- Despite challenges with continuing enrollment, Louie continues to advocate for the importance of learning languages.
- Elizabeth Louie, Lynbrook world language department lead and French teacher, received the Teacher Leader Award from the California Language Teachers’ Association.
- Louie’s teaching philosophy encourages student engagement, cultural understanding, and expression to create a dynamic learning environment.
On March 14, French teacher, Engage teacher and world language department lead Elizabeth “Liz” Louie was honored with the prestigious Teacher Leader Award from the California Language Teachers’ Association for her work in language education. This award honors one educator each year for their outstanding commitment to leading and promoting foreign language education.
Louie was nominated for the award by colleague and Cupertino High School Chinese teacher Ying Jin after the Stanford World Language Project. There, the two worked closely together in a mentorship program where teachers visited students to inform them about social emotional-learning in world language classrooms. Rather than an application process, the award requires letters of recommendation from colleagues and a review of contributions to world language education.
For the past four years, Louie has worked as Lynbrook’s world language department lead. Her consistent efforts foster a supportive classroom environment for her students to engage and grow in.
“My philosophy stems from staying open-minded,” Louie said. “I want students to understand that the world is so much bigger than they know, and if you’re open-minded and willing to learn from others, you’re making yourself a better person.”
Louie originally pursued a career in psychology, but over time, she began to feel disconnected from the field. Having also minored in French during college, she decided to spend eight months in France teaching English. When she returned to the United States, she carried this newfound passion for education into her French classes.
“I hear positive things from my students,” Louie said. “They feel safe coming to my classroom if they’re in distress or need to talk — that in itself is an accomplishment in my eyes.”
In Louie’s classes, students are encouraged to express their thoughts, ideas and opinions on certain French topics. By focusing on student-led education, she aims to meet every student’s needs and create a deeper connection with the material.
“We do such a large variety of activities, whether it’s playing a review game or using an online tool to learn about culture,” senior and AP French Language and Culture student Ashwin Belur said. “Every unit we do in class is memorable because we approach learning the cultural concepts so differently every time.”
Through the districtwide decline in world language enrollment, Louie remains steady in her belief that learning a language is transformative. She advocates for the importance of cultural understanding, global awareness and communication skills.
“A big challenge for me right now is maintaining my program and helping students understand the value of learning another language and why it’s crucial not just for their education, but in their development as kind, compassionate human beings,” Louie said. “Hard skills are great, but languages will teach individuals valuable perspectives that no other subject can.”
The Teacher Leader Award is proof of Louie’s commitment to fostering a positive culture for language education at Lynbrook. It recognizes her passion and excellence in supporting students through their French learning journeys.
