Gaelle Corvaisier
Adjunct Professor, French
Contact
Office
Carson Hall 12Office Hours
Advising Area
- French
WHAT I DO AT SSU
It is my pleasure to teach French language, culture, and literature courses at SSU. Learning a new language/culture is a humbling experience, where one starts to feel like a child overwhelmed with limitations and disadvantages. So my teaching style is aimed at establishing realistic goals to reduce students’ anxiety. We use a student-centered learning environment along with the communicative method and active listening to promote language acquisition. The classroom is a safe and fun environment to practice, make mistakes, and ask a lot of questions. Support and transparency are key principles to promote students’ confidence and success. We often remind ourselves that perfection doesn't exist. We come together to learn and practice with humor, and respect for self and others.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Francophone, French, and Comparative Literature, La Sorbonne University (Paris – France)
BIOGRAPHY
From Paris, but my family is from different regions of France (Brittany, Basque country, etc.) and Europe as it is often the case. I have earned my B.A., Master’s, and Ph.D. in French and Comparative Literature from the Sorbonne University. My research interests are on Postcolonialism studies; Migrants and minorities in contemporary France; urban, youth and popular cultures; 20th and 21st Francophone (French included) literature and films; as well as Second-Language Acquisition and instructional technology. I have presented at national and international conferences, published book reviews, and have been working and teaching at universities and colleges in and around the Bay Area for over 20 years.