Meet our expert teachers

Alexandra Hauffen
Instructor

Alexandra worked at the French International School of Raleigh for 10 years, teaching French to children aged 1 to 12. She became their Director of Admissions in 2021, while also teaching Advanced French Literature, French Elementary, and French Intermediate at Skema International Business School.
In 2024, Alexandra relocated to San Diego, eager to continue sharing her love for the French language and culture in a new community.
She holds a Master’s degree in Law from the Catholic University of Louvain and previously practiced as an attorney at the Bar of Tournai. In her free time, Alexandra enjoys exploring California with her children, reading, and practicing yoga.

Anastasia Shapovalova
Instructor

Anastasia is a certified French teacher with a strong passion for language, culture, and education. Since 2015, she has taught French to both children and adults, developing a student-centred approach that encourages confidence, curiosity, and a genuine enjoyment of learning. What she finds most rewarding is seeing her students grow, gain confidence, and make progress in their French journey.

With a deep appreciation for French culture and a particular love of Impressionist art, Anastasia brings her enthusiasm for the French-speaking world into the classroom. Now based in San Diego, she continues to share her love of the French language with students of all ages.
Outside the classroom, she enjoys practising yoga and discovering new places through travel.

Benedicte Bonaventure
Instructor

Bénédicte is a passionate educator and artist who has been teaching at the Alliance Française de San Diego since 2009. She teaches both French and art to children, teens, and adults, in person and online, combining her love of language, culture, and creativity in the classroom.
Her educational background includes 12 units in Early Childhood Development from San Diego City College, professional training with CAVILAM Vichy, and certification as a TEF oral examiner. She also studied art through the San Diego Community College District and brings her experience as an artist into her teaching.
Bénédicte is passionate about helping students develop their skills while encouraging curiosity and self-expression. Outside the classroom, she nurtures her own creativity through drawing and painting and enjoys visiting art museums around the world.

Christelle Losat-Chavez
Instructor & Exams and Certifications Director

Christelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages from Paris Sorbonne Nouvelle, with a focus on International Business. She also earned the DAEFLE and is a certified DELF, DALF, and TCF examiner-corrector. With over 15 years of experience, she has developed a wide range of teaching expertise across diverse educational and cross-cultural settings, alongside strong skills in program coordination, assessment, and communication.
She has developed strong expertise in exam procedures and candidates’ needs. As Exams and Certifications Director at the Alliance Française of San Diego, she oversees the organization and quality of official French exams while supporting candidates with a caring, human-centered approach.

Daria Samokhina
Instructor & Book club coordinator

After earning her diploma as a teacher of French, Daria spent two years in Tours, where she taught and immersed herself in the language and culture of the Loire Valley. She later moved to the U.S. to continue her studies in French literature, earning an MA from Notre Dame and a Ph.D. from Stanford. Daria is a certified DELF, DALF, and TCF examiner-corrector.

Based in San Diego since 2008, Daria shares her deep appreciation for French language, culture, and literature with students and the wider community. As the Alliance Française de San Diego’s Book Club Coordinator, she brings her passion for French literature to readers and leads engaging conversations around French books, authors, and ideas.
Outside the classroom, Daria enjoys cooking, particularly exploring the recipes and techniques of renowned French chef Paul Bocuse, as well as sharing her enthusiasm for French culture and literature with others.

Elisabeth Bergman
Instructor & Outreach Director

Elisabeth holds diplomas in French Studies, Linguistics, and Translation, as well as DELF-DALF certification from A1 to C2 through the International Center of Pedagogical Studies (CIEP) in Sèvres, France. She is also a certified eTEF oral examiner for the Paris Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce.
Elisabeth has taught French at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and as a private tutor. She has been teaching at Alliance Française San Diego since 2009 and currently serves as Outreach Director, supporting AFSD alumni in their continued language learning and cultural development. She also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Outside of teaching, Elisabeth enjoys hiking and exploring the outdoors.

Estela Baptista
Instructor & Educational Director

Estela studied Modern Languages and Literature, with a focus on French and German, and holds certifications in DELF and TEF. She has extensive experience teaching French to children, including children with special needs, as well as teenagers and adults. Her educational experience also includes five years as Head of an Adult Education Program and serving as a School Library Coordinator.
Estela joined the Alliance Française/French Institute in New York in 2017 before continuing her teaching career in California and joining Alliance Française San Diego in 2021. Since 2024, she has served as Educational Director, overseeing and supporting AFSD’s educational programs and teaching team.

Frank Finch
Instructor

Frank has lived in both Lille, France, and Montréal, Québec—experiences that have shaped his dynamic, culturally rich approach to teaching. He is committed to helping students communicate with confidence and integrates diverse cultural materials into his courses, inspired by his international background and love of pop culture. Frank has taught French at Virginia Tech—where he earned an M.A. in French and Francophone Studies—the University of San Diego, and the Alliance Française of San Diego. He has also worked as a legal translator and served as an educational coordinator at the Alliance Française. Currently, he teaches both French and English at AFSD. Outside class, he enjoys 18th-century art, music history, and 1960s cinema.

Gaelle Goutain
Instructor

Gaelle holds a degree in Journalism, a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, and the DAEFLE diploma for teaching French as a second language. She also holds a California Teaching Credential in French, further reflecting her expertise and commitment to language education. With nearly twenty years of teaching experience, she has worked with both children and adults across the Alliance Française network, including in Glasgow (Scotland), Princeton (New Jersey), and Berkeley (California). In the San Francisco Bay Area, she also led numerous after-school programs (FLE and FLAM) through Education Française Bay Area, and most recently, she taught French to 4th through 8th graders at a private school. Now settled in San Diego, Gaelle is excited to continue sharing her passion for teaching and to inspire new students with “la langue de Molière.”

Garance Gay
Instructor

Garance studied Educational Sciences and Psychology in Nantes. After earning her diploma, she returned to Paris to explore her passion for Japanese and art. In 2008, she moved to Japan, where she spent several years teaching French. Since then, she has been devoted to teaching French as a foreign language—a role she finds deeply fulfilling. When she’s not in the classroom, you’ll likely find her perfecting dessert recipes or enjoying a horseback ride.

Jean-Louis Morhange
Instructor

Jean-Louis has taught at Berlitz Schools, the Alliance Française/French Institute in New York City, National University, the University of San Diego, and UC San Diego, where he earned his Ph.D. and served as a part-time lecturer in French literature and instructor in both the Literature and Linguistics Departments. In addition to teaching, he works as a translator and has conducted research on narrative theory and comic books. He particularly enjoys teaching adults, appreciating the enthusiasm and self-motivation of learners who have chosen to study independently. His classes are interactive, with a strong focus on role-playing and conversation designed to reflect real-life situations.

Laurence Vaurie
Instructor & Cultural Affairs Director

Laurence joined the Alliance Française of San Diego in 2022 after several years living on the East Coast. She holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Marketing. Passionate about art, Laurence has studied painting in depth and works with various media including watercolor, oil, and acrylic. Her art classes thoughtfully combine painting techniques with insights from art history.
Coming from a family of educators, Laurence is deeply committed to teaching and to sharing her enthusiasm for lifelong learning. At the Alliance Française, she teaches both French and art classes.

Layla Ghalié
Instructor  

Layla has always had a deep love for the French language, which led her to start tutoring at the age of 15—and she’s never stopped. She earned a Master’s degree in Economics. In France, she volunteered to teach French to immigrants of all backgrounds and ages.
Now based in San Diego, Layla teaches at a local language center and the Alliance Française, while also running her own tutoring business.
“Good teachers share knowledge. Great ones make an impression that stays in their students' hearts forever.” Layla strives to be both—for every learner she meets.

Nadine El Rayess
Instructor  

Nadine is an experienced educator and psychotherapist with over 20 years in both fields. She holds two Master’s Degrees in Educational Psychology and Clinical & Pathological Psychology. She began as a French teacher at Collège Louise Wegmann while earning certificates from the Centre Culturel Français. She later worked as a therapist at Saint-Joseph University and became a school director at MyschoolPulse, supporting hospitalized children. She also led Art Therapy sessions in collaboration with The Red Pencil. Recently, she relocated to San Diego, drawn by its charm and energy. Passionate about traveling, reading, writing, gardening, and photography, she brings dedication and a deep understanding of human emotions to her work.

Olivier Pelanne
Instructor  

Olivier holds Master's degrees in Education and Biochemistry and is certified in DELF – DALF levels A1 to B2. Since 1999, he has taught in French schools in Japan, Libya, South Korea, and Florida, before moving to California in 2013. For six years, he worked with students of all ages at the Alliance Française de San Diego. Currently, he teaches 5th grade in French at the Language Academy, a public magnet school in San Diego, after four years in Kindergarten. He has developed interactive teaching methods to share the French language and culture. Outside of teaching, he enjoys gardening, exploring National Parks, and traveling.