Merci, Madame Rosen

Growing up in a household of teachers, our family naturally became close with other educators, and one such friendship was with Mr. Roger and Mrs. Karen Rosen. The Rosens joined us for dinner many times throughout my childhood and adolescence, and the story of how they met was, to a young teen, the most romantic tale imaginable: they met while participating in a summer abroad program in Paris and married a few years later. Both taught French at local private Catholic schools for boys and girls in Cincinnati, and my parents encouraged all of us to study French when we reached high school.

It was in Madame Rosen’s French classroom, over the course of four years, that I was first introduced to Paris—through her slideshows, her stories of the city’s history and culture, and projects that carried me to every corner of France. My very first assignment was to write a letter as though I had visited the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées. For the first time in my life, Paris felt attainable, not just a dream. I began saving my babysitting money with the hope that one day I might join Madame and Monsieur Rosen on one of their incredible trips to Europe.

My French 4 class, 1988-1989

Throughout my four years of French, Madame Rosen opened up the world of language learning through readings, dictées, cassette-tape listening exercises, and journaling. The idea that someone could truly communicate in another language amazed me, and I longed to be as fluent as she was. Each year was filled with memorable experiences—crêpe-making, a school-wide bake-off, and even a parent night during which we prepared an entire meal, played Bingo, and performed a play in French. Within those four walls, I proudly began to identify as a Francophile.

Madame & Monsieur Rosen and my French 4 class, performing at one of the French family nights

Madame Rosen was also musically gifted and generously shared those talents by supporting our first school musical, The Sound of Music, in the spring of 1987. Her son, Luke, played one of the Von Trapp children alongside me. I was deeply impressed by her ability to balance motherhood, contribute her musical talents, and still greet me each morning with her full presence in the classroom.

After my first plane trip with the Rosens in 1988—traveling through England, Scotland, and France—I was completely hooked. I knew I wanted to study abroad in college and applied for a scholarship similar to the one the Rosens had received in their youth. My year abroad proved to be the most transformative period of my life. Upon returning to the United States, I completed my degree, adding French to my art major along with the coursework required to teach French K–12. To my great surprise, my first teaching position placed me in the very same classroom where I had once been a student—now as the teacher. (Madame Rosen had stepped away from teaching at that time.) I was fortunate to have such an inspiring mentor and to receive continued guidance and encouragement from both Rosens as I began my career.

Paris, summer of 1988

In 1995, with their help and support, I led my first student trip to Europe. It was a success, and I eagerly began planning the next one. Since that first experience, I have led more than 20 groups abroad, and each journey brings me back to what it felt like first to discover the world through travel—thanks to the Rosens.

Last night, I learned from the Rosen’s son that Madame Rosen had passed away. I knew immediately that I needed to write something in her memory and to honor the enduring legacy she leaves behind. To all the teachers and parents who open the world to others and show them that the Place de la Concorde is not just a slide on a screen but a living Parisian monument—thank you.

Merci beaucoup, Monsieur et Madame Rosen. Je suis profondément reconnaissante pour tous.

Beth