Nancy Scarselletta – Founder and Director
A native of Colonie, NY, Nancy Scarselletta is a New York State certified teacher specializing in French, with a passion for sharing her love of languages and helping students achieve confidence in communication. For over 30 years, she has taught in public and private school systems, as well as in her own language institute, working with learners from preschool to adulthood.
Nancy’s academic foundation includes a year of study abroad in Paris in an intensive immersion program blending art, history, culture, literature, linguistics, grammar, and phonetics. During her Master’s in French Studies, she trained with innovative leaders in French language education, planting the seeds for the unique methodology she uses today. She has also completed two BMC (Business Mastery Course) programs as part of her continuing education, and she consistently expands her knowledge of both language and technology to deliver engaging, effective instruction.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in a methodology she developed by combining her academic training with her own experience in becoming bilingual. This approach works with the brain’s natural language center, emphasizing real-life speaking and listening skills while reinforcing learning through reading and writing. Nancy’s method is designed to remove barriers, reduce fear, and make language learning enjoyable for all ages and goals—from fulfilling a school requirement to traveling abroad or improving workplace communication.
Nancy currently partners with Fultz Immigration in Canada to prepare clients for the TEF exam and help them develop the French skills needed for living and working in French-speaking regions of Canada. Separately, she offers English for Effective Communication, a program designed for anyone seeking to become a stronger communicator in English, whether for everyday life, professional interactions, or personal growth. This program also includes organization and study skills, preparing students for a more successful learning experience in school. It helps learners improve clarity, effectiveness, and confidence in communication within a supportive, results-focused environment.
Over the years, Nancy has received three notable grants: a scholarship to study the use of computers in foreign language instruction; a travel-study scholarship from the New York State Education Department and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy; and a grant to develop her innovative curriculum, The Use of the Bayeux Tapestry to Teach Language, Culture, and History.
Outside the classroom, Nancy is a competitive ballroom dancer and an advocate for natural health through nutrition, supplementation, and exercise. She brings this creativity and passion for well-being into her teaching, believing that learning another language is a key part of a healthy, connected, and fulfilling life.
As Founder and Director of The Language Learning Institute, Nancy not only teaches but also trains her staff in her original methodology, ensuring that all students benefit from the same high standard of instruction. Her own professional preparation and continuing education reflect a lifelong dedication to excellence in teaching and language learning.
Education & Credentials
Advanced & Continuing Education
- Two Business Master Classes (BMCs) with Darren Hardy
- Teaching Foreign Language Through the Use of Technology – Middlebury College
- Two summers of study in Spanish – AIP Language Institute, Valencia, Spain
- Greater Capital Region Teacher Center: Computer Courses
- Model Schools Program: Computer Course
Graduate Education
- Middlebury College – Middlebury, Vermont
- Master of Arts in French
- Center for Educational Technology: Scholarship to study the use of computers in foreign language instruction
- Université de Paris – Paris, France – Mission Interuniversitaire de Coordination des Échanges Franco-Américaines
- Six-week travel-study scholarship from the NYS Education Department and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy
- Concentration: Study of current events, educational and interactive excursions
Undergraduate Education
- Siena College – Loudonville, New York
- Bachelor of Arts in French and Secondary Education
- Academic Honors: Cum Laude
- Honor Societies: Alpha Mu Gamma, Delta Epsilon Sigma
- College of Saint Rose – Albany, New York
- Concentration: Education courses leading to certification in Nursery–6th grade, Effective Teaching
International Study
- Hamilton College – Junior Year in France
- Academic year in Biarritz and Paris, preceded by a six-week orientation in Biarritz
- Studies: Art Appreciation, Literature, Grammar, Culture
- La Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris, France
- Institut de Linguistique et Phonétique: Studies in Linguistics and Phonetics
