Instructors

Alexandra Hauffen

Alexandra worked at the French International School of Raleigh for 10 yers, 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

Anastasia is a certified French teacher with a strong passion for language, culture, and education. After completing her studies, she undertook an internship in Paris, followed by work as a tour guide in Morocco and Switzerland. Since 2015, she has been teaching French to both children and adults at the School of Languages in Moscow, where she found her greatest joy in witnessing her students' growth and progress.
Deeply inspired by French culture and especially the art of the Impressionists, Anastasia relocated to San Diego a year ago to continue her teaching journey. Outside the classroom, she enjoys practicing yoga and exploring new destinations through travel.

Benedicte Bonaventure

Bénédicte is a passionate educator and artist who has been teaching at the Alliance Française de San Diego since 2009. She teaches French as a foreign language and art to children, teens, and adults, both in person and online. 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 has studied art the San Diego Community College District. She also holds a nursing degree with a specialization in tropical medicine. Bénédicte nurtures her creativity through drawing, painting, and visiting art museums around the world.

Carrie Blanton

Carrie teaches both English and French as foreign languages and holds a master’s degree in Didactique des Langues Étrangères et Tice at the Université Lumière Lyon 2. Fulfilling her dream of living in France, she spent four years teaching English to students of all ages in Lyon. A passionate Francophile, she is even more enamored with the French language than when she began studying it in the fourth grade and appreciates how every exchange, whether in French, English, or any other language, is ultimately about communication and building connections with those around us.

Christelle Losat-Chavez

Christelle holds a Bachelor's degree in Foreign Languages from Paris Sorbonne Nouvelle, specializing in International Business Studies. She also earned the DAEFLE, the official diploma for teaching French as a foreign language, and is certified as a DELF, DALF, and TCF Examiner-Corrector. With over 15 years of experience in the luxury industry, she brings expertise in cross-cultural communication, fashion, and training to her teaching. At the Alliance Française of San Diego, Christelle teaches teens, adults, and professionals — from general and business French to exam preparation. Passionate about language and culture, she finds joy in supporting each learner’s journey toward mastering French.

Daria Samokhina

​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 at Notre Dame (MA)  and Stanford (Ph.D.). Since 2008, she has lived in San Diego, where she shares her deep appreciation for French language, culture, and literature with students, friends, and family—and with anyone curious about the rich world of French books and ideas.

Elisabeth Bergman

Elisabeth graduated in French Studies, Linguistics, and Translations at the French Institute of Lisbon and is certified in DELF – DALF A1 to C2 from the International Center of Pedagogical Studies of Sèvres, France. She is currently an examiner of the French Evaluation Test of Oral Expression (eTEF) of the Paris-Île-de-France Chamber of Commerce. Elisabeth has taught at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and privately tutored students in the French Language. She has been teaching at Alliance Française San Diego since 2009 and is currently the Outreach Director, assisting AFSD alumni in language and cultural development. Elisabeth also has a Project Management Certificate (PMP).

Estela Baptista

Estela studied modern Languages and Literature (French and German studies), and is certified in DELF and in TEF. She has taught children, children with special needs, teenagers, and adults. She also worked as the Head of an Adult Education Program for five years and as the Coordinator of a School Library.
She joined the Alliance Française/French Institute in New York in 2017. She moved to California in 2021, where she joined the Alliance Française of San Diego.

Frank Finch

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

Gaelle holds a degree in Journalism, a Bachelor's in English Literature, and the DAEFLE diploma for teaching French as a second language. 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 newly 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

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

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

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 from Paris Dauphine University. 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

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.

Lili Chow-Cany

Lili is a graduate of the Savoie-Léman Hotel and Catering Management School in France, and her passion for food and language shines through in her teaching. With over 15 years of experience in schools and community centers, in New York, Montréal, and San Diego, she specializes in “Ludopédagogie”—using social games to make learning French fun and stress-free. In addition to language instruction, Lili leads engaging cooking classes where students explore French vocabulary through hands-on experiences—reading recipes, following instructions, and enjoying the delicious results. Her classes offer a unique and flavorful way to build confidence in speaking French.

Nadine El Rayess

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 Pélanne

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.

Perrine Dellicour

Perrine holds a Master’s degree in French as a Foreign Language from the University of Brussels and has been teaching French since 2014 to learners of all ages and proficiency levels. She is known for creating a warm, dynamic, and interactive classroom environment that encourages active participation.
Her teaching journey has taken her to Mexico, New York, Paris, Belgium, and now California. Passionate about sharing her knowledge and love for the French language, Perrine strives to make a lasting, positive impact on her students' lives.
She is certified to prepare students for the DELF/DALF and TCF exams and is the Certification Coordinator of the AFSD.

Pierre-Olivier Weiss

Pierre-Olivier Weiss holds advanced degrees in Sociology, Socio-Anthropology, and Education, including a Ph.D. in Sociology from Aix-Marseille University (2018). He has been teaching in higher education since 2016 at institutions in France, the Caribbean, and the United States. In 2020, he founded the Caribbean Observatory of School Climate in Martinique and collaborated with the Alliance Française in Saint Lucia and Barbados. After earning a California Teaching Credential in Social Science in 2024, he began teaching at both San Diego Miramar College and San Diego State University. His research focuses on victimization in educational contexts. Outside the classroom, he enjoys traveling, camping, playing basketball, and baking.