Adult
Children and Youth
Level
Session
Location
Minis
Pace

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A1 - Beginner

French for Travelers

Minis
Planning a trip to a French-speaking country but concerned about navigating the language barrier? Join our four "French for Travelers" mini lessons and master essential skills like hotel check-ins, using the metro, purchasing tickets, reserving tours, ordering food, and taking the train. This course is designed for beginners with basic French knowledge and will be predominantly taught in French, with English as needed. Prerequisite is having completed level 101 or possessing an equivalent level online.
Pace: Regular

French Made Easy: Listen and Speak Naturally

Minis
This lively and engaging French class uses the Comprehensible Input approach to language acquisition to help beginning French students soak up the language like a sponge, as they become more comfortable understanding commonly used French vocabulary in the context of daily conversations and stories. Perfect for students who would like to jumpstart their immersion learning before beginning their first class, as well as those already studying at the A1 level who would like extra support with their comprehension skills alongside their core courses, this class will use strategies derived from second language acquisition research to make French accessible to all learners. The focus will be first and foremost on picking up essential vocabulary through oral comprehension activities with lots of visual aids, and then putting the learning into practice through guided interaction involving writing, reading, and speaking. Be prepared to put away the textbooks and grammar worksheets for this course, and come ready to move, laugh, use your imagination, and build your confidence in a supportive community of learners. (This class will not require any homework, but ample resources will be provided for those who wish to continue the learning at home.) No prerequisites: Great for pure beginners.
Pace: Regular

Grammar Workshop A1

Minis
This four-week workshop offers a dynamic review of essential French verbs and tenses through a combination of structured drills and guided conversation. Each week, students will reinforce and recycle key vocabulary commonly introduced in the A1 level, helping build both accuracy and confidence in real-life communication. The focus of this session is the present tense, beginning with regular verbs and progressing to commonly used irregular verbs, allowing learners to deepen their understanding while actively using the language in context. No prerequisites.
Pace: Regular

Intro to French Communication

Minis
Join us for a Beginning French Conversation class designed for learners eager to develop their speaking skills in a supportive environment. In this course, students will explore a selection of everyday themes tailored to the group's level. Topics may include introductions, family discussions, sports, leisure activities, daily routines, grocery shopping, weather preferences, seasonal clothing, and pets. Participants will engage in interactive activities, group discussions, and role-playing, allowing them to build confidence and fluency in everyday French conversation. Prerequisites: basic French, 102 level or equivalent
Pace: Regular
A1/A2

The Essentials of A2 Grammar

Minis

Strengthen your French by focusing on essential verb forms and structures used in everyday communication. 
Through interactive activities and practical exercises, you’ll build confidence expressing ideas, making comparisons, and talking about possibilities in real-life situations. 
Prerequisite: 106 or equivalent.


Pace: Regular
A2 - Lower Intermediate

Conversation Starters

Minis
Build confidence and fluency in everyday French conversations with this interactive A2-level course. Through small group sessions and engaging activities, you'll practice essential conversation skills for real-life situations including personal introductions, daily routines, shopping, making plans, and expressing opinions. By the end of the course, you'll feel confident initiating and maintaining simple conversations in French while having fun in a supportive, encouraging environment. Come ready to speak, laugh, and discover the joy of communicating in French! Prerequisite 106 or equivalent.
Pace: Regular
B1 - Intermediate

French Gastronomy: A Journey Through Escoffier's Legacy and Regional Delights B1+

Minis
Discover the French culinary art through our special class that highlights France's gastronomic heritage. Immerse yourself in the world of French cuisine by exploring the foundations laid by the famous chef Auguste Escoffier, a true pioneer of modern gastronomy. Delve into the fundamental principles of French cuisine and its influence worldwide. Additionally, we will embark on a journey to explore the main French regions and their distinctive gastronomy. From the Southwest with its delightful terroir delicacies, to the renowned refined cuisine of the Lyon region, and the maritime flavors of Brittany and Normandy, each region offers a unique palette of flavors to explore. Prerequisite: 206 or equivalent.
Pace: Regular
B1/B2

Sounding French

Minis
Welcome to the French Phonetics course!  
This course will be interactive and hands-on, featuring numerous activities and exercises to reinforce your French phonetics skills. You'll be guided by experienced, native, instructor who will help you advance your pronunciation and listening comprehension in French. You'll practice auditory discrimination; you'll explore sound changes based on word position within a sentence and their phonetic environment (transformation); you'll be introduced to accurately identifying French sounds and verifying your pronunciation (identification and verification); you'll develop observation skills by analyzing the phonetic features of native French speakers (observation); you'll dive into the intricacies of the French "H," studying cases where it's silent and aspirated; and you'll explore sound linkages in French and liaisons that occur between words in a sentence. Prerequisite: 206 or equivalent.
Pace: Regular

The 8 Essential Grammar Points in French B1/B2

Minis
This B1/B2 grammar course offers a focused review of eight essential French grammar points that are commonly used in both spoken and written French. Designed for intermediate to upper-intermediate learners, the course helps students strengthen their foundations, improve accuracy, and gain confidence in real-life communication. Throughout the course, students will work on past tenses, the future, the conditional, the present subjunctive, object pronouns, expressing hypotheses, indirect speech, and the passive voice. Each topic is presented in a clear and structured way, with practical explanations, concrete examples, and guided practice. The emphasis is on meaningful use of grammar, allowing learners to better understand, speak, and write French in everyday as well as more formal contexts. Prerequisite 206 or equivalent.
Pace: Regular

Understanding Modern France: Key Moments of the 20th Century

Minis
This course offers an overview of the major periods of French history in the 20th century, from 1900 to 1999. Designed for learners interested in understanding France’s historical, political, and social evolution, the class explores key moments that shaped modern France. Topics include the Belle Époque and the First World War, the interwar years and the Second World War, the Fourth Republic and decolonization, the rise of the Fifth Republic under Charles de Gaulle, the period of modernization and crisis in the 1970s and 1980s, and France at the end of the century within the context of European integration. Prerequisites 301 or equivalent.
Pace: Regular
B2/C1

Hidden Treasures of France

Minis
Discover France beyond the popular destinations! Join us on a virtual journey to explore charming villages, secret gardens, forgotten castles, and local traditions that most visitors never see. From ancient stone bridges to bustling weekly markets, uncover the authentic France through engaging stories, stunning visuals, and cultural insights. Perfect for intermediate learners ready to expand their vocabulary while falling in love with France's best-kept secrets. Come explore the France that locals call home! Prerequisite: 306 or equivalent.
Pace: Regular

Order This Course

$155.00 USD

Code: 26P Mini French Made Easy A1 IN PERSON
Perfect for students who would like to jumpstart their immersion learning before beginning their first class, as well as those already studying at the A1 level who would like extra support with their comprehension skills alongside their core courses.

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PARKING

Street parking on SW 20th St. facing the Kamm House is limited. Free parking is available in Lot A at SW 18th and SW Columbia. Please obtain a parking pass from the office. After 6 pm weekdays, students may park in the Willamette Dental lot at SW 20th and SW Jefferson as available.

OFFICE HOURS

The Alliance office is open 10am-3pm Monday through Friday.
Call us at 503.223.8388 during business hours or leave a message.
Email us at  info@afportland.org.

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