Have a question that is not listed below?
Please call us at 858-254-2253 or send an e-mail to bureau@afsandiego.org and our friendly staff will be glad to answer any additional questions.
Questions
General interest
School
Membership
Answers
General interest
How is “Alliance Française” pronounced?
Ah-lee-ahnce Frahn-sez
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What is Alliance Française?
It is a world-wide nonprofit network devoted to promoting French language and cultures.
Its World Headquarter is based in Paris, France (www.alliancefr.org).
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Are all Alliance Française chapters in the United States the same?
All AF’s serve the same purpose of promoting French language and culture in their community. They also possess bylaws that are approved by the Alliance Française de Paris allowing these chapters to carry the AF name and logo. Each AF in the world must offer the following services: French language classes, social and cultural events and activities, and up-to-date resources about France and francophone countries. The quantity and frequency of programs vary by chapter due to size. Any AF member moving to the San Diego area will be granted AFSD member price for classes and events, and access to our resource center (deposit applies) until current renewal date upon presentation of their current AF membership card. To know more about the American network of the Alliance Française, please visit the website of the General Delegation : www.alliance-us.org.
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Why choose the Alliance Française de San Diego?
• The Alliance Française is an authentic French language and cultural resource center in San Diego.
• It is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization which means it focuses on fulfilling its mission, not in making commercial profit
• AF is not just a service provider. It is a membership-based organization so anyone can join and help it grow. All levels of involvement are welcome: member, student, volunteer, donor, committee member, board member, etc...
• It is more than just a simple school. It offers a wide variety of cultural and social events including lectures, concerts, films and dinners.
• French language courses are offered year-round and emphasize conversational French.
• All AF teachers are native speakers and/or are bi-cultural (ie. Franco-American, Canadian-American, etc.)
• The Alliance Française has no political or religious affiliation and welcomes students, members, and volunteers of any age, sex, creed, race, color, sexual orientation, and national or ethnic origin.
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If Alliance Française is nonprofit, why do you charge for services?
Our status of 501(c)3 gives us exemption from federal taxes and qualifies us as a nonprofit organization. Our activities and services are offered for the purpose of serving the community and fulfilling our mission. However, it is necessary to charge for most services in order to cover overhead costs which keep our business in operation. In order to continue to grow and improve our service to the community, we depend on grants, donations, student enrollment and membership dues.
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Who's who at the Alliance Française?
Staff
Teachers
Board of Directors
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Who speaks French in the world?
113 million Francophones - Speak French (as a native or adopted language) fluently and use it on a regular basis.
61 million "occasional" Francophones - Live in a francophone country but do not speak French regularly, due to limited knowledge.
100-110 million students of all ages - Do not live in a francophone country, but have learned/are learning French in order to communicate with Francophones.
French is the second most commonly-taught second language in the world (after English).
French and English are the only languages spoken as a native language on 5 continents.
French is the official language of France and its overseas territories (French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French southern and Antarctic lands, Sant Pierre et Miquelon, and Mayotte) as well as Algeria, Bénin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Congo (Republic of), Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Luxembourg, Mali, Monaco, Niger, Sénégal, Togo, the Canadian province of Québec, and the Swiss districts of Vaud, Neuchâtel, Genève, and Jura.
French is a co-official language in Belgium, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti (the two official languages are French and French Creole), Madagascar, Rwanda, Seychelles, Switzerland, and Vanuatu.
French is one of the official working languages in dozens of international organizations, including: Amnesty International, European Union (EU), Interpol, International Olympic Committee, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Red Cross and Red Crescent, United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), World Trade Organization (WTO). [back to top]
School
Why learn French?
As you can see (ref: Who speaks French in the world ?), we do not really need to explain why you should study French. Many non-native French speakers simply like French for the way it sounds, for the culture, food and everything else that goes with it, for the good time they spent studying, working or traveling in French speaking countries, or for the random or life-long romance that still brings tears in their eyes... In addition, learning a second language has been proven to boost brain power. It develops the area of the brain which processes information in the same way exercise builds muscles. You may even have your own reason, but actually, you don’t really need one, you can do it just for fun! [back to top]
Is French difficult to learn?
All languages are different and have their own challenges and therefore it does not really make sense to compare them.
Consider the following:
* French sounds are difficult to understand and to pronounce. But one could say the same about Chinese.
* French grammar is difficult. But one could say the same about the subjunctive in German or in Spanish.
* French is difficult because you do not always pronounce what you write. Consider the English words wait and weight …
Most general statements about foreign languages are pre-conceived ideas. If you want to study a language but don’t have a specific goal right now, just follow your heart! The difficulty of the language is not the issue; everything is a question of personal motivation!
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How long will it take for me to become fluent in French?
This is the million dollar question! Language acquisition is a lengthy process which requires consistent attention and dedication. There is no set time period that can define how long it will take. It is a complex equation that includes personal capacities and motivation. Most of our classes only meet once or twice a week so it is important to attend each week. Students who continue class consistently from term to term and make the effort to practice at home will most certainly become proficient within a couple of year’s time. For students who are “on again, off again,” the process tends to take much longer. We recommend that students practice at least two hours per week in addition to their classes. The internet offers a lot of additional resources and attending our events can also help you improve your overall cultural knowledge and give you a chance to practice conversing outside of the classroom. The European standard for language evaluation determines that it takes between 100-120 hours of study to complete one level (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced).
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Who teaches the classes?
All of our teachers are native speakers of French and/or are fully bi-cultural (ie. Franco-American, Canadian –American, etc.) and they all follow the same teaching pattern designed according to the latest pedagogical standards for foreign language teaching. If it is important to you to know who will be teaching your class, please remember that teachers are usually not assigned their schedules until approximately a week before the start of the class. [back to top]
How does Alliance Française teach French?
Language is a living phenomenon. Its main purpose is to allow people to communicate. Therefore, we choose to favor a communicative approach.
This is the process we follow:
1. Student determines what it is he/she wants to say (communicative intention/context)
2. Linguistic tools such as vocabulary, grammar, and syntax are introduced within that context which will allow the student to properly express him/herself.
Example:
1. Context: How do I talk about my daily routine?
2. Linguistic Tools:
a. Introduce relevant vocabulary related to your routine (ie. words describing job, family life, hobbies, etc.)
b. Introduce the present tense grammar (ie. I wake up, I leave, I go, etc.)
c. Introduce various words/syntax that express regularity of activities (ie. always, never, sometimes, etc.)
These various elements of vocabulary, grammar and syntax are studied together within the given context.
* Our native French instructors speak mostly French in the classroom and students are encouraged to practice speaking and interacting in French during class time.
* Language acquisition is characterized by four skills of equal importance: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. However, since contact-time is limited, we focus more particularly on listening and speaking, which are generally more difficult to develop on your own.
* Our instructors give you hints and open doors for you. However, we cannot guarantee that you will become a competent French speaker only by attending our classes. In order to achieve your goal, you will need to spend as much time as possible outside the classroom to practice and reinforce your skills. Language acquisition is not always easy, so the more motivation you put into studying French, the more spectacular your progress will be.
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What levels of French classes are offered?
We teach all levels, from beginning through advanced and expert and everything in between.
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What is my level?
If you have never before studied French, you are a complete beginner. If you have had some French and/or have studied another romance language (ie. Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian), you will need to take our placement evaluation in order for us to determine your level as it relates to our program.
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Will I be in a class with others who are at my skill level?
We group students of the same level to the best of our ability based on the information that we are given from placement evaluations and pre-registration conversations. Although we do our best to place students correctly, it is nonetheless important to remember that all people are different in background and learning capacities. If you feel that you are not in the right class for your level, be sure to notify the administration right away. If you are in the correct level but need special attention, ask about options for private instruction.
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How many students will be in my class?
We limit our class sizes to 10 or fewer students. This gives you a small and congenial environment in which to learn.
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How will AF evaluate my progression?
There is on-going, informal evaluation in the class and our courses using the Campus books include a course-end evaluation.
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What textbooks are used?
Our regular group classes require the use of the Campus series 1 or 2 and Grammar Progressive 1 or 2. All supplemental books, CD’s and workbooks are optional and always available for sale if you would like extra practice. Some higher level classes do not require books. Sales tax applies to all books and audio material.
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Do I have to buy a new book for every class?
No. The required books are used through 4 levels of classes before you need to buy new ones. For example, if you start in the Beginning Level 101 class, you will use those same books through Beginning Level 104 (4 terms). When you begin Intermediate Level 201, you will need to buy new books for that level because you will have already covered all of the material in the beginner level book.
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How long do the classes run?
Class term varying by the type of class you are enrolled in. Class terms can be anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks long. One-day workshops are also available for schedules that do not allow for long-term commitments. Multiple classes can be taken at any one time.
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When do classes meet?
Class days and times vary. Please visit the Register Now! section of our website for an updated schedule.
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Where do classes meet?
Our San Diego classes meet at the Lawrence Jewish Cultural Center in La Jolla...
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Is there parking at the Main Location?
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I travel often for my job and cannot commit to consecutive weeks of class. How can I still improve my French?
Consider taking private classes. We can make flexible arrangements to meet your schedule and you can still make progress with your French, just not in a group environment. It is generally believed that 1 hour with a private instructor equals two hours of a group class.
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I just need to learn some basics before my trip to France and have limited time.
Consider our French Survival Kit. It covers the basics for travel needs. You will learn practical communication skills and cultural tips that will help you make the most of your trip.
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How do I register for a class?
Students may register in person online at www.afsandiego.org (e-mail: school@afsandiego.org) or call 858-735-8716 for more information...
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How much does it cost?
Group classes generally cost $12-20/hour. Textboox, workbook, with, CD, available for 5 sessions, cost $60.00.
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I paid for my class over a week ago. Why are there still no charges posted on my account?
When you make a payment by phone, fax or e-mail, your charges have to be keyed in manually. Payments are processed regularly but not every day.
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What if I miss a class?
Please consult with a staff member of the Alliance Française to see what options are available.
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What if I have to withdraw from a class?
Please, read our Policies.
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What if I want something that is not offered in your class brochure?
Comments and suggestions are always welcome. Please feel free to let us know. If we are not able to accommodate your request in a group atmosphere, you may want to consider private instruction.
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Do you offer classes for children?
Not yet.
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Do you offer classes for teenagers?
Yes.
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Do you offer private instruction?
Yes.
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Where can I improve my newly acquired skills and get some practical experience in French conversation?
Alliance Française offers many cultural and social events throughout the year that may provide you with an opportunity to utilize your language skills in a relaxed social setting and make new friends as well. You can check out the latest events planned on our website at www.afsandiego.org.
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Membership
Is my membership or donation tax exempt?
• Pure monetary donations that do not receive services of any kind in return are 100% tax deductible because we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
• Membership dues are considered to receive services which are in the form of “membership benefits”. A portion of your membership dues may be tax deductible if you feel that you did not take advantage of these benefits to the full value of the cost of your membership. It is at the discretion of the member what amount qualifies for tax deduction. [back to top]
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