Our next 8-week session: 
starting the week of September 4, 2018.

Please call us at (415) 362-3666 to enroll in the class of your choice.

Visit us at www.frenchclass.com 

Student Quote of the Month

“The French Class tackles the challenge of teaching adults a new language in an atmosphere both challenging and light hearted. En avant!” 

Robert S.

Dites-le parfaitement / Say it perfectly

C’est exactement ce que je pense aussi
It’s exactly what I think, too.

Je ne suis pas tout à fait de votre avis.
I don’t completely agree with you.

RENT OUR LARGE WORK SPACE

Perfect for meetings, classes, seminars, workshops and conferences. Up to 25 people. Very convenient downtown location. Great rates.

NEW!!!
FREE CO-WORKING SPACE -
DOWNTOWN, SAN FRANCISCO

FREE co-working space every Monday from 9 am to 7 pm at The French Class (one block from Union Square). For professionals who need a quiet place to work and connect with other professionals.

Please call (415) 362-3666 for more information.

IMPRESSIONISTS IN LONDON: FRENCH PAINTERS IN EXILE 1870-1904

LE PETIT PALAIS

By Karen Marin, freelance writer living in Paris and former student of The French Class.

Following on the heels of the London Tate Britain, the Petit Palais is now hosting Impressionists in London: French Painters in exile 1870-1904. This title is a bit misleading since the exhibit is neither limited to impressionists nor to painters. At the heart of the matter are the artists who were forced to flee France when the Second Empire fell after the disastrous Franco-Prussian War. Those who could leave France often sought exile in London.  

The exhibit begins with tableaux depicting the aftermath of the war: the Paris Commune, a horrific, bloody period in French history. Once in London, the painters shifted their themes to the peace of the countryside and the festive social events of high society.  James Tissot (born Jacques-Joseph) not only anglicized his name, but also adapted his style to please the British public. His paintings focus on urban life and read like fashion plates. Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro both met the famous art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel in London, the man who was instrumental in building their careers and keeping them financially afloat for years. Though neither painter could boast the commercial success of Tissot, they were both inspired by London. Monet in fact dedicated a full series of paintings to the Houses of Parliament, depicting the same subject numerous times, at different hours of the day under various weather conditions.  The exhibit features five works from the series of nineteen, gathered from around the world, hanging shoulder to shoulder: a marvelous opportunity to appreciate these masterpieces.

The exhibit closes with André Derain’s fauvist version of the Houses of Parliament.  Markedly different from Monet, the washes of color blurred by a foggy climate are replaced by a colorful, unnatural palette with a luminous sky untouched by inclement weather.

Until October 14, 2018. 

LE PETIT PALAIS

Le Petit Palais (the small palace), Avenue Winston Churchill in the 8^th arrondissement is the Fine Arts Museum of the city of Paris. Like the Eiffel Tower, it was built in 1900 for L’Exposition universelle and was kept as part of the many Parisian landmarks. Unlike the Tour Eiffel, this building was in fact meant to stay and become a permanent fine arts museum. Its monumental entrance is topped by a dome and framed by free-standing columns with two wings. The courtyard includes a garden whose purpose was to provide visitors with a relaxing space away from the crowd of the Exposition. The museum includes two levels with a permanent collection and special exhibits.

FRENCH SERIES AND MOVIES AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX

The Forest

The authors spend no time developing their characters and go right into the disappearance of a teenager in the woods the day the new chief of police is appointed. In this small French town where everybody knows everybody, only the French teacher and the new police chief step up to treat the vanishing of young Jennifer as foul play.

The Break

A psychological thriller. A dedicated police investigator faces the challenges of investigating a murder in a small town where everybody has a secret.

The Climb

A light and sweet comedy based on a true story. A young man from La Courneuve, a poor suburb of Paris, tells a woman he likes, he would climb Mount Everest to have a date with her. And he does. Great views of Nepal and Everest.

To each, her own

Also a light comedy about Jewish family life and same sex wedding plans, with (predictable) twists and clichés. The first scene will teach you how to sing Happy Birthday in French in case you don’t know the French version already.

ROBERT DOISNEAU:
L’ALSACE APRES LA GUERRE (1945)

Presented in French by Renée Morel
Best for levels 6 to 8 - $25

This conference is offered three times at The French Class:

Tuesday, September 4, from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Thursday, September 6, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Saturday, September 8, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

In the summer of 1945, French photographer Robert Doisneau (1912-1994) went to Alsace and took subdued images that do not show picturesque fairy-tale villages nor the savage obliteration of vineyards and valleys. Instead, they offer us the daily activities of people slowly rebuilding their lives after the war: public pride in both their national and provincial identities, private sorrows and quiet heroism. These moving, melancholy or buoyant photos were discovered only after Doisneau’s death. 

Please REGISTER AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE: (415) 362-3666

VAN GOGH AND GAUGUIN IN ARLES (1888)

Presented in French by Renée Morel
Best for levels 6 to 8 - $25

This conference is offered three times at The French Class:

Tuesday September 11, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm

Thursday September 13, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Saturday September 15, from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

In 1888, van Gogh convinced Gauguin to stay with him in Arles (Provence). For an “excessively electric” period of two months these tormented souls painted side by side, doing identical motifs, indoors and outdoors, an amazing output, yet rarely reproduced. However, as winter approached, their aesthetic quarrels intensified and the tension of sharing close quarters became too great. On Christmas Eve, a distraught van Gogh threatened Gauguin with a knife, causing him to flee. Gauguin never forgave van Gogh, who committed suicide nineteen months later.

Please REGISTER AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE: (415) 362-3666

GUSTAVE CAILLEBOTTE (1848-1894)

Presented in French by Laurence Delahaye
Best for levels 5 to 8 - $25

This conference is offered twice at The French Class:

Wednesday, September 12, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm

Saturday September 15, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm

The Cimetière de Picpus, the largest private cemetery in Paris, contains the remnants of more that 1,300 victims of the Terror, guillotined and thrown in mass graves. Discover its history (La Fayette is buried there) as well as that of the Neo-Classical Chapelle expiatoire, built over the first resting place of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, a monument Chateaubriand dubbed "possibly the most remarkable one in Paris.Painter, art collector, patron of the arts, organizer of exhibits for the impressionists, naval architect, sailor, stamp collector and gardener. Discover the many aspects of the life and the work of Gustave Caillebotte, a major figure of the impressionist movement. 

Please REGISTER AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE: (415) 362-3666

UPCOMING FIELD TRIP AT THE MUSEUM

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to talk about art, in French!

LES IMPRESSIONNISTES
AT THE LEGION OF HONOR

A tour in French, presented by Laurence Delahaye
Best for levels 5 to 8 - $25, museum entrance included

This field trip is offered twice:

Wednesday September 26, from 12:30 to 2:00 pm

Saturday September 29, from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

This field trip is limited to 7 participants. Please call in advance to reserve your place.

This is a great opportunity to talk, in French, about famous Impressionism work and to practice your French in a beautiful setting.

Please REGISTER AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE: (415) 362-3666

Rent an apartment in Paris

Great locations, rates and management. The French Class students get a discount.
Contact: rothray@rothray.com

Un verbe à la fois!

One verb at a time!

See what you can say with a very simple verb…

SPEAK FRENCH AT HOME
WITH THE FRENCH CLASS

You can learn or practice your French face to face with one of our teachers on SKYPE or FACETIME, just like in our classroom. Skype is FREE and VERY easy to install and use. 
Visit www.frenchclass.com for more details and rates, or call us at
(415) 362-3666 to schedule a free session on Skype or Facetime.

Trouvez la préposition correcte 

1. Cette maison appartient _____ mes parents.

2. Je ne pourrai pas participer _____ cette réunion.

3. Elle est entrée _____ la salle avec 30 minutes de retard.

4. Elle est sortie _____ la salle à 19 heures.

5. Vous habitez ici _____ combien de temps?

6. Il va chercher du travail _____ demain.

7. Je viens juste _____ revenir _____ Paris.

8. _____ Sartre, la liberté est un choix.

Voir les réponses plus bas. See answers below

Faites défiler le texte vers le bas ou cliquez sur la clé pour voir les réponses.
Scroll down or click the key to see the answers.

A Simple Fact To Learn More French

If you learn one simple sentence in French every day, you will learn 365 French expressions in a year.  For example: 

C’est facile à dire.
It’s easy to say.

Read The French Class Newsletter and learn hundreds of expressions per year, for free! Keep reading! Keep learning!

Quelques phrases utiles /
A few useful sentences

Je suis à Paris depuis une semaine.
I’ve been in Paris for a week.

Je vais y rester pendant une semaine de plus.
I’m going to stay one more week.

Un petit peu de grammaire /
A little bit of grammar

Le subjonctif

Je suis bien content(e) que tu sois venu(e)/vous soyez venu(e).
I’m really glad that you came.

Elle a demandé que tout le monde se réunisse.
She asked that everybody gather.

Ça m’étonne qu’il ne soit pas encore arrivé
I’m surprised that he hasn’t arrived yet.

Que personne ne parte!
Nobody leaves!

Je regrette qu’il soit parti avant que le spectacle soit fini.
I’m sorry he left before the end of the show.

Visit our website www.frenchclass.com and find a class for your level. Don’t hesitate to call us at (415) 362-3666 if you have any questions regarding the appropriate level for you or if you would like a free assessment.

UN AUTRE / D’AUTRES / DES AUTRES

Vous pouvez garder mon stylo, j’en ai un autre.
You can keep my pen. I have another one.

Je n’ai pas d’autres solutions que celles que j’ai déjà proposées.
I don’t have any other solutions beside the ones I already offered.

Asseyez-vous les une en face des autres!
Sit facing each other!

Still not clear? Hire a French tutor for 2 cents per day ($7.30 for a whole year). See information about My French 2 cents in this newsletter or call us at (415) 362-3666.

Your Victory of the Month

Keeping a positive attitude while learning will help you learn faster and will also make learning so much more pleasant! Save a few minutes every day to open your French book and review what you just learned. Set small goals. For example, learn how to say one sentence:
J’ai déjà acheté mon billet d’avion.
I already bought my plane ticket.

YOUR OWN FRENCH TUTOR,
FOR 2 CENTS PER DAY: $7.30 PER YEAR

During the course of your studies in French, you often have questions such as: why is this article used, which pronoun is correct or should I use the subjunctive in this sentence? The French Class created an easy and very cheap program to answer your questions. We call it: My French 2 cents. 

Here is how it works in 4 easy steps:

1. pay $7.30 (2¢ per day!) for a one-year subscription to this amazing program 

2. receive a welcome email 

3. send your questions to the email address you are given

4. receive a prompt and personal detailed answer. 

It is that easy!

THE FRENCH CLASS BOOK CLUB

The French Class book club meets once a month, on Mondays, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Books are chosen by the members of the book club, and it takes one or two months to read and discuss a book, depending on the length. We have read many authors, classics as well as contemporary, such as Balzac, Colette, Marguerite Yourcenar, Marcel Proust, Irène Nemirovski, Patrick Modiano, Amélie Nothomb, Franck Thilliez or Tatiana de Rosnay.
Please call us at (415) 362-3666 or send a message to dominiquebremond@aol.com if you would like to join us.

Les réponses :

Trouvez la préposition correcte

1. Cette maison appartient à mes parents. This house belongs to my parents.

2. Je ne pourrai pas participer à cette réunion. I won’t be able to participate in this meeting.

3. Elle est entrée dans la salle avec 30 minutes de retard. She came in the room 30 minutes late.

4. Elle est sortie de la salle à 19 heures. She came out of the room at 7pm.

5. Vous habitez ici depuis combien de temps? How long have you been living here?

6. Il va chercher du travail dès demain. He’s going to look for a job as early as tomorrow.

7. Je viens juste de revenir de Paris. I just came back from Paris.

8. Chez/Selon Sartre, la liberté est un choix. According to Sartre, freedom is a choice.

remaining EIGHT-WEEK SESSIONS IN 2018:

- September 4 (Tuesday) to October 27

- October 29 to December 22

ALL-DAY ADVANCED LEVEL
INTENSIVE COURSE IN 2018

Thursday December 27 from 10 am to 4 pm. $119 or $99 If you sign up before December 15, 2018.

FAQS about our intensives:

- Are the levels offered separately?

Yes. You sign up for the intensive course corresponding to your current level. Levels offered are usually from 1 to 7. We recommend a free assessment of your level before you sign up. Assessments may be provided over the phone or on Skype or Facetime if you don’t have the time to come to the school.

- Do I have to sign up in advance?

Signing up in advance is highly recommended so we can offer the level and time you want. Groups with fewer than 4 students are canceled 3 days before the intensive. In order to sign up, you need to call, register and give a credit number or remit payment. 

- What do we do during the intensive? 

The intensive courses focus on conversation and oral comprehension, but we also review grammar relevant for each level, practice pronunciation, and introduce a lot of useful vocabulary for everyday conversation.

- Do I have to attend the entire intensive?

Not necessarily. If there is space, you may also attend and pay per day.

- What happens if I register and cannot attend? 

We are sorry we cannot offer refunds or credits after the no refund date announced on our web site. We cannot make exceptions to our policy.

- If you purchased your class on CourseHorse, our cancellation policy applies to your purchase. If you need help canceling or have any questions, please visit CourseHorse (link: https://coursehorse.com/contact-us).

Learn more French everyday on our two Facebook pages

French Lessons Online

You moved away?
Please keep in touch, keep speaking French!

• You can continue studying French with us on line with Skype. Learn more about it.
• You may still benefit from reading new quick tips every month. 

Listen for FREE