Dear Students and Parents, 

       I would like to introduce myself. My name is Patrick Wayman. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois (of French, Polish, and Scandinavian origins) but have spent a good part of my life in Florida--in Tarpon Springs, Orlando, Tallahassee, and St. Pete.  I grew up around Greek and Chinese-speaking friends, and Polish, French, and Czech-speaking family (grandma taught me French). And due to to also growing up around lots of Spanish speakers and taking Spanish for 6 years throughout middle and high school, I acquired a good amount of proficiency in Spanish by the time I graduated from high school. Languages have always fascinated me, from an early age—and I love, love, love to learn languages and travel and see new places, and to infuse these experiences into my teaching.

 

      I completed my BA in French and Spanish with a concentration in multilingual / multicultural education at Florida State University--throughout which time I was grateful to have had the opportunity to continue , formally, my studies of French, at both the Centre Linguistique de Jonquère in Québec, Canada and at the Institut Catholique de Paris in France. At present, I am married (my wife is in education al well), I have an eight-year-old daughter--and  I have been teaching French (all levels, including honors and AP) and Spanish (levels 1-3 including honors) in a local high school for twenty-two  years. I also sponsor my school's chapter of the French National Honor Society (18 years); and I lead Explorica educational student tours to foreign locals every other year (10 trips to over 10 countries in the past 22 years).. 

I have traveled successfully throughout most of Western and central Europe (England, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Greece) on both personal and educational pursuits, and with groups of students from my school. In my personal travels and with family, I have been to most states in the US, and well as Puerto Rico, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. Recent trips include: in the  summer of 2019, I lead a tour to Spain and France (Madrid, Segovia, Barcelona, Paris, and Normandy). Summer of  2022 (moved forward from 2021 due to Covid), we traveled to  Paris, Provence (south France), Barcelona, Andalusia (south Spain), and Gibraltar (British territory in the southern Iberian Peninsula). This past summer of 2024, I took a group to Canada (Montreal, Quebec, Ottawa, Toronto, and Niagara Falls). The next tour (2026) will be back to Europe (countries / itinerary: TBA). So stay tuned!

Please contact me (at waymantravel@gmail.com) if you are interested in learning more about student travel. And please check out my Instagram page--for language, culture, and travel-related memes, and to see pics from my recent travels with students. Search "waymantravel" on Instagram. 

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Apart from travel and teaching, I enjoy time with family, reading, cooking, hiking, boating, fishing, playing the guitar, and learning new things. Students, I look forward to getting to know you--and I am excited to have you in class this year. Let's make it a memorable one!

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Sincerely. 

                 -Mr. Wayman