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  • MEMBERSHIP
  • Contact Us
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  • Special Events
  • Language Workshop
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Language Workshop

Our free language workshops for AF DuPage members give you the opportunity to brush up on specific language topics.   These workshops are organized on a volunteer basis by AF DuPage member Michelle Henson. 


Language  Workshop is held on the first Tuesday of the month, September through May, from 7-8 pm. Workshops will be held online using Zoom.


Please use the the button on the right to sign up to receive the Zoom link for the workshops.


Materials to prepare for each class will be posted below.


If you are not currently an Alliance Française DuPage member, you can can join by visiting our membership page to sign up online or download a PDF membership form to mail in with your check.


Why Learn French?

With 321 million French speakers worldwide, French ranks as the fifth most spoken language in the world.  Africa alone is home to 62% of French speakers.  There are currently 132 million students learning French or taking classes in French.  It is the fourth language on the internet.  Learn more about the francophone world.

Sign up for a French class today

class preparation materials

May 6, 2025

Theme: les fleurs


Grammar topic: accord des adjectifs de couleur


Brise-glace:    Listen to two different versions of the song « Mon amie la rose ». Prepare to share your thoughts about both, including which one you prefer and why.


  • Version 1: Françoise Hardy - Mon amie la rose (with lyrics on screen) 


  • Version 2:  Manal et Slimane - Mon amie la rose


Grammar exercise links:  (You do NOT need to make a login/account to do these exercises.  Each exercise contains a button at the bottom, the yellow "check my test", to check your answers. ) 

 

  • Exercise 1 --  Accord - adjectifs de couleur (with explanations in French)


  • Exercise 2 -- Accord des adjectifs de couleur (with explanations in French,  some overlap with first exercise explanations) 


  • Exercise 3 --  Accord des adjectifs de couleur (no explanations) 


Reading & Listening: The listening is a short video about a floral art festival. The reading is a poem this time, which will test just how many flowers you know in French.  Prepare to discuss both the reading & listening in the breakout rooms.

 

  • Link 1 (listening):  Syam: 1er festival d'art floral à  la Villa Palladienne. Video has auto-generated French captions available (click CC on the bottom part of the video). You can also choose to follow along with the transcript. In the description below the video, click on "more" at the end of the description, then scroll down and click "show transcript".
  • Link 2 (reading): Poem - Les fleurs que j'aime par Louise Colet .


Bring any questions you have about these homework items.  We will be discussing the listening and reading items in breakout rooms.

At the end, we will have a dictée, of course :)


(Image:  Carnaval de Nice - Batailles de Fleurs )


April 1, 2025

Theme:  Le printemps 

Grammar topic:   bon/bonne, meilleur/mieux 


Brise-glace:   Quel tableau est le meilleur, à votre avis ? Look at the paintings in the link below and decide which one is 'le meilleur'. Prepare to share which one you chose and why!


Link for paintings:   Le printemps dans l'art: 10  œuvres de saison.


Grammar exercise links:  (You do NOT need to make a login/account to do these exercises.  Each exercise contains a button at the bottom, the yellow "check my test", to check your answers. ) 

 

  • Link 1:  Not an exercise, contains grammar explanations in English with numerous examples:   Bon – Bien – Meilleur – Mieux
  • Exercise 1:  no explanations, covers both bon/bonne and mieux/meilleur:  Bien, bon, mieux, meilleur
  • Exercise 2:  only covers mieux/meilleur, contains grammar notes in French:   

                 Mieux / meilleur


Reading & Listening:

Both the reading and listening contain similar information. You may choose to do just one or both.

  • Link 1 (listening):   Jules Jaluzot : créateur du Printemps et inventeur des soldes.   Video has auto-generated French captions available (click CC on the bottom part of the video). You can also choose to follow along with the transcript. In the description below the video, click on "more" at the end of the description, then scroll down and click "show transcript".


  • Link 2 (reading):    Jules JALUZOT


Bring any questions you have about these homework items.  We will be discussing the listening and reading items in breakout rooms.

At the end, we will have a dictée, of course :)


(Image: " This image was originally posted to Flickr by D&S McSpadden at https://www.flickr.com/photos/12786044@N00/14355243894. It was reviewed on 6 June 2014 by FlickreviewR and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-by-2.0.")


March 4, 2025

Theme: La Louisiane 

Grammar topic:  verbs amener, emmener, apporter, emporter


Brise-glace:  Cajun Cuisine!  Watch the video and prepare to discuss it, along with what you know about Cajun cuisine.


Link for video:  En pays Cajun, une cuisine rustique... et épicée! - YouTube

Video has auto-generated French captions available (click CC on the bottom part of the video).  You can also choose to follow along with the transcript.  In the description below the video, click on "more" at the end of the description, then scroll down and click "show transcript".


Grammar exercise links:  (You do NOT need to make a login/account to do these exercises.  Each exercise contains a button at the bottom, the yellow "check my test", to check your answers. ) 

 

  • Exercise 1 -- contains a visual with text to explain the differences between the verbs  Apporter - amener - remporter - ramener.
  • Exercise 2 -- contains a different and more detailed visual with text explanations  (r)amener, (r)apporter, (r)emporter.
  • Exercise 3 -- no explanations, emphasis on using the imperative of these verbs amener, emmener, apporter, rapporter, emporter, remporter.


Reading & Listening:

 

  • Link 1 (listening):  Semaine de la francophonie : à la Nouvelle-Orléans, le français louisianais en pleine renaissance - YouTube Video has auto-generated French captions available (click CC on the bottom part of the video). You can also choose to follow along with the transcript. In the description below the video, click on "more" at the end of the description, then scroll down and click "show transcript".
  • Link 2 (reading): Français louisianais | Le Bourdon de la Louisiane


Bring any questions you have about these homework items.  We will be discussing the listening and reading items in breakout rooms.

At the end, we will have a dictée, of course :)


(Image "By Terry Ballard - https://www.flickr.com/photos/terryballard/42089958035/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70274885)'"


February 4, 2025

 

Theme: Le citron

Grammar topic: adverbs ending in -ment


Brise-glace:    What is your favorite dish / recipe made with lemons? Prepare to discuss in French, including a detailed description of the dish and why it's your favorite. 


Grammar exercise links:  (You do NOT need to make a login/account to do these exercises.  Each exercise contains a button at the bottom, the yellow "check my test", to check your answers. )

 

  • Exercise 1 -- Explanations about formations of adverbs ending in -ment plus an exercise.
  • Exercise 2 -- Additional practice. 
  • Exercise 3 -- More practice with a little bit of explanation.  


Reading & Listening:

 

  • Link 1 (reading):   Histoire de la Fête du Citron®.

If you get stuck or want to check your comprehension, look for the "FR" in the top right corner of the page. When you click it, there will be an option for English (and Italian, if you are so inclined).

  • Link 2 (listening):   La Fête du Citron de Menton se prépare en coulisse

Video has auto-generated French captions available (click CC on the bottom part of the video). You can also choose to follow along with the transcript. In the description below the video, click on "more" at the end of the description, then scroll down and click "show transcript".

 

Bring any questions you have about these homework items. We will be discussing the reading & writing part about 'La Fête du Citron" in breakout rooms.


At the end, we will have a dictée, of course :)


(Image ""Exposition des motifs d'agrumes dans les jardins Biovès" retrieved from https://www.fete-du-citron.com/)


January 7, 2025

 

Theme:  L'hiver

Grammar topic:  prepositions en and dans


Brise-glace:  Click the link below for the music video « L'importance de l'hiver » by Débout Sur Le Zinc. The second link contains only the lyrics.  Prepare to discuss your opinion about the song, any thoughts about it, along with interpretation of its possible meaning(s).


  • Link to the music video:  L'importance de l'hiver. 
  • Link to the lyrics:  L'importance de l'hiver lyrics.


Grammar exercise links:  (You do NOT need to make a login/account to do these exercises.  Each exercise contains a button at the bottom, the yellow "check my test", to check your answers. )


  • Exercise 1 -- Basic explanations in English of the differences for 'en' and 'dans'. 
  • Exercise 2 -- No explanations, just additional practice. 
  • Exercise 3 -- More detailed explanations, in French. 


Reading: The first link is the main article, the second is a fun page of examples of the article's topic.


  • Link 1:  Pourquoi dit-on une lapalissade pour qualifier une affirmation evidente?

              Note:  to pass the "paywall" you will have to accept the cookies in order to read the article in Le Point magazine.  The alternate link below can be accessed without accepting cookies.

  • Alt. Link 1:   Lapalissade: L'origine du mot et des exemple amusants de lapalissades.
  • Link 2:  20 célèbres tautologies de la langue française 


Bring any questions you have about these homework items. We will be discussing the article and its examples in breakout rooms. Feel free to create your own example to share!

At the end, we will have a dictée, of course :)


(Image "Le Kiosque...." retrieved from Pinterest.)


December 3, 2024

Theme: Les cadeaux et les boules de Noël

Grammar topic: passé composé, part 2


  • Brise-glace:  Answers (meanings) of expressions avec donner.
  • Brise-glace:  Expressions avec donner.

 

Grammar exercise links (You do NOT need to make a login/account to use these exercises.  Each exercise contains a button at the bottom, the yellow "check my test", to check your answers):


  • Exercise 1 (medium) - irregular participles.
  • Exercise 2 (difficult) - irregular participles plus agreements.


Listening exercise (Click the blue "Ecouter (2 min)" button. A "player" with controls should pop up at the bottom of the page, where you can pause and go back/replay if needed. Click the "x1" to obtain a pop up menu with options for slowing the speed (or speeding up). 


  • Listening Exercise -  Aux origines des traditionnelles boules de Noël.
  • Transcript - Boules de Noël


Reading exercise


  •  Stella, la nouvelle boule de Noël de Meisenthal 


Bring any questions you have about these homework items.


For our "parler" breakout rooms, prepare 3 questions to ask using the irregular participles listed in exercise 1 above. These questions are just for practice, so they can be completely unrelated. You will ask your questions to your group. Be prepared to answer others' questions as well!

 

At the end, we will have a dictée (shorter than last month's)


November 12, 2024

Theme: les chaussures

Grammar topic: passé-composé, part 1


  •  Brise-glace 
  • Les expressions (pied) with translations

 

Grammar exercise links (You do NOT need to make a login/account to use these exercises.  Each exercise contains a button at the bottom, the yellow "check my test", to check your answers):


  • Niveau 1 - https://www.tolearnfrench.com/exercises/exercise-french-2/exercise-french-110107.php
  • Niveau 2 - https://www.tolearnfrench.com/exercises/exercise-french-2/exercise-french-125894.php
  • Niveau 3 - https://www.tolearnfrench.com/exercises/exercise-french-2/exercise-french-112539.php


Reading and listening exercise link:


  •  https://www.francebleu.fr/emissions/la-france-toute-une-histoire/alexis-godillot-le-franc-comtois-qui-a-revolutionne-nos-chaussures

archive

May 7, 2024

Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses devoirs le 2 avril les pronoms relatifs
  • Réponses lecture: Festival de Cannes


Print and prepare:

  • brise-glace le 7 mai 2024


Homework to do before class: 

  • Devoirs le 2 avril les pronoms relatifs
  • Lecture: Festival de Cannes
  • Directions Description d'un objet
  • Description d'un objet

 

April 2, 2024

 Print and review / Prepare:

  • Brise-glace le 2 avril 2024
  • The relative pronouns qui and que


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses: Lecture Le cinéma français
  • Réponses: Devoirs vocabulaire le 5 mars


Page to review along with answer key:

  • Pratique (bon, bien, etc.)


Homework to do before class:

  • Devoirs Vocabulaire le 5 mars
  • Lecture: Le cinéma français
  • Vidéo:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpMkGgil6n0

        (pour regarder, écouter et comprendre) 

  • Parler du cinéma en français (accompanying website):  https://nathaliefle.com/vocabulaire-cinema-en-francais/

 

March 5, 2024

 Print and review / Prepare:

  • Brise-glace le 5 mars 2024
  • Vocabulaire les films et le cinéma
  • Bon meilleur vs bien mieux


Page to review along with answer key:

  • Revised pratique le causatif
  • Réponses pratique le causatif


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses Devoirs le causatif le 6 février 2024
  • Réponses Lecture La Saint Valentin


Homework to do before class:

  • Devoirs le causatif le 6 février 2024
  • Lecture la Saint Valentin


February 6, 2024

Print and review / Prepare:

  • Brise-Glace le 6 février 2024
  • La grammaire - Faire causatif


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses devoirs le 2 janvier 2024 - vocabulaire
  • Réponses devoirs la Chanson l'Ours


Homework to do before class:

  • Devoirs le 2 janvier 2024: Vocabulaire
  • Devoirs La chanson L'Ours
  • Paroles de la chanson L'Ours

January 2, 2024

Print and review / Prepare:

  • Brise-Glace le 2 janvier 2024
  • Vocabulaire - L'Environnement et l'écologie


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses devoirs le 5 décembre 2023 - vocabulaire
  • Réponses Les Marchés de Noël 2023 à Paris 


Page to review along with answer key:

  • Pratique du pronom EN en groupes
  • Réponses pratique du pronom EN en groupes


Homework to do before class:

  • Devoirs le 5 décembre 2023 vocabulaire
  • Les marchés de Noël à Paris 

Archive

December 5, 2023

Print and Review / Prepare:

  • Le Brise-glace le 5 décembre
  • Des mots similaires mais différents


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses Devoirs le 7 novembre Les expressions de quantité
  • Réponses Devoirs le 7 novembre Le pronom EN 


Print and Review 

  • Le Pronom EN – Pratique 
  • Réponses Le Pronom EN – Pratique


Homework to do before class 

  • Devoirs le 7 novembre 2023 - Les expressions de quantité 
  • Devoirs le 7 novembre 2023 – Le pronom EN 
  • L’art en France: sculpture 

November 7, 2023

Print and Review / Prepare:

  • Le Brise-glace le 7 novembre
  • Les Expressions de quantité
  • Le Pronom EN


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  1. Réponses: Devoirs le 3 octobre
  2. Réponses: Devoirs le 3 octobre lecture


Print and Review / Prepare:

  •  Pratiquons les articles
  •  Pratiquons les articles Réponses 


Homework to do before class:  

  1.  Devoirs le 3 octobre 2023 
  2.  Devoirs le 3 octobre Lecture: Manger en Alsace 


October 3, 2023

 Print and Review / Prepare:

  • Le Brise-glace le 3 octobre
  • Comment parler de la nourriture
  • Les articles – revision
  • Conversation at a restaurant

Homework to do before class:  

  1. Vocabulaire : L’hôtel et l’hébergement
  2. Les adjectifs descriptifs
  3. Youpi! Nous avons trouvé un hôtel!

Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  1.  Vocabulaire : L’hôtel et l’hébergement
  2. Youpi! Nous avons trouvé un hôtel!

September 5, 2023

Print and Review / Prepare:

  • Brise Glace du 5 septembre 2023
  • A l'hôtel - Conversation
  • Hôtels et Hébergement

Homework:

  1. Vocabulaire : L’hôtel et l’hébergement
  2. Les adjectifs descriptifs
  3. Youpi! Nous avons trouvé un hôtel!


May 2, 2023

  Print and Review / Prepare:

  • Le Brise-glace le 2 mai 2023
  • Vocabulaire: En vacances
  • Description d’un objet
  • Directions pour la description d’un objet


Homework to do before class:

  • Devoirs: le 4 avril 2023 À la gare
  • Devoirs: le 4 avril 2023 Les phrases avec ‘si’
  • Devoirs: le 4 avril 2023 SNCF (REVISED)
  • Video - simplement pour regarder


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses Devoirs le 4 avril: À la gare
  • Réponses Les devoirs le 4 avril: Les phrases avec si
  • Réponses Devoirs le 4 avril: SNCF (REVISED)


Page to review along with answer key: 

  • Pratique 2: Les phrases avec 'si' (et les réponses)

April 4, 2023

Page to review along with answer key: 

  • Le Futur – Pratiquons! 
  • Réponses Le Futur - Pratiquons 


Homework to do before class: 

  • Devoirs: Pratiquons les phrases avec ‘si’ 
  • Lecture: La Sécheresse en France 
  • Vidéo: Écoutez et regardez (C’est tout!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVffPcyiHf8


To Print and Review / Prepare:

  • Le Brise-glace le 4 avril 2023
  • Vocabulaire – Prendre le train
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Lfc4Fasuw


Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses les phrases avec ‘si’ : pratiquons
  • Réponses Lecture La Sécheresse en France 

March 7, 2023

Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses: devoirs les verbes en -uire
  • Réponses: devoirs le 7 février 2023: vocabulaire
  • Réponses: devoirs location de voitures final 


To Print and Review / Prepare

  • Le Brise-glace le 7 mars 2023
  • Le futur, le conditionnel et l’imparfait
  • Les mots/expressions qu’on utilise avec le futur
  • Si clauses
  • Devoirs le 7 février Vocabulaire 
  • Devoirs les verbes en -uire 
  • Devoirs Location de voitures France 
  • Conversation dirigee (activity done in class)

February 7, 2023

Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses: les devoirs le 3 janvier 2023
  • Réponses: les devoirs traductions le 3 janvier 2023
  • Réponses: Finale de la coupe du monde 


To Print and Review / Prepare

  • Le Brise-glace le 7 février 2023
  • Asking directions
  • Louer une voiture
  • Le verbe conduire
  • Le pronom complément d'objet indirect - Pratiquons (activity done in class)
  • Devoirs le 3 janvier 2023 (to print and prepare)
  • Devoirs: Les Traductions le 3 janvier 2023 (to print and prepare) 
  • Devoirs: Lecture- finale de la coupe du monde (to print and prepare)

January 3, 2023

Homework to do before class:

  • Devoirs: Les pronoms compléments d'objet direct (print and prepare)
  • Devoirs: Lecture: SOS Médecins (print and prepare) OR Lecture: J'ai un rhume (print and prepare) 

                  *Choose one - SOS Medecins is more challenging

  • Optional: 

                    Dictee (for review - done in class)

                   St. Nicolas - lecture

                   Repas de Noël - lecture

Please correct the homework at home and bring questions to class:

  • Réponses: Devoirs Les pronoms compléments d'objet direct
  • Réponses: Devoirs: Lecture SOS Médecins  OR Réponses: Lecture J'ai un rhume

                   (The dictée and two other holiday readings are optional)

To Print and Review / Prepare:

  • Brise-glace le 3 janvier 2023
  • Indirect Object Pronouns
  • Object Pronoun Verbs
  • Vocabulaire Le football

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