• You will find French speakers on all continents around the world. French is the native language of some 200 million people and is the second language of millions more. In Europe, it is spoken in France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg.
  In the Americas, it is an official language of Canada and spoken in the Carribbean.
  
• It is the language of the well educated in parts of Southeast Asia, North Africa and much of Western and Central Africa. Being able to speak French is an asset for anyone interested in working in international organizations such as the Peace Corps.
  
• French is a key language in the European Union of twenty five nations, the world's largest economic entity.
  
• With a population of 350 million and a gross national product larger than the United States, the European Union is an economic superpower
  
• French is a language of business. Today, American companies have over 2,000 subsidiaries in France, and French companies have over 600 subsidiaries in the United States. Major corporations with headquarters or subsidiaries in the United States and France include Du Pont, Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Apple Computer, Michelin, Renault, Bic and many more.

• French is a language of technology and medicine. Dr. Luc Montagnier discovered HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The Chunnel under the English Channel, the TGV high speed trains, and the Concorde are only a few examples of recent French technological advances.
  
• French fashion designers, artists, writers, musicians, chefs and filmmakers have had a wide influence in the United States and the rest of the world.
  
• Impressionist painters like Monet, musicians like Ravel and Boulez, novelists like Flaubert and Camus have had an influence on world culture. Many recent American films like Three Men and a Babyor Point of No Return are remakes of French movies. Where would Julia Child be without French cuisine? Who hasn't heard of Christian Dior, Chanel, and Pierre Cardin?
  
• French is the language of influential, religious, and intellectual movements. Jean Calvin helped define Protestantism; Enlightment writers like Voltaire championed human rights; Simone de Beauvoir was a prominent feminist, and Michel Foucault was a founder of postmodernism.
  
• French is a language of tourism. Paris is the third most visited international city by Americans. France is the second most visited country in the world, and Quebec offers a taste of Europe in North America.

  Acknowledgment: Alliançe Francaise de Washington

French classes (at moderate cost) are held at three levels.

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.

Alliance French classes are available in 2009 at 3 levels – Beginners’, Intermediate, and
Advanced. It is advisable (but not essential) to join a class at the start of the academic year.
Students who join after that may need to arrange for catch-up lessons in order to reach the
current level of proficiency of any given class.
The Beginners’ Class is suited to learners who have no prior experience of learning another
language or who have limited experience of school French in the past. The Intermediate
Class is suited to those who have already acquired the basics of French pronunciation and a
limited command of French grammar, and/or who may have fairly recent experience of
school French; the Advanced Class is suited to those who have a reasonable command of
spoken and written French with a fair knowledge of French vocabulary and grammar. In all
classes, it will be necessary to put aside about 15- 30 minutes each day to practice the
material covered in the weekly class. Course materials used by the Alliance give plenty of
scope for home practice and for self-assessment. Tests are held at the end of each term so that
students can gauge their progress.
All students of French at the Alliance Française d’Atherton are expected to join the
Alliance as a pre-requisite for access to classes. Current membership subscription fees are $20
p.a. (single) and $25 p.a. (family). Pro-rata membership is available to members joining after
the start of the year. Membership covers a number of services (in addition to access to
classes). There is a social and cultural program of events and get-togethers centred upon the
Alliance; members receive 6 issues per year of the Alliance newsletter, l’Athertonnais which
contains: information about forthcoming activities, and about current events in France; news
of French films, recipes, jokes, etc; and finally an Alliance membership card provides access
to a network of Alliances world-wide (there are 33 in Australia alone).
Classes in 2009 will be held in the Atherton Community Centre, Mabel St, Atherton
(opposite the Shire Council Chambers) at times indicated below:
Beginners’ Class: Tuesdays 17:30 – 19.00 Room 12 Tutor: Miche Raccoursier
Intermediate Class: Mondays 17:30 – 19.00 Room 12 Tutor: Miche Raccoursier
Advanced Class: Wednesdays 17.30 – 19.00 Room 12 Tutor: Miche Raccoursier
In addition to the classes listed above, Miche Raccoursier will be available for tutorials and
consultation at the same location.
THESE TIMES MAY BE ALTERED (ON REQUEST) TO SUIT A MAJORITY OF CLASS
MEMBERS
Private tuition can also be arranged on request.

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