French music plays softly and chatter fills the room, as students work and practice their accents. Rachelle McCoy, the newest French teacher, wears a smile as she helps her students.

McCoy teaches with energy and passion that motivates her students.

“She’s fun, upbeat and she moves around so there’s really no time for us to chill and be bored,” freshman Aubrie Whitcomb said.

Her students like how she teaches them more than just the French language.

“We learn about the French culture and I like how we learn something new every day,” freshman Alina Berardo said.

McCoy believes teaching foreign languages and cultures is important for students.

“Learning French opens a door to other cultures,” McCoy said. “When you learn to understand another person’s language, you are better able to understand how they think and feel.”

Her love for other cultures and languages comes from her time studying abroad.

“After graduating from high school, I was really nervous to study abroad, but it ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” McCoy said.

The experiences she had while abroad also influenced her views of the world.

“I think it’s really cool to have an opportunity to completely change your perspective,” McCoy said. “You don’t get that easily unless you’re completely removed from everything you know and are put in another place that’s completely foreign to you.”

Getting out of her comfort zone helped McCoy discover her passion.

“You try something, and then it becomes something you like and you get more experiences related to it and then it sort of becomes everything,” McCoy said.

She has enjoyed spending time getting to know her new students and fellow staff members.

“I am very impressed with this school, and I love getting to know everyone,” McCoy said. “I feel very lucky and thankful to be here.”

Having been new to Bowie not so long ago, Rachel Preston, the French II and III teacher, has advice for McCoy.

“Have fun getting to know [your] students and the people around,” Preston said.

McCoy uses her passion for the French language to teach her students.

“I love that the focus of French class is communication, which allows me to learn more about my students,” McCoy said.