Students Awarded Teaching Positions in France

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Six students from New College of Florida have been offered teaching assistantships under a French government program, known as TAPIF, that brings in Americans to teach English to elementary or secondary school students nationwide.
This year’s six TAPIF recipients – a record for New College – are among 1,100 chosen nationwide. New College has had 23 students awarded TAPIF positions since 2001.

2013 TAPIF recipients, from left: Andrew Kotick, Alejandra Martino, Mar Echevarria, Xavier Keogh, Mariana Zapata, Elizabeth Crowell

“This is a fantastic accomplishment, and a wonderful experience for our students,” said Stephen Miles, New College’s provost. “It is a tribute to the quality of our French program and to the tremendous mentoring by the program’s faculty.”
All six students began their French language study at New College, said Jocelyn Van Tuyl, professor of French language and literature.
This year’s recipients, with their hometowns, areas of study, and placements in France, are:

  • Elizabeth Crowell, Maitland, Fla., French. Posting: Montpellier region.
  • Mar Echevarria, Miami, Fla., sociology and gender studies. Posting: Amiens region.
  • Xavier Keogh, Miami, Fla., general studies. Posting: Orleans-Tours region.
  • Andrew Kotick, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., modern French history. Kotick will decline his posting to Rennes and instead accept a scholarship to attend graduate school at New York University.
  • Alejandra Martino, St. Petersburg, Fla., art history and music. Posting: Poitou-Charentes region.
  • Mariana Zapata, Miami, Fla., sociology. Posting: Bordeaux region.

All are expected to be among the approximately 185 students graduating from New College with a bachelor of arts degree on May 24.
The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) is an initiative of the French Ministry of Education, the Centre international d’ études pédagogiques and the Cultural Services division of the French Embassy.