Martine Tandree

I am deeply committed to promoting and passing on the French language in South Africa. I believe it is essential to move beyond the clichés often associated with French culture: it is part of a much broader reality, particularly across the 56 French-speaking countries, many of which are located in Africa—on our own continent—and are experiencing rapid development.

After eight years at Crawford International La Lucia, I am now voluntarily retired. However, I remain involved in the school’s French cultural activities and have mentored my successor.

As a teacher of French as a foreign language (holding a university diploma in FLE), I also taught visual arts for five years. I have lived in South Africa since 1995 and have been married to a South African for 25 years.

Since 2018, I have served as treasurer of the KwaZulu-Natal Association of French Teachers. I also founded the My French Speech Festival, which brings schools together for poetry exchanges.

Today, I am embarking on a project that is particularly close to my heart: the development of the FLAM program. Starting next week, I will begin by working with my granddaughter through the CNED’s preschool program. My goal is to expand this initiative to offer the French and Francophile community accessible and unifying cultural activities.

Education remains at the heart of my approach, and my long-term goal is to integrate this project into a research study on the transmission of French among second- and third-generation children living abroad.

My journey began thanks to the Alliance Française, to which I am deeply grateful, and which played a pivotal role in my commitment.

Finally, on a personal note, I practice capoeira and am very devoted to my family life. I have two children and five grandchildren, and we are a truly cosmopolitan family.