Abby Devaney '21 was desperate to see the Eiffel Tower in person, but she was just 13 years old and an ocean away. She decided to play the long game. Devaney knew that her high school offered language trips (including a school expedition to Paris), and she figured that could very well be her ticket to the Eiffel Tower. Of course, that meant she would have to start studying French. So, in the 7th grade, Devaney signed up for her first French class. The precocious middle schooler would eventually get what she wanted in her junior year of high school. She also, unwittingly, took her first steps toward a career she never expected.  

Devaney originally enrolled as a history education major, but decided it wasn't the right fit. She wanted to stick with education, but needed a new focus. Once again, French class was the answer. Devaney switched to French education, and last year she studied abroad and returned to the Eiffel Tower. Well, she started abroad. The pandemic forced students to abandon their program early, but Devaney wasn't finished with the French experience. It wasn't the first time she went searching for a creative way to get there...

Each year, TAPIF recruits 4,500 young educators from 60 countries to teach 15 different languages to students in France. One-third of the cohort typically comes from the United States. Devaney applied to the esteemed program and listed Grenoble has her preferred location. She got accepted with her first choice. 

"After having spent my junior year in Rennes studying abroad and doing an internship teaching English, TAPIF seemed like a perfect fit for a post-grad opportunity. I knew I wanted to take some time off before going to grad school, so I'm excited to be able to go back to France and get some experience teaching before getting my master's. I'm also really looking forward to seeing my host family again since I had to leave them so quickly once the pandemic started." 

Grenoble - the "Capital of the Alps" - is situated at the foot of the French Alps. Devaney, a hiking enthusiast, will be sure to pack her boots for weekend exploring. During the week, she'll be providing English language assistance in an elementary school. She'll also get a chance to reconnect with her host family from a year ago, but this time discover the country while living on her own. 

Once Devaney completes the program, she'll likely pursue graduate school and then a career in French education. And then, she'll look for her next ticket to France. School language trips need French teachers to chaperone...