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Quoi de neuf / Infolettre

Spring into French: New Term Now Enrolling  
Enrollment is now underway for the 10-week spring term March 28 to June 4 which offers intriguing new classes. The newly-Spring budcreated "CPR" classes (for "Conversation, Pronunciation, Review") will help students make the leap from the 100 to the 200 levels or from the 200 to Edito levels. The CPR classes are ideal for students who want to build strong conversational and pronunciation skills and also review grammar before moving to the next textbook. They are also a great choice for students wishing to attend two classes per week, augmenting a text-based class with another focused on conversation and pronunciation. New classes for Intermediate and Advanced students include a class on the myths and legends of France, and one on Nouvelle Vague films. Click here for adult class lists and here for children's. Register by March 17 to get the class you want, as well as the 10% early-bird discount. Questions? Email School Director Katy LeBris.
French Films in the Cascade Festival
The Cascade Festival of African Films was founded in 1991 by four Portland Community College faculty members. Now in its 26th year it attracts over 5,000 people and is offered to the public free of charge. The festival runs over five weekends and includes 20-24 feature and documentary films in various venues. On February 27 and March 3, French-language films will be shown. The first is a matinee designed for the whole family, with storytelling by Baba Wagu� Diakit� of Mali (that film is on Saturday, Feb. 27). Click here for more info on those films and visit the festival's website for all the screenings. All of the films and activities are free.
Next DELF/DALF Tests: March 21-25
For those who are keen to measure their progress in French, the Common European Framework of Reference is an international standard that describes language proficiency in six levels. Click here for a chart that explains the A1-C2 levels and the estimated hours for each. Note that Alliance classes and textbooks are geared to the grid; those same standards figure in the official DELF/DALF proficiency exams that are coming up in March at Gilkey International Middle School; click here for sign-up info (cost is $110-$190). For a quick and informal assessment of your level, try the simulated TCF test on TV5Monde's site (click here) and remember that Alliance teachers are available year-round to prepare students for exams and to conduct assessments.      
Fisher Publishes The Reluctant Paris Rebel
Claudine Fisher is known to many Portlanders for her long tenure as the Honorary Consul of France for the State of Oregon, and for her steadfast support of the French-American community, including the Alliance Franaise, FAIS and more. Many Portlanders also know her from her time as a professor at PSU. For the past two years Claudine has been hard at work writing historical fiction novels, the first of which is now available on Amazon. Set in the turbulent period of the 1848 revolutions in Europe, the story chronicles a young Parisian craftsman's migration to Algeria. Click here to preview, download a sample, or order the Kindle version. Book 1 is THE RELUCTANT PARIS REBEL, in English. Flicitations to Claudine!
Job Postings / Emploi
  Cte d'Or Imports in Beaverton is seeking a full-time bilingual French-English Administrative Assistant to work with the company's Oregon and Burgundy team members, as well as customer service with US clients and French suppliers; click here. Bellevue School District is seeking middle-school French teachers for the 2016-2017 school year; click hereIntel in Hillsboro is seeking a Parallel Software Engineer where fluency in other languages, including French, would be an asset. Click hereIRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization) in Portland is seeking Program Coordinators fluent in French, Somali or Swahili; click hereTRC Staffing in Seattle is seeking translators who are fluent in French and other languages. Click here.
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All Events

Winter term is underway through Mar. 19. Enrolling now for Intersession (Mar. 21-26) and Spring Session (Mar. 28-June 4). 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 Honor� on NW Thurman on

Wed., 6pm, March 2 & 16 
*   

The advanced group (for levels B2/C1 meets at Palio's in Ladd's Addition on Mar. 5, 11am. 

SE Portland

At Chez Machin, Mon., Mar. 7, at 7pm

 
At Vie de Boh�me weekly on Sundays, 4-5:30pm

Vancouver

At Gustav's

on Mar. 8 at 5:30pm.


 

Merci  

 

 

 Perrier

 

 

   

PClogo
 
Wine Committee, Wine Scholars, Films and More
 
  Generosity Has Its Rewards: Make a donation (physical item or service) to the April 23 Soir�e Proven�ale auction, and your name will be entered in a raffle. The prize is two free tickets to the Pierre Bensusan concert on March 15 at the Alberta Rose Theater. The winner's name will be drawn on March 2. Donate to the auction by calling the office, filling out this printable form or by filling out an online form
  Valentine's Fencing: Close to 50 people attended the Valentine's fencing event on February 12. Click here for photos.
  Wine Sector Committee Forming: The French American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest is forming a networking committee of France-connected businesspeople in the wine and food sectors in Oregon. An exploratory meeting was hosted Feb. 11 by Nicolas Quill of Vinmotion in downtown Portland (photos at right). Participation is free; contact [email protected] for information.
  Spring Intersession: In addition to enrollment for the 10-week spring term, enrollment is also in progress for the intersession term (from March 21-25). Enroll by calling the Alliance office or emailing [email protected].
Discounts at Alberta Rose Theatre for the "Mois de la Francophonie": Newsletter readers can use the promo code, AFPORTLAND, to get $1 discounts on three upcoming concerts. On March 2, Noura Mint Seymali (shown here, from French-speaking Mauritania) will perform, with opening band, Dusu Mali (led by Ibrahim Kelly, Malian musician Ali Farka Toure's nephew). On March 8, Bergerette, an acapella French medieval folk music group, will play. On March 15 French-Algerian musician, Pierre Bensusan, will perform.   
  Northwest Fencing Center is hosting a games night on March 19, 7-10pm, with board games, pizza and soda. They will designate a French table at which board games will be played in French only. Cost is $20 in advance; $30 at the door. Drop off the kids; adult supervision provided. Visit their website for more info.
  Northwest Dance Project is pleased to offer $10 discounts off Zone A + B tickets (use the promo code: FRANCE) to their March 17-19 performance, LOUDER THAN WORDS, at the Newmark Theater. It features the choreography of Ihsan Rustem, assistant to renowned French choreographer and real life knight, Patrick Delcroix. Ihsan's new work will feature music from French singers Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf. For more information visit the dance company's website.
  French Wine Scholar program is a study and certification program providing current, accurate and in-depth information on the wines and wine regions of France. Developed and administrated by the French Wine Society with the support of the French Ministry of Agriculture, this program is aimed at advanced students of wine, whether professionals or serious wine hobbyists. Click here for details; the 12-session May-June course costs $895; Alliance members get $100 off.
  French-Speaking Nanny: Portland Alliance Family seeking French speaking (preferably native) part-time au pair for the summer (June-August). Details: approximately 15-20 hours/week (Monday, Wednesday & Friday), one well-behaved 5 year-old girl,  west-side home close to downtown. Candidates must have a safe and reliable car for driving to activities. Competitive pay is offered. Contact [email protected].
 Event Reminders & Updates:
The Portland International Film Festival runs through Feb. 27; check out the French-language CheckYesfilms; visit the PIFF website for info. The February 26 Games Night, the March 4 Cin�-Club and the March 6 Children's Choir Workshop all have openings. Sign up for the Visitor's Value Package for Seattle's French Fest by March 1 in order to get the hotel discount; click hereBastille Day in Portland will move from July 9 to July 16, 2016. 
 UFE Seattle: The French community in Seattle is rallying to help a young man's family deal with leukemia treatments. Click here for that news in French and in English.
  FRENCH ENTREE has published a general article entitled, "Sort out your finances so you can relax and enjoy life in France." While written for a British audience, our readers may glean a tip or two. Click here. Another recent article is on "How to declare a small income in France," by Tracy Leonetti, a French red-tape expert. Click here.
 The Portland French Language Book Club will meet March 26 to discuss Marcel Pagnol's La gloire de mon p�re." Click here for details; the Meetup group meets at Belmont Library. Membership is $5/year.
  The CERCLE FRANCAIS has announced its upcoming programming:   
Le jeudi 25 f�vCerclerier, Marie Engelhardt nous parlera de quatre mus�es mal connus � Paris: Le mus�e de la vie romantique, le mus�e Maillol, le mus�e Andr� Jacquemart et le mus�e Nissim de Camondo. Le jeudi 31 mars, Marie-Pierre Wolfe pr�sentera l'histoire de la maison Herm�s, depuis ses d�buts en 1803 dans la petite ville de Coesfeld en Wespalie annex�e par Napol�on jusqu'� la grande entreprise internationale diversifi�e d'aujourd'hui. More info online.
   Grammar Test: L'OBS online has published a 25-question test on some of the most difficult grammar points in the French language. Click here to be challenged with questions such as, Participe pass�: �crit-on "elle s'est cass� la t�te" ou "elle s'est cass�e la t�te"? Hint: that one is the easiest of the bunch. 
  Perspectives: Haleigh Chastain Walsworth's story of life in Paris has been featured online recently. Click here for the article about how she purchased and renovated her current apartment in Le Marais, and what daily life in Paris is like for her. 
   
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