Sandani Piyasena
French language educator
Secondary French teacher with three years of classroom experience, now completing teacher certification at Simon Fraser University with a French Immersion focus. Based in Coquitlam, BC.
3 yearsTeaching secondary French
B.Ed.Minor in French Education, SFU
DALF C1French language diploma
PDPFrench Immersion module, in progress
About me
I teach French so that students can use it with confidence and enjoy the culture that comes with it. My classrooms are structured, warm and inclusive, with lessons built on clear standards and regular feedback.
I have planned and delivered French courses, served as a class teacher, Grade 9 coordinator and house mistress, and worked closely with parents and colleagues. I am now completing my teacher education in British Columbia and am seeking French and French Immersion teaching roles with BC school boards.
Education
Bachelor of Education, minor in French Education
Master of Business Administration (part-time)
Bachelor of Arts in French Language
Thesis: Une étude sur les titres des romans traduits : français–anglais, anglais–français
Teaching experience
Student TeacherCurrent
- Practicum in a French Immersion secondary classroom with a mentor teacher.
- Planning and delivering French lessons and assessing student progress.
French Teacher, Secondary School
- Developed and delivered French lesson plans aligned with Pearson Edexcel standards.
- Assessed student progress and fostered a positive, inclusive classroom.
- Class teacher: supported a class’s academic and personal development and was the main contact for parents.
- Grade 9 coordinator: kept curriculum and assessment consistent and connected students, parents and administration.
- House mistress: managed house welfare and discipline and organized events and competitions.
Other professional experience
Sales and Reservations Supervisor
- Directed and evaluated sales and reservations staff, set schedules and trained new employees.
- Resolved cross-department issues and kept operations running during urgent situations.
Tour Executive
- Designed tailored travel programs for French-speaking clients and prepared cost estimates.
- Resolved issues during tours and compiled itineraries, maps and travel packets.
Leadership and volunteering
Vice President, Outgoing Global Talent
- Supervised team members and leaders and aligned their work with organizational goals.
- Built international partnerships and recruited candidates for global placements.
- Developed marketing strategies and presented the program at institutes.
Team Leader, Outgoing Global Talent
- Led team meetings, performance reviews and social media campaigns.
Volunteer English Teacher
- Taught pupils from under-resourced communities through problem-based learning.
Languages and skills
French
DALF C1, Ministère de l’Éducation nationale, France
English
IELTS General Training: Listening 8.0, Reading 8.5, Speaking 7.5, Writing 7.0
Teaching
- Language instruction
- Instructional strategies
- Classroom management
- Curriculum development
- Student motivation
- Conflict resolution
Interpersonal
- Effective communication
- Empathy
- Patience
- Team collaboration
- Cultural sensitivity
- Leadership
Digital
- Microsoft Teams / Power Apps
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- ChatGPT for educators
References
Email contacts for each referee are listed below.
Isabelle Côté
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education
Simon Fraser University
Prof. Niroshani Gunasekara
Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages
University of Kelaniya
Beyond the classroom
A glimpse of life outside of teaching.
Teaching is my calling, but it is not my whole story. These are a few moments from the life I enjoy outside school.
Back to school
Full circle
At a back-to-school event, I put my high school uniform back on. It was a fun reminder of where my love for learning began, and of why I want to be in front of a classroom today.