Vanessen Tirvassen
21 August 2007
Port Louis — "When I go down memory lane, I have very good recollections of some of my teachers. The first teacher who comes to my mind is Arlette Bazire, who was my teacher for 'Junior scholarship' at Notre Dame de la Visitation. Then, at Loreto Convent Quatre Bornes, there were Margaret Esther who taught me mathematics and additional mathematics, and Marie-Liette Bourgault, my French teacher. The linking factor between those teachers is that I had a special relationship with most of them. They took time to talk to me whenever there was the need for it, to motivate me or to dispel my doubts. They were caring and, above all, they were professionals!
But, if I were to choose the teacher who had the biggest impact on my personality and choice of professional career, it is definitely Annie Latapie. She was the teacher for the Alliance Française classes which I followed from 6eme to Terminale. I used to go and take tuition at her place once a week along with five or six other students. The first thing I would say about her is that she was a bit like a clown! But, when I say this, I do not mean to be disrespectful towards her. In fact, I use the word in a very affectionate way as I found her very funny.
Annie Latapie would always imbue herself with the different characters from the various books we were studying. She would even laugh, shout or cry just to make us visualize the emotions of these characters. She would change her voice; she would gesticulate as she played the various parts. There was not a single chance for us to get bored in her tuition class. She was an artist or actress rather than a teacher! As a result, up to now I still remember her performance of the fable 'La cigale et la fourmi' and 'Le Cid'by Corneille.
So Annie Latapie was funny and she knew exactly how to make her lessons very lively. In addition to this, she was a perfectionist. Therefore she expected a lot from us. Annie Latapie had a tremendous personality. She made us feel at home at her place. As an example, I remember that once I felt very tired, as I had just come from school, and fell asleep over my copybook. She looked at me and said: 'Gilberte, wake up and go take a Coke in the fridge!' To be honest, when she said this, I felt wide awake straight away! But of course I did not go and take the coke as I was so intimidated.
If ever a teacher does not know how to share his/her knowledge, facilitate learning, motivate or even inspire a student, that teacher should sit down and think about the way he/she should be dealing with students. As far as I remember, I have been lucky not to have met such teachers and I have quite good memories of my days as a student. Obviously I do have a few bad ones. The one that is probably fresher in my memory is certainly the day I had my ears pulled by the head teacher.
Coming back to Annie Latapie, I should say that she personified my conception of the 'good teacher' as she was a motherly type and was always giving us this pastoral care. Moreover, she was very human and humane! Through teaching us literature, she made us travel back in the past so easily and so incredibly! If I were to see Annie Latapie or Marie-Liette Bourgault, I would thank them, as they played a key role in influencing me to choose the career I am in today!"
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