For Sam Showalter, a 2023 graduate of Transylvania University, a spontaneous decision to major in French led to a life-changing year teaching in France and a deeper understanding of language and culture.
Showalter, who double-majored in sociology-anthropology and French with a minor in Spanish, spent a year teaching English to elementary students in Deauville, a town in Normandy, through Lexington’s Sister Cities program. The experience, he said, was shaped by the academic and personal connections he made during his time at Transylvania.
“I took French all through high school and really connected with it,” Showalter said. “But it wasn’t until I sat in on a class with Simonetta Cochis at Transy that something clicked. That one hour turned into a mentorship and friendship that completely influenced my college path.”
At Transylvania, Showalter said he found inspiration in the faculty, particularly in their passion for language and culture. Professors Simonetta Chochis and Brian Arganbright played pivotal roles in deepening his appreciation not only for the French language but also for linguistics and the way it intersects with human society.
After graduating, Showalter began teaching in Deauville, France. There, he served as the primary English teacher for more than 100 students aged 8 to 11, collaborating with core instructors and leading classroom activities that ranged from conversation games and role-playing to singing and playground games.
“Teaching kickball and four square in English to French kids was a blast,” he said. “They took four square very seriously!”
Showalter also led an after-school English club with other American teachers. “Those friendships with my students and my fellow teachers — French and American — are some of the most meaningful relationships I’ve made,” he said.
Now pursuing a master’s degree in sociology at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, Showalter said the cultural and linguistic foundation he built at Transylvania continues to shape his worldview.
“Learning another language isn’t just about fluency,” he said. “It’s about learning new ways to imagine your place in the world. That’s something I don’t think I would have fully understood without my professors and experiences at Transy.”
He encourages prospective students to pursue language studies without hesitation.
“Do it,” he said. “Yes, it’s intimidating. But even the act of learning a language, regardless of the outcome, builds empathy and opens your mind to new perspectives.”
Showalter also credits Transylvania with making global opportunities possible through research funding. He received a Kenan grant while a student at Transy that allowed him to travel to Wales and Brittany to explore connections between political nationalism and minority languages — an experience that inspired his continued academic pursuits.
“Transy gave me opportunities I never expected,” he said. “Coming from a small town in Kentucky, I never imagined I’d study in France or conduct research in the U.K. But with the support of the faculty and the resources available, it became a reality.”
To learn more about Transylvania’s French program, visit transy.edu/french.