Isabelle Sambuis - Instructor & Event Presenter
Originally from the Paris area, Isabelle studied law in the University of Paris 10 Nanterre and has a master’s degree in Human Resources Management from the Institute of Gestion Sociale.
In 2010, Isabelle moved to the United States with her husband and three children. She started teaching French at the Alliance Française of Dallas and got the DELF PRIM Certification (Diploma in French Language Studies-Children) from the French Agency for International Matters in the Field of Education (CIEP). After relocating to Austin, she spent another 3 years teaching French at Education Française of Austin. She also helps high schoolers prepare for the AP French Test. In 2019, she proudly became a US citizen.
Her students describe her as determined and supportive, as she continuously strives for greater achievements. When she doesn’t teach French, she loves to stretch out her legs in yoga, show off her dance moves in Zumba classes, and draw in pastels. Isabelle can’t wait to introduce you to the beauty of the French language.
Email - isambuis@afaustin.org
Elisabeth Vedrine - Instructor & Event Presenter
Elisabeth was born and raised in Paris. She studied at L’Ecole Nationale Supérieur des Beaux Arts de Paris before moving to Austin, Texas in 1991.
She spent more than a decade teaching art and French to schoolchildren as part of an after-school program. She also served as a French instructor for Inlingua, the French immersions program for employees of Motorola, and has worked as a private tutor. In 2013, Élisabeth joined the Alliance Française d’Austin. Élisabeth has worked with students of all ages. Quick to laugh, she has a wonderful sense of humour which she brings to the classroom knowing that fun is a key element for learning. She leads conversation classes for A1 students and pronunciation classes for all levels.
Élisabeth loves creating art, cooking healthy foods, and spending time outdoors enjoying nature.
Email - evedrine@afaustin.org
Maryvonne Le Guilly - Instructor & Café Conversation Lead
Maryvonne was born and raised in Cholet, France, in the Loire Valley. She studied Liberal Arts and Foreign languages (English, Spanish) at the University in Nantes. She furthered her studies at ACC and the University of Texas.
She embraces travel to other countries and enjoys discovering different cultures and languages. Her travels have taken her to Spain, Italy, Madagascar, Germany, England, Netherland, Belguim, Switzerland, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada. Maryvonne says, “Through my travels, I have learned the importance of communication, tolerance and patience, having the opportunity to practice the languages I have studied.” She has been teaching all levels of French and the culture of France to adults and children at Alliance Française for more than 13 years. She finds it rewarding when her students travel to France and come back saying proudly that they were able to communicate with the locals.
When not traveling or teaching, Maryvonne enjoys jogging, cycling, hiking, and swmming.
Email - mleguilly@afaustin.org
Morgane Nasi - Instructor
Morgane is a native of Southwest France and spent most of her youth in the Bordeaux area, between vineyards and the ocean. She earned her master’s degree in literature from the Michel de Montaigne university in Bordeaux and then moved to Lyon, where she obtained her master’s in teaching French as a foreign language from the Lumières University.
After a few years, she got married, became an American citizen, and traveled across the United States, where she has been consistently teaching to government personnels.
Three years in Germany and two children later, she now happily lives in Texas. When she is not busy with work, children and well…life, she enjoys hiking, running, and learning new skills.
Email - mnasi@afaustin.org
Nandi Egber - Instructor
Nandi was born in Paris and raised in the Southwest of France (Royan,Charente-Maritime), with roots in Congo and Ivory Coast.
Nandi has been teaching French for the past 5 years, working with all ages and different types of people all over the world. Some of her favorite classes to teach include: Beginners, and French for Travelers (Exploring the Regions of France). She loves meeting new students, and helping them to achieve their goals.
With a bachelor's degree in Fine Art from Les Beaux-art d’ Angers, France, and a master’s degree in Interior Decoration and Textile Design from LISAA Fashion School in Paris., Nandi is also a textile artist and jewelry designer, and enjoys incorporating art exercises into her French lessons to keep students feeling inspired and creative; she believes this helps integrate the new language in a way that is very smooth and retainable for students. She enjoys offering art-making workshops, which are held entirely in French for her students.
Nandi got married in the countryside of France to an American man, who she met while she was participating in her first art residency in New York City. While living in France together for two years, they traveled to Portugal, Greece, Italy, Belgium, and The Netherlands. Eventually they moved back to the states and settled in Los Angeles, CA where they now both live and work.
Email - nandie@afaustin.org
Marie-Agnès Brown, Instructor
Marie-Agnès was born and raised in Rouen in the region of Normandie. She has a bachelor’s degree in history, and a master’s in linguistics with a major in Francophone Cultures & Literature from the University of Rouen. Additionally, she has the DAEFLE: French Certification to Teach French as a foreign language from the University of Poitiers in partnership with the Alliance Française of Paris. She received her master’s degree in July 2015, and has been teaching French language & Francophone culture since then.
She enjoys reading mostly Francophone literature, and one of her favorite writers is the Moroccan French writer: Tarek Ben Jelloul.
She loves traveling and went to various places in Europe (Italy, Spain, etc.) as well as in Sub-Saharan African Countries such as Senegal, Benin; and has also visited North African countries (Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria); and Caribbean countries (Antigua, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique).
When she is not teaching, she enjoys outdoor activities like walking and riding her bike.
Email - mabrown@afaustin.org
Eléonore Le Corvaisier - Instructor
Eléonore was born and raised in Paris. She has a Master's in English Studies from the Sorbonne. Eléonore moved to the United States to study literature at the University of Illinois, where she was a teaching assistant in French for three years. She has been living in Austin since 2011.
She is working at the Alliance Française because she loves meeting motivated students of all ages and backgrounds, and accompanying them as they grow into competent speakers and culture savvy travelers. Her work is done when the students can make bilingual jokes.
When she is not teaching Eléonore enjoys exploring caves with fellow Texas cavers, hiking, gardening and reading.
Email - eleonorelec@afaustin.org
Laura Mortier-Smoter - School Coordinator & Yoga in French Instructor
Originally from Paris, Laura was raised in a French-Polish family. This multicultural upbringing built her curiosity about the rest of the world. She stepped into the education world 11 years ago when she started to work as a private instructor in order to pay for her college tuition.
Upon graduating (she got a Master's Degree in Intercultural Management and Translation in French, English and Spanish), she realized how much she enjoyed teaching and decided to continue in this direction.
Laura strives to bring joy into her classrooms; she offers classes to adults and kids in group and private settings.
Aside from teaching French, she is a yoga instructor. She is passionate about books, feminism, and sustainability. So far, she had the opportunity to live and work in four different countries.
Email - laurams@afaustin.org
Jordan Phillips - Payroll Support Manager
Jordan was born in Texas and raised in California. She fell in love with all things French during a trip to the Côte d’Azur as a teenager and dreamed of one day living in France. Along with her husband and daughter, she lived in Paris and then New York City before returning to her Texan roots and moving to Austin in 2018.
Jordan has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a master’s degree in marketing and management from ESMOD Paris.
Aside from her time at AFA, Jordan enjoys making functional pottery in her home studio when in Austin and visiting museums when in Paris.
Email - jphillips@afaustin.org
Pat Tomsho - Business Director
Pat has an MBA from the University of Texas and a MA in Speech Pathology from Kent State University. She has spent over 20 years in business operations specializing in sales operatons, project management, software integration, and process improvement. Prior to her business career, she was a language therapist for special needs students.
When she is not working in the background on the business for Alliance Française, you may find her cooking, hiking, or behind the camera working on her photography.
Pat’s husband, who is a native French speaker, has been a great influence in her love of French culture with a special emphasis on the food! They have three adult children who reside in Colorado and Maine. They now quietly share their home with their two cats.
Email - ptomsho@afaustin.org
