La Causerie Française

06/17/2026

New teacher - Nolan Oehrke

Spanish 1 (Thursday), Spanish 1 & Spanish 3 (Friday)

Nolan brings a deep passion for Spanish language education and an impressive academic background to our school. He holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Spanish Language and Literature from San Diego State University, graduating with high honors. During his time at SDSU, he taught multiple sections of beginning and intermediate Spanish, earning recognition as an Outstanding First-Year Teaching Associate from the Department of Spanish & Portuguese.

Beyond the classroom, Nolan has put his bilingual skills to work in a variety of professional settings - from supporting Spanish-speaking customers across the United States and Latin America at Garmin International, to developing and delivering Spanish-language programming and training at BikeWalkKC in Kansas City, where he serves as Director of Education and manages one of the largest Safe Routes To School Programs in the country. He is not only fluent in Spanish but genuinely enthusiastic about helping others reach proficiency in the language, due to his experience as a non-native Spanish learner himself. For fun, he loves
cooking, traveling, hiking, and cycling.

Nolan is known for his dedication, warmth, and ability to connect with students at all levels. He always knew he wanted to work in education, as his teachers were always his biggest inspiration and he loves to share his knowledge with others. We know he will be a wonderful addition to our community, and we look forward to the energy and expertise he will bring to our adult learners. Please join us in welcoming him!

You can learn more about all of our teachers on our Instructor Bios page.

06/17/2026

New teacher - Siacka Drame

French 1 & French 2 (Thursday)

I am originally from Senegal, West Africa and am a passionate and dedicated French teacher with more than 15 years of experience in education. I am thrilled to be teaching French at La Causerie. I hold a Master's degree in French and Francophone Literature from Kansas State University with a focus on the plight of women in male dominated society. I hold another Master's degree from Université Cheikh Diop Dakar - Senegal.

Before coming to the United States, I spent several years teaching French language to a
diverse range of people from students to workers. In 2009, as a graduate teaching assistant in the department of modern languages at Kansas State University, I started teaching French in the US at college level. I have taught French in various schools in the U.S. such as Kansas State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, Washburn University, Alliance Française and La Causerie.

Outside the classroom, I am an interpreter and translator. I enjoy reading, writing, cooking,
watching movies and soccer is my favorite sport. I look forward to a great semester!

You can learn more about all of our teachers on our Instructor Bios page.

05/12/2026

New Spanish Course

We’re excited to announce that we’ve also added a second advanced Spanish conversation course, Spanish 6. We now have two 1.5-hour conversation courses available for those students who have completed the grammar sequence. See the Spanish 5 and Spanish 6 Course Descriptions on our website.

https://www.lacauserie.org/course-information/course-descriptions .mjg77ybwl0hg

05/12/2026

Spanish Curriculum Change

Spanish students, take note: We have updated the Spanish curriculum for 2026-2027 to clarify what is taught at each level and to ensure a more logical progression of topics. As part of this, we will use a new book with clearer explanations and better organization. See the new course descriptions and book information in our Spanish Course Descriptions:

Registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open!

05/07/2026

¡Visítanos pronto!: Kansas City Public Library Offers Many Resources in Spanish

https://kclibrary.org/news/2026-04/%C2%A1vis%C3%ADtanos-pronto-kansas-city-public-library-offers-many-resources-spanish

05/06/2026

SUMMER LANGUAGE CONVERSATION OPPORTUNITY

World Language Meetup - Johnson County Library
----------------------------------------------

Hello!

We have a program series coming up at Johnson County Library that you may find of interest!

Join us and discover new connections through conversation. These informal meetups bring together people who share an interest in speaking and practicing a language — whether you’re brushing up on skills, maintaining fluency or simply looking for others to talk with. Each month we will focus on a different language. Come to one or all three! Registration preferred.

June 22 – Italian
July 27– French
August 24 – Spanish

Please feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested in an opportunity to practice chatting with some new acquaintances in Italian, French or Spanish.

We look forward to seeing you at the Library!

Best,

Mary Shortino
she/her/hers
Program Specialist, Central Resource Library
9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, KS 66212

Explore upcoming events at Johnson County Library.

05/05/2026

What is Cinco de Mayo all about? Hint: It's not Mexican Independence Day! Check out this 2 minute video to find out!

Ever wonder why May 5th is celebrated in the U.S. and Mexico? Get the full story. 't miss a video! Subscribe NOW: https://www.youtube.c...

05/01/2026

Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo celebrations are being held this weekend in KC. Guadalupe Center is celebrating the 100th anniversary of their Cinco de Maya Fiesta. Check out all the fun, authentic food, activities, music, vendors, etc. they have planned!

Kansas City Metro area and beyond—mark your calendars for the 100th anniversary of our iconic Cinco de Mayo Fiesta! Join us on the historic Westside, where it all began in 1926, for an unforgettable celebration on the evening of May 1 and all day on May 2.Whether you’re a longtime attendee or a ...

04/27/2026

REGISTRATION BEGINS MAY 1

Attention all students! Our discounted early registration begins May 1. Keep in mind these important dates:

May 1 - May 26
Early bird registration ($420 for 1.5-hour classes, $285 for 1-hour classes)

May 27 - Aug 14
Regular registration ($440 for 1.5-hour classes, $300 for 1-hour classes)

Aug 15 - Sept 30
Late registration ($460 for 1.5-hour classes, $315 for 1-hour classes)

Sept 30
Last day to register
Last day to drop for a partial refund

The 2026-2027 class schedule is currently available on our website under https://www.lacauserie.org/register.

03/11/2026

Midweek Italian Feasts! St. Joseph Table Tradition

Annual Feast of St. Joseph Celebrations in the Northeast area of KC (March 19th)

Each year, the Feast of St. Joseph is celebrated on March 19. In addition to a special Mass, the event includes the blessing and viewing of a table dedicated to St. Joseph, laden with foods in thanks to prayers. Centuries ago, Sicilian Italians were plagued with famine and drought and prayed to St. Joseph (patron saint of the worker) for rain, with a promise to produce a feast if their prayers were answered. The annual celebration came to America as immigrants settled into their new home but continued the traditions of their homeland.

Dorri PartainManaging Editor The American Sons of Columbus and American Daughters of Columbus (2615 Independence Blvd.) combined forces to host their Second Annual Feast of St. Joseph table on Saturday, Feb. 28 and March 1. While many Catholic parishes celebrate this Feast Day on March 19, this cult...