Full-Time Faculty
Dr. Safoura Ajdari, Assistant Professor, French
BA in French Translation (Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran); MA in French Translation (Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran); PhD in Linguistics, specialization in Translation Studies (Université Laval, Québec)
Credentials
Certified Translator with OTTIAQ (Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec), From February 2024
Research Interests:
Translation theory and practice, literary translation (poetry, novel and world literatures in French), translation and intercultural communication, language pedagogy and the didactics of French as a second/foreign language.
Courses taught in recent years:
FREN 1101 – Basic Practical French; FREN 2205 – Practical French III
Dr. Larry Steele, Associate Professor, French
BA (University of British Columbia), MA (University of Manitoba), PhD (University of Manitoba)
Research Interests:
French-Canadian Novels (In particular, the Silent Revolution period in Quebec), Poetry, Songs.
Courses taught in recent years:
FREN 3322 – The Novel of French Canada; FREN 3312 – Acadian Language and Literature; FREN 3317 -The Francophone Song; FREN 2205 – Practical French III; FREN 2206 – Practical French IV; FREN 2214 – Intermediate Composition and Grammar I;FREN 2215 – Intermediate Composition and Grammar II ; FREN 1101 – Basic Practical French I; FREN 1102 – Basic Practical French II.
Dr. Alexandra Tsedryk, Associate Professor & Chair, French
BA, BEd (Minsk State Linguistic University), MA (Western University), PhD (Dalhousie University)
Research Interests:
French as a second language, paraphrasing competence, language acquisition and language pedagogy.
Courses taught in recent years:
FREN 3381/ EDUC 5581: French words: Description and Pedagogy; FREN 3324 – Written French for the Professional World; FREN 3325 – Oral French for the Professional World; FREN 3371 – Structure and Variety in Contemporary French I: Phonetics; FREN 3314 – Advanced Composition and Stylistics I; FREN 3315 – Advanced Composition & Stylistics; FREN 4451 – Directed study [Development of Lexical Competence in FSL learners: theory and practice]; FREN 2214 – Intermediate Grammar and Composition I; FREN 2215 – Intermediate Grammar and Composition II; Practical French (1101, 1102, 2201, 2202).
Dr. Juliette Valcke, Associate Professor, French
BA (Université de Sherbrooke), MA (Université de Montréal), PhD (Université de Montréal)
Research Interests:
Medieval & Renaissance literature and theatre, French and French-Canadian dialects in literature, senses and synesthesia in literature.
Courses taught in recent years:
FREN 2253 – Introduction to French Literature I; FREN 2254 – Introduction to French Literature II; FREN 3310 – Francophone Women’s Writing; FREN 3313 – Literature for Children and Young Adults; FREN 3316 – French Drama; FREN 3321 – French Canadian Theatre; FREN 3398 – Focus on French Canada; FREN 1102 – Basic Practical French 2; FREN 2201 – Practical French I.
Full-Time Staff
Cassidy Norse, Language Lab Supervisor
BA with Major in French (MSVU)
Contact Information:
(902) 457-6247
Office: Seton 333
Phoebe Smith, Administrative Assistant
Contact Information:
(902)-457-6547
Office: Seton 561
Part-Time Faculty
French
Dr. Gina Abi Karam
BA (Beirut), MA (Beirut & Sienna), PhD (Beirut)
Courses taught in recent years:
FREN 1101- Basic Practical French I; FREN 2201- Practical French I
Spanish
Prof. Sylvia Calatayud
BA in English Literature (Honours) (UNAM-Mexico), MA in Lifelong Learning (MSVU), Post bachelor in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language (UNAM-Mexico)
Courses taught in recent years:
SPAN 1101 – Beginning Spanish I; SPAN 1102 – Beginning Spanish II
Prof. Olivia Montalvo March
MEd (Culture and Spanish Language, Salamanca, Spain)
Courses taught in recent years:
SPAN 1102 – Beginning Spanish II; SPAN 2201 – Intermediate Spanish I; SPAN 2202 – Intermediate Spanish II; SPAN 3301 – Advanced Conversation- Composition I; SPAN 3302 – Advanced Conversation- Composition II
olivia.montalvo.lagunes@msvu.ca
About Professor Olivia Montalvo March
Mandarin-Chinese
Dr. Ping Lu
BSc in Electronics (Shandong University of Broadcasting and Television, China); MEd in Teaching English as a Second Language (Saint Mary’s University); PhD in Comparative Study of Canadian Culture and Chinese Culture (Dalhousie University)
Courses taught in recent years:
CHIN 1101 – Beginning Mandarin Chinese I; CHIN 2288 – Introduction to Chinese Culture
Ping.Lu3@msvu.ca
BA (Collège de Saint-Boniface), MA (University of Calgary), PhD (University of Manitoba)