La Société Française invites you to a lecture in French:
“Beyond Paris and Quebec: Caribbean and African Francophone Voices in French Education”
by Jonas Vilaire, PhD
When: Friday, October 2, 2026 at 7 pm
Where: Alliance Française de St. Louis
St. Louis, MO 63132
RSVP: To attend, please send an e-mail to: societefrancaisestl@gmail.com
Summary
What does it mean to teach French in a globalized and multicultural world?
This presentation explores how French language education in North America
can move beyond traditional Eurocentric models by centering the voices,
experiences, and cultural productions of African and Caribbean Francophone
communities. Through examples from literature, education, and contemporary
Francophone cultures, participants will discover how a more inclusive
approach to French teaching can enrich language learning while expanding
our understanding of the Francophone world.
Jonas Vilaire, PhD, is an Educational Technology scholar, TESOL specialist, French language educator, and instructional designer. With more than twenty years of experience in higher education, French and Spanish immersion education, teacher professional development, instructional design, and curriculum innovation, he is dedicated to advancing inclusive, intercultural, and technology-enhanced educational practices.
Dr. Vilaire holds a PhD in Educational Technology from Universidad Da Vinci Mexico. His research focuses on artificial intelligence in education, technology-enhanced language learning, decolonial pedagogy, multilingual education, and teacher development. His scholarship explores how emerging technologies can support personalized, equitable, and culturally responsive language education.
An author and international conference presenter, Dr. Vilaire has shared his work at academic and professional events in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Arab Emirates. He actively contributes to the academic community as a peer reviewer, editor, board member, and doctoral research mentor.
Currently serving as Lead Teacher at Saint Louis Language Immersion School in Missouri, he promotes a student-centered approach to language education that emphasizes communication, intercultural competence, critical thinking, and the thoughtful integration of emerging technologies. A multilingual educator, he is fluent in Creole, French, Spanish, and English.