Francoise Schneider

Senior Lector I in French 

A pedagogical leader in Yale’s French language program since 1997, you have contributed in transformative and significant ways to the department and to your students’ experiences of language acquisition. 

When you joined the department, you created an entire curriculum for at least three different classes and helped to revise two others. As the Language Program Director of French, you encouraged curricular innovation and worked tirelessly to create pedagogical materials for your own classes and for colleagues. As course chair, you supervised countless graduate students from the department’s PhD program and from the Ecole Normale Supérieure, essentially teaching them how to teach. Your development of the Yale Summer Program in France has been, as one of your colleagues put it, “a phenomenal success.” Another one of your colleagues noted, “In our department, she stands alone – but don’t ever make a French mistake in front of her.” 

Described by your colleagues as a “superior teacher,” you created a classroom environment that students love because, they explain, it gives them “the experience of being in France,” and your creative assignments engage students with authentic French materials. Your students describe you as a generous mentor in and outside the classroom. One of your students exclaimed, “Her dedication to teaching has no bounds!” And another student added, “Madame Schneider is a tremendous teacher who makes sure everyone is involved. She is passionate and professional.” 

One of your colleagues explained that you “deserve so much praise because she really gave a lot to us.” So, Francoise, merci beaucoup for your incredible contributions to the department and to Yale. We wish you the very best and are certain your future endeavors will be as exceptional as you are.