2026SCOLT TEACHEROFTHEYEAR
Cécile Lainé
Tell us a bit about your background as a World Language teacher. For example, how many years have you taught, which language(s) and levels, and what is your educational background?
Ihavealwayswantedtobealanguageteacher.Growingup,IthoughtIwouldeitherbecome aFrenchteacherinGermanyoraGermanteacherinFrance.Mypathtookanunexpected detour,however IgraduatedwithabusinessdegreefromtheParisGraduateSchoolof ManagementandbeganacareerwithProcter&Gamble,firstinLondon,England,andlaterin Cincinnati,Ohio.
After10yearsinthecorporateworld,Ifinallymadetheleapintopubliceducation.Ihave neverlookedback.Beingintheclassroomwithstudentsismycalling.Forthepast17years,I havetaughtalllevelsofFrench,fromKindergartenthroughAP,inavarietyofeducational settings.Today,Iworkatanall-girlsschoolinNashville,Tennessee,asamiddleschoolFrench teacheranddepartmentchair.Asafeministandthemotheroftwodaughters,Ihave especiallyenjoyedfosteringmystudents’self-confidenceandchallengingthemtobecome thebestversionsofthemselves.
What is the most rewarding part of your job as a World Language teacher? TherearesomanyrewardingaspectstoteachingWorldLanguages,butoneofthegreatest joysformeishavingtheopportunitytoteachstudentsoverseveralyearsoftheirlanguage journey AsWorldLanguageteachers,wegettowitnessourstudentsgrowandflourishnot onlyaslanguagelearners,butalsoaspeople.
Specifically,asaMiddleSchoolteacher,dealingwithnovicelearners,Igettoinspireandplant seedseverysingleday.
In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect of being a World Language teacher today? OneofthemostchallengingaspectsofbeingaWorldLanguageteachertodayisadvocating forthevalueoflanguagelearninginatimewhenitisoftentreatedasoptionalratherthan essential.Irecognizeandacknowledgetheprivilegeofworkingatanindependentschool wherestudyingaworldlanguageanditsassociatedculturesisdeeplyvaluedandrespected, andwhereIhavethefreedomtodeliverinstructioninwaysthataffirmallstudents
Thebenefitsoflearninganotherlanguageanddevelopinginterculturalcompetencearevital tooursociety.Languagestudyhelpsstudentsbuildempathy,curiosity,adaptability,andthe abilitytoengagethoughtfullywithpeoplewhoseexperiencesmaydifferfromtheirown.Ionly wishmoredecisionmakersfullyunderstoodthelong-termeducationalandhumanvalueof thatwork,andIamworkingeverydaytoadvocateforWorldLanguageeducationbeyondmy ownschoolcommunity.
What advice would you give to new people coming into the World Language teaching profession?
Yourstudentsarethecurriculum.Gettoknowthemaspeoplefirst.Oneofmyfavoritethings todoattheverybeginningoftheschoolyearisaskstudentstowritemeaprivatenote explainingwhatitwilltakeforthemtotrustme ThenIworkreallyhardtohonorwhattheytold me.
How do you motivate students to learn language?
Ah,theone-million-dollarquestion.BecauseIhaveworkedinsuchawidevarietyofschools andsettings,Iknowthereisnosinglerecipeformotivatingstudents.Howdoyoumotivatea studentwhoischronicallyabsentorcarryingchallengesfarbeyondtheclassroom?
Itrytotakeahumbleapproach.Ingeneral,providingstudentswithchoicesandplentyof opportunitiestobesuccessfulcangoalongwayintermsofboostingtheirmotivation.Ihave alsolearned(thehardway)thatsometimesbeingwillingtoloosenmygriponlanguage acquisition“bestpractices”inordertobuildtrustwithstudentscanultimatelyhaveagreater long-termimpact.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
ThoughIamgenuinelyhonoredtohavebeen namedthe2026SCOLTTeacheroftheYear,Iwant toemphasizethatthisrecognitiondoesnotmake mea“perfect”teacheroranexpertineverycontext. Iknowthatwhatworksformystudentsinan independentschoolsettingwouldnotnecessarily haveworkedinmypreviouspublicschoolsettings, andviceversa
Iseemyselfasadedicatedpractitionerwho believesincontinual(un)learningincommunity, bothwithmystudentsandwithmypeers.
