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GIRARD -- French is among the five languages of love.
For Ron Saffell of Liberty, his fondness for it coincides with sharing his enjoyment of the foreign speech with others. It also led him to meet his life partner.
"I took a few French classes in college and then after retiring (from teaching high school) I developed a huge interest in the French language and culture, so I started studying it intensely," he said, then added, "I'm continuously learning by reading and internet searches."
Saffell admitted that his initial introduction occurred while taking part in his other major interest, watching films. "I noticed that people in the movies often were very interesting, and French seemed to be a universal language. If somebody was going to be speaking a language it seemed to be French very often."
He noted that he would see such speech in James Bond movies and numerous films that took place in Europe.
"Even if it wasn't entirely in French, there'd be enough of it there that I thought, 'I better learn something here,'" he said.
Rather than developing a deeper understanding in college, Saffell received BA and MA degrees from Youngstown State University in English and linguistics after graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School.
He then taught English, Latin and theatrics for 35 years at Howland High School, coached the boys and girls tennis teams and was the drama club director for numerous productions.
After retirement, Saffell ran the French program at Liberty's E.J. Blott Lead and Learn Academy and was a long-term French substitute at Poland High School, taught French classes at YSU Metro College and the Poland Library, and gave private lessons.
"My teaching style is pretty much the same regardless of age group. I keep it down to the basics, like if you go into a restaurant, to say, 'Good evening. Do you have this? I would like to order,' because I'm not going to teach them how to discuss politics. Forget that, but food and friendship, asking how each person is. Keeping it really basic and fun."
Over the past decade, he's taught a small group that originated at St. Rose Catholic Church in Girard. "I started advertising in the church bulletin and put up flyers around town and in local newspapers."
Using a combination of board work and interactive assignments, Saffell makes the learning experience easy to absorb for the adult students, which includes some who have not been in a classroom for decades.
It aligns with his continued enjoyment of teaching.
"Seeing people grow and learn the language, it's a fun thing. It's a personal thing, and they don't have to worry about getting an 'F' for the day or anything," Saffell said.
Margaret Floyd of Youngstown has been taking French lessons with Saffell for more than 15 years, including weekly classes at Girard Free Library.
"He keeps things interesting by using games like Password in French," she said, "and gives homework assignments that encourage us to engage in conversations in different scenarios. You can tell he enjoys teaching and sharing his love of French."
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down social gatherings, he and his students maintained a connection through social-distant classes at David Tod Memorial Park in Girard, followed by Zoom meetings.
"Teaching online during the pandemic was new for me and kept the class going," Saffell said.
Those sessions proved beneficial when Saffell and his wife, Michele, traveled to Florida to stay with one of their two daughters for two months. "It helped to transition to online learning during my trip."
Back in town, he returned to his preferred method of teaching -- in person.
Saffell's attraction to the language took a life-changing turn when he took a Pan Am flight to France as part of a European tour.
"I met my wife on the airplane on the way to France. She was going to go on to Portugal, Germany and different places like that, but we started talking on the plane," he said.
Writing letters to each other when both returned to the United States led to meeting her family in Brooklyn and his in the Mahoning Valley. The couple have visited French-speaking Quebec, Canada, as well as France and cities such as Paris, Nice and the World War II American Cemetery and Memorial in Normandy on Veterans Day.
He recalled seeing all the white crosses and the event to honor the fallen soldiers.
"It was heartbreaking when you see what our people went through," he said.
Asked if he spoke the native tongue on those trips Saffell stated, "I tried out what I could use, like ordering a croissant and breakfast and lunch. Kept it really earthy."
As far as interacting with French citizens, who have a reputation for unfriendliness, he said, "They were nice and, sometimes, they switched to English. They were happy that I made the effort."
Besides being his passion, Saffell said he feels that knowing another language is important for traveling, jobs, enjoyment and keeping your mind sharp.
"I've used French by sharing my knowledge with others and teaching my grandchildren, starting at an early age," Saffell said.