Following a midyear resignation, French III and Honors French IV students were left wondering who their new French teacher would be. Nevertheless, the administration promptly took action, swiftly hiring a replacement.
In only one week. administrators employed Nagham El Hage. She has over two decades of experience, has taught French at the collegiate level and has also worked with Institut Francais as a jury member for the Diplôme d’études en langue française exam, which is a very prestigious oral exam of the French language. According to El Hage, the employment process was both smooth and efficient.
“I applied online and sent my resume and my letters of recommendation,” El Hage said.” The week after, I went to a meeting and had a great time sharing my experience with the committee and I demonstrated a short lesson. A week later I was hired for the position.”
For French III student Ava Seiss, the future of her class seemed uncertain, as it takes time for students to adjust to new and possibly different teaching styles. For Seiss, the brief change in teachers caused doubt about her future in the class.
“I thought I was doing well in class with [the previous teacher] and I liked the way she taught, so I was a little nervous to see how it would go once she left,” Seiss said.
El Hage expresses similar feelings from a teacher’s standpoint, facing the challenge of determining how to effectively work in her students’ best interests.
“It isn’t an easy task for both of us,” El Hage said. “The students don’t know me and I need time to get to know the students, prepare the classrooms and set up procedures. I showed up in the midyear, so I have a lot to learn in a short time about North High School, Parcells and what my students have accomplished already this year.”
On the other hand, El Hage conveys a positive outlook regarding her contribution to the future of the French department.
”My goal is to have my students at ease while I’m teaching them a foreign language so that they can absorb and enjoy the discovery of the beauty of French culture,” El Hage said. “I want them to be able to communicate easily in French and be able to provide students with an effective, fun and personalized learning method so that they can improve their French skills.”
The North administration facilitated a smooth transition for both students and teachers, which instilled hope in Seiss as she emphasized North’s ability to manage the departures of teachers in the future.
”I think [administration is] prepared to overcome teachers leaving in the future,” Seiss said. “They were quick with this one and I do not doubt that they would be able to find teachers quickly in the future.”
