Language Tutors

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Angela Baggio

Ciao a tutti!

My name is Angela (she/her), I’m a student of Euroamerican Literatures, Translation and Literary Criticism at the University of Trento, Italy. I come from the sun-kissed coasts of—just kidding, I’m from the Po Valley, the foggiest region in Italy. I used to live in Padua, la città dei tre senza, but when I got the opportunity to teach here at Bard, how could I not accept? So now I’m here to learn about your culture, and share some of my love for Italian culture with you.

Ci vediamo a lezione!

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Alexandra Touchard

Bonjour. 
My name is Alexandra and I am the French teaching assistant at Bard for the year 2022-2023. I am studying comparative literature at Sorbonne University in Paris in a neighborhood full of bookstores and cafés, near a beautiful garden called "le jardin du Luxembourg". During my free time I like to escape into art, in all its forms. I like to read (and sometimes even read again my favorite books). France is full of masterpieces but the writings of Romain Gary are probably the ones I like the most. I also like to write (a few poems or short stories when inspiration comes to me). Finally, I like to dance. I’ve been doing contemporary dance since I was three years old. For me, it’s a wonderful free field of expression and creation. I’ve been dreaming about the United States since I was a child and especially since I read The Catcher in the Rye. I am proud of my culture and I am as eager to share it with Bard’s students as I am to learn from them. It is a great joy for me to introduce to the wonders of the French language and culture.

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Ziyi Chen

My name is Ziyi Chen,I'm from Xi’an China. Now,I'm a master's student in education,majoring in International Chinese Education.I will be the Chinese tutor at Bard for the year 2022-2023.
When I was in the university,I chose teaching Chinese as my major because I’m really passionate about bringing Chinese language and culture to more people. I once went abroad for a three-month professional internship as a Chinese teacher in Thailand.
I enjoy traveling different places,experience different cultures,try different food.谢谢！

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Ailin Zanatta

¡Hola a todxs!

I'm Ailin Zanatta. My name is Mapuche, my surname is Italian, and I'm Argentinian. What a mixture, uh?

I was born in Miramar, the city that "looks to the sea". There, I studied to become an English teacher and a Spanish Language and Literature teacher, at ISFDyT 81. I am currently doing a Bachelor's Degree in Educational Science at Universidad Nacional del Centro de Buenos Aires.

I am passionate about languages and the way they convey culture, so I'm glad to be here at Bard representing my country and my culture, and learning about the US and many different countries at the same time.

People usually describe me as an enthusiastic person. I love reading, watching films, cooking, travelling and talking, too! I am looking forward to sharing lots in Spanish, while sharing playlists and mates, too.

¡Nos vemos pronto!

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Jihan Assaf

Marhaba!!
I am Jihan Assaf. The Arabic tutor for this year. I am Lebanese from Baalbeck City. I have been dreaming of studying and working In the U.S since childhood, and here I am fulfilling my dream. I am so grateful to be a Fulbright scholar so that I can achieve my goal.
Back home in Baalbeck "The City of the Sun" the ancient Phoenician city, I was an English teacher, I studied English, and mastered in Education. 
I am here to share my culture, help you to learn my language and learn from you as well!
It would be great chance to meet and chat together ,so feel free to ask me anything, and join the Arabic table too.
أهلاً و سهلاً!

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Svenja Maria Fricke

My name is Svenja (she/her), I‘m a student of teaching studies at the University of Passau in Lower Bavaria, Germany. I‘m originally from the Düsseldorf area in North Rhine-Westphalia, but I also spent a great deal of my childhood in the United States (Rochester Hills, Michigan). 


Back home in Passau, the „city of three rivers“, I study to become a German, English and Philosophy teacher at German highschools. That said, I’m very curious about the world, especially about its diverse cultures and their traditions, narratives, and artefacts. In particular, I‘m passionate about language and the way it functions and creates meaning. I enjoy reading and working with all kinds of texts, getting behind their facets of meaning, and engaging with prominent bodies of thought.

For the academic year of 2022/23, I’ll be a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at the German Studies Department of Bard College. I’m excited to share my culture and language with you and look forward to learning more about yours, I‘m sure you‘ve got a unique story to tell. Feel free to reach out anytime or come meet me at the German language table!

Servus, auf bald! Ich freue mich.

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Mariana Alejandra Vaccaiani

¡Hola a todos!

My name is Mariana, and I am going to be one of the Spanish FLETs for the 2022/23 academic
year. I am 25 years old and I am from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I graduated as an English <> Spanish Sworn Translator in 2018 and as an English Language
Teacher in 2019 at Universidad del Salvador. I have been teaching English since I was 17 years
old, filling my heart with both: the joy of kids and teenagers and the curiosity towards English
that adults showed me.

In addition to my many previous experiences as an ESL teacher, the opportunity I was granted
by the College of the Holy Cross (MA) to be a Foreing Language Assistant during the
2021/2022 academic year has been pivotal and opened new horizons in both my personal and
professional life. Being an Argentinian cultural ambassador in and out of the classroom has
made me even more aware of the importance of transmitting the culture that comes within the
language and I strive to ignite my students' curiosity towards it, as I believe it is a crucial aspect
of second language teaching. Now, I am delighted to have the opportunity to be a cultural
ambassador here at Bard College. I am sure it will be a fulfilling experience in which I will be
able to share my homeland culture and, of course, learn more from yours!

Besides languages, I also love doing huge jigsaw puzzles and open-air activities like traveling,
reading under the trees and sports. I really enjoy cooking, so maybe you will even get the
chance to taste some home-made Argentine traditional dishes.

I am looking forward to meeting all of you in class soon!

¡Nos vemos pronto!

Mariana <3

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Nao (Reeoma) Okada

My name is Nao (Reeoma) Okada. I was born in Yokohama, Japan. I lived in Chicago from 5-9 years old.

I majored in Manga Art at Kyoto Seika University. I enjoyed studying Manga History, Manga Expressions, and making original stories for Manga.
In Japan, Manga is not entertainment only for children. There are a wide variety of genres, and it is one of the cultures that Japan shares with the world.

When I was an undergraduate student, I enjoyed interacting with exchange students. After I graduated from Kyoto Seika University, I studied Japanese history and geography, and passed the national examination for National Government Licensed Guide Interpreters.

I started to work as a receptionist at tourist information center where is located near Shinjuku station in Tokyo. Shinjuku station is listed in the Guinness Book as the busiest station in the world.
I would like to utilize these experiences as a tutor. If you are interested in Manga or Japanese history, feel free to contact me!