Born and raised in Lebanon, Andrée Khangi grew up speaking Arabic in her family’s home and eventually mastered two more languages at school, French and English.
Shortly after marrying, Andrée joined her husband, George, already in Buffalo, and moved to America, leaving Lebanon’s hot, dry Mediterranean-type climate and landing in Buffalo in January 1999.
Andrée’s first U.S. job in a bank was short-lived because the following year, she and George expanded their young family, first having a son followed by two daughters.
Itching to get back into the workforce, Andrée started teaching language classes in the basement of her home. Soon, she broadened her reach and connected with the International Institute of Buffalo, instructing our Arabic language classes.
Eventually, she attended school, earning her Montessori teaching certification, allowing her to teach French at East Aurora Montessori and Nardin Montessori schools. She also holds a degree in linguistics with a minor in psychology.
In 2015, Andrée returned to the Institute as a French and Arabic interpreter, quickly discovering her passion for the fields of interpreting and translation, throwing herself full force into providing language access for the local immigrant communities in Buffalo.
Learn more about the great work that our linguists do to help make Western New York a better place for, and because of, immigrants and refugees.