Mr. Taufik Ahmad serves as a Subject Expert Teacher in French at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, where he is passionate about helping students build confidence in their ability to communicate in multiple languages and develop an appreciation for global cultures. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in French Studies from Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia, and his Master of Arts in French and Francophone Studies from California State University, Long Beach, where he focused on 17th-century French literature, with additional studies in 18th-century French literature and Intercomprehension Among Romance Languages. He also received a certification in Translation Studies and was honored with the Outstanding Student and Outstanding Teaching Associate awards from the Romance, German, Russian Languages and Literatures Department at California State University, Long Beach.​​​​‌‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍​‍​‍​​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‍​‍​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‍‍​‍​‍‌‍​‍‌‍​‌‌​‌‍‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‌‍‌​‌‍‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍​‍‍‌‍‌​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍​‌‍‌‌​​‍‍‌‍​‌‍‌‍‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​​‍‌‍‌​​‌‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌​‍‌‌​​​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‍‌​‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌‌‌​‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌​​‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​‍‌‌​‍‌‍‍‌​‌‌‌‍‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‍‌​​​‍‌‌‌‍‌‍​‌‌​​‌‍‌‌‌​‍‌‍‌‌‌‍‌​‌‍‍‌‌‌​​‍​‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍​‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌‍​‌‌‌​‌‍‍​​‌‌‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍​‍‌‌

Mr. Ahmad chose BASIS Independent Schools for its commitment to helping students reach their full potential through a challenging and supportive learning environment. He is inspired by the school’s emphasis on developing globally minded citizens, which aligns with his passion for language learning and cultural education. Prior to joining BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, Mr. Ahmad taught French at Bandung Independent School in Indonesia and served as a Teaching Associate at California State University, Long Beach.

His teaching philosophy centers on creating an immersive and engaging environment where students can develop confidence in communicating in French. He believes students learn languages best when they actively use them through meaningful interactions, while building on the linguistic knowledge they already have. In his classroom, Mr. Ahmad incorporates task-based learning, authentic cultural materials, interactive activities, and collaborative opportunities that encourage students to take risks and communicate from the very beginning.

One of his favorite classroom activities is the “Summer Trip to Paris” project, where students plan an imagined vacation in Paris using French. Through creating itineraries, navigating maps, and exploring cultural experiences, students practice vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills in an authentic context while discovering how French can be applied in real-world situations.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Ahmad enjoys exploring the outdoors, hiking, road biking, traveling, and reading. A fun fact: while working as a tour guide in Indonesia, he led hikes to an active volcano where he and his group watched the sunset from the summit before witnessing glowing magma and phosphorescent volcanic gases rising from the crater.