Faculty & Staff Directory

Mme. Kandemir brings 17 years of experience teaching French and English and a lifelong connection to the French language and culture to the classroom. She graduated from one of Turkey’s most prestigious private Catholic French high schools, Lycée Saint Michel, where she was immersed in the French language and culture from an early age. She later earned her degree in French Language Teaching (FLE) from Istanbul University.

 

Shortly after graduating, Mme. Kandemir began her teaching career, working with students of many different ages and levels. She taught English at the middle-school level and French through municipality-sponsored language programs serving elementary school students through adults. She then continued teaching French 1, 2, 3,4 and 5 at the high school level. Over the years, she has taught French to students from elementary school through high school in a variety of educational settings.

 

From 2015 to 2019, Mme Kandemir taught French across multiple grade levels while also contributing to a national team responsible for developing educational materials. She was actively involved in school life beyond the classroom, leading French social clubs, participating in World Language Carnivals, and helping organize cultural activities designed to encourage students to discover and appreciate other languages and cultures. She also served as a coach and team leader in various school activities.

 

Mme. Kandemir later earned a second degree in Liberal Studies, with a focus on Psychology and the Arts, from William Paterson University. Her studies in psychology have strengthened her understanding of how students learn, communicate, and build confidence, allowing her to bring an additional perspective to her teaching.

 

She believes that learning a language should be more than memorizing vocabulary and grammar; it should be an opportunity to connect with people, discover cultures, express ideas, and develop confidence. Her teaching philosophy is simple: “If they love it, they will want to learn it.” She strives to create a classroom where students feel encouraged, curious, and excited to use French.

 

Mme. Kandemir is also committed to continuously developing her teaching practice and expanding her knowledge of innovative approaches to language education. She works attentively with students preparing for the AP French Language and Culture Exam, helping them develop the communication, cultural understanding, and critical-thinking skills they need to succeed.

She feels truly blessed to be part of this beautiful school community and is excited to continue growing alongside her students. She looks forward to creating meaningful experiences in French that inspire her students to not only learn the language, but to love it, live it, and carry it with them beyond the classroom.