Multi-lingual teacher wins prestigious La Jolie Ronde award
A TEACHER from Ruislip who speaks four languages has been rewarded for the quality of the lessons and teaching she provides.
Karine Chassot teaches extracurricular French classes to local children through the award-winning La Jolie Ronde programmes, at local nurseries, primary schools and open centres in the Ruislip area. Karine was honoured with the much acclaimed La Jolie Ronde Licensee of the Year Award for London and the South of England.
On finding out that she had won this award at La Jolie Ronde’s annual conference, Karine said: “I’m so delighted to have been presented with this award. It really is an honour to be rewarded for my teaching as it’s something I just love to do.
“To win this award means a lot and the hard work I have put into developing my business has been recognised, which is truly fantastic.”
Karine was born in Dompierresur-Besbre, a small town in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alps region. Her passion for languages was first ignited from the age 10 when she was taught both English and Latin at school.
She said she loved how other languages all sounded so very different so carried on her enthusiasm and continued her studies at university, where she learned German, Spanish and Japanese.
When the option came up to study in England, as part of an exchange programme, Karine jumped at the chance and studied for two years at Coventry University.
Moving and travelling around England, Karine finally settled in Ruislip.
She wanted to improve upon her language skills and started work at Heathrow Airport, where she worked as a passenger services agent.
This position enabled her to travel around the world to countries such as the United States, Cuba, Dubai, Spain, Cyprus, Morocco and South Africa, as well as part of Asia, all the time using her different language skills.
As time passed, Karine, who had now started a family with her partner, found it increasingly difficult to juggle family life and early and late shifts at the airport, so started looking for opportunities where she could still use her languages that would also fit around the school run and family commitments.
She came across a tutoring role with La Jolie Ronde Languages for Children who were looking for French speakers to teach their programme to local children. Karine applied and has never looked back.
Her first class was at a local Infant school where she taught a few children and over time word got around how good Karine’s classes were and that learning French was actually fun.
She was subsequently contacted by many parents wanting their children to learn French too as well as calls from other local primary schools and nurseries.
As numbers steadily increased, Karine decided to grow her business and employed an additional tutor to help with teaching some of her classes.
Starting with just 18 pupils four years ago, today Karine runs an extremely successful and flourishing business, teaching French to just over 150 pupils a week.
General manager for La Jolie Ronde Steve Baker said “Karine is a popular teacher, loved by all her children.
“She is friendly and kind and extremely enthusiastic, plus hardworking across all areas.
“She is keen to learn and keen to deliver top class lessons.
“Karine is a shining example of what can be achieved and her award is very well deserved.”
Karine was presented with her award by Mr Baker.