1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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

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