
About our Teachers ...
We invite you to find out a little more about our instructors at the AF Jax
David Bellamy A native of Jacksonville and lifelong Francophile, David completed his undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in French at Florida State University and l'Institut Catholique de Paris in 1990. After teaching English for two years in Reims, France, he moved back to the U.S. and began a career in design and marketing, often liaising with French Canadian collegues as well as providing inter-company translation services. David began teaching French at the Alliance in Jacksonville in 2016. David is currently a part-time French professor at the University of North Florida. From Beginning French to our French Conversation classes to private tutoring, David teaches with energy and enthusiasm that provides a fun but effective and productive learning environment.
Frantz Damas Originally from Haiti, Frantz obtained a BASc in Public Safety Management at Florida State College Jacksonville in 2014 and a MA in Public Policy Analysis at the University of North Florida in 2016. Frantz went on to obtain a Masters in French Language in Literature at the University of New Orleans in 2019. Over this period he has tutored and taught French, working with students at the university and high school levels. Frantz is passionate about education and helping to bring French to those who are seeking to learn more about Francophone culture and language. Currently, Frantz operates his own consulting firm, Damas Consulting & International Services. In 2018, Frantz began teaching with us taught at the Alliance Française in Jacksonville as an instructor for adults and adolescents. Currently a Student Success Advisor at FSCJ, Frantz is also the founder and active volunteer of Volunteer Haiti Inc. since 2015.
Kiara Wessling Kiara is a teacher at a private school in Jacksonville. While currently teaching French 3 Honors and French 4, Kiara has taught all levels from French 1A- AP French. She also is the Director of Global Learning and French Exchange Coordinator which highlights her passion for travel. Traveling to Nantes, France and establishing a French Exchange with a local high school there has definitely been a highlight of the past few years. She obtained her M.A. in French & Francophone Studies, Certificate in Social Theory, and B.A. in French and Psychology from the University of Kentucky. She lived in Guéret, France in the department of Creuse for 9 months. While there, she was an English assistant at a lycée. She loves Paris and has spent scattered weeks and months there over the past decade. She led three experiential learning trips across France in, learning about the beauties of Ardèche and the Alps along with her students. Kiara looks forward to teaching with AF Jacksonville and getting to know all of you!
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Marco Garcia Marco Garcia is a native Floridian who grew up in Jacksonville. Marco attended Florida State University and holds a bachelors degree in French Language and Literature. Over the years he has spent time abroad in France studying the language and culture. He additionally taught English abroad in France and South Korea after receiving his undergraduate degree. Marco has a passion for empowering others in their language journey, promoting cultural immersion as an effective way to improve language skills. He received his master’s degree at Jacksonville University and currently works as a speech-language pathologist for a local rehabilitation hospital.
Sheila Kloc Sheila began learning French at 5 years old in elementary school and is happy to say she is still learning! She received a Masters from the University of Glasgow, Scotland and moved to Paris after that to continue her language studies. She has been involved with French and language learning throughout her career and has taught all levels through middle school, high school, undergraduate and post-graduate. She has also worked in various positions in language schools. She thinks you can never be too young or too old to start learning another language.
Christelle Tsalefac Born and raised in Cameroon, a French-speaking country, Christelle Tsalefac Tedom holds two Master’s degree in economics and finance from the University of Dschang. During each of his Master's thesis the juries already recognized her aptitudes in the field of teaching through her prestations.
On the professional side, Christelle worked from 2011-2018 for Elections Cameroon, the organism in charge of the supervision and management of the electoral process in her country where she was successively administrative and financial manager, then research analyst in the division of communication and public relations where she had among other functions, the cap of radio presenter of the program linked to the electoral process for the French version. In 2018, she decided to join her husband in the United States where she professionally changed direction and dedicated herself to teaching the French language. She then joined the Alliance Française in Jacksonville and participated in teacher’s training sessions at the FSCJ. She has been working since 2018 as a teacher for adult adolescents and toddlers, all levels. she is passionate about music, cuisine and culture. |
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