Learning French at AF of Portland

  • Bienvenue to the Alliance Française, where we welcome more than 1,700 students to our classes each year and over 9,000 visitors to our cultural events.
  • 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.

    French Events Portland

    Summer Open House & Special Guest

    Genay

    The Alliance will host its Summer Term Open House (Portes Ouvertes) on Thursday, June 13, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Kamm House (1425 SW 20th Avenue). More…

    Thursday, June 13, 2013 6:00 PM

    Paris Mystery with Barbara Corrado Pope

    CarradoPope

    Longtime Alliance member Barbara Corrado Pope will read from her newly released novel, The Missing Italian Girl: A Mystery in Paris, on Friday, June 7, at 6 p.m. at the Alliance Française’s Kamm House. More…

    Friday, June 7, 2013 6:00 PM

    Style and Taste in Early 20th Century France 

    ASID

    Jim Caughman, a senior executive of Kohler Company, will be the featured speaker on Tuesday, May 21 at the Heathman Hotel, at an event coordinated by ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). More…

    Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:30 PM

    Fête de la Musique Coming in June 

    fetedelamusique

    La Fête de la Musique originated in France in the 1980s and has since expanded to 500 cities in over 100 countries. The slogan Faites de la musique (make music) is  a homophone of Fête de la Musique. More…

    Friday, June 21, 2013 6:00 PM


    > > > All Upcoming Events...

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