Description

What happens when a team of passionate French educators travels to Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to create authentic, lived-experience-based resources for teachers across the U.S.? In this episode, Norah Jones speaks with Steve Sacco, Megan Diercks, Jessica Ayer, and Jeff Loughary about their month-long Fulbright-Hays project and the powerful impact it’s having on curriculum, culture, and connection.

Together, they explore:

• Why Francophone Africa must be part of French language education
• How to move beyond “celebratory multiculturalism” to truthful, anti-oppressive curriculum
• Real stories from Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) —cacao plantations, marketplace conversations, and moments of cultural connection
• The classroom resources being developed (coming soon, free through AATF)
• How travel, language, and vulnerability shape us as educators and global citizens

You’ll hear how Jessica’s visit to a cacao plantation transformed her teaching, how Jeff’s unexpected conversations challenged stereotypes, how Steve facilitated constant pivots on the ground, and how Megan is guiding AATF’s commitment to centering La Francophonie in meaningful, accurate ways.

✨ This is an episode for teachers, curriculum developers, language advocates, and anyone who believes in the power of authentic cultural learning.

About the Guests

Steve Sacco – Professor emeritus of French & Italian (San Diego State University), consultant, and co-leader of the Côte d’Ivoire project.
Megan Diercks – Executive Director, American Association of Teachers of French (AATF).
Jessica Ayer – French teacher, doctoral student in curriculum & instruction, focused on the cacao industry and post-colonial realities.
Jeff Loughary – French professor, teacher educator, and PhD candidate focusing on linguistic human rights and language variation.

Key Themes

• Centering Francophone (the French-speaking world) Africa in French teaching
• Authenticity in curriculum development
• Storytelling as a bridge between cultures
• The power of language vulnerability (like using Bambara in the market!)
• How travel transforms educators
• The relationship between colonial history and modern cultural identity

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Contact Norah :
fluencyconsulting@gmail.com

Website: https://fluency.consulting
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