Like French food or wine or language?

If you like French culture, you should know about the local chapter of Alliance Francaise. It's a language school with classes taught by native French speakers for those that aren't looking for college credit or final exams. I've been taking classes for a couple of years (there are at least two other students on the forum) and have enjoyed learning the language and meeting some really interesting people. Besides the weekly classes, we have wine tastings; dinners at Le Relais; one-time classes in English on cheese, the Paris Metro, French for travelers; connections to exchange programs, lots more.
One way to check it out is to join the Club de Conversation group at J. Gumbos on Frankfort on the 4th Tuesday of each Monday - next one is 4/22. We start around 7 pm and go on and on. More details at http://www.aflouisville.org/af_conversation.htm. It's free.
If you want to take classes, our next semester starts the week of May 5 (just after Derby). Mostly we have French classes, but there's an introductory Arabic class as well. Class info at http://www.aflouisville.org/af_class_schedule.htm.
A bientot.

Alliance Française de Louisville
Suite 214
10507 Timberwood Circle
Louisville, KY 40223
afschool@bellsouth.net
Phone: 502 327-8529
Fax: 502 327-8065

...(there's at least one other student on the forum)...

Qui est-ce que l'autre etudiant, Monsieur?

Je crois que tu sais, mon ami.
How are you doing, Jay? You should come to the spring AFL dinner, it's only $45 for a nice dinner at Le Relais, go to http://www.aflouisville.orgto sign up.

We won't be able to make the spring dinner this Friday, but I've marked the J. Gumbos event.

(BTW, your fellow board member Sharon S. is ma belle soeur - petit monde, non? )

[Robin Garr]

...(there's at least one other student on the forum)...

Qui est-ce que l'autre etudiant, Monsieur?

Make that "at least two" ... I took several semesters intermediate a few years ago, when they were at the Clifton Center. Very useful to me, it not only improved my tourist French but, somewhat to my surprise, kicked up my comprehension of Italian as well.

I'm interested in the J. Gumbo sessions ... glad Ward mentioned that.

Your chance to parlez francais is tomorrow night 5/27 at Heine Bros at Gardiner Lane shopping center (we've moved from J. Gumbo's), details below. We meet about 7 pm, but come when you can.

NEW LOCATION FOR CLUB DE CONVERSATION
The Club de Conversation is changing headquarters! Our next Club de Conversation will meet on May 27th at Heine Brothers' Coffee. 3060 Bardstown Rd in Gardiner Lane shopping center. An iced coffee on a hot Summer night, doesn't that sound good? A la prochaine!
Club de conversation always meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month. For more information, contact Eric Semet at esemet[at]aol.com or Charlie Pooser at clpooser[at]ius.edu.

The Alliance Francaise of Louisville is entering fall with a lot of new offerings. First, we have a new director, so we'll be more organized. Second, we have a lot of language classes - nearly all are French, but we do have an Arabic class and it's worth noting our Les Petites Amis classes for children as young as 3. And third, for the wine and food lovers we have cooking classes and one on chocolate.
Regular classes start next Monday 8/25, but the special classes are later in the year. Don't wait, though, they will fill up.
Don't forget our Club de Conversation the fourth Tuesday of the month at Heine Bros on Gardiner Lane - next one's 8/26.
One more thing, we have a Wine Tasting event every year. Plan to join us at Whitehall on Valentine's Day 2009.
OK, one more and I'm really done - we are starting a partnering program to give our members discounts and promote our little non-profit through for-profit businesses. Our first is an antiques shop, but we'll be talking to restaurants and wine shops, too. Our members are diverse, but we all like French culture and food and drink.
More info available at http://www.aflouisville.org
Ward

Update - Alliance Francaise is now advertising on Louisville Hotbytes - see the home page. Thanks, Robin.
Also, we have a booth at the Worldfest this weekend, come by and say bonjour.
We have some cooking classes now with lots more special wine/food-related offerings in the works. We also are planning to do a kids summer camp.

Bonjour all,
I am writing again about the Alliance Francaise of Louisville (AFL). We have moved to a new school location at 173 Sears Avenue (Miraflores Building), Suite LL079. Still have the same web site http://www.aflouisville.org, but a new phone 897-9800 and a new curriculum that will adapt even more to the students' learning levels. We still have the same outstanding group of native-French-speaking teachers that will teach you the language, but also some cultural information that you won't find in books or tapes.
Our fall term starts Monday 9/14 - classes for all levels, including children, plus private lessons; see http://www.aflouisville.org.
We'll have a booth at WorldFest on the Belvedere on Labor Day weekend - come by and say hi - we won't make you speak French.
If you do want to parlez francais, come to our Club de Conversation evenings that are held at 7 pm at the Heine Brothers on Gardiner Lane on the fourth Tuesday of the month (next one is 8/25). Contact Charlie Pooser clpooser@ius.edu for more info.
Thanks,
Ward Wilson
ward@iglou.com