Who is who

After completing my Pedagogy degree and obtaining my teaching certificate in Deusto University, Spain and I headed to Salta, Argentina, where I collaborated with the Faculty of Education in the National University of Salta supporting undergraduate students and working with local schools. My PhD studies took me to England where I obtained my second teaching qualification. I worked in Nottingham Trent University teaching undergraduate and graduate students, and I taught in a range of schools. I mentored Post Graduate Students (PGCE) and New Qualified Teachers students (NQTs) and trained Schools Direct Students. I coached middle leaders, led the curriculum development of languages in two British secondary schools, and I worked closely with Primary and Secondary Schools Leadership Teams.

In 2017 my family and I relocated to the South of France. Before the creation of We Love English, I worked in two renowned English Institutions in Toulouse as an English teacher and as a curriculum coordinator.

I feel very privileged to be able to do the job I love. We speak three languages at home. Over the years, I have seen not only many students growing up and becoming bilingual (or trilingual) but also my own son. I know (as a teacher, as a mother and as a learner myself) the challenges that learning a language present, but I have also witnessed all its rewards.

British by birth, but having always nurtured close ties within Europe since my teens, I leapt at the opportunity to move to Toulouse in August 2019 with my family. At university, I studied German, Swedish and Linguistics and worked in both Germany and Sweden during my course. Together with my British-Spanish husband, we have three daughters.

I worked in public libraries in the Bristol area of the UK for over a decade before my passion for literature and reading led me into teaching. I completed my PGCE Primary and Early Years teaching certificate as an English Specialist at Bath Spa University and am a fully qualified teacher with several years of experience across all primary age ranges in the UK. Since my arrival in France, I have worked as a class teacher in a bilingual British-French school and studied at the Université Jean Jaurés, Toulouse – achieving DELF B2 level French in May 2022. I joined We Love English in November 2022.

In my spare time I love to read, walk our Labrador Tilly, hike and explore this beautiful country which I am lucky enough to now call home.

After graduating from the University of Warwick with a degree in French Studies (politics, history, linguistics), I spent two years working in several language schools in Côte d'Ivoire before returning to the UK to take my Cambridge teaching qualification (CELTA) at International House London.

Then in 1998, I followed my heart and moved to Toulouse...

I initially worked with adults and engineering students, but in 2012, I changed direction and began specialising in teaching English to younger learners. I followed a British Council course in Paris and then began offering English workshops to children aged 3-11 years old in three primary schools in Toulouse.

Every day, the children put a smile on my face. I love their energy and enthusiasm, their curiosity and creativity. And working with younger learners has enabled me to incorporate one of my passions into my teaching: children's literature and storytelling. Stories are an avenue into language acquisition, but equally,  they are a wonderful way to develop tolerance and empathy, values that will help our little learners navigate the world.

So more than 25 years after landing in Toulouse, with a French husband and three bilingual teenage children, I am happy I followed my heart all those years ago. I have perfected my language skills and am fluent in French; I have a rewarding job that I love, and I live in a city that I'm proud to call home.

Hello, my name is Sarah Bushnell and I am an experienced teacher, musician and conductor. I graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy in Glasgow with a Master of Music in 1995. I have performed with orchestras throughout the UK and Europe whilst also organising and leading many orchestral tours in France and Germany with teenagers and coaching staff. My teaching career spans almost 35 years with students of all standards and ages with several past students graduating to Music college and careers in music themselves.

My family and I moved to France in 2011, with one of my children attending St Therese for several years. Since arriving here, I have performed in several musicals and English pantomimes in the TMP in Pibrac and have been teaching drama in English to groups of children and teenagers for TMA. I perform locally on violin and viola and teach violin and cello privately at home.

Whilst looking for ways to use my skills on a voluntary basis I saw the advert looking for help reading with French students. I am very much enjoying getting to know the We Love English children at St Therese, seeing their reading skills and confidence grow.

Hello, my name is Maggie Castaing. I am 60 years old and have lived in Tournefeuille since 1989. I have 2 children, aged 30 and 23, who have attended Sainte Thérèse school since nursery school. And coming back to work at Ste Therese brings back very good memories as I have worked as a volunteer in the past with GS to CE1 classes. I am very happy to work with We Love English observing and helping the children to develop their reading skills. It is a real pleasure to see them progress.

My name is Anne-Marie Madincea, and my background is in engineering. I spent many years working in the oil and gas industry for large international organisations in London. However, my academic studies are in psychology and neuroscience.

Beyond my professional career, I have a passion for writing children's rhyming books. I have self-published one book and am currently working on another.

I moved to Toulouse in 2020 and have previously volunteered for the English pantomime at the Pibrac Theatre. In September 2024, I began volunteering at We Love English, St Thérèse School. This is my first time working in a school and I absolutely love reading with the children. I love their enthusiasm and seeing how quickly they progress and learn

Hi, my name is Tiffanie Aslund. I'm from the United States, but lived most of my adult life in Germany. I moved to France in August of 2024 with my husband and three children. I studied business in both the United States (Bachelor) and in Germany (MBA). After my studies I opened my business in Germany. In 2007 I started teaching English to adults at companies like Audi, BMW, Siemens and Porsche. I continued doing this until we moved to France, which is when I started volunteering at We Love English. Working with the children at Sainte Thérèse has brought me much joy during my transition to a new life in France. I look forward to continuing to work with the children and see them grow and improve their English skills.