Matt Avery ’25

Matt Avery ’25 | French major, Economics minor

Though he chose Saint Anselm College because of its manageable size and proximately to his home, after graduation, Matt Avery ’25 moved to Alsace, France to begin his next chapter in a different language. 

Today, the French major teaches English at a middle school and has immersed himself in the local culture in more ways than one. He believes that studying language enhanced his overall ability to communicate, enabled him to reevaluate his ideas, and consider them from a new perspective.

What brought you to Saint Anselm College in the first place?

Saint Anselm being one hour away by car made it the perfect distance. I didn’t want to head far from home yet (which is somewhat surprising, given that I’m now living on a different continent.) I additionally appreciated the small size of the campus as I knew it would allow me to truly get to know the location and the people. Being the kind of person who needs to know the ins and outs of every place I go (I’m a terrible tourist) these two elements were what I needed to have a sense of place at Saint Anselm.

So, you live abroad now?

I’ve been living and working abroad as an English assistant at a middle school in France since graduating. I’m located in Alsace, the Germanic region of northeastern France. It’s still France, though very different from “interior France” as the locals would call the rest of the country. I’m shocked by how much German I get to use here, another language that I was lucky enough to be able to study at Saint Anselm.

How do you stay busy?

On the side, I’ve found work transcribing and translating letters by historical figures like Monet and Napoleon from French into English. Outside of work, I play trumpet with a local community band as well as doing some volunteering. Every Tuesday, I help deliver meals and other necessities; on Friday, I help teach bike safety; and once a month, I organize an English workshop with the local library.

What part of studying French at Saint Anselm made you feel prepared to begin your career abroad?

The Native Speaker program was incredibly helpful. Learning how to converse with a native speaker in French has helped me speak with my colleagues, my landlord, angry train conductors, etc. Studying French at Saint Anselm has also provided me with a strong knowledge of the history and culture of much of the Francophone world. As a result, I can put lessons on American history and culture into perspective for my students. Plus, having such a familiarity with France has made it feel less foreign.

How did you decide to major in French?

I had known for years that I wanted to study abroad, so majoring in French gave me the assurance that I would have the support needed to do so. Beyond the academic experience, another reason I decided to major in French is that studying the language had already proven to have a great impact on my ability to communicate. In a foreign language, I often lacked the words necessary to fully express my ideas, which in turn forced me to reevaluate them and consider them from a new angle.

What was your favorite thing about the major?

How personal it felt. I had small classes and few professors, so I had the chance to build personal relationships. It taught me to not make assumptions and fact check frequently. I've learned to look for proof that what I'm saying means what I want it to mean and that I'm using it in the right context even to communicate the most basic things. I learned this through messing up with the language a lot.

Why would you recommend students study languages in college?

Saint Anselm's French major pairs so well with the College's basis in the liberal arts seeing as French majors have to learn a little about everything from different linguistic and cultural points of view. To speak the language well you have to learn a lot of vocabulary, which serves as a great excuse to learn about many different topics.

How were you supported by faculty during your time at Saint Anselm?

After I expressed interest in doing translation after graduating, my advisor Professor Rebecca Crisafulli talked me through different ways that I could incorporate translation into my career. She even arranged an independent study in one of her classes so that I could practice translation. Professor Susanne Rossbach also found opportunities for me to practice translation outside of class that would have a real use for somebody. All forms of support were extremely generous.

What’s been the most challenging part about living abroad?

Exhaustion. Often, I feel like I’m taking an exam, in that I’m really pushing my brain to retain as much information as possible. I’m trying to pick up as much contemporary French as I can, so I record and memorize every new word I learn, along with the context in which I find it. That said, sometimes the words are useful, sometimes not. I’m still waiting for the trivia night that asks for the French word for the type of reflector found on bicycle wheels and pedals. (It’s “le catadioptre”, in case you were curious).

Have you changed at all since living in France? In what ways?

I’ve become more attuned to what it is I truly want. As shown by their many protests, the French aren’t afraid to speak their minds or say what they want. Combine this with a culture where people casually ask each other, “What is your dream?” and the result is that I’m now more thoughtful of what I truly want and more inclined to seek it.

Why would you recommend students study languages in college?

For one, languages are personal. The big question for my major wasn't "Can you find the right answer?" but rather "Can you yourselfassimilate a language, history, and culture?" Additionally, languages improve your ability to communicate. When you lack vocabulary, you learn to use the vocabulary you do have more effectively. (On the flipside, since you’ll need to acquire more vocabulary, languages are great at teaching you to do your own research.) Languages pair superbly with a college based on the liberal arts. In my studies, I got to learn about a wide range of topics from unique, linguistic and cultural points of view.

What’s your favorite food to eat in France that you can’t get in the United States?

Oh man, there’s a good many. Above all, nothing fancy, but my favorite food in France would have to be French tacos. These are nothing like Mexican tacos. They’re a thick brick of meat, veggie, sauce, cheese, and French fries wrapped in a tortilla and cooked like a panini. I think they’d be a real hit in the US.

What advice would you give other students looking to teach abroad?

Always look at things from the students’ perspective. If you wouldn’t want to participate, don’t expect the students to want to either. Remembering that you are both foreigners to each other can make foreignness easier to overcome. Second, don’t let students know if you speak other languages. That way, they’ll be more inclined to speak yours. Third, learn cultural references. It shows respect, plus it makes people flip out.