My name is Aara Zweifel, and I am proud to serve as a French teacher, French Club advisor, and Future Readiness Personal Project instructor here at Wood River High School! My journey with language began here in the valley where I was born and raised before leading me to Belgium as an exchange student and later to Argentina to learn Spanish and experience Argentine culture. I hold a Master’s and a Doctorate in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Oregon (2016). My years spent living abroad and my formal training allow me to bring both empathy and expertise to the classroom. I am inspired by the way learning a new language both expands a student’s sense of self and improves cognitive function -- a transformation I’ve witnessed throughout my career since teaching my first French course at Boise State in 1998. When I’m not in the classroom, I’ll be in my garden growing flowers and food or enjoying the natural beauty of the valley. I truly believe that, as the saying goes, “Avoir une autre langue, c'est posséder une deuxième âme." -- “To have another language is to possess a second soul."