Dec. 23, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Professor Hillery Haney used to struggle in French language classes as a student. But her love for the culture and language prevailed and now she teaches students of all levels of the subject.
Haney’s interest in the French language and culture began at a young age.
“Growing up my friend’s mother was from Quebec, and she would teach us colors, numbers, and the alphabet. I loved it,” Haney said.
She began to take French classes in high school and stayed in France with a family for a summer. At the time she felt incredibly homesick, and understood nothing.
Haney kept up with her French studies when she was studying at St. Mary’s College. She studied as hard as she could and was able to spend another year in France living with a family.
“If it weren’t for my time in France I wouldn’t have mastered the language. It was so hard to learn,” she said.
Haney didn’t initially intend to be a teacher, but decided to attend Aquinas College and enroll in a certified secondary teacher program. She taught in the Grand Rapids Public Schools for eight years, and moved to Rabat, Morocco, where she taught French to first through 12th grade students.
After two years in Morocco, Haney spent some time in Nashville, Tenn. before finally returning to Grand Rapids. Bernie Manker, a colleague and friend, encouraged Haney to pursue a career at GRCC. Haney was hired into the School of Language and Thought and has now been teaching for more than 20 years.
Together Manker and Haney have grown the program from three to seven French classes and are constantly growing and improving the curriculum. Haney teaches all levels of French, and enjoys teaching a wide range of students from different backgrounds, ages, countries, nationalities and ethnicities.
“You can’t start out knowing everything or what fun would the journey be?” she said. “Teaching does not get boring because there is always something new that challenges you, like a pandemic for example”.
Haney accredits the successes of the Language and Thought programs to her collegues. The faculty and staff look for ways to help students but also each other. GRCC is a real community that cares for everyone.
More information about the School of Language and Thought can be found here.