Christina Selander Bouzouina, 30, Minneapolis
Title: Operations manager, Alliance Française Mpls.-St. Paul

What do you do? I take care of the operations of the Alliance Française, which entails many different aspects: the website, our e-mail newsletter, the building. I also take care of marketing for events and the organization of coming events and programs that we offer.

How did you get involved with the Alliance Française? I lived in France until September of 2007, and [with] my husband, who is French, we decided to move back to Minnesota [where I grew up and went to the University]. I wanted to work for a nonprofit, and I found an offer to work at the Alliance. For eight years I taught English and managed a school in the south of France [Marseille], so now it's just kind of the inverse. I still speak French every day with my co-workers. ... Someone in my position really has to speak both languages and understand both languages at a high level. It really was a perfect fit, and the timing was ideal.

Are there any misconceptions about French language or culture in America? Americans love the French, but they think that the French don't like Americans, and I don't think that's true. The French may not like certain American politics, but they do like the American people.

Best part of your job? Organizing cultural events and exchanges. On Saturday we had an open mike, a Senegalese guitarist-musician came and he said, "Oh, it's so good to be able to speak French and to sing my songs and have people understand me and understand what I'm saying."

Last week, a Parisian woman walked in and I said, "Bonjour," and she said, "Bonjour! Oh, it's so good to speak French again," and she's been here a year and a half, but she's a stay-at-home mom and doesn't have the opportunities to speak her own language.

Best business advice? Keeping your budget in mind, shoot for the stars. Plan an event that's really going to exceed everyone's expectations. I guess you really have to be creative, especially working with a nonprofit.

What is your advice about learning a language? To be patient with yourself. You have to be courageous, you can't be afraid you're going to make mistakes. A lot of people don't want to make mistakes, they don't want to feel silly and conjugate the verb wrong, so they just won't say anything. The best way you learn, unfortunately, is to make mistakes and get corrected.

HILARY BRUECK