The Alliance Française de San Francisco is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and enhance the knowledge and appreciation of French and Francophone culture, to increase the knowledge of the French language, and to encourage interaction among French, Francophone and American people through programs in education and the arts.
WHY CHOOSE THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE?
The Alliance Française is the official center of French Language and Culture in San Francisco. It is one of 1,085 Alliances that have been established in 138 countries around the world.
Just a sample of what the Alliance of San Francisco has to offer:
FRENCH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION
...via tailor-made private lessons or small classes, for over 1,500 beginner to advanced students per year.
The Alliance is known as the best institution in Northern California for providing high quality French courses in a friendly, and relaxed yet dynamic atmosphere. Over the years we've expanded our curriculum by adding and adapting courses to meet our students' needs and interests.
Thus we go beyond mere language instruction, by covering the cultural, social, business, and professional aspects of French.
CULTURAL EVENTS...
...that indulge your love of France and transport you there without leaving the Bay Area! Every year the AF organizes a veritable "feast of events" which allows you to discover and appreciate our culture, such as weekly films, monthly art exhibits, concerts, soirées, etc...
...stocked with 20,000 books, as well as French magazines and newspapers. Our center also boasts over 500 subtitled and non-subtitled French films. More about our library...
Pricing upon request ROOM RENTALS
Room rental
inquiries email event@afsf.com or call 415.775.7755 ext 13
Room rental for your presentation or meeting needs.
Classrooms
Capacity: 5-30
Amenities: WiFi internet access, dry-erase boards and markers
Theater
Capacity: 74 seats or 100 standing*
Amenities: DVD, projector, screen, audio system, dance floor, WiFi internet access
*Note: there is a $50 fee to retract theater seating
A security deposit may be requested in certain situations. Moussy's Café is the preferred caterer of the Alliance Française.
Room rental inquiries email events@afsf.com or call 415.775.7755 ext 13. Please indicate the preferred date, time, expected attendance, and any equipment rental requests. Rentals based on availability. Preference may be given to French-associated groups or organizations.
INTERPRETARIAT/INTERPRETATION
L'Alliance Francaise de San Francisco offers an interpreting service geared
to provide solutions to your French and English language barriers. With
formal training and over 20 years of experience in a myriad of fields, our
interpreter is available for business, corporate and one-on-one meetings,
medical settings, communications, legal depositions, industrial and technical
subjets, etc... As a voice-over specialist, he also provides narration
and dubbing services.
THE ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE STAFF
Pascal Ledermann
Executive Director
from Strasbourg, France
Zelinda Caudal Operations Manager
Emmanuelle Petit
Director of studies/ Directrice Pédagogique
from Bastia, Corsica
Anthony Morin
Cultural Events Coordinator
Faculty
Emmanuelle Petit
Emmanuelle was born in Bastia (Corsica) and grew up in several parts of France and Italy. She has a Master degree in French as a foreign language, one in Education Science and a Bachelor in Italian Language and Culture. She has experience in teaching French in various part of the world (Italy, Ireland, Cape Verde, The Netherlands) and in different organizations (French Ministry of Foreign Affairs / universities, Institut Français / non profit association, private schools...). In addition to teaching, she is also an official trainer for French Certifications from the French Ministry of Education. She enjoys music and for many years, she has been actively involved with the music association << La Bise Fraîche >> in Paris (promotion and management). She loves cinema, traveling and she speaks fluent Italian.
Muriel Barton
Muriel first started teaching French at the Alliance Française of Paris in her early twenties. She got her training and teaching degree there while she was studying Oriental Culture at the University of Dauphine, in Paris. After a couple of years or so, she left for South East Asia where she lived teaching French in various Alliances Françaises, like Pondicherry. Then by chance her travels took her to the Alliance Française of San Francisco. Seduced by this vibrant city and the countryside around she settled here, got married and had two kids, bilingual of course. She has been teaching French in High School at the French American International School for the last 13 years. However her heart never left the Alliance Française and she is happy to be back. In her pastime she enjoys hiking, swimming, trying the many restaurants in town, reading and watching movies.
Christine Chevade
Christine Chevade is originally from Paris where she studied Biology and Geology at the Pierre et Marie Curie University. After obtaining her teaching degree in Biology, she was a sciences teacher for over 30 years in high schools in Paris and Normandie region.
She then worked as an assistant professor at the Institut National de Recherche Pédagogique (INRP) for 5 years. She was involved in creating multi-disciplinary projects for experimental science professors. She supported teachers and students in their work throughout the duration of the project.
Under this title, she participated in many conferences, notably at the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon.
Married with 3 children, she has always been very interested in literature, theater, and dance. She has now lived in San Francisco for a year. She has been working at the Alliance Française for 6 months, with the desire to continue being exposed to, as well as sharing, new educational experiences.
Sylvie Chu Sylvie Chu manages the French program of the Alliance Française SF in Palo Alto the
branch. She holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in French Literature from the Sorbonne University in Paris. Her Ph.D. thesis focuses on Nobel Prize for Literature laureate J.M.G. LeClezio's short stories. Sylvie has held positions as a French language instructor at the Alliance Française SF, Foothill College and the International School of the Peninsula's middle school. She lives in Palo Alto with her family, having relocated from Paris in 1997.
Stephan De Gery Born in Bordeaux, Stephan graduated from the University of Limoges where he studied French Literature, philosophy and drama. He later completed advanced business studies and served in the French military. In 1987, he immigrated to the USA, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was named Teacher of the Year in 1999 for the entire Berlitz
San Francisco district where he taught from 1993-2000. Then, from 2000-2004, he was the Coordinator of the French department at the Language Studies Institute, in Palo Alto, where he created new programs, developed curriculum and trained French instructors. Stephan decided to continue his career as a regular teacher, and joined the Alliance Française of Santa Clara, in May 2004 and then the Alliance Française of San Francisco in May 2005 and has been teaching there ever since.
Laurence Groesser
Laurence is from Versailles, close to Paris. She studied Law, and has the DAEFLE diploma from the Alliance Française for teaching French as a foreign language. She has taught in various institutes, both group classes and private lessons, and for various proficiency levels. Laurence has lived many years abroad, and has been immersed in different cultures and languages. Before moving to San Francisco, she lived in Spain, Switzerland, and in Asia. Laurence is interested in cinema and literature, and enjoys traveling to discover new places. She speaks fluent German and Spanish.
Nathalie Ivanoff
Originally from Brussels, Belgium and a native French speaker, Nathalie Ivanoff has traveled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa. Her field of studies includes English in Cambridge, England and Law School at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
After studying at the ISTI (Institut Superieur de Traduction et Interpretariat) in Brussels, she moved to the United States. She has been teaching for 15 years in San Francisco and Seattle both privately and for corporate companies such as Nordstrom, Boeing, and Microsoft as well as for the Alliance Française in Seattle before joining the Alliance Francaise in San Francisco in 2010. In addition to French Language, Ms Ivanoff brings to the classroom her interest in other cultures and her love for travel and cooking (she has worked as a professional chef).
Anne LeMasson
Anne has been teaching at the Alliance in Berkeley for about 15 years and a little more at the Alliance in San Francisco. Born and raised in Brittany, she studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and English at the university in Brest. After graduating from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts she moved to London to work and study, then on to California where she worked as a French assistant in a High School. The next five years she lived in Paris, working at the cultural section of the American Embassy (USIS). Anne moved back to California in 1990 and has been teaching on site at a variety of bay area businesses as well as at the Alliance Française. Six years ago she started a week long summer program in Provence in association with a chef combining French immersion, culinary classes, and cultural outings. She has taught French classes at Hillcrest elementary school in Oakland and though she enjoyed it very much she prefers working with adults
Serge N’djemba
Serge is native of Cameroon, a French-speaking country located in western Africa, but spent most of his time in Paris, Germany (French military service) and in San Francisco. He has been a French teacher for the Alliance Française over 10 years. He also taught at the French International School and The Academy of Art University in San Francisco where he designed a method based on a short film. Serge holds a BA in Modern Literature and linguistics from the Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III. He also has experience in the cinema industry as a producer and director. When he's not teaching or shooting, he plays soccer so he can explore new exotic cuisines.
Myriam Rodriguez
Myriam is from Lyon. She is bilingual as her parents come from Portugal. She studied International trade, and languages : Spanish, Chinese,Italian and Portuguese.
She has taught in various institutes, both group classes and private lessons, and for various proficiency levels.Myriam has lived many years abroad, and has been immersed in different cultures and languages. Before moving to San Francisco, she lived in Africa, Autralia and Mexico, where she opened a ethnic cofee-shop and also organized a brasilian festival. She travelled all around the world and is passionate by arts: dancing (flamenco, tango), music, writting.
She uses all these different experiences during the class in order to make it as fun as possible.
Paap Alassane Sow
Paap is from Jurbel, Senegal. He received an M.A. from the University of Dakar. He is a language Professor and Translator/Interpret for English to French, Wolof. Paap has taught high school and college level in Senegal and then California. He is currently teaching at the University of California in Berkeley since 1994 and at the Alliance Française of San Francisco since 2006.
Pierrette Spetz, Ph.D.
Pierrette was born in Marseille, France. After high school she completed her undergraduate studies in Literature in Aix-en-Provence, she then received her doctorate degree in Comparative Literature in Montpellier. She has lived in Germany, then in the United States from New Jersey to California. She studied in many universities: UC Berkeley, the University of Laval in Québec, the University of Guadalajara in Mexico, and Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Pierrette loves to study languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, German, and Esperanto. She also loves to travel, read, dance, swim, and hike. She currently lives in Concord, California, with her husband and the local birds and deer who visit their home from time to time. She is an engaged film enthusiast and was delighted by the winners of the Oscars this year!
Daniel Vitaglione
Daniel Vitaglione has been teaching at the Alliance since 2008. He is a native of Marseille, studied in Paris, California and has a Ph.D in Comparative Literature from the University of St Andrews (UK). He teaches all levels of French as well as classes on Politics, Cinema, History of Paris, Provence and French slang (le français familier). He enjoys traveling, San Francisco, ethnic restaurants, and good wines.
Olivier Walty
Olivier is a native of the Champagne region (hence his bubbly personality!) but spent most of his time in Paris, its suburbs and the French Riviera.
He has been a French teacher for the Alliance Française since 2004 in the Bay Area. A Graduate with a French and Literature Baccalauréat, he also has experience in the cinema industry as a film student. Olivier is involved in theater, painting, drawing and music-making. At times, he enjoys needlepoint on French tapestries to relax. Olivier's method in teaching French is based on progressive conversation, grammar and intuition, asking each student to become an element, an actor in class and to interact at every level.
Farida Wies
Farida is a French native speaker. She spends most of her time between Paris and California. In addition to a certification to teach French as a foreign language from the Alliance Française Paris Ile-de France (DAEFLE), Farida holds a MA in foreign languages applied to literary translation. In 1997, she first started teaching French as a lecturer at UC Santa Barbara's French & Italian Department. After a few years, she moved back to Paris before joining the Alliance Française in San Francisco. Her main interests focus on teaching French to toddlers and kids through children’s literature, songs and games. She enjoys teaching adults of all ages as well, and has a special interest in phonetics and pronunciation. In the classroom, Farida adopts an action-oriented approachto teach French as a foreign language, as per the CEFR guidelines.
Interns
Laura Bonzom FLE Intern
Camille Brun
Léonard Desbrières
Alice LeMene Communications Intern
Come visit us!
1345 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tel: (415) 775-7755
Fax: (415) 775-2539
Email: afsf@afsf.com
1345 Bush Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tel: (415) 775-7755
Fax: (415) 775-2539
Email: afsf@afsf.com
Hours:
Mondays: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Tuesdays: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Wednesdays: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Thursdays: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Fridays: 11:00am to 9:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sundays: Closed
