Mrs. Mary Blain
UAIS Group 2 - French

I became committed to language education over thirty years ago as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Ivory Coast of West Africa.  Through my Peace Corps training, I became fascinated with the way in which language, culture and content were linked, and I have made it my mission as a French teacher to connect language to its underlying cultural framework.  In order to make the most of  my experience, I learned a local dialect, dioula, which enabled me to better connect with the locals, to understand them and their cultural perspective.  As a world language teacher, travel is not only a hobby but a passion   I speak five languages and have lived on four continents.  I actually spoke Japanese before English since my father was stationed in Tokyo when I was born.  I learned Japanese from a woman who was living with us to help my mother with her young children.   Living in Japan for three of the most developmental years of my life has definitely had a profound impact on me. 

My love for the French language and culture solidified, when at the age of 19, I went to Paris for four months and worked as a nanny for two children.   Later on in my career  I spent four months in Strasbourg working as a Purchaser for General Motors.  I have studied in Nice, Bordeaux, Aix-en-Provence and Vichy, France.  In my desire to take learning outside of the classroom,  I have led fourteen student trips to England, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy.   Since my husband's job took us to Germany for five years during the 1980's,  we were able to travel extensively throughout Europe.  All of these experiences have helped to shape my teaching, leading students beyond vocabulary and grammar, and immersing them in the diverse cultures of the language they are learning. 

Teaching at the Academy is for me, a dream come true.  I delight in the opportunity to teach in an environment where inter-cultural appreciation and understanding are paramount, where the curricular framework incorporates critical thinking, problem solving, collegial sharing and an exposure to a variety of viewpoints.  I consider it a tremendous privilege to teach in a school where the international component is infused into every aspect of the program and where the student, exposed to this international element, is able to look at him/herself, and his/her culture and indeed the world,  in a much broader sense.  

Education
Bachelor of Arts    Major: French    Minor: Spanish
Eastern Michigan University

Master of Arts in French Business and International Trade
Eastern Michigan University