Staff Profile
Rachel Payia Yang
Tchr - French
School:
651/744-3118
Bonjour! I am Rachel Payia Yang (she/elle), Madame Payia for the students. I teach French 1 and French Immersion Social Studies at Hidden River Middle School. I have been teaching there since 2020.
Originally, I studied economics, French law, and business. However, after volunteering and working with students and my own children in French public schools, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in teaching. I am passionate about the diverse Francophone communities and cultures around the world, as well as Asian exophonic writers who express themselves in Francophone literature (e.g., Akira Mizubayashi, Kim Thúy, Eun-ja Kang, Aki Shimazaki, etc.), Francophone postcolonial studies, and resistance in History (e.g., World War II, the Algerian War, women in patriarchal societies, etc.).
I am from France and spent most of my early childhood in Normandy and later in the Pays de la Loire. I lived most of my life in France near the coast, so I tend to miss the ocean, restaurants by the sea, French open markets, and the walks on the beach! It is an entire life that I left behind, that includes my mom, siblings, nephews and niece, friends, and relatives. However, I still get the opportunity to fly there and see them all! My husband and I have two children and four cats. While our son lives with us, our daughter studies neuroscience out-of-state, and visits once in a while.
Outside of Hidden River, I enjoy oil painting, playing the guitar, going to the gym, Kundalini yoga, and micro building blocks.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I am looking forward to working with you to have a successful year at Hidden River! Merci!
Email: rachel.payia-yang@spps.org Phone: 651-744-3118 (call/text).
Qualifications:
M.Ed., UMN Twin Cities.
M.A. in French with a concentration in Francophone postcolonial studies and cinema, UMN Twin Cities.
B.A. in French, minor in Asian American studies, UMN Twin Cities.
K-12 French license.
5-8 Social Studies license.
Syllabi:
French 1A
French 1B
F.I. MN Studies
F.I. Global Studies