Fall 2022

French Conversation

With Cathy Varela

6 week session, starting October 20
Thursdays - 4:00 - 5:30 pm
Museum L-A, 35 Canal street, Lewiston

Did you grow up listening to your parents or grandparents speaking French? Do you speak Franglish? Would you like to reconnect with your roots thanks to the French language? Come practice and improve your speaking skills in this exclusive class for the Maine Franco community. Intermediate and advanced levels are welcomed. The class will be conducted in French. We will choose together our weekly themes such as sharing stories about our childhood growing up in Maine, immigration in Maine, French speaking communities in Maine, Quebec history or current affairs/events in Québec or in Maine , etc … . All of this will take place in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

Please contact Cathy Varela with any questions varelac@rsu5.org

YOGA

With Chantal Joubi
All levels

6 week session, starting September 19
Mondays - 5 - 6 pm on Zoom

Yin Yoga is a slow and meditative form of yoga. You will hold postures for a longer period of time while breathing and relaxing into them. This class will help you stretch and relax your mind and body. The class is taught in French and is for all levels.

French Language and Conversation Through Music

With Susie Pollard
Intermediate/Advanced B2 level

8 week session, starting September 19
Mondays - 6:30 - 7:30 pm on Zoom

In this lively conversation class taught by French teacher and musician, Susie Pollard, we will delve into different French music genres and periods from varied francophone countries. You’ll practice new vocabulary, touch on important cultural influences and musical icons, and you’ll most likely learn some fun slang along the way!

Quebecois Literature

With Mary Okin
Advanced (C1) level

6 week session, starting September 20
Tuesdays - 12:00 - 1:15 pm on Zoom

In this six-week discussion class we will read and discuss one of the classic works of Quebec feminist literature, Dans un gant de fer, tome 1, la joue gauche by Claire Martin. We will also focus our discussions of this text on what it reveals about Quebec history and culture.

Absolute Beginners (A1)

With Michael Klimov

8 week session, starting September 20
Tuesdays - 6 - 7:30 pm on Zoom

Are you ready to kick-start your French education? First time learning French? Planning a trip to France, to Québec, Africa? Maybe you would like to read “Les Misérables” as it was written? Or perhaps hoping to watch a film in French? Maybe looking forward to talking to your mémère or pépère in their own language. Get an introduction to the basics of the French language and the Francophone world in a fun environment! Learn basic vocabulary and French sentences to introduce yourself and interact in everyday situations. Focus on real-life conversation from the start! There are as many reasons to learn French as there are students of this beautiful language. Students will also learn some French grammar and structures as well as discover aspects of French culture.

We will use “Saison 1 A1” - Textbook - Éditions Didier - ISBN 978-2-278-08265-0 (Available on Amazon. Not included in registration).

Conversation on a French Film

With Karen Girondel
B1 level

7 week session, starting September 20
Tuesdays - 7 - 8:30 pm
(Class in presence at IWC, 24 Prebble st, 3rd floor, Portland)

Film transports us to another place, another time and another life; it provides language learners with rich audio-visual context, along with dynamic vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, authentic dialogue, in addition to cultural and historical references. This course will feature presentation of vocabulary and some key grammatical structures which students will practice in the context of the film, as well as open-ended exercises, activities, discussions, and role-playing designed to help improve proficiency. Listening and speaking skills will be emphasized in this class rather than reading and writing. This course is for you if you know some basic French, understand some of what you hear when spoken at normal rate of speed, and want the opportunity to speak in a context that will encourage increased vocabulary and grammatical accuracy without lists of words and tedious written exercises. We will study one film through the course of 7 weeks.

Café des artistes

With Manon Whittlesey
All levels of French and Artistry are welcome.

5 week session
Dates: Sept 14, 21, 28, Oct 5, 12
Wednesdays, 12 - 1:30 pm on Zoom

Engage in the creative process while sharpening your senses - en Français! Using watercolor and mixed media, we'll explore technical skills to a backdrop of French music and themed drinks: a real multisensory experience.

Heritage Classe ( for francophone high schoolers)

With Alexis Kanamugire

8 week session, starting September 21
Wednesdays - 4:30 - 6 pm
(Class in presence at IWC, 24 Prebble st, 3rd floor, Portland)

This class is open to French- speaking young people, ages 14 to 18, (Grades 9 -12), who do not want to lose their French proficiency. It will be taught by an experienced francophone teacher, in a fun and welcoming atmosphere. It will also help students to prepare for the Seal of Biliteracy, by practicing speaking, writing, listening and reading skills.

Cinema- focus on French history

With Mary Okin
(B2/C1/C2)

8 week session, starting Septembre 22
Thursdays - 12:00 - 1:15 pm on Zoom

In this French film discussion class, students will be asked to watch a French film each week and then we will discuss the film together in a guided discussion in French. For this session, we will focus on six films that represent various time periods in French history. In our discussions, we will cover the important themes in each film through the context of French history and society over the last several centuries. The films are all available on either Netflix or on Amazon Prime.

Let’s discover Francophone Africa!

With Willy Tshibangu and Alexis Kanamugire
(B1/B2/C1)

8 week session, starting September 22
Thursdays - 6:00 - 7:30 pm on Zoom

This advanced intermediate French course will help students refine their French language skills. This conversational course is designed to help students improve their oral expression in French as well as their comprehension of written texts in French.

Also, this course includes a strong cultural content whose main objective is the discovery and understanding of the African Francophonie. We invite you to take a virtual trip to French-speaking Africa and to deepen your knowledge of the French-speaking world through films, reading, music and cartography.

We advise you to purchase: “La culture francophone- Le monde à l'écoute" (Hackett Publishing Co.) - (Available on Amazon. Not included in registration).

Advanced Beginners (A2)

With Charlie Hicks

8 week session, starting September 22
Thursdays - 6:30 - 8 pm on Zoom

This course is a continuation of the first session (Grand Beginners). It will also be suitable for students who have some basic knowledge of French.

Here are the skills required to attend the course:

• You can greet someone and respond to greetings.
• You can ask how someone is and tell how you are.
• You can spell your first name, last name and other words.
• You can ask questions about the day and date such as "What's the date today?" or "What's your birthday?"
• You can introduce yourself and talk briefly about your family and pets, what you like to do or what you don't like to do.
• You can ask someone questions about their family, pets, or ask what they like to do.

We will review these concepts in our first class and continue to learn French (grammar, conjugation and culture) focusing on oral communication in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
We will continue to use the French method Saison 1 A1 - Editions Didier - ISBN 978-2-278-08265-0 (Available on Amazon. Not included in registration).