Michaël Casajus

Teaching languages since September 2006 in France, then in Quebec, back in France, and now in Alberta, I had the honour to join CUE in January 2019.

My teaching philosophy is based on the idea that everything is about how one approaches it. For instance, the word “grammar” does not sound nice to many. Joining my class should change your mind. Languages start making sense and links quickly appear when one lowers their guard and get interested in grammar. I make sure to render it cool, even appealing sometimes.

I also enjoy sharing culture (through food, songs, politics, traditions, perspectives, etc.) and I love working on translation with my students, encouraging them to strive to find accurate words or appropriate cultural insights.

Education

• MA (TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), Université de Sherbrooke (Quebec), 2016
• BA (Language, literature, and civilisation of the UK and the USA, with a minor in teaching French), Université de Pau et des Pays de l’Adour (France), 2008
• Anglia certificate of Business English, Chichester college (England), 2006

Interests

Besides teaching languages,

• I practise partner dance since 1993 and I teach it since 2000.
• I play the drum kit and the bass, ranging from Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder and Jamiroquai to Oasis, Deep Purple and Nightwish (it is my secret anti-stress therapy).
• Fond of rock and jazz music and history, I created and hosted a weekly show, called “Voulez-vous danser?” on Radio-Cité, the Edmonton francophone community radio (2018-2019).

When not producing pedagogical material, taking care of my treasured daughter, dancing, or playing music (in that order), I may be reading a dictionary, a grammar book, or an umpteenth book about geopolitics or religion.