Cultural Speakers Series

Every year, we sponsor speakers with experience in French- and Spanish-speaking countries (and beyond!) to inspire language students in Oregon and Washington with fun, engaging stories of life abroad. Our presenters are either native speakers or have experience living and traveling abroad. They are excited to share their stories and insights with your students! Past topics have included Arab Youth Culture in France, Growing up in Costa Rica, Teen life in Spain, A French Exchange Student's perspective of the Northwest, and more.

Megan discovered her passion for Spanish when studying and volunteering in the Peruvian Andes. Her love for global travel and interacting with people from many cultures inspired her to earn a BA in International Development from Portland State University. Megan has lived in seven homestays throughout Latin America, East Africa, and Southeast Asia. Her favorite travel memories include camping on Costa Rican beaches, backpacking through the Himalayas, and dancing anywhere possible.

Arthur is a dynamic Frenchman hailing from Vaux-le-Penil, a castle-lined area just outside Paris. He grew up traveling all around Europe by bike with his family! He, and both of his younger sisters, have stayed with host families in the Pacific Northwest on ANDEO programs. In France, Arthur has had experiences ranging from the military to spending the summer as a camp counselor and lifeguard. He is passionate about history and enjoys sports such as skiing, swimming, and American football. He is looking forward to engaging students in the French language and bringing his culture to life.

Teppei was born and raised in Kagoshima Prefecture and lived in the Tokyo area for ten years before coming to Portland. He has traveled to the UK, the US, France, Spain, China, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. After his first homestay experience in Portland in 2015 with ANDEO, he came back to Portland as a Teaching Associate Program student, studying and teaching Japanese at Portland State University. He is currently working on his Master's degree in Japanese language and literature. His future goal is to introduce and share Japanese culture and its aesthetics through poetry, and teach the Japanese language.