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Quoi de neuf / Infolettre
Live the Dream in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Longtime Alliance Française members and Portland residents Michele Bowler-Failing and Bill Failing purchased their pied-à-terre in the heart of Châteauneuf-du-Pape 15 years ago. Michele explains, "Since then we have enjoyed lazy summer days, afternoons at the café just reading a book, starlit strolls in the vineyards, and progressive wine dinners with local wine makers." Michele and Bill are now selling 8 shares in the vacation home; each share entitles the buyers to 4 weeks per year of use. The cost of a share is $30,000. Click here for an overview of the offer as well as property photos. Click here for detailed information on the terms and advantages of the offer; contact Michele directly on her cell here in Portland with questions (503 891-1304).       
French Night at the Blazers - Reserve by Jan. 4
Time is running out to get your tickets to see Nic Batum in his return to Portland with the up-and-coming Charlotte Hornets. Ever gracious in answering children's questions in years past, Nic recently tweeted that he will soon be a father himself: click here for French and here for English. Remember, tickets purchased through this special promotion allow you early entry to the arena to watch the players during the non-public warm up session, and a post-game Q&A if the Hornets organization gives the okay. Click here for the promo-code info and order your tickets online by the January 4 deadline.   
Blockbuster French TV Series Now on DVD
The blockbuster French drama, A French Village (Un village français), is now available on DVDs that play in the U.S. (Region 1) on Amazon; click here. The series stars Audrey Fleurot and Thierry Godard, and chronicles the impact of World War II and German occupation on a small village in central France. In the gripping drama, ordinary citizens become patriots, traitors, or activists. The series rates 5 stars of 5 on Amazon and 8.2 stars of 10 on IMDB. This is the first season (of 6) to be released to the U.S. market; the DVDs are in French with English subtitles. Merci to Robert Derrick for sharing this news. 
Bienvenue to New Staff at the Alliance
    New prof Stéphanie Templier (photo at left) comes to Portland from six years at the Alliance Francaise of Sabadell outside Barcelona. Stéphanie graduated in FLE and Littérature from the University of Montpellier.
    Adam McBride-Smith comes on staff to teach ESL, a new course developed especially for newly arrived francophones in the Portland area. Adam has taught ESL in France at two Grandes Ecoles as well as in New York and Portland. (See the related article on ESL below.)
   Joining the administrative team as Development Director is Marilyn Hartzog (photo at left) who learned her French in Quebec. Marilyn has many years of experience with nonprofits and most recently was the Executive Director of Oregon Micro Enterprise Network, a state agency. She is also on the board of the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.
    
Take the Plunge in January!
Each term the Alliance polls students to gather feedback on their experience, and the fall term survey results show that, once again, the teachers have scored outstanding ratings. Click here for a sampling of students' comments - each is from a different student and on  different teachers. The comments highlight the key advantages of small classes, professional and well-prepared teachers, and a welcoming ambiance that fosters learning. Enrollment for the Winter Term is in progress; the 10-week term begins the week of January 11. Concerned about missing a class or two? No problem; make-up options are available. Click here for class lists for adults or visit the listings online. Not sure if a class is a good fit? Call 503.223.8388 or visit the "Assessing Your Level" page. 
January Events Feature Dance & Music
  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. 
   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. Click here for tickets. Use the password, "Alliance," for a $1 discount.  
  The Peace for Paris benefit concert on January 9 at Vie de Bohème still has tickets available; click here. 
For Francophones: New ESL Class
L'Alliance Française de Portland est ravie d'annoncer l'ouverture d'une classe d'Anglais Langue Etrangère pour adultes à partir de janvier. Ce groupe d'immersion (A2-B1) dans la langue américaine sera enseigné par un professeur américain parlant couramment français, suivant une approche communicative qui intègre les fondements essentiels de la conversation, de la prononciation, et de la grammaire. Cette classe a pour but de permettre aux francophones établis à Portland d'améliorer leur anglais dans une variété de situations personnelles et professionnelles. Contactez l'Alliance pour d'autres options (niveau, cours particuliers). Cliquez ici pour plus d'info ou contactez Katy LeBris (katylb@afportland.org).   
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
 
Best Wishes for 2016 and
the Best Links of 2015
 
Best Wishes for 2016 
The Alliance staff, teachers and board members would like to take this opportunity to wish all a Happy New Year. We will continue to share our region's French-connected news via this free bulletin in 2016, and we thank our readers and our stellar panel of volunteer proofreaders. Together, we are pleased to have engaged the interest and participation of 7,000 subscribers and we look forward to seeing many of you in class and at events in the coming year.

Most Popular Links from 2015
Here are the highest-clicked (most-often viewed) links of all the "Quoi de Neuf" articles in 2015, for those who missed them, or for those simply wanting to review their favorites! 
  • The Ten Things NOT to Do in Paris, from Condé Nast and MSN Lifestyle; click here.
  • The amusing one-minute video of a Frenchman asking directions of a Québécoise; click here.
  • The online tests on TV5MONDE to determine your level (click here), referring to the worldwide CEFR standard of mastery (click here).
  • The tutorial from Juliette François on the nuances between "Au fait; en fait; en effet" - click here.
  • L'Express list of the 10 most common errors that the French make in their language; click here.
  • CNN's review of the most beautiful destinations in France; click here.
  • The online tutorial on ordering coffee in France; click here.
  • John Kerry's eloquent speech in French after the Charlie Hebdo attacks; click here.
  • Playing Europe's Visa loophole, as shared by International Living; click here.
  • The LA Times' amusing chart on using "tu" versus "vous"; click here.
  • Understanding (in French) why the Green Card is green, from French Morning; click here.
  • Pamela Druckerman's very personal article on how terror took over her dinner party in Paris (as published in the New York Times). Click here. Another Druckerman favorite is on "Decoding the Rules of Conversation" in France; click here.
  • The perennial favorite: the map showing how many kisses to give in each part of France (varies by region!); click here.

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