Dr. Raoudha Kallel: A Love for Learning and Languages
Thursday, July 4th, 2024
Dr. Raoudha Kallel is more than just a French professor at Northwestern Polytechnic. She's a guiding beacon, inspiring a love for learning and languages in her students. Her dedication and distinctive teaching methods are noticeable on campus, and certainly contributed to her most recent accolade - the 2024 Outstanding Teacher Award at Northwestern Polytechnic.
Born and raised in Tunisia, Dr. Kallel was immersed in the French language and culture from an early age. Her admiration for her childhood teachers sparked in her a desire to teach, and she knew from the start that she would share the vibrant French culture as a lifelong passion.
After completing high school, Dr. Kallel pursued a Bachelor of French and Linguistics at Laval University in Quebec. She then moved to Nova Scotia, where she earned her Masters and Ph.D. and commenced her teaching career by teaching French courses at Dalhousie University and St. Mary’s University in Halifax. She also served as a faculty member at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia for two years.
Dr. Kallel joined the Northwestern Polytechnic learning community 13 years ago. Her focus on teaching students to speak, read, write, and understand her beloved language has been unwavering. Each semester, she eagerly anticipates meeting new faces and reconnecting with old ones, who have taken multiple courses under her guidance.
Dr. Kallel's teaching philosophy was shaped by her early years in Canada, where she was inspired by her English teacher's positivity and enthusiasm. She has since mastered the art of creating a joyful and positive learning environment.
Her approach to teaching French is far from conventional. It goes well beyond just vocabulary and grammar, and includes the creation of a special relationship with the language. She believes in making her students feel safe and comfortable, turning her classroom into a sanctuary where students can make mistakes and learn from them.
Her classes are filled with laughter and jokes, a stark contrast to the often serious atmosphere found in other disciplines. Her students describe her classes as a "break," a chance to rejuvenate before they head to their next class.
Dr. Kallel’s impact is not just confined to the classroom. She has become a source of inspiration for her students, encouraging them to pursue higher levels of French.
As one of her students, who hasn’t taken French since the sixth grade, shared, "I was expecting to sit down, be given vocabulary, go home and figure it out myself. But Raoudha was with me. She made the stuff stick in my mind. I didn't just learn it for an exam, and now I'm moving on."
Dr. Kallel's dedication to her students is unparalleled. She makes herself available to them outside of class hours and ensures each one leaves her class with a smile, newfound confidence in their French, and a thorough understanding of the lessons.
When asked about her teaching secret, she said, "I consider my students like my family. I try to create a positive atmosphere for them to be happy, and it's a win-win situation."
Dr. Kallel's story is a powerful depiction of the impact of a positive and engaging teaching approach. Her passion for teaching and dedication to her students set her apart, making her deserving of the Outstanding Teacher Award.
Her love for teaching the French language and culture is still going strong. Dr. Kallel stated, “I will continue to teach French for my whole life. I love it,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like work. When we are passionate about what we do, we never work a day.”
