Meet Shannon Borum—a French teacher at Jackson High School (GA).
“Teaching a language means connecting to the beautiful world around us.”
The Start of a Teaching Journey:
It was, of course, a language teacher who inspired me. Madame Arnold exposed me to the world outside my own town, not only through teaching French and francophone culture but also by organizing a trip to visit Europe.
She encouraged me as a language learner and gave me confidence to do things I never would have thought to try. Her influence made me feel valuable and capable. Having a teacher like her made me want to BE a teacher like her for others.
Career Highlight:
It's all the little moments: the high-fives in the hall, the unexpected interactions during a lesson, seeing those "ah-ha" moments as they happen, and watching my students grow in confidence. I feel fulfilled when students say my class is one they look forward to or one they feel like they can be themselves in.
On Being an ACTFL Member:
As a teacher in a rural area, I love that ACTFL connects me to other teachers around the country.
Our profession really is "beg, borrow, steal... and give credit," and the connections I make as part of the ACTFL community have given me so many great ideas for my own classroom. Being around folks who understand our content and pedagogy is uplifting.
