Siham Bouamer may be a long way from home, but she has no problem calling Saint Louis University and St. Louis her new home. Originally from Franche-Comté, France, the master’s student and teaching assistant said that she loves sharing her passion for the French language with her students.

Growing up in France with Arabic-speaking, Moroccan parents, she enjoyed the benefits of being part of two cultures and speaking two languages.

Although she said that she sometimes struggled because of her “messy” mix of cultural backgrounds, she feels strong ties to both France and Morocco.

While she lived in France, she frequently visited her grandparents in Beni-Mellal, Morocco, as a child.

Already having a command of French and Arabic, she tackled English and even spent a year in Lock Haven, Penn., to improve her third language.

Her original plan was to teach English in France, but her love of teaching French and learning English led her to SLU.

When she first arrived in 2006 she took charge of the French House. She recalls enjoying the experience of living with students and helping them immerse themselves in the language.

Bouamer said that she enjoys bringing her diverse background to her upper-level French classes.

She said that she likes these because they are geared toward students who are really interested in learning the language beyond the general requirements of the University.

“I like being able to show my students that French is not only France,” she said, referring to the fact that many Moroccans also speak French.

Bouamer is taking her familiarity with the French languages’ international dimensions and applying it to her research as a graduate student. Her specialty is linguistics, and she is currently investigating the influence of French in North African countries and the use of Arabic among North African immigrants in France. Bouamer is also using her linguistic skills and experience in learning languages to study the ways students acquire foreign languages.

Bouamer says that she didn’t really have much trouble adjusting to her new home in St. Louis.

“I have a really good sense of adapting,” she said.

She appreciated SLU for its celebration of diversity and international awareness.

“I came here and I was happy to see these different clubs and all of the activities that SLU had,” she said. “I love the way that SLU embraces diversity. That’s not something you always see in France.”

Bouamer isn’t just about academics, however.

“I’m still young,” she said. “I still like to go out!”

She often goes dancing to Latin and Arabic music, especially in the international atmosphere of Bar Italia in the Central West End.

She also uses her youth as a base for teaching her class.

Her message to students: “Take my class. . You’ll learn, and you’ll have fun.”