Why learn French?
French is easier for English-speakers to learn because about 45% of English vocabulary comes from French.
French is the third most studied language at tertiary level (after Japanese and Mandarin) according to Peter White and Richard Baldauf, co-authors of the 2006 study “Re-Examining Australia’s Tertiary Programs”.
French art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine and cinema all go to make French a culturally important foreign language. France is one of the most prolific producers of international films. When you understand French, you don't have to rely on subtitles to enjoy a French film.
More tourists visit France than any other country in the world. You’ll have a much more rich and rewarding travel experience if you can speak some French not only in France but also elsewhere in the world.
French is spoken by over 200 million people on five continents. Knowing French increases your chances of communicating in a non-English-speaking country. The International Organization of Francophonie has 51 member states and governments. Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language.
For further persuasion, please click here: http://fr.youtube.com/watch
Courses with the Alliance in Launceston
Following last year’s success of the AF de Launceston’s Intermediate French Conversation class, we are pleased to announce the 2010 continuation of this course.
Nathalie Servant is teaching Term 1 classes starting Monday, March 1 and thereafter every Monday for ten weeks. Sessions will again run from 7.00 -9.00 pm. We would welcome any newcomers to Nathalie's course.
Prerequisite for this course is oral proficiency roughly equivalent to TCE French, Level 3.
Venue is Scotch Oakburn College, Room B8, Briggs House, 85 Penquite Rd., Newstead.
Fees for Term 1 remain unchanged at: $100 concession/pensioners/FT students; $125 members of AFr de Launceston; $135 non-members.
This is a unique opportunity to extend your vocabulary and competence in oral French.
info@aflaunceston.org.au
Adult Education
Introductory French courses are usually provided in weekly 2-hour sessions over 10 weeks during each of three terms. For information and enrolments: 6336 2666 or www.adulteducation.tas.gov.au
School for Seniors
Separate Beginner and Intermediate Courses for those over 50 are currently provided in weekly sessions during the school term.
The Syllabus is available prior to each term from the School for Seniors Office at 8 High Street or from the Adult Education Office at 51 York Street. Activities mostly take place at 8 High Street.
Pre-tertiary Oral Tutorials
Each Spring, Alliance members and friends who are teachers or native speakers of French conduct conversation tutorials to help prepare TCE students for their end-of-year French oral examinations.
These usually consist of mid-weekly 1-hour sessions over some 7 weeks commencing in late September. The schedule and venue are released in early-to-mid-September.
Enquiries should be made with each student's own French teacher in the first instance and subsequently with Peter Voss at Scotch-Oakburn College by phone on 6336 3300.
Study in France
Goddard Sapin-Jaloustre Scholarships are available to Australian nationals for the purpose of providing assistance to undertake a course of study or research in France.
The Goddard Sapin-Jaloustre Trust was established by Dr Jean Sapin-Jaloustre to honour the memory of his wife Madame June Sapin-Jaloustre, who died in 1993, and the late Dr T H Goddard, a notable Hobart physician and Francophile who was for many years the Consul for France in Tasmania. Scholarships are available for a wide range of academic and practical disciplines.
Further information and application forms are available at: http://www.utas.edu.au/history_classics/sapin/info.html
The Goddard Sapin-Jaloustre Scholarship Trust
School of History & Classics
University of Tasmania
Private Bag 81
HOBART TAS 7001
Phone: 6226 2302 Fax: 6226 2392
Email: Professor Michael Bennett
French Media & Entertainment
Learning French doesn’t have to be all work and no play. French films, broadcasts, newspapers and magazines can be a useful and enjoyable way to pick up more of the language.
The Launceston Film Society’s screenings include many French films. Membership is available through purchase of an annual ticket, which permits access to all LFS screenings (around 40 per year). Membership is for the calendar year. Tickets generally go on sale in early December. For more details, go to www.lfs.org.au
Cinema Samedi screens contemporary subtitled films, including French ones, at 99 Elphin Road Newstead on Saturdays at 8.00 p.m. To be added to the weekly emailing list, contact segrubb761@yahoo.com.au
The State Cinema in North Hobart frequently screens French films. For details, go to: www.statecinema.com.au
Around March each year, the annual French Film Festival provides an opportunity for Tasmanians visiting mainland capitals to see a rich variety of newly released French films. For details, go to: www.frenchfilmfestival.org
Mainstream French TV and radio are available, 24 hours a day, via the satellite which serves New Caledonia and the Pacific. This is on-sold by Sydney-based LBF Australia. (LBF stands for “Le Bouquet Français”). There are more than 20 TV channels and radio stations, some broadcasting conventional programmes, others specialising in news and current affairs, sports, movies or music. Details including monthly subscription costs are available on the LBF website www.lbf.com.au
Alternatively, broadcasts and podcasts are available over the Internet from French sites such as www.tf1.fr, www.france24.com and www.commfm.com, and from our very own SBS.
SBS-TV broadcasts one or more French films virtually every week, as well as news in French from France 2:
(Analogue & Digital Channel 1) 9.20-9.55 a.m. Monday-Saturday
(Digital “World News Channel”) 4.40-5.20 p.m. Monday-Saturday
SBS-Radio (105.7 FM or SBS Digital TV Audio) 11.00 a.m. Tuesday; 11.00 a.m. Friday; 4.00 p.m. Sunday
City Park Radio (103.7 FM) broadcasts its French Programme with Marie-Josée Barnes 10.00 a.m. – Noon every 2nd Tuesday.
Le Courrier Australien is a French language Australian magazine (founded in 1892) published by La Presse PO Box 705 Windsor NSW 2756. To subscribe: Phone (02) 4577 6726 or Fax (02) 4577 6725
The major French newspapers have on-line editions, which can be read or downloaded over the Internet. |
