Faculty Spotlight: Mike Ouellette

College/ Degrees: Evangel College (now University), B.A. in French, Spanish, and Education

Years of service: 29 

Subject(s): Spanish and French

Other roles: Mr. Ouellette was a live-in dorm parent for 15 years and has been a soccer and basketball coach.

Fun facts: Mr. Ouellette met his wife in a cave.  He has also knitted beautiful sweaters.

Background you want to share? Mr. Ouellette, aka Señor, grew up in Pittsfield, Maine.  He attended MCI, a town academy like FA, so he grew up with “dorm kids.”  He had a paper route throughout school, requiring him to get up at 4:30 each morning.  After college, he lived in Florida with his new bride for a year before returning to New England.  Mr. Ouellette’s three children grew up on FA’s campus, and he now has two grandchildren.  He loves and is so proud of his close family.  He also loves to ride a bicycle, throw a Frisbee, and work with wood.

Why did you become a teacher? When I was a sophomore in high school, I took French, and I just got it.  I started correcting the teacher and helping all my classmates. I did a good job and loved languages, so it seemed obvious to become a language teacher.

What is your favorite class to teach and why? I love the younger kids.  They are so energetic, and they like my style.  I enjoy the more advanced work I can do with older students, but the younger students laugh at everything I say.  

How would you describe yourself as a teacher? Passionate. Grateful. I try to find teaching moments all the time.  The kids are the stars in my class.  I teach through them, and I try to find real-life applications.  

How do you motivate your students? Pesetas!  In class, I award “money” for participation or showing that students interact with Spanish outside of class.  

Is there anything from your experience as a student that has influenced you as a teacher? In college, I had a Spanish professor who was the sweetest man.  I do so many things that he did.  For example, he used his hands to create visuals for grammar and pronunciation points - waving his fingers and hands.  He also made noises to go with his explanations, and I do that, too.

Advice for students? If you are serious about language, keep going.  Live it; go somewhere; make a career out of it. Also, have fun and do what you like, but help others.  That’s where the absolute joy is.  Get off your phone every once in a while and slow down.  Keep it under “fawty”.  (Anyone who knows me will know what I mean.)