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LUPIN Inspirational Novel Series on Culturethèque
The French international hit mystery television series LUPIN just released its much anticipated second season this month on Netflix to the delight of its viewers. Be sure to explore the entire inspirational novel series about Arsène Lupin written by Maurice Leblanc on your AFSF Culturethèque e-library.
Recipe: Profiteroles
Want to impress your guests with a gourmet and timeless recipe? Find out how to make profiteroles!
Slam creation by Pallavi for World Music Day
In the framework of World Music Day, some AFSF students have been studying "le slam" (oral, urban poetry, declaimed on a rhythmic in a public place). Pallavi shares her creation with us.
Fête de la Musique 2021 with Alliances Françaises of California
Let's celebrate together World Music Day! On June 19 and June 21, the Alliances Françaises of California bring music to your home!
Let's celebrate Quebec National Day!
En Harmonie: Let's celebrate Québec's National Day with the musical event "En Harmonie"
Proust for Beginners
Have you read Marcel Proust? Do you just pretend to have read him? Are you afraid to even crack open In Search of Lost Time? No need to panic. Barnard’s Caroline Weber, a Proust expert, introduces us to the man, his milieu, his era and his writing.
History of Fête de la Musique
Have you ever asked yourself how did the fête de la musique start?...Born in the early 1980s, the Fête de la Musique is now celebrated in
nearly 120 countries. A popular festival that brings together a multitude of actors, actresses, spectators, between organized and
improvised scenes, from amateur practices to concerts orchestrated by associations and institutions.
Finding an accommodation in Paris
Do you want to move to Paris temporarily or forever, and you don't know how to find housing? Let's see some helpful tips...
Recipe : Honey-roasted Camembert
Wanting to discover a new way to cook French cheese? Here is the recipe for honey-roasted Camembert!
French tips from AFSF learners : Margarita tells you her tips to learn French language
This week, Margarita shares with you her French learning journey with some practice tips.
"Quand j’ai commencé mon apprentissage de la langue française, tout était difficile pour moi: la grammaire, la prononciation, la
conversation et l'écoute - toutes les nuances de la langue..."
French tips from AFSF students: Kim shares her tips to learn the French language
Kim, a French learner in an advanced level class at the AFSF, shares some of her good habits with you to improve your French skills easily each day. Bonus: she wrote her tips in French! So let's practice like her.
En Vadrouille 7 - Centre Val-de-Loire
In this podcast we like to go off the beaten tracks. That's why we will talk with Laura Capazza Durand, the current president of the gallery Capazza. A special place in the lands of Sologne, into the woods, dedicated to contemporary art.
Les châteaux de la Loire
Discover the renowned castles of the Loire. Did you know that the area immediately surrounding the Loire River is home to over 300 châteaux (castles)?
Summer Reading on Culturethèque
The 7th annual Partir en Livre series of events takes place throughout France, from June 30 to July 25, 2021, around the theme “Mer et merveilles” (Sea and wonders). Conveniently timed with the completion of the school year, this annual celebration keeps reading top of mind as children head off on summer vacations with their families.
France's borders reopening
Foreigners and French people are waiting so much for the borders to reopen this summer! Fortunately, the country has planned this reopening in several steps.
Recipe: Tarte Tatin
Looking for a new gourmet way to cook your apples? Let us introduce you to Tarte Tatin! This dessert is originating from Centre-Val de Loire
and was invented according to the legend by two sisters living in the region: Caroline and Stéphanie Tatin. This is how this cake took their
name to be called tarte Tatin!
Frameline Festival
This festival is also known as the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Their mission is to highlight LGBTQ+ cinema in the Bay Area and accross the world. For the Pride Month, AFSF presents you 2 movies promoted on Frameline...
Learning French in a group setting
Have you considered what a group course can bring to you ?
Here is a sample of what students say about what they like in their (online) French group courses at the Alliance Française de San
Francisco.
Recipe: Clafoutis
Looking for a delicious dessert made with seasonal fruits? Let us introduce you to Clafoutis.
Gustave Flaubert Bicentennial on Culturethèque
The year 2021 marks the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Gustave Flaubert, one of France’s most famous and influential writers, and the leader of the literary realism movement. Discover many of Flaubert’s renowned books and publications on the Culturethèque e-library.
San Francisco Documentary Festival
On the occasion of San Francisco Documentary Festival, the AFSF co-presents Laura Lamanda's "Lost and Found in
Paris"(2020)!
"It's a never-ending flow. All day long, people come to the reception desk at the Lost and Found Office. They want to retrieve their
belongings, they're in a hurry. But..."
Virtual Transatlantic Symposium
June 7-9, the Office for Science and Technology of the Embassy of France in the United States, in partnership with the Global Council for Science and Environment (GCSE), will lead a virtual symposium focused on sharing the environmental work of leading French and American universities and research organizations.
Recette - Le poulet basquaise
The "poulet basquaise" is a culinary speciality originating from the traditional cuisine of the Basque country. It is recognized in particular thanks to the colours of the dish which are the same to the colours of the Basque flag (green, white and red).
Paris Capital of Fashion
Paris, the French capital, is known worldwide as the capital of fashion. Why has this city become the capital of fashion and not another?
Paris – Ville de Lumière sur Culturethèque
Explore a host of titles with plots centered around Paris for readers of all ages available on the AFSF Culturethèque e-library. If you find yourself daydreaming about the City of Light, picking up a book set in Paris might be the best solution for your yearning.Bonne Lecture sur Paris !
En Vadrouille 6 - L'Île-de-France
En Vadrouille meets with the parisian fashion house Zyga: Stéfanie Rivière, model maker; Brigitte Galves, stylist, as well as Laura Pianko, communications director. A shock team that puts the spotlight on the fashion capital.
Virtual visits in Paris
Do you want to visit Paris but you can not travel at the moment due to Covid-19? We invite you to discover 3 famous Parisian monuments through virtual tours while waiting for the reopening of the borders!
"Say très good" - where can one find good smoked meat or poutine in the Bay Area ?
Wanna discover some of the Bay’s Area food hidden gems?! Let's do it with Say Très Good! A concept born with 3 French friends and food lovers, who decided to support small hidden food gems located in the Bay Area.
Recipe: Aligot
A French alternative to Mac & Cheese? L'aligot is a dish made of Tomme cheese and smashed potatoes. Take a look at this easy recipe from Auvergne.
Occitania
This region of the South of France attracts many people from all around the world and is full of traditions and customs. Toulouse,
Montpellier, Carcassonne, Nîmes are some of the main cities you may have heard of.
Regional languages in France
Do you know that people speak specific regional languages in several regions of France, also more commonly called “patois”? Although these regional languages are not considered official languages, they are taught in schools where the dialect is spoken.
En Vadrouille 5 - L'Occitanie
Occitania is the third most visited region in France! It has 8 UNESCO sites, including: Cirque de Gavarnie, les Cévennes, Gorges du Tarn, Albi, Canal du Midi, Pont du Gard...Do you know about them?
Perfume Masterclass
To discover more about perfume, its making or significations, the AFSF receives Anastasia Sokolow, founder of French Perfume House, Sulékó.
Discover the Parisian Métro
The popular Paris Métro theme returns to the national Alliance Française stage this Spring, with a focus on the Métro’s influence on the arts.
Benjamin Piat private session for the release of his album "Eldorado"
Exclusive encounter with the artist Benjamin Piat for the release of "Eldorado"
En Vadrouille 4 - La Bourgogne
Meet the master chef Jean-Michel Lorain to discuss about Burgundian gastronomy and his success carreer!
En Vadrouille 3 - La Nouvelle-Aquitaine
La Nouvelle-Aquitaine - Un savoir-faire viticole.
Talking about wine when making a podcast about the French regions is obvious! The question is more to know which region to spotlight. Well,
we have chosen the Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with the wines of Bordeaux!
En Vadrouille 2...Sud
This podcast leads you to the South region of France, especially in the big city of Marseille! Did you know about this terre de cinéma?
En Vadrouille 1- Normandie
Let's return today to the History of France with a commemoration of the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944.
French Gastronomy
In 2011, after the inscription of the repas gastonomique des Français (gastronomic meals of the French) to the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, the Fête de la Gastronomie
La Semaine des Médias sur Culturethèque
A great way to practice reading French, learning vocabulary, and finding out what’s going on in the world is to read the news in French. The short story news format along with the engaging photography and graphics can make it a great alternative to reading complete novels.
M. Georges Vieux
Black History Month
Black History Month celebrates the contributions of black culture throughout history and in many fields - political, literary, scientific and more.
World NGO Day
"It is only right that, on just one day, the world should celebrate NGOs and thank them for the tremendous work that they do." - Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development
Michel de Bedoya
Michel de Bedoya specializes in French education for non-native speakers. For over 25 years he has taught students of all ages and all
levels. Whether it’s children who are just beginning their language studies, teens preparing for their Bac, adults hoping to develop their
conversational skills, or seniors preparing for a holiday in French wine country—Michel has the skills and techniques to advance their
French language knowledge. No matter where you are in your studies, Michel believes that learning French should be fun! By incorporating
games, music, film, literature or current events, when students can open their minds and let down their guard, it opens the language centers
of the brain and allows their language mastery to flourish. If you attend one of his classes, you can expect good conversation, good times,
and good progress with your French learning!
When he’s not teaching French at AFSF and other Bay Area Schools, Michel is the master of sound design behind Gringo
Starr Productions.
With many years of experience as a producer, sound engineer, composer and touring musician, Michel has the musical chops to create the
perfect soundtrack to any multimedia piece. He is currently working on the production of “Mister Michel”, a musical/animated project to
teach French through original songs.
Noemie Herail
Executive
Director
Olivier Walty
With more than 10 years of teaching experience in education of FLE (French as a foreign language), learning is focused on grammar, vocabulary and a lot of cultural content. I also encourage active oral comprehension and participation in the classroom. I believe that even beginners can gain the means to strike up a conversation in French within the first 24 hours of tuition and that you can only learn a language by learning the culture of the country and its people. I was born in Champagne but studied cinema in Paris and British/American History and Literature in Nice. I have a passion for cinema, literature, music (electronic and jazz) and painting. When I am not teaching, sending emails to students to perfect their French or prepare my classes, you will see me composing music, drawing, reading or even working on my needlepoint (it soothes me). Gardez l’esprit ouvert et tournez votre coeur vers l’autre!
Emmanuel Nado
Frederico Fellini once said “A different language is a different vision of life”)
Originally from Cote d’Ivoire, I lived in Lille, where I studied photojournalism at the Ècole Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille. I returned to Cote d’Ivoire where I worked for the country’s major daily newspaper Fraternité Matin for 10 years. then I moved to the United States to Antioch University in Yellow Springs where I studied business management and communication. Upon graduating I moved to California to study broadcast journalism and worked in radio media in Cupertino and San Jose as producer and host of a bilingual (English French) international radio program for several years. I have been living in the bay area since the mid 80s. The bay area has many awesome places with beautiful landscapes, the air is clean, so much to do and see. I took on an education career to teach social studies and French and for 15 years I taught in Sunnyvale Public School District.
In 2005 I founded a French club in the south bay cities of Sunnyvale and Cupertino because I am a strong believer in international education and firmly believe in the power of language to change the world and help people find common ground. I have retired now from public school teaching, but my passion for teaching French remains one of the most fulfilling things I love to do. Because I believe that people who speak two of more languages perform better educationally and the acquired language skills translate into opportunities in the business world and in private life. It is exciting to see students of diverse nationality and cultural backgrounds at the Alliance Française of San Francisco thriving. Whether you are a beginner,intermediate or an advance speaker, French is a beautiful living language and it is a lot of fun. I was a member of the teaching team at the Alliance Française of Santa Clara and the San Jose International Language Institute. Beside my work as an educator, I produce and host a world radio program here in San Francisco for NPR affiliate radio KALW. In my spare time I like to go for a promenade in various cities of the bay or go for a drive faraway from the cities. I love playing tennis,(always 2 rackets in the trunk of my car) I enjoy outdoor activities, dancing, travels and I am an avid reader of mystery, science fiction, all that deals with arts and literature.
Have great fun!
Arya Kamangar
A lifelong Francophile, Arya nurtured his reverence for French literature at Middlebury College, where he earned a doctorate in modern languages. He wrote his dissertation on characterization through body language in Proust’s In Search of Lost Time. Now in his seventh year of teaching at the Alliance Française, Arya’s always happy to suggest a book for you to read.
M. Alex S. Rohrbach
Mme. Dori Bonn