MARVELLOUS MARYLENE!

always loved talking to people and teaching my language in a foreign country, couldn’t have been a better job.”

When much-loved MFL assistant Marylene Hopkin announced that she was finally going to retire earlier this year, many of her current colleagues and students were astounded to learn that she had been a fixture at the school for so long. Hautlieu Magazine editor Lynne Magowan talks to the “second-longest” serving member of the languages team about an incredible 5-decade long career.

(Main image by Jamie Cole).

What is your background and what inspired you to get into teaching?

After completing my baccalaureate in France, I decided to train as a primary teacher. But I didn’t do much teaching in the French system as soon after this, I married my husband Anthony who is from Wales, and we moved to Jersey where he got a job as a Maths teacher in the late 70s. It was here that I started teaching part time at a primary school but also part time at Hautlieu in 1982. Eventually I left primary teaching altogether to concentrate on languages teaching-at Secondary School level and I never looked back. I’ve always loved talking to people and teaching my language in a foreign country couldn’t have been a better job, (giggling) because where else are you going to get paid for chatting in your own language?!

When did you first start at Hautlieu and what was the school like back then?

I think it was around 1982 under headteacher Jack Worrall. Since that time, I’ve worked under 3 more headteachers and many different heads of faculty and department heads.

I remember when I first saw the old Hautlieu building and thinking that it was quite stern-looking, to me the architecture looked very British. But as soon as you walked through the door it was very welcoming, everyone was really nice. And I don’t think that its changed that much. Hautlieu still has that very distinctive sense of community and students when they leave are still proud to tell people that they went here.

Which notable pupils have you taught over the years at the school and what were they like as students?

I used to teach the current headteacher Mr Falle, he was really quiet and... Miss Jackson (blushes), err... she was a bit, louder. Three of my keenest students also became teachers , namely Ms Ramsden and Miss Williams who are now in the languages department and Mr McSherry Head of Geography, who has retained his life-long love of language-learning. They all knew me as “Marylene”. I remember once taking a young lad in for a speaking test into a room in the old building and to settle his nerves, I asked him what he wanted to do when he left school. When he solemnly replied “footballer” I nodded and smiled thinking to myself “yeah right!” His name was Graeme Le Saux (shrugs).

What things have changed most about Hautlieu over the years?

Not as much as you might think, the new building felt much nicer to teach in and we used to have a Home Economics department which meant that lunches were excellent. And school trips were fun, there were more of them and there were less restrictions. Going to France is so important for students learning French and I have fond memories of taking students to Paris with my old head of department Ian Jayes.

What things have changed most about teaching French over the years?

The curriculum is very different now with much more focus on learning about French culture itself. So we watch and discuss French Films and investigate aspects of the French political system and its history, all of which I’ve really enjoyed teaching.

The biggest change has been the way that technology is now used routinely in the classroom. When it comes to all things IT, I’m afraid that I’m a bit of a dinosaur! That’s why the brilliant MFL staff and technicians at the school deserve a special mention for really supporting me through those changes.

What will you miss most about Hautlieu and how are you going to fill your days?

The people, all of the people, from the students to my teaching colleagues, to the support staff, the secretaries and the site team. Camaraderie! Everyone is so warm, so welcoming, so special. My time now will be spent travelling with my husband but I’m sure along the way I’ll hear “Hey Marylene!” as I inevitably bump into some of thousands of ex-Hautlians that I’ve taught and worked with over the last 40 years.

Thank you Marylene for your many years of service and dedication to Hautlieu School. We wish you best of luck for the future. Bon Voyage!