In a university setting, diversity is key. At NIU, programs like the foreign exchange program allow students to broaden their view of the world without physically leaving the country.

French instructor Perrine Delcour-Trinta contributes such diversity to the faculty. Delcour-Trinta came to the United States in January 2000 with the University of Avignon with hope of learning the language and culture of the United States.

“I was in love with the U.S. for a very long time,” Delcour-Trinta said. “The transition was very hard despite the fact I had already visited Denver and San Francisco. It’s one thing to come visit for a couple of weeks without having any real responsibilities, but it’s another to live, study, teach and socialize. You always need a couple of months to fully adjust.”

The international exposure is one noticed by students, including Erica Goldberg, a French business and translation major.

“I think that being with people from different parts of the world helps you view things differently, making you consider things you would have never considered before,” Goldberg said. “The international faculty members serve as a way of representing their country.”

Nationality will be a part of one’s overall persona. Delcour-Trinta strives to embed an aspect of understanding while teaching on foreign terrain. Her French educational background influences her teaching style.

“The [French] university system was designed not only to provide you with sufficient knowledge but also to prepare you for the real world,” Delcour-Trinta said.

Sophomore accountancy major Mayra Molina remembers her instructor as fun and a unique asset to NIU.

“She was a really open-minded teacher,” Molina said. “She was always funny, always joked around with the students. One of the things I liked about her the most was she knew how to explain the grammar, the most difficult thing of [the class] French 201. Whenever I see her, I could just smile.”

Delcour-Trinta understands the difficulty in learning a foreign language. In her own discovery of the English language, she helps her students to not feel embarrassed about making their own mistakes in the classroom.

“Learning a foreign language is not easy. You pretty much go back to the age of 1 when you were hearing words for the first time and were trying to understand what they meant,” Delcour-Trinta said. “Now that you’re older, you have to go through that whole process again, which is twice as frustrating since you already know how to express yourself in a different language.”

Delcour-Trinta also acknowledges the difference in nationalism.

Americans are extremely nationalistic. In the United States, the amount of red, white and blue banners outside houses has increased tremendously.

“It’s frowned upon in France to root exclusively for your own country,” Delcour-Trinta said. “You’re quickly associated with the nationalist party of Jean-Marie Le Pen, famous for its extremist and xenophobic ideas.”

In being so far from home, Delcour-Trinta was quick to tell of what she missed the most.

“I wish a French baker had the idea to come to the States and start a school. That way, we could have fresh French pastries every morning for breakfast like I used to in France,” Delcour-Trinta said. “I must admit I fell in love with doughnuts. They’re delicious.”