Louise Nguyen is a French Culture instructor at Columbia College who teaches in the Online Program.
Nguyen has been a member of the CC faculty for five years, drawing on her experiences studying and living in France to help students connect with French language, history and culture.
Get to know Nguyen in a Q&A with CC Connected below!
Tell us the story of how you first started teaching at Columbia College.
My husband is in the military and we move around a lot. Finding an in-person job every time we moved could be difficult, so when I had my first kiddo, I decided to leave the classroom to be a stay-at-home mom. But I am a teacher at heart, and I needed something to scratch that itch. For a few years, I taught synchronous online classes, but when I had my second kiddo, setting aside that time became more difficult. Around this time, a former peer from college reached out to me looking for someone to fill this online teaching position in an asynchronous class. I knew that would be the perfect fit for my new stage of life, so I jumped into it. It has been a great job that allows me to work in my field while also providing flexibility for frequent moves and staying at home with my kids.
What are the highlights of your professional career outside of Columbia College?
Probably one of the most fun experiences I had was working as an English Language Assistant in a French high school for eight months. As an assistant, I attended the students’ English classes, provided some lessons in English, and helped them prepare for their exams. The rest of the time I got to explore France and the surrounding countries. It was an amazing broadening opportunity that I still draw from in my current position teaching about French culture.
How does your career experience influence the way you teach your students?
I see learning a language or learning about a culture as an incredible broadening opportunity. While the subject matter may not directly relate to someone’s career, I find that many people are excited to learn about another culture. It brings dreams of travel and experience. I try to lean on my own background with the French culture, my travels and my study of the culture to bring students real-life examples that let them better connect and understand the world around them. For example, while being able to learn about the history of a French symbol from our textbook is interesting, being able to analyze how that symbol showed up in the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics in 2024, in real time, brought this lesson to life and allowed students to have a better understanding of the world around them. I use my experience and knowledge to bridge that gap for them.
What do you take the most pride in with your teaching at Columbia College?
My goal is always to make the students feel seen. Taking an asynchronous class online can sometimes feel disconnected, like you are talking into a void. I do my best to make sure students know that someone is reading and responding to their ideas.
Why is teaching important to you?
I think the heart of it is that I myself love to learn. I am always seeking out “teachers” in various forms, from articles, to books, to podcasts, to YouTube videos. It lights up my brain to delve into new topics, or deeper into ones I already know. From a young age, I loved bringing that knowledge to others, or walking them through the steps to discover it themselves. I think I will always seek out the role of teacher for those around me.
