Jean-Jacques Kayembe

Photo of Instructor Jean-Jacques Kayembe - Continuing Education at Seattle

Hailing from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jean-Jacques Kayembe brings a wealth of experience in teaching French to various levels and ages. Before joining Seattle Central College, he taught French at multiple institutions, including private classes and community education programs. 

In addition to his teaching role, Jean-Jacques is a physician and the Director of the Interpreter Services Department at Harborview Medical Center. He has been a French interpreter, translator, and proofreader for decades.

Jean-Jacques is fluent in French, Lingala, Tshiluba, and English, and deeply understands each language's cultural nuances and linguistic intricacies. His multilingual background allows him to connect with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

During his free time, Jean-Jacques enjoys reading, playing basketball, practicing martial arts, and spending time with his family and friends. He is also passionate about music and often incorporates songs into his teaching to create an engaging and dynamic learning environment.

Teaching Style & Approach

Jean-Jacques is committed to fostering a love of learning in his students. His teaching style is engaging, interactive, and student-centered. He believes that the best way to learn a language is through real-life context and meaningful interactions. His classes often include lectures, visual aids, discussions, group activities, pair work, videos, handouts, and songs.

Jean-Jacques aims to create a welcoming, fun, and comfortable atmosphere in his classes. He encourages his students to be themselves and actively participate in learning. "I want my students to feel at home and confident in expressing themselves," he says.

These are the resources Jean-Jacques recommends to students:

Classes