Teaching Staff

Bill and Helene are primarily responsible for staff hiring and training. We are blessed with a pool of Dartmouth/ Rassias-trained teachers—both past graduates who pursue advanced degrees in the language and who become our Master Teachers (MTs) and more recent grads who are our Assistant Teachers (ATs). Many of the ATs have spent part of their undergraduate years as assistant language instructors at Dartmouth and on foreign study programs. Occasionally, a non-Dartmouth grad sneaks into the staff, but only after extensive Rassi-fi-cation!!

"All of you were wonderful—from the beginning to the end the team leader shined like a diamond in the night—helpful, reassuring, competent —wonderful sense of humor—please, never lose that."

- Mother of Jaime Bedrin, France and France staff

Each program staff consists of one Master Teacher (a high school or college teacher of French or Spanish or a degree candidate), and typically two (depending on group numbers) recent college graduates who serve as Assistant Teachers in each program.

All new teachers and most returning teachers attend a Rassias Foundation teacher workshop during the academic year to sharpen their teaching skills. In June, all staff members spend a week at Dartmouth attending our leadership training session. The days in Hanover become a Rassias classroom, a family stay, a group interaction clinic—as staff are asked to experience in microcosm all that they will see their students experience in the weeks to follow.

In addition, problem solving, basic first aid, safety issues, and other such skills are taught and honed.

""...I want to emphasize how wonderful ...(the leaders and staff) were. They made all kinds of efforts ...they were supportive and always on the ball!!! ...a very fun summer, and I commend you on your choice of instructors and families."

- The Whetsells, parents of Holly, Arles and staff member

Local Program Coordinators

Each local program coordinator is an experienced, trusted member of our team. Learn more about each of our local program coordinators:

• in Tours, France
• in Arles, France
• in Gijón, Spain
• in Segovia, Spain
• in Pontevedra, Spain
• in Gyalthang, China