Our Instructors

Dr. Benjamin Lussier is a dedicated educator with an abiding enthusiasm for language and intellectual history. They hold a BA in Philosophy and Russian language from Oberlin College and received their doctorate from Columbia University in 2021 after successfully defending their dissertation, In all Seriousness: Play, Knowledge, and Community in the Union of Real Art. Ben's scholarly interests include play theory, the Soviet avant-garde, phenomenology, and 'pataphysics -- the science of imaginary solutions. They speak Russian, French, and Armenian. Ben is also a passionate landscape painter and zen practitioner. They live in midcoast Maine with their husky, Cirrus.

Antoinette has been teaching for almost forty years. She has worked with students of all ages and skills, from preschoolers in Roxbury to helping college students improve their writing skills. For many years, she taught adolescents at risk, bringing story and writing into their world. When she taught at the Honolulu Waldorf High School, she taught English and History classes as well as tutoring all the Foreign Studies students. They arrived from Japan, Korea, China, South America, and Europe. Antoinette lived and worked in Germany for ten years. Here she experienced being a second language learner herself. While there she worked and traveled all over Europe. She later volunteered at a school in the mountains of Costa Rica, where she helped children and adolescents improve their English skills.

In 1988, she moved back to the States where she raised her four daughters in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. As they got older, she returned to school, graduating Magna cum Laude with a major in Art History. Later, she completed a Masters in English at UNH as well as a Masters in ESL and a Masters in Literacy.

In 2006, she moved to Hawaii where she taught for eighteen years. Recently, she returned to the Berkshires where she is tutoring Second Language Learners as well as helping high school students to deepen their understanding and skills in story and writing.

The world of language in all its "shapes and sizes" is a world of connection. Antoinette truly loves sharing her understanding of the English language, spoken, read, and written. We all grow and deepen our relationship to the world around us and the people living here as we explore language. Antoinette thoroughly enjoys sharing that joy with her students.

Nayara is a journalist, actress, TV & Cinema producer, mother, and is passionate about teaching the Portuguese language. Born in the state of Rio de Janeiro where she studied journalism and performing arts, she also worked as a reporter for some newscasts in Rio. She worked as a Marketing Analyst at a German company, where she had the opportunity to live in Hong Kong for 4 months, and travel to Thailand, Italy, Colombia and other countries with the purpose of assisting her co-workers in communicating English to Portuguese and vice versa. Nayara lives with her family in Florida, in the United States for 10 years. She currently works as a teacher of Portuguese and Brazilian culture at Penobscot Language School.

Jackie is from Central New York and currently lives in a small town outside of Syracuse, NY with her family. She is of Italian descent and because of her family’s heritage, she has a passion for the Italian language and culture. She studied Spanish and French in high school but had to study Italian on her own as it was not offered in school. Once a student at Syracuse University she began her Italian studies, graduating with a dual major in Italian Language and Literature and Religion. During her undergraduate career, she was offered a job by her mentor/professor to teach Italian in the SU Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics Department where she has been for over 20 years. She has a Master’s Degree in Romance Studies (Italian / Spanish Language and Literature), and studied at Middlebury College Language Schools pursuing a Doctorate in Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish). Jackie is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, lived and studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and travels to Italy often to see friends and family. She has a passion for learning as well as teaching and loves passing that excitement on to her students. Jackie teaches all levels of Italian from beginner to advanced at Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College, and currently serves as Vice President of ITACNY (Italian Teachers of Central New York).

Camille earned her BA and MA from the University of Iowa, focusing her studies on French and Francophone language, literature, and culture. She was raised bilingually speaking Spanish and English and was drawn to all things French from a young age. She has taught a wide range of ages and levels - young elementary school through early graduate-level - and was as surprised as anyone at how much she loves to teach. Camille is currently pursuing a PhD from Florida International University in Global and Sociocultural Studies which allows her to explore the intersections of her many interests.

Carlos is from Colombia, South America. He moved to the US five years ago and currently lives in Myrtle Beach, SC. He is very passionate about teaching, especially when he can be instrumental in helping someone master the art of speaking a new language. After earning a college degree, Carlos started teaching ESL in high school and at a University in Barranquilla, Colombia. He became a Language and Culture Facilitator for the Peace Corps where he was responsible for improving Spanish for the volunteers, and at the same time enriched their experience by exposing them to Colombian culture. After four years of working with the Peace Corps, he decided to come to the USA to work as a High School Spanish teacher. Most recently, he has created content for a Youtube Channel with the goals of helping a wider range of students improve their Spanish. His personal interests include fitness and nutrition, and he is a Certified Zumba Instructor. Carlos loves being at the beach and has two cats.

Leslie has been part of a transborder lifestyle since childhood. She was born in San Diego, California but raised between the San Diego, California and the Tijuana, Mexico border. She has focused on the Romance Languages of Italian, Spanish, and French independently and trans-culturally for a total of 8 years at Cal State University, Long Beach, Campus L’Infinito found in Recanati, Italy and Scuola Leonardo da Vinci’s Rome location. She holds a Masters of Arts in Italian Studies and a double Bachelor of Arts in French & Francophone Studies and Italian Studies. She taught Italian and Spanish at CSULB as a Teacher Associate and has recently begun involving herself more in tutoring, translation and interpreting projects. Therefore, learning languages, connecting languages and applying different teaching methodologies are not only a part of a career path, but a bucket of hobbies. When tending to her mental and physical health, she practices yoga, explores coffee shops, galleries, landmarks, abandoned cultural marks, hikes, journals, travels and spends time with her loved ones. Exploring serves her curiosity of discovering what is beyond a routinely comfort zone. While traveling allows her to emerge herself in any given country’s language and culture, and has broadened her perspective on the importance of placing others' norms and customs in consideration during any given time, place, or situation.

Irene is a native French speaker, born and raised in Paris until the age of 12, her family settled later in Savoie, where she discovered her love of nature. Lycée in Chambéry and University in Lyon. She came to the USA as a young adult to further her studies. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education and French from Elmira College and a Masters in Literature from Cornell University. She has taught French at Cornell University before moving to Maine where she taught at the University of Southern Maine until she switched gears and started to teach at the high school level. She is a past president of the American Association of Teacher of French, past president of the Foreign Language Association of Maine, and a National Board Certified teacher. She loves to share her passion for travelling with young students as well as adults and has taken groups to Quebec, Martinique and of course France. 20 trips to date! Irene is now retired after 40 years of teaching full time but is not done yet sharing her love of the French language. She has two very athletique grown children, two adorable grand-children and lives in Edgecomb, Maine with her husband and a cat.

Clovis Anjard is from Normandy, France and moved to the French island of Reunion when he was 10 years old. He earned a B.A. in English and a Master's degree in intercultural studies with a focus on English and American studies, then participated in a teach abroad program that led him to Penobscot Language School 10 years ago.  Clovis was an instructor at the University of Georgia for two years, and has since moved back to the midcoast. Outside of the classroom and work, he enjoys hiking, camping, and cooking foods from all horizons.

Born and raised in Germany, Silvia received her college degree in architecture in Dortmund, Germany and practiced architecture both in Germany and the United States before pursuing and receiving a teaching certification in German and Art. Silvia has taught various levels of German to students and adults. She travels to Germany and Italy regularly to visit family.