Princess Marie, Tom Cruise, and Mads Mikkelsen have received it. And now Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska has also been awarded the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, which is presented to cultural figures who have made a special contribution to France.

The French Ministry of Culture has granted Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska the knighthood in recognition of her long-standing and dedicated work to promote the French language and culture internationally, for her exceptional contribution to language policy, for advancing social cohesion through language, and for strengthening educational and cultural ties between France and Denmark.

The order was presented by the French ambassador to Denmark, Christophe Parisot, at a ceremony at the French Embassy in Copenhagen.

“I am enormously proud. It is wonderful to receive this recognition,” says Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska, who elaborates:

“I am neither an actor, an artist, nor a musician. I am a teacher, a researcher, and a language enthusiast. This honour reminds me that culture is also created quietly — in classrooms, in international projects, and in political reflections on the future of languages.”

Received the Palmes Académiques

Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska holds an MA in French and Italian and a PhD in foreign-language didactics with particular focus on intercultural competences, technology-mediated language learning, and French as a foreign language. She has taught French and Italian at primary school, upper-secondary, and university levels, both nationally and internationally. She is a development consultant at the School of Communication and Culture, Aarhus University, and at the National Centre for Foreign Languages, as well as project leader for the European Centre for Modern Languages (ECML) in Denmark.

Last year, Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska received the Palmes Académiques, a French order awarded to individuals who have contributed to French education and culture. At that time, the nomination came from her long-standing collaborators at the French Institute in Denmark. This year, the nomination came directly from the French Ministry of Culture.

“To be honest, at first I thought the email was an invitation to a ceremony for previous recipients of the Palmes Académiques. But then I had to read it again,” says Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska about her surprise at receiving the new honour.

A love of French that began in school

Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska was born and raised in North Macedonia. At her school, students did not choose which language they would learn. One class learned English; her class learned French. Her French teacher would later prove to be a decisive influence on her further education and career.

“My French teacher was something special, completely different from the other teachers. She had a huge influence on my growing love for the language. Later, I met a guidance counsellor who said: Everyone will know English, but if you study French, you will be unique,” says Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska.

Her mother was a preschool teacher, her father an engineer, and neither of them spoke French. She therefore felt compelled to study especially hard. As a result, she received a scholarship from the French government to pursue a master’s degree in French in Strasbourg.

Afterwards, she was employed at the French Institute in Macedonia, where she worked for several years with teaching and translation, among other activities.

Language is valuable

Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska came to Denmark as the accompanying spouse seventeen years ago, and for the past thirteen years she has worked at Aarhus University.

“My work has always been characterised by a strong connection to France and a constant desire to strengthen the cultural and educational ties with France. Through the exchange of good practices, joint projects, and linguistic analyses, I have had the opportunity to contribute to meaningful and developmental initiatives,” she explains.

But with the French medal now in hand, she faces a crossroads. The National Centre for Foreign Languages, which has been central to her work, has no funding beyond the new year and is therefore set to close.

“The order reminds me why I do what I do: to connect worlds, disciplines, languages, and people. To ensure that linguistic and cultural diversity is not seen as an obstacle but as a form of wealth — and to ensure that younger generations are supported in their development with tools, languages, and bridges between cultures. That gives me extra energy to continue, even if the situation is not easy. I have many ideas for how we can continue our work here at Aarhus University,” says Ana Kanareva-Dimitrovska.