The Alliance Française provides French
language courses for both adults and high-school students who
intend to take up an exchange program in French-speaking countries
such as Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, etc. Emphasis is
placed on the spoken language as it is used today and on being
able to cope in situations that tourists and exchange students
commonly encounter – such as greeting native speakers, meeting
others, buying food, making bookings, and so on. Instruction is
given mainly in French at the Intermediate and Advanced levels,
by native and non-native speakers. We use the latest French teaching
methods and up-to-date course materials. The maximum number of
students per class is generally eight. Classes generally meet
from 5:30 – 7:00 pm one night in the week. Each term runs
for 10 weeks.
Alliance Française membership
is a pre-requisite for registering for language classes.
There will be no increase in class fees this
year. They will remain at $80.00 per term, a level that is very
reasonable when compared with those of other Alliances in Australia.
The text book chosen for our Beginners’ and Intermediate
Classes is The French Experience Book I, a BBC publication. It
can be purchased at a discount from the Alliance for $50.00. It
comes with a set of activities and these will be sampled this
year in class, thanks to the purchase of a new data projector,
funded largely through a development grant from the Federation
of Alliances Françaises in Australia
Depending on demand, there will be classes at
Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Levels (as in 2005). Dates
and times for the classes will be decided at the meeting. However,
it would be appreciated if continuing or returning students (from
2005) could indicate the class they would like to attend by contacting
Jean-Paul on 4091 6265 (Email:jeanpaulantigny@conxx.com)
or Glyn on 40953629 Email:gadavies@primusonline.com.au).
Refreshments of the usual kind will be available at the meeting.
It is a condition of enrolment in our French classes that a student
should also join the Alliance membership
$20.00 per annum—
single; $25.00 family membership).
FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP
For 2006, meetings will commence on Thursday,
2 February at 10:00 am. Current group members are considering
options for discussion in the coming year. These range from games
to the reading of plays, novels, or interesting articles selected
by those attending. Members are reminded that the group will meet
at Quincan Cottage in Yungaburra. The owners, whilst happy to
see the group on the first and third Thursdays of the month, are
no doubt delighted when members order morning teas and lunches.
For further information about the group including how to join,
please contact Peter Hart 4091 4339.
How is our students' work assessed?
We do not require our students to undertake formal tests or examinations
unless they request it for their own purposes. However, we do
involve them in self-assessment activities on a regular basis.
Ability to use the language is assessed through a variety of communicative
tasks. These include:
listening: comprehending conversations,
announcements and reports
speaking: role-playing; conversing with the teacher
or other students; presenting a talk on a familiar topic
reading: responding to a range of written material
such as magazine articles, cartoons and brochures
writing: letters, emails, postcards and school
magazine articles.
How can learners help themselves to
progress?
Anyone can learn another language. Anyone! At any age! It helps
to be young but it isn't essential. These are some of the
ways learners can help themselves to learn:
• find a suitable learning environment at home – a
quiet place where you can listen, talk out loud (to yourself),
and read and write without interruption
• reinforce your class language-learning by daily practice
at home
• read articles, view programmes and talk with others about
current events connected with the countries where French is spoken
• view and listen to French language programs on television
and radio
• attend cultural events, such as art exhibitions and food
festivals
develop respect and empathy for people whose first language is
not English and whose customs and beliefs are different from their
own.
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