Julie Arnold
French Teacher


How long have you been a part of the SUA community?
I've been teaching at SUA since the 2004-2005 school year.

What is your position at/affiliation to SUA?
I teach French at SUA. I'm not an alum, but my mother-in-law, Joan Arnold, is.

What are you most proud of being affiliated with SUA?
I love being part of the SUA community. The students are so full of energy and spirit, and they love learning French. I feel like I'm doing something rewarding, passing on my passion for the language. Long after students graduate, they get in touch with me to tell me what they're doing, especially travel-related. It's fun to be part of a long-standing academic program that inspires students and broadens their horizons.

What SUA core value is most important to you and why?
All of the core values are meaningful to me, but if I had to choose, "Care of the Individual" tops my list. I want each of my students to know I care about her as a person. She's not just a number, she's not just a grade, she's someone who's important to me. I am fortunate to have my students multiple semesters, as I teach all levels of French. By French 4 and AP, we all feel like family.

How she has impacted her students...
"I have been in Madame Arnold’s class for four years, which doesn’t normally happen at SUA. We have different teachers for the same subjects, so having the same teacher multiple times is a bit uncommon. Madame has such a genuine care for her students, and she shows it every day through her actions and words. She is a very encouraging and supportive teacher, and she understands if you are dealing with things outside of school. She is the best person to go to if you need help because she will make a conscious effort to give meaningful advice and support. She always makes her classes fun and incorporates different elements of learning to maximize her students’ opportunity to engage in a new language. I wouldn’t want to have taken French with anyone else!!" 

– Lily K. ’21