliance Française de Louisville in early 2017. I have lived in France, Mississippi, Virginia, West Virginia, and now Kentucky. I am married to a monolingual Ohioan and we currently have two cats and one dog.
Sarah Brooks | Private Lessons
Sarah Brooks is an educator specializing in bilingual education and language immersion. As a former Dual-Language Program Coordinator at Fort Greene Preparatory Academy, she designed and authored a History-Geography curriculum for immersion learning. At the Boerum Hill School for International Studies, she developed the DLI program, structuring an immersive and inclusive teaching approach. In 2024, her program was awarded the LabelFrance Seal from the French Ministry of Education. As a trainer, she has supported other teachers in adopting effective pedagogical practices. Committed to equity and inclusion, she strives to promote an education that values both students’ identities and their language skills. She relocated to Louisville in August 2024 and currently is the Upper School French Teacher at Kentucky Country Day School.