Cross-Culturelle

One woman’s perspectives on multilingualism, multiculturalism, and culture in general, based on my education, work, and life experience.

About me...

After spending a month living with a host family in France when I was 16, I became interested in French language and culture. I majored in French, and later did a master’s in Applied Linguistics, which focused mainly on first and second language acquisition.

I have two grown children, to whom I speak only French, since the minute they were born. I have my reasons for doing so. People have reacted differently to this over the years. This has always been a natural part of my kids’ lives.

Professionally, I’ve been a French teacher, technical translator, technical writer, have taught tech writers to prepare their writing for the translation process (and also make it more readable), and currently make crêpes at a French gourmet shop, as well as offering French tutoring on the side.

Through living and working with people from many different countries, I have become not only accustomed to interacting with people from other cultures, but I crave it! For four years, I volunteered for a local diversity non-profit, and since then, have been reading as much as I can about diversity and its history.

My hope is for everyone to gain exposure to people who are different from themselves, and to learn to get along better. I believe that the ability to speak other languages well, the experience of being a foreigner, humility, and listening skills are some of what we all need to get there, and culture (music, art, etc.) can help bring us together.

Valerie Rushanan