Delphine Giron has been a beloved French teacher here at Rice for the past five years and has wanted to be a teacher since high school, but she didn’t always plan on teaching French. Originally from Nantes, she graduated from the University of Nantes and then obtained her teacher diploma at the Academy of Versailles. Since then, she has been teaching for nineteen years in both the United States and France.
Giron teaches French I, French II, French III, and AP French here at Rice. She is known among her students for her authentic French teaching style, and numerous ways of making learning French fun throughout the year, such as her yearly ‘Yule Log’ celebration, when she buys each of her French classes a yule log cake to celebrate the holiday season, a tradition in France. As a native French speaker, she is able to give her students an understanding of the language and culture on another level, and Rice is lucky to have her.
Q: What was it like growing up in Nantes?
A: It was nice to grow up in a city the size of Boston near the coast, and with all of the activities you can expect in a big city. There are lots of opportunities to entertain yourself.
Q: What did you teach in France?
A: I studied to be a teacher in France, and after my bachelor’s degree I took a competitive exam to become a teacher and then spent two years training. I started to teach in Paris in elementary school. I was an elementary school teacher.
Q: How is teaching in France different from teaching in the U.S.?
A: The size of the schools are very small here, the schedule is very different. [In France] the school year is broken up. We have six weeks of class, two weeks of vacation, and two months in the summer [of vacation]. We don’t have school on Wednesdays. The classes are big, that’s not a good situation. I started to teach in a very poor neighborhood, so it was quite challenging sometimes. I was not prepared for that.
Q: Do you like teaching in France or in the United States better?
A: I like both, actually. I was teaching elementary school [in France], so it was different from high school, and I was teaching French kids, not English. I like to teach my language here in America and my culture. It’s a different technique and different content.
Q: What is your favorite part about teaching?
A: My favorite part is when I hear you speak in French, and I see the progress along the years.
Delphine Giron behind her desk in her French classroom. (Photo/Fiona Gong)
Q: What is your favorite country to travel to?
A: If I could choose right now where to go I would go to Asia because I’ve never been there. I would start with Thailand or Vietnam.
Q: Did you always want to teach?
A: Yes, since high school.
Q: Did you always want to teach French to English speakers?
A: Actually no, it’s because I moved to the U.S.
Q: Why did you decide to move to the U.S.?
A: I came with my husband.
Q: Do you like living in France or the U.S. better?
A: I like both. I spent half my life in France and half my life in the U.S. I like Vermont. It’s peaceful to live here, and close to Montreal.
Q: I saw in your teacher bio online that you really enjoy skiing. Do you like downhill or cross-country skiing?
A: Downhill. That’s what I learned in France, at a winter camp.
Q: Where is your favorite place to go skiing?
A: I like the Alps.
Q: For American high school seniors thinking about college, would you recommend going to college in another country?
A: Yes, I would definitely recommend an experience abroad.
Q: In what ways do you think speaking two languages is most beneficial?
A: Three, I learned Spanish too. I think I feel more comfortable when I travel speaking different languages and it makes your life easier. You discover different cultures and open your mind to the world and to different people, because it is easier to communicate with them.
Q: You previously taught at Mater Christi. Do you like teaching middle schoolers or high schoolers better?
A: I was an elementary school teacher at Mater Christi, and I taught at Vermont Day School as well. I like high schoolers better now.
