French Classes Portland Spring 2013
The Alliance's 10-week spring term runs April 1 through June 8, 2013. The following term (the summer term) will run June 24 to August 31. The program includes classes for adults and a separate program for children. Private lessons are also available. Take our online placement test to assess your level or call our office at 503.223.8388 to discuss your needs. Note that we refer to the international standard CECR to describe levels: A1-A2 Basic/Beginner, B1-B2 Intermediate/Independent, C1-C2 Proficient/Advanced. Spring term classes are currently in session - please call the office for availabilities. Summer Term will run from June 24 - August 31.
True Beginner Classes
Classes at this level are primarily for students who are taking French for the very first time or who perhaps took a short class many years ago. Content covers greetings, introductions, nationalities and numbers, expressing preferences, tu vs. vous forms of address, and more.
Low Beginner Classes
Immediately following the True Beginner Classes, this series of Latitudes 102 to 105 classes (CECR A1-A2) develops the student's comprehension and speaking skills to include making requests, conjugating verbs, expressing quantities, speaking of the immediate past and future, and more.
Intermediate Classes
Classes in this range of Latitudes 201 to 205 (CECR A2-B1) progressively solidify the student's abilities as an independent speaker expressing opinions, intentions, preferences, events in all tenses, use of the subjunctive, and more.
Quoi de neuf?
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High Intermediate & Advanced Classes
This level includes classes Latitudes 301 to 304 (CECR B1-C1) for high intermediate students as well as themed literature classes and discussion classes using the Edito and Alter Ego textbooks to achieve and maintain operational efficiency and mastery of the language.
Classes for Children
Classes for Children include Parent & Child Classes for Ages 2-4 for Anglophone or French families; Smart Steps to French for Ages 5-12 for Anglophone children; and Keep Up Your French for Ages 5-13 for children who wish to maintain their French.
Not sure about what class is the best for you?
Visit our Assessing Your Level page and feel free to call us from 9AM to 6PM for free advice and to determine your level.
French Resources in Portland
Key Resources:
The Alliance is pleased to highlight local resources that are of interest to students, travelers and the Francophone/Francophile communities. Click the bold titles below for more info.
Traveling in France is where we list our recommendations for travel in Paris and in the provinces. (Photo courtesy of YourOwnFrenchHome.com.)
Conversation groups, some hosted by Alliance teachers and board members, meet in multiple locations around Portland.
The Cercle Français offers lunchtime lectures in French at a church in downtown Portland.
French Consular and Professional Services are often useful to those seeking visa/passport information, a translation service or other French-speaking professionals.
The French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, based in Seattle, promotes trade and partners with the Alliance to produce events such as the spring gala and the Beaujolais Nouveau festival.
Portland Accueil is a group of Francophones who organize activities for French-speaking newcomers to our area.
“Les Amis” Program Offers Discounts
Good news for Alliance members and prospective members: the Les Amis de l’Alliance program includes a list of 15 restaurants, retailers and service providers who generously offer 10% discounts to card-carrying Alliance members. (Click here for a printable list.) Questions about the discount privileges or program? Email lindaw@afportland.org.