Alliance Française de Brisbane is part of the international network that promotes French language and culture. We provide extensive services as a language school, and a producer and promoter of cultural events.

French Language School

We offer access to a comprehensive range of qualifications and certificates; all in accordance with the tests and diplomas that are designed, maintained and administered by the French government organisation, the Centre international d’études pédagogiques. These tests and diplomas are recognised for the French language throughout Europe, are often required to be able to gain employment in France, and are the established measures of French language proficiency.

French Cultural Centre

In our role as a cultural centre, we produce and promote cultural events throughout the year; such as the French Film Festival, concerts, performances and exhibitions.

We have a professional team which produces our own events, and which is experienced in working within partnerships with local and national organisations, touring artists and French commercial and governmental cultural organisations in the production and promotion of the major events.

Being a large scale and highly active chapter of the Alliance Française network, Brisbane benefits from the provision of a director appointed by Alliance Française Foundation and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The current director is Damien Hubert, who brings a wealth of experience in arts and education management and production, as well as institutional contacts with French cultural organisations, the French Embassy in Australia and the Education Attaché.

Alliance Française de Brisbane is working in partnership with local government and cultural organisations, local and national companies and the community to promote an energetic and interactive access to contemporary French culture in Brisbane. In addition, the organisation enjoys extensive interaction with local community, business and government through its management committee and its patron, the Hon. Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland.

Charter of Af Brisbane

The Alliance Francaise de Brisbane is an Australian not- for- profit association, part of an international network of Alliances with similar missions. Alliances are French cultural centres that teach French and promote French culture all over the world.

Charter – Alliance Francaise de Brisbane

Please ensure you read before you enrol so you have a better understanding of what to expect from us and what is required from you to make your journey with us the most pleasant and successful one.

Our Commitment to you:

To provide our students with a supportive environment to learn the French language and to expand their knowledge of the French culture

Our teaching philosophy

It is our aim to provide quality French courses based on “the communicative approach to teaching”. Our primary goal is to give learners enough confidence to cope with real life situations. Therefore the focus is on activities that maximise opportunities to use French in a conversational way. This is achieved through meaningful exercises, such as creative role-plays, simulations, surveys, projects, discussions and task based activities. The emphasis is on speaking and listening, although reading and writing are also important parts of the courses. Naturally, grammar, is not neglected, but the focus remains on getting the message across. Since the primary objective is the rapid development of speech and comprehension skills, class sizes are limited to a maximum of 14 students. We also cater for specific needs and offer private tutoring as well as workshops to enhance and develop specific language skills (such as pronunciation, conversation, grammar and many more). Finally, we run intensive courses for beginner and intermediate levels for students who wish to progress more quickly. Social and cultural events, evocative of France or the French speaking world, are regularly organised and are of great benefit to learners.

Cultural and social activities

The Alliance organises various cultural and social activities and events throughout the year. There are film screenings, talks, workshops, the ciné-club, the book club, exhibitions, competitions, and so on – but always with a distinctly French flavour. The dynamic cultural life of the Alliance is a must for all students and members of all levels and ages. Among our most famous and regular events are the Alliance Française French Film Festival, the Fête de la Musique, the Bastille Day events and the Beaujolais Nouveau evening.

Standard French and teaching staff

We teach standard French language and our teachers are either qualified FLE professionals or have an equivalent diploma or experience. Standard French enables students to be understood in any French speaking country. As a general rule our teachers are native speakers of French but we also employ non native French speakers who are highly qualified French teachers, have an excellent knowledge of the French culture, and are perfectly fluent. We hire teachers from various French speaking countries or from what is known as the Francophone world. Currently we have staff from Belgium, Canada, France, New Caledonia and Switzerland.

Levels of French

General French Courses are divided into levels that follow the recommendations of the scale of levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and learners have the opportunity to test their progress by taking the official ‘French as foreign language diplomas’ (DELF and DALF). These diplomas can be undertaken once a year. Students who register with us undertake a reading and speaking placement test, enabling us to place them in the class that best matches their current level. Students who have no previous knowledge of French do not need to take the placement test and can register into our first level – Breakthrough 1. We provide up to 5 different levels in each of our three categories: Beginner or “Breakthrough”, Intermediate or “Waystage” and Advanced or “Threshold”; that is, 15 levels in total. Slight differences of levels within the same class are still unavoidable but do not impede the learning process. In fact, it can be an asset as teachers will enable students to learn from their peers as well.

Student Material

Our tuition is based on the language course Connexions (books 1,2, and 3) which offers to students, numerous speaking opportunities along with a comprehensive approach to grammar and vocabulary. It follows the standards of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CFCR). The exercise book with its audio-CD provides students with listening exercises to practice and strengthen their skills.

A correction booklet is provided, which enables students to correct their own work. This allows the teacher to spend more time teaching and clearing up any remaining doubts. Transcriptions of the CD are also in the exercise book but these should only be used as a last resort. Listening exercises are for listening not for reading. We recommend that you listen at least 3 to 5 times before reading the scripts. You are not meant to understand everything but only enough to answer the questions correctly.

Premises

Our 8 classrooms are equipped with white boards, CD and DVD players. They cater for fa maximum of 8 to14 students. Our landing area on level 2 is where student meet during break times (10 min) and can watch French television or browse in our resource centre. One of our classrooms has been specially designed for younger learners aged from 3 to 12.

Resource Centre

The resource centre provides students, members and teachers with French films (DVD and videos) as well as a vast range of French novels, French children’s books and magazines. Members can borrow books and videos for one month and DVDs for one week. Our resource centre is located on level 2 and onsite consultation is open to all Brisbane Francophiles. Le Bouquet Français, the French cable TV can be watched on level 2 in the resource centre.

Students’ feedback

Every term we invite students to evaluate their course and their tutors’ teaching skills. We provide teachers with regular in-house training and encourage them to exchange teaching resources and tips. We always welcome constructive criticism from students by phone, by email, or in person.

Health and safety

In case of an emergency such as a fire or an earthquake students must follow their teachers’ instructions and exit via the fire exits, following the exit signs. If an evacuation of the premises has occurred, students and staff should meet on Brisbane Square for a roll call. A first aid kit is kept on level 1 in the blue room.

Membership

Yearly membership is compulsory for all our students. Membership entitles students to borrow from our resource centre, to attend Alliance activities and to obtain special discounts. We also welcome many members who are not studying French with us and wish to take part in the exciting cultural and social life of the Alliance.

Your Commitment to us:

Enrolment in our courses implies that:

1/ you accept our terms and conditions;

2/ you abide by our Code of Conduct;

3/ you are aware of the learning process involved in learning a language at Alliance.


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Terms and conditions

Students must read and sign the terms and conditions or agree to them online before they enrol into their course.

Courses

i) Membership is necessary to enrol in a course.

ii) Students must enrol for an entire course.

iii) Adult Courses are for students of 18 years and above unless otherwise indicated.

iv) All fees must be paid at time of registration. Pro-rata payment is not available.

v) No refund or credit will be given to any student who withdraws less than 5 working days before the commencement of a course.

vi) If a student withdraws at least 5 working days before the beginning of a course, the full amount minus 20% of the course fee will be refunded or a full credit for the following term will be issued. Refund and credit requests must be made in writing and received at least 5 working days before the beginning of the course.

vii) No refund, transfer or credit will be given should a student fail to attend every class or leave before the end of the term.

viii) Please note that group class fees cannot be transferred to private lesson.

ix) Regular attendance is essential to the learning process. If it is necessary to miss a class we might be able to let you join another group class for that week, depending on class numbers and learning rythme

x) Adult group classes: Alliance Française de Brisbane reserves the right to re-arrange or to cancel classes if a minimum of enrolments is not reached.

xi) If a class is cancelled by AF, students can transfer to another class in the current term or be fully refunded or accept a full credit for the following term.

xii) Please note that credit notes are neither transferable, nor redeemable for cash and have a strict use by date.

xiii) To ensure the best quality in teaching, the AF reserves the right to redirect a student to another class level if the student’s level does not match the rest of the class.

xiv) Course fee concessions are available to students who re-enrol from the previous term by the early bird deadline or to full time tertiary students or to pensioners or to consecutive members of the same family. Please note that concessions cannot be cumulated for the same student. Family concession is applied to the course with the lower fee.

xv) Please note that no discount can be applied to nominated courses such as DALF, Langue et Culture, Literature and etc. Please refer to current timetable.

Private tuition

Cancellation policy: We appreciate 24 hours notice of cancellation directly to the teacher and the Alliance. Please note that students will be charged the full amount for a session if they notify the teacher less than 24 hours in advance. If a student wishes to withdraw from private tuition altogether, the remaining hours are re-calculated according to their price range. There are two options for the remaining fees:

The remaining tuition fees can be held in credit to be used towards a general group class in the following term, or

The remaining tuition fees, minus 20% administration charge, can be refunded

Membership: Private tuition fees do not include membership to the Alliance. Membership is compulsory for all students. Membership allows students to borrow books and videos from the library, receive discounts on social and cultural activities, and participate in committee elections. Yearly membership costs $42.

Private tuition rate for loyal students: Students who have cumulated 100 hours of Private Tuition over any time or current students who are enrolled in a course with us can benefit from the special $60/hour rate. Below 100 hours, please apply the other rates, depending on how many hours you purchase up front.

-Events

Please note, tickets are non-refundable and not-exchangeable; cancellations will not be reimbursed.

-DELF and DALF examinations

Please note, registration to DELF or DALF must be made by the registration deadline. Students who miss the deadline may not be able to take the exams and might have to wait for the next session, or an extra late registration fee may apply. Payment must be made upon registration and cancellations are non-refundable, under any circumstances.

Students’ Code of conduct

1. Members and staff shall remain polite and courteous with staff and other students at all times.

2. Students and staff shall either switch off or switch to silent their mobile phones during class times.

3. Students and staff shall place their chair back when leaving the classroom and place any litter in the provided bins.

4. Students and staff shall not write on tables, chairs, walls and material provided by the Alliance.

5. Students may sometimes wish to bring some nibbles and drinks at the end of the term. Food must be disposed of or put away and dishes washed after the class.

6. Students who arrive late or miss a class shall not disturb or interrupt the class with specific queries related to what they have missed; they can contact their teachers by email to obtain homework. It is the students’ sole responsibility; neither the teacher’s nor the administrative staff’s, to contact their teachers directly by email and as soon as possible in order to obtain the homework given for the class they have missed.

7. Students are encouraged to browse the resource centre during break times and shall replace items in their right place afterwards. All borrowings must be taken to reception. Borrowings must be made before the evening classes or during the break, as reception closes before evening classes finish.

8. Class break goes for 10 minutes. Coffee, tea and cookies are for sale on an honesty basis.

9. All administrative queries must be addressed directly to the administrative staff at reception, if reception is closed (after 7.45pm) please contact us by email, telephone, fax or in person during opening hours.

10. Students shall respect and support their fellow students and teacher at all times, constructive feedback is always welcome as an important element of social interaction. Language classes often cover a vast array of topics and normal differences of opinions can arise on many occasions, these differences shall be expressed with candour and respect between students and between students and staff.

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Learning Process: a risk taking business

Excellence in teaching and learning involves students as active participants in their educational experience, rather than as customers or passive consumers.

Learning a foreign language is a life long journey but it can be a rewarding challenge. With good teachers and a supportive environment like the Alliance Française, the challenge can be both stimulating and enjoyable. Our teachers are always here to help you throughout the learning process. However, learning a foreign language takes time, effort and persistence – the secret rules. Motivation is surely the best trick to get you going.

Not understanding and making mistakes are a natural part of the process and it is essential that you accept the fact that you will not understand everything. This can be frustrating and even intimidating at times as it can make you feel like you are back to kindergarten. The only problem is that you now have the mindset of an adult and may find it difficult that you will not be able to express yourself fully in the language. Just relax and play with what you know! Don’t hesitate to take guesses and chances but be also sensible and use over and over what you know in order to build on it. Easily said not easily done, you might say, but you will greatly increase your language skills if you do. Revisiting and building on what you have acquired will also assist your learning and progression. Please do not hesitate to talk to us if you feel that you need to revise, we can help you with advice and different services, some of which are absolutely free of charge.

There will be an initial period of adaptation when your ear and your mind are adjusting to the sounds of French. You will not understand all of what is being said. However, through more practice, you will be amazed at your increasing ability to make sense of the language. Progression is usually quick at first and longer in the intermediate stages. Some students will never pass the intermediate stage unless they are placed in an immersion situation and travel to a French speaking country. All students will plateau at different stages of their progression and the key is not to let normal frustration take control of your learning. Try to keep enjoying playing with what you know. Even in a plateau phase you are learning, the process is happening almost beyond you and you will find that on one fine day you will finally get it. What a reward! Progression is also a very individual matter and will vary greatly, depending on your abilities and the effort you put into practicing. Like music, regular exposure and practice are essential therefore class attendance is an absolute must.

 What makes a good language learner?

A good language learner:

-       is willing to experience and take risks. Leave perfectionism at the door and allow yourself to make mistakes because you will learn from them and from active listening.

-       sets realistic expectations. It takes time and effort to become proficient in French and expect periods when you do not seem to be making much progress. Identify your needs before you get started and set yourself achievable goals.

-       is proactive, independent and organised. You will not speak French fluently just by sitting in a classroom.

-       studies frequently and for shorter periods of time. It is more efficient to break study time into smaller chunks than study infrequently for extended periods of time. Try to do a few homework exercises every night rather than all of them the night before your class. In addition, make most of the mentally “idle” moments during the day when you can fit in some study. For instance; you can review the alphabet while having a shower; count your steps as you walk; name as many objects as you can in French at the office or anywhere, write your shopping or to do lists systematically on French…

Other tips on language learning…

-       Don’t forget what you are eligible for… to help you practice French at home, the Alliance provides you with a wide range of materials and resources. As a student, you can have access to the Resource Centre, which includes books, magazines, videos and DVDs. You can borrow either a book or a video or a DVD.

-       Use the internet… to practice authentic, up-to-date language material, go to French pages on the Internet. The Alliance is more than happy to point you in the direction of lots of useful links to help you practise your skills (online newspapers, specialist dictionaries, grammar exercises and explanations, chat rooms, radio, TV stations, etc.) Check our website www.afbrisbane.com to find useful tips about going to France (for studies or leisure) and lots of links to fun activities designed to enhance your language learning.

-       Form study groups…everyone has their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to language learning.. Studying with others helps decrease knowledge gaps and gives you opportunities to actively discuss concepts and material covered in class.

-       Need help with your French? If you have any problems, if you’re unclear on a grammatical rule, contact you teacher by email or give us a call or come to the Alliance. We are at your service to answer all of the questions you want to ask. Don’t hesitate to clear up any doubts! It’s our pleasure to help you.

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Who are we?

Teachers | Committee | Administration