On January 20, Isabelle Jouanneau-Fertig, French instructor in Barnard College since 1987, was awarded by the French government by naming her a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor.

This award was dedicated to her in recognition of her 40 years of teaching and promoting French language and culture. Isabelle Jouanneau-Fertig is an expert in teaching French as foreign language: she has developed generation of American students’ curiosity for our country’s language and culture at the Univeristy of Texas in Austin, at the Yale University and for the last 29 years at Barnard College. At the College, she has designed and taught all levels of language courses and she created several language and culture courses.

The French Government also has bestowed its highest honor in recognition of her 30 years of volunteer work in New-York-City at the International School of Brooklyn where she is a former president of the board of trustees and currently a trustee.

The medal was conferred by Ambassador François Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nation who has pronounced a speech in her honor. He underlined the high commitment of Isabelle Jouanneau-Fertig  at promoting the French language and culture in the United States, in both her career and personal life.

He said, "You evaluated French tapes recorded for the blind, mentored opera and choir singers singing in French, recorded cassettes for French textbooks, showing once again your dedication to all the most concrete and important aspects of what makes the life of France and the French language in New-York".

Contact Prof. Isabelle Jouanneau-Fertig at ijouanne@barnard.edu or leave a comment below.