Beginning & Intermediate French Conversation Course (Day 2 update)

Just a couple updates to the session information:

• anyone is welcome to attend even if you haven't been previously coming to the sessions

• There is a suggested contribution of $15, but if this is too much for you, you are welcome to come and contribute what you can. It is a sliding scale.

• I need, en principe, a minimum of 10 attendees for Saturday mornings at Coffee Tree (they tend to be strict about the use of the back room).

• This group is not necessarily for beginners - but anyone from native, or near-native level is welcome.

This Saturday I will be offering another session in Beginning / Intermediate French. Anyone is welcome to stay for the two hours, but I will divide it according to level.

1rst hour: Beginning French:

I am using LIAISONS AN INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH: Chapitre préliminaire. I will send out a link for a downloadable chapter later today. Topics covered: greetings & introductions; verb être & some basic uses; vocabulary for common objects in the class; numbers 0 - 60; talk about courses and majors; articles and the gender & number of nouns; some info about Francophone culture. Liaisons is a brand new textbook - so it is rather expensive online, but available if you want to get it.

2nd hour: Intermediate/Adv. Int French:

I will use à votre tour! 2nd edition by Valette & Valette: we wil start with Reprise A,B,C - the intro to the book & review of 1rst year French. A votre tour is a fairly good intermediate French textbook. I will do 1 chapter per week (which is an accelerated rate) but appropriate for anyone wanting to cover intermediate 2nd year French or an advanced student wanting to review.

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The following are not provided on Sat. BUT, In the future I can offer:

Advanced French: I can provide French up to any level depending on demand. I propose a number of books on contemporary France. We can meet other days during the week if there is a demand for this. Quant à moi (4th edition) and La France contemporaine (3rd edition) look pretty good.

Proust anyone? I am currently re-reading Proust's A la recherche du temps perdu in its entirety and would welcome anyone interested in tackling this masterpiece. It is available for ereaders, too.

I am also open to current & classic literature, Magazines (L'Express par exemple). Also - French philosophy & criticisim, essays, etc.

Marc Snyder / franceinfo.us

My background: I am a French professor and have taught French & western civ. since the 1980s.