Mini Classes


Mini classes are a perfect opportunity to keep studying French without a long commitment. Each class targets a specific area or theme. Mini classes are offered in a series of 4 weeks, 1h 30 hours per session. 


Registration for fall mini classes is now open. REGISTRATION CLOSES 24H BEFORE CLASS BEGINS. Last minute registrations are possible, but please  contact the office at info@afportland.org.

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Fall Mini Classes: October-November 2024


Classes For Beginning And Lower Intermediate Levels

A1-level students can take Beginning Classes, while A2-level students can join Lower Intermediate Classes. The mixed-level class A1/A2 is designed for students finishing A1 or starting A2. Find prerequisites, read full class description, and register by clicking "Read More" in the class descriptions.

A1

Conversational French for Beginners: Everyday Topics

This class offers a supportive environment for learners at the 103 level or equivalent to enhance their speaking skills through interactive activities and discussions on everyday topics like family, sports, and daily routines.

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A1

Rise and Shine: Mornings in French

A lively morning class that combines humorous discussions about quirky daily routines with creative activities, allowing students to enhance their French skills while enjoying a fun start to the day.

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A1

French Sounds & Spelling Basics

Master the relationship between French sounds and their written forms through practical exercises that enhance your pronunciation, spelling, and understanding of phonetic rules.

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A1/A2

The Essentials of Grammar

This course helps students improve their French language skills through observation and reflection on grammar in everyday communicative situations, catering to those looking to enhance their abilities or planning to move to a French-speaking country.

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A2

Conversational French for Lower Intermediate Learners

Enhance your speaking skills in this class through discussions on everyday topics like social media, travel experiences, and nutrition, fostering confidence and fluency in contemporary French dialogue.

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A2

French for Travelers: Essential Skills for Your Trip to France

Prepare for your trip to France with essential skills to navigate confidently, including finding your way in cities, using public transportation, ordering in restaurants, making purchases, and engaging in basic conversations, all while exploring French culture through geography and gastronomy.

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A2

Grands musées de France

This class is for cultural enthusiasts and history buffs alike, focusing on the history and inner workings of renowned French museums, including major institutions as well as lesser-known ones; full information can be found in the class description.

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Classes For Intermediate Level

These classes are for B1-level students, A2 graduates, or current 300-level learners. Find prerequisites, read full class description, and register by clicking "Read More" in the class descriptions.

B1

Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary French

This course explores how language in French society reflects and shapes views on gender and sexuality, with a focus on inclusive language and its influence on identity.

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B1

Conversational French for Intermediate Learners

Enhance your speaking skills by discussing contemporary issues like technology, immigration, cultural diversity, eco-friendly transportation, and gender equality, while building fluency through dynamic conversations and interactive activities.

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B1

I Want to Speak to the Manager

Explore cultural perspectives on protests and complaints in France, practice language skills for filing complaints, and gain insights into the historical and sociological roots of strikes. Join us for a thought-provoking experience that combines language learning with insights into French culture and society! 

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Mixed Level Classes For Intermediate, High Inter-mediate and Advanced Levels

Mixed-level cultural classes are for students between levels, like upper intermediate and advanced. Classes are designated B1/B2 or B1 through C1, with specific prerequisites for each. Find prerequisites, read full class description, and register by clicking "Read More" in the class descriptions.

B1/B2

French Legends and Folklore: Exploring Myths, Creatures, and Magical Tales

Immerse yourself in French regional culture and history through myths, legends, and fantastical tales, expanding your vocabulary and improving your French through discussions and presentations

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B1 through C1 

Discover Swiss Culture

Discover Switzerland's captivating history, rich traditions, delicious cuisine, and unique politics while enhancing your French language skills in this engaging course, with an option for oral presentations.

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B1 through C1 

LE CINEMA D’AUTEUR : 4 CINEASTES, 4 UNIVERS

Explore the works of prominent filmmakers in French cinema as continuations of their aesthetic choices, focusing on recurring themes, characters, and historical contexts across a series of films by celebrated « auteurs ». Read detailed information about the class, the movies, and links to where you can find the films in this document.

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Advanced Level Classes

Advanced classes are available for B2, C1, and mixed B2/C1 levels, each with specific prerequisites. Find prerequisites, read full class description, and register by clicking "Read More" in the class descriptions.

B2

YouTube French: Exploring Language through Video

Discover YouTube content while enhancing your listening comprehension and spoken French through discussions of themes, styles, and messages in this interactive class.

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C1 

Conversational French for Advanced Learners

Engage in thought-provoking discussions on significant societal issues in this advanced French conversation class, covering topics like individual freedoms, climate change, and social inequalities while refining your language skills through lively debates.

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B2/C1 

Lunch Break Discussions: Work Culture in France

Explore work culture in France through modern media, analyzing and discussing newspaper articles and various content to understand the values and challenges of the French professional world while enhancing your French language skills.

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B2/C1

Lunch Break Discussions: La Cancel Culture

Examine Cancel Culture through the lens of art and celebrity, exploring figures like Gérard Depardieu, Roman Polanski, and others, and debating whether we can or should separate the artist from their work, while reflecting on ethics and societal changes.

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B2/C1

Lunch Break Discussions: Le Crime Presque Parfait - True Crime

Dive into the world of true crime as we examine notorious criminals and iconic cases, from Landru to Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès, including vintage cases and the latest scandals making headlines today.

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B2/C1 

Histoire de France : le 20ème siècle

This advanced course examines pivotal 20th-century events, including the complexities of World War II, the revolutionary spirit of May 1968, and the evolution of the European Union, highlighting France's role in shaping its historical trajectory and contemporary relevance.

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B2/C1

Grands personnages politiques

Explore the lives and legacies of influential French political figures like Charles de Gaulle, Simone Veil, Robert Badinter, Gisèle Halimi, and Christine Lagarde, examining their lasting impacts on society through advancements in human rights and the reshaping of legal and economic systems.

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B2/C1

Grands personnages historiques

Discover the lives and contributions of historical figures who have shaped France and the world, including iconic writers Victor Hugo and Honoré de Balzac, groundbreaking scientists Marie Curie and Louis Pasteur, legendary fashion designers Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent, freedom fighters like Jean Moulin and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, and renowned chefs Auguste Escoffier and Paul Bocuse.

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Adult
Children and Youth
Level
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Pace

Unsure of your level?  Click here to take a free placement test.

B1 - Intermediate

LE CINEMA D’AUTEUR : 4 CINEASTES, 4 UNIVERS Pt 2

Minis
Explore the rich legacy of French cinema through the lens of Poetic Realism, a movement known for its unique blend of realism and poetic sensibility. Influencing the emergence of Film Noir, Poetic Realism's themes of moral complexity, atmospheric cinematography, and nuanced character portrayals paved the way for the dark, suspenseful worlds of classic noir films. Directors of this movement employed innovative techniques such as long takes, deep-focus cinematography, and chiaroscuro lighting to enhance the emotional depth of their stories. In this course, we will study three masterpieces of the genre: L'Atalante (Jean Vigo, 1934), La Grande Illusion (Jean Renoir, 1937), and Les Enfants du Paradis (Marcel Carné, 1945). Read more about the class and movies here: POETIC REALISM INTRO-3FILMS
Pace: Regular
B1/B2

LE CINEMA D’AUTEUR : 4 CINEASTES, 4 UNIVERS Pt 2

Minis
Explore the rich legacy of French cinema through the lens of Poetic Realism, a movement known for its unique blend of realism and poetic sensibility. Influencing the emergence of Film Noir, Poetic Realism's themes of moral complexity, atmospheric cinematography, and nuanced character portrayals paved the way for the dark, suspenseful worlds of classic noir films. Directors of this movement employed innovative techniques such as long takes, deep-focus cinematography, and chiaroscuro lighting to enhance the emotional depth of their stories. In this course, we will study three masterpieces of the genre: L'Atalante (Jean Vigo, 1934), La Grande Illusion (Jean Renoir, 1937), and Les Enfants du Paradis (Marcel Carné, 1945). Read more about the class and movies here: POETIC REALISM INTRO-3FILMS
Pace: Regular
B2 - Lower Advanced

LE CINEMA D’AUTEUR : 4 CINEASTES, 4 UNIVERS Pt 2

Minis
Explore the rich legacy of French cinema through the lens of Poetic Realism, a movement known for its unique blend of realism and poetic sensibility. Influencing the emergence of Film Noir, Poetic Realism's themes of moral complexity, atmospheric cinematography, and nuanced character portrayals paved the way for the dark, suspenseful worlds of classic noir films. Directors of this movement employed innovative techniques such as long takes, deep-focus cinematography, and chiaroscuro lighting to enhance the emotional depth of their stories. In this course, we will study three masterpieces of the genre: L'Atalante (Jean Vigo, 1934), La Grande Illusion (Jean Renoir, 1937), and Les Enfants du Paradis (Marcel Carné, 1945). Read more about the class and movies here: POETIC REALISM INTRO-3FILMS
Pace: Regular
B2/C1

LE CINEMA D’AUTEUR : 4 CINEASTES, 4 UNIVERS Pt 2

Minis
Explore the rich legacy of French cinema through the lens of Poetic Realism, a movement known for its unique blend of realism and poetic sensibility. Influencing the emergence of Film Noir, Poetic Realism's themes of moral complexity, atmospheric cinematography, and nuanced character portrayals paved the way for the dark, suspenseful worlds of classic noir films. Directors of this movement employed innovative techniques such as long takes, deep-focus cinematography, and chiaroscuro lighting to enhance the emotional depth of their stories. In this course, we will study three masterpieces of the genre: L'Atalante (Jean Vigo, 1934), La Grande Illusion (Jean Renoir, 1937), and Les Enfants du Paradis (Marcel Carné, 1945). Read more about the class and movies here: POETIC REALISM INTRO-3FILMS
Pace: Regular
C1 - Advanced

LE CINEMA D’AUTEUR : 4 CINEASTES, 4 UNIVERS Pt 2

Minis
Explore the rich legacy of French cinema through the lens of Poetic Realism, a movement known for its unique blend of realism and poetic sensibility. Influencing the emergence of Film Noir, Poetic Realism's themes of moral complexity, atmospheric cinematography, and nuanced character portrayals paved the way for the dark, suspenseful worlds of classic noir films. Directors of this movement employed innovative techniques such as long takes, deep-focus cinematography, and chiaroscuro lighting to enhance the emotional depth of their stories. In this course, we will study three masterpieces of the genre: L'Atalante (Jean Vigo, 1934), La Grande Illusion (Jean Renoir, 1937), and Les Enfants du Paradis (Marcel Carné, 1945). Read more about the class and movies here: POETIC REALISM INTRO-3FILMS
Pace: Regular



 

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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