Dr Florence Boulard ~ Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning

Florence is originally from New Caledonia but came to Australia to pursue her tertiary studies. In 2006, she graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in French and English as a second language. A year later she completed her Bachelor of Education while tutoring French for the School of Languages and Comparative Studies in UQ and undertaking translations for the Southbank Modern Art gallery in Brisbane.  In 2008, she moved to Townsville where she worked as a French high school teacher and language coordinator, and as a casual teacher for James Cook University. Her passion for teaching and learning led her to complete her Master in Education in 2011 at JCU for which she wrote a thesis on international-mindedness. At this stage Florence also began teaching Foundation French for the University of New England. The same year, she received a highly commended from the QLD College of Teachers placing her in the top ten early career teachers in the state. After four years studying for her thesis, teaching high-school students full-time and tutoring at university after hours, Florence was offered a position as Modern Languages Coordinator and French lecturer for James Cook University. 

Florence has been a lecturer at James Cook University since 2012. She is overseeing the languages program which includes, French, Italian, Japanese and German. She is also the Director of the Academy of Modern Languages which runs from both JCU Cairns and Townsville campus. In sharing her passion for languages and culture, Florence works in partnership with a range of schools in Queensland and in the Pacific. Her community engagement work is led by her desire to build stronger internationally-minded communities.

Eager to continue improving her practice as an educator and develop herself as a researcher, she completed her PhD in Education in November 2017. Her thesis is entitled Making Australia's East Side Neighbours Visible.  Through her research, she aspires to develop a Pacific literate nation to help transform the imagery of the Pacific and better connect with all people in our region. 

Community Engagement

1. Young Language Ambassador

Program started in 2014. Received HEPPP B Competitive grant $31,747. Received Funding from Department of Education and Training QLD total since 2016 $50,000. 

Video: Annual YLA Conference

2. Academy of Modern Languages Junior

This program offers short language courses at JCU Cairns and Townsville campus during school holidays. Program started in 2015. Supported by the Department of Education since 2016. Received total funding of over $55,000 to distribute to students. Partnership agreement signed for an additional 120 scholarships until July 2019. 

Video: AML Junior Program

3. Young Explorers of the Tropics

This program is an extension of the YLA program and is combined with the JCU French Immersion program. Received funding from the Department of Education International QLD. Total funding received $43,000. 

Video: Young Explorers in Vanuatu and New Caledonia

Teaching

• BA1001: Time, Truth and the Human Condition (Level 1; TSV)
• FR1001: Foundation French 1 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• FR1201: Intermediate French 1 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• FR1202: Intermediate French 2 (Level 1; CNS & TSV)
• FR2201: Intermediate French 1 (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
• FR2202: Intermediate French 2 (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
• FR2622: Immersion French 1 (Level 2; CNS & TSV)
• FR3311: Advanced French 1a - Reading and Writing (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• FR3312: Advanced French 1b - Listening and Speaking (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• FR3411: Advanced French 3a - Reading and Writing (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• FR3412: Advanced French 3b - Listening and Speaking (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• FR3622: Immersion French 2 (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• FR3700: French Study-abroad Program 1 (Level 3; CNS & TSV)
• FR3701: French Study-abroad Program 2 (Level 3; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Research

• Florence's research focuses on Education, Curriculum, French Language, Pacific Studies and Pacific Politics.

Research Disciplines

• Language Studies (2003)
• Curriculum and Pedagogy (1302)
• Cultural Studies (2002)

Socio-Economic Objectives

• Curriculum (9303)
• Communication (9502)
• Heritage (9503)

Awards

• 2017 - Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, JCU VC award.
• 2016 - Modern Language Teacher's Association Queensland Award for Excellence in Language Teaching. Queensland, Australia.
• 2015 - Selected JCU Finalist for National OTL Citation Awards for Teaching and Learning, Australia.
• 2015 - Award of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, JCU.
• 2011 - Highly Commended for Excellence in Beginning to Teach, Queensland College of Teachers.

Memberships

• 2008 to 2018 - Alliance Francaise Member
• 2012 to 2017 - MLTAQ member

Other

• 2017 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for New Caledonia $33,000
• 2016 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for Vanuatu $33,000
• 2015 - Competitive Funding New Colombo Plan Study Overseas for Vanuatu $27,500
• 2014 - Competitive Funding Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program(STMP) for New Caledonia $21,500
• 2013 - Competitive Funding Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program(STMP) for New Caledonia $16,500

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• Boulard F (2016) A North and Far North Queensland initiative: rethinking the 'why' when promoting languages education. Babel, 50 (2/3). pp. 1-15
• Boulard F (2015) Australia's education futures and the east-side neighbours. Etropic: electronic journal of studies in the tropics, 14 (1). pp. 57-63

Book Chapters

• Boulard F (in press) Transformative curriculum in the French language classroom. In: Stimulating Languages and Learning: global perspectives and community engagement. Deep University Press, Blue Mounds, WI, USA

Conference Papers

• Taylor P and Boulard F (2014) Being a language educator in North Queensland: engaging initiatives to assist in the development of teacher quality. Proceedings of the Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference. In: ATEA 2014: Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference, 6-9 July 2014, Sydney, NSW, Australia
• Boulard F (2013) International-mindedness: the implications for pre-service teachers. Proceedings of the Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference. In: ATEA 2013: Australian Teacher Education Association Annual Conference, 30 June-3 July 2013, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Other research outputs

• Boulard F (2018) French classes in Australia need to acknowledge our Pacific neighbours too. The Conversation, 15 August 2018.
• Boulard F (2017) She is from the East. Etropic: electronic journal of studies in the tropics, 16 (2). p. 10
• Boulard F (2014) Educating for change: international-mindedness towards Australia's east-side neighbours. Posters from the Australian International Education Conference. In: AIEC 2014: Australian International Education conference, 7-10 October 2014, Brisbane, QLD, Australia