Teachers

Our teachers are all native French speakers. They are qualified, experienced and very friendly. They definitely are our best asset.

Jean-Claude ORTSCHEID
I am originally from Alsace, in Eastern France where I grew up in a French/Alsatian bilingual environment. At university, I devoted myself entirely to languages and graduated with a Bachelor degree in English, Russian and Turkish. I had my first teaching experience in Winnipeg, Canada and came to New Zealand in 1981 as a French Teaching Assistant. I started teaching at the Alliance Française in March 1987. Besides teaching French, I also work as a translator and interpreter. I love, among others, languages, travelling, music, the cinema and collecting stamps:

Catherine DUMARQUEZ
I have been in New Zealand for 16 years now after spending 2 and a half years in Toronto, Canada to improve my English.
I graduated from the University of Paris 8 specialising in teaching a Foreign language (French and English) and Psycholinguistics. I love languages and know quite a few but after a trip to South America last year, I discovered another one: Spanish! Since then I have been studying it on my own until this year when I started University again to complete a Grad Dip in Spanish. I think my next step is to do the same with my German which is a little rusty!… Languages are so interesting to study and tell us so much about the people and the history! The more the merrier!!! I have 2 children: Juliette (9) and Sebastien (7). They are bilingual and have been enjoying Spanish lessons for the last 2 years!

Patrick MIEGEVILLE
I am a Sorbonne University graduate in Teaching French as a Foreign Language, I had several years experience of teaching French both in France(Special Education degree,Teenagers with learning problems,East suburbs of Paris, le ‘93′ and many language schools for adults in Paris)), New Zealand( Alliance Francaise, CEE Auckland University, Secondary school NZQA rgtd)and overseas(Teaching adviser for Alliance Francaise network in Asia).

Charlotte PIOT
I have been a teacher at the Alliance Francaise d’Auckland for the past three years. I have been working with children, teenagers as well as adults. Born in France, I grew up on a French tropical island called Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean. I studied in England and South Africa before teaching French as a Foreign Language in Western Australia from 2000 to 2004.

Gilbert BARRUEL
Born in Moutiers in the Savoie region, near Albertville in the southeast. I studied in Grenoble language and French literature. before leaving to travel in several English speaking countries where I taught French. discovered New Zealand, during my travels and decided to settle here. French teacher for several years in secondary schools, I have been working for the “Alliance française d’ Auckland” since 2004. My interests are international affairs, travel, cultures and health.

Rachel FRANZ
I come from Villerupt, a small village in Lorraine – North east of France. I completed a masters degree in FLE (French as a Foreign Language) in France as well as her P.G.C.E. (Post Graduate Certificate of Education) in Foreign Languages in England.I worked as a French teacher for 4.5 years in England and for 1 year in Canada. I also taught English in some secondary schools in France and for an institute in Luxembourg.As I love travelling, I’ve ended up here – one of the furthest country from my home country! -and I’ve been working at the Alliance Francaise since July 2006.

Aude SHORTLAND

I am originally from Paris, the French capital. After university where I studied chemistry I decided to move to England to perfect my English and became passionate about languages. After a few years in England I married Haydn who originally comes from Auckland and a decade later we decided to move to New Zealand to start a new life here. I started at the Alliance 2 years ago. I love languages, travelling, food, cinema, books, music and outdoors activities.