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Quoi de neuf / Infolettre
Opportunity to Teach in France
The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) offers the opportunity to work in France for 7 months, teaching English to French public-school stuchalkboard-teacher.jpgdents of all ages. Candidates must be between 20 and 35 years old and have an intermediate level of French. Participants serve as assistant teachers for 12 hours per week, for a salary of roughly $830/month. Health insurance is provided; housing must be paid independently. The next program dates are for the period of October 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. Applications must be completed by January 15, 2016. Click here for details on the program. The Alliance can assist in assessing the French proficiency qualifications of candidates. 
French Night at the Blazers - Tix Available
For the past several years the Alliance Française has partnered with the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team on an annual French-themed event. Tickets are now available for the 8th Annual French Night, which will be on Friday, January 29 at the Moda Center. Nic Batum will be making his return to Portland with the Charlotte Hornets. The experience includes early access to the arena before the general public is allowed in, which means you can watch the players during pre-game warmups and catch their informal interactions with their coaches, teammates and opposing players. The experience may also include a post-game chat with Batum. Buy tickets by January 4 using the promo code FRENCH - click here for details and purchase online. (Photo by Georges Biard via Wikimedia Commons.)   
Testing Your French through Fairy Tales
Challenge your listening comprehension by watching a short animated film called "Tout Conte Fait." The title is a play on words on the expression "tout compte fait" meaning "all things considered" (click here for the Wordreference.com info on the expression). The 5-minute short film was produced under the auspices of the École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques (ESMA), a school for graphic design, architecture, photography and animation. The story is a twist on familiar fairy tales, complete with "la bonne fée" (fairy godmother), a princess who wants to find a prince, doting parents and more. Click here to view the clip online.  
Solidarity Journal Travels to Paris
During the Beaujolais Nouveau festival last month, a solidarity journal was available for guests to sign. KGW covered the journal in a televised interview with Linda Witt. Last Tuesday, Jack Cowan (FACC Executive Director and Honorary Consul of the state of Washington) delivered the journal to Isabelle Morieux of the Alliance Française Foundation in Paris. Morieux followed up: "Je vous remercie pour votre aimable visite d'hier, la remise de ce livre contenant tous les témoignages de sympathie qui m'ont beaucoup touchée - et qui ont touché toute l'équipe également."
Event Reminders & Updates
   Fête de Noël: Don't forget that you can catch some festive holiday French music at the Dec. 22 Fête de Noël featuring LA-based artist/producer Scott Fisher  (photo here at the left). Click here for more info; free.   
  Compagnie Hervé Koubi performance of "Ce que le jour doit à la nuit" at the end of January features a 20% discount for readers of this bulletin. Click here for details on this White Bird event. Koubi is pictured here at the right.
  Opéra de Paris Ballet: Mission Theater on NW Glisan in Portland will show a film of ballet performances from the Opéra National de Paris on Jan. 8 and 17, 2016. The production features the work of Benjamin Millepied, perhaps most widely known for his role in the movie Black Swan in which he starred and choreographed. Millepied became the Director of Dance at the Paris Opera Ballet in 2014. Click here for the film trailer and here for tickets. Use the password, "Alliance," for a $1 discount.   
DATES & QUICK LINKS
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All Events

Enrolling now for group classes beginning January 11. Private lessons also available.   

   

  Conversation

Groups

Some are hosted by Alliance staff or volunteers. Drop-ins welcome; membership is encouraged but not required.

NW, N, or Central   

St Honoré on NW Thurman on

Wed., 6pm, Jan. 6 and 20. 
*   

The advanced group (for levels B2/C1 meets at Palio's in Ladd's Addition on Jan. 2, 11am. 

SE Portland

At Chez Machin, Mon., Jan. 11, at 7pm

* 

  At Vie de Bohème weekly on Sundays, 4-5:30pm

Vancouver

At Gustav's

on Jan. 12 at 5:30pm.

 

Merci  

 

 

 Perrier

 

 

   

PClogo
 
Amusing List, Space Needle News and More
 
  Favorite Links: French Morning, a weekly magazine for French expats in the U.S., is known for its entertaining lists which are often tonque-in-cheek. Click here for their just-published list, "45 choses que les Américains font mieux que les Français." Its introduction sets the tone, "Il y a des milliers de choses que les Américains font mieux que les Français (et l'inverse est aussi vrai). Nous avons dû nous limiter à 45. Et bien entendu, quand on taquine, c'est toujours avec amour." Vocab note: taquiner is to tease.
  Peace for Paris Concert: At Vie de Bohème in SE Portland on Saturday, January 9 will be a concert that will raise funds for a French nonprofit that promotes tolerance and peace. Performers will include Heather Keizur (French Jazz), Lisa Grimm from the band Zephyr (Chanson française), Kory Quinn (Americana), Karen Lovely (Blues), Dina (French Pop), Eric John Kaiser Band (Parisian Americana) and more. French wine and French food specials all night. Tickets are $15; click here to reserve.
  Space Needle French Flag Makes News: On the same trip that Jack Cowan delivered the solidarity journal (see the earlier article), he also delivered the French flag that flew over the Space Needle to officials at the Eiffel Tower. Click here for KOMO coverage. 
  French-Themed Holiday Gifts: As you do your holiday gift shopping, don't forget that Alliance members enjoy 10% discounts and other perks with a group of companies called Les Amis. These enterprises include French-themed restaurants, importers, and professional services. Check out the offers online on the Les Amis page. Also check out the brand new holiday gift ideas from the Alliance - click here for options on giving the gift of language for the holidays. Finally, remember that if you buy Piper Heidsieck champagne before December 31, a portion of your purchase will be donated to the French Red Cross to aid the families of victims of the November 13 attacks in Paris.
  Open House: Last week's open house was well attended, with close to 40 participants. Click here for online photos.
 French-Connected Entrepreneurs and leaders in the technology sector are playing key facilitator roles in the third Euro Startup weekend, slated for January 29-31 in Seattle. The event will be hosted by Amazon and sponsored by Google for Entrepreneurs. For complete details visit the event website.
  Timely Quote: "Ajoutez deux lettres à Paris : c'est le paradis." The expression is by Jules Renard (1864-1910). Renard was an author whose journals featured introspection, irony, humor and nostalgia. Click here for an online list of his most famous quotes (in French), for an interesting exercise in reading comprehension.
  Last Day to Enter France-Amérique Sweepstakes: Enter online today (Dec. 15) by 8:59pm PST to win one of several prizes that will be awarded tomorrow, Dec. 16. Prizes include a trip for two to Paris, a stay in a Sofitel luxury hotel of your choice in the U.S., an Art de vivre gift set from Ladurée and beauty gifts sets from Caudalie. Free to enter; click here for the sweepstakes page. Separate from the sweepstakes, the magazine is also offering discounts of 25% off subscriptions before 12/31. Click here and use the code XMAS2015 to get the discount.  
 
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