Lucas Kinsey ’25, who graduated with a double major in education and French plus a minor in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), is pursuing his dream of becoming a high school French teacher. He entered Berry with a passion for language and attained fluency by graduation.
“I learned that language is more than words; it is culture,” he says. “I want to help others see how beautiful language is in hopes to help them connect and communicate with other cultures.”
During his college search, Lucas’ priority was finding a place that would provide the opportunity to learn abroad. Berry’s commitment to academically enriching students' four-year plans through international experiences drew him in, culminating in an immersive trip to Paris.
“Being surrounded by the language allowed me to use it and converse with native speakers every time I stepped out the door,” he says. “Living in Paris and traveling around Europe gave me the cultural knowledge and real-life experiences that I need to share with my students.”
Lucas combined Berry’s rigorous education program with a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, completing over 500 hours of classroom experience and teaching in Berry’s English as a Second Language program.
“These opportunities allowed me to put instructional strategies I learned in class into practice,” he explains. “They also allowed me to try new things, learn about my students and practice creating a class with activities that best suit the students’ needs and interests.”
Mentors like TEFL Director Eliana Hirano and Nichols Professor of French Vincent Gregoire played a key role in his success.
“They were so supportive in my efforts to study abroad and never ceased to provide information, support or help when I needed it,” he says. “I have learned the most about being an effective language teacher from them.”
Lucas and Hirano collaborated on research that examined perceptions of accented speakers of English. She praises his dedication and discipline: "I have been following Lucas’ time at Berry from the moment he stepped foot on campus. He was in my BCC 100 class and, since then, he has taken numerous classes with me, including one in Costa Rica. I was also his college supervisor for his year-long student teaching, and we have been working together on a research project for over a year, which we presented at the GATESOL Conference. Our next step in the research project is for him to write up a manuscript which I hope will get published in a peer-reviewed journal. Mentoring Lucas in these four years has been a very joyful and rewarding experience. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him."
Lucas emphasizes the college’s dedication to a well-rounded undergraduate experience: “Berry has helped me grow as a person, professional and educator.”
