LE BULLETIN de l’Alliance Française de New Haven

P.O. Box 207333, New Haven, CT 06520

https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/

A non-profit organization promoting French language and culture 

Join our Meetup conversation group every other Sunday morning from 10:30 to noon for fun and French discussion. To register for this event, send an email to: alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com. Beginning in November we will meet at Panera Bread (1060 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511). December 14, 28, 2025, January 11, 25, 2026.

Voici un club pour les membres qui voudraient lire et discuter d'un livre en français (reservé aux gens qui ont un niveau avancé). Nous nous rencontrons par Zoom à 18h30 chaque mois. On discute des thèmes et des idées dans les romans avec le groupe. Si vous voulez les liens ou si vous avez des questions, envoyez un email: alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com. Pour décembre on lit "Mémoires d'Hadrien par Marguerite Yourcenar" . Hadrian, now sixty years old and close to death, explains in a letter to Marcus Aurelius that he is writing his memoirs to make sense of the “shapeless mass” of his life.

Join the Alliance Française of New Haven for our holiday get together at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 305 St Ronan St, New Haven, CT 06511. Help us celebrate the season. Our program includes a reading of Une visite de Saint Nicolas ('Twas the Night before Christmas) and a few chansons de noël. Please bring a holiday dish or snack to share. Email alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com to make your reservation and let us know how many will be attending.

Fan of French movies? If so, this club is for you. Join the Alliance Française for a discussion of a French movie on Zoom. If you have a favorite movie or any suggestions for future viewings, send us an email. Clay Howe will lead the conversation. Upcoming films to be announced. We meet on the third Thursday of the month. The film for December is "Les Innocentes" (2016). Poland, 1945. Mathilde, a young French Red Cross doctor, is on a mission to help war survivors when a nun asks for her help. It is available on Amazon Prime Video, OVID, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, YouTube, Tubi TV, VUDU Free, Freevee, Kanopy, Hoopla, Plex, Plex Channel, JustWatchTV. For further information and to receive the Zoom link, send an email to alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com .

Join us this winter for a six-week course. This is a gentle and engaging introduction to French! Whether you're brand new to the language or brushing up on basics, this course offers a welcoming space to explore vocabulary, conversation, and culture. We learn reading, speaking, writing, grammar.

Level: Beginner – no prior knowledge required

Start Date: January 5, 2026 to February 9, 2026

Location: Online via Zoom

 Materials: Textbook: Learn French the Fast and Fun Way, Edition 4, by Elisabeth Bourquin Leete and Theodore Kendris, PhD . This textbook is French with English explanations.

Computer, laptop or tablet

Expect themed lessons, friendly practice, as we build confidence together. Perfect for adult students who enjoy learning in a relaxed, supportive environment.

$240.00 Membership Enrollment Required if you are not already a member.

You may send questions to: yvonnepk@usa.net

Register on line: https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/online-payment/

Do you find that you understand quite a bit of French when you read it — or even when you hear it — but when it’s time to speak, you suddenly feel tongue-tied?

In this six-week course, we'll focus on overcoming the fear and hesitation that can hold you back from speaking freely. Together, we’ll practice speaking out loud without second-guessing ourselves. We’ll work with words, fine-tune our pronunciation, and build sentences with confidence. Along the way, grammar will be seamlessly woven into our practice, and new vocabulary will become second nature.

We'll create a fun, friendly, and nonjudgmental environment where everyone supports one another. Apologizing for mistakes will not be allowed — after all, that's how we learn!

If you had some French learning experience and would like to improve speaking skills, this course is for you.

Materials needed:

French Short Stories, Dylane Moreau

The Ultimate French Review and Practice, Premium Third Edition

Computer, laptop, or tablet

$ 240.00 Membership Enrollment Required if you are not already a member.

You may send questions to: yvonnepk@usa.net

Register on line: https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/online-payment/

This course uses the classic and popular program French in Action—a tried-and-true favorite—and is ideal to plunge into French right from the start.

This course will cover reading, listening, speaking and writing with some grammar woven in. Along the way, we’ll observe aspects of French culture and enjoy discovering new ways of thinking and seeing the world. The course is ideal for students who start off or who have had minimal exposure to the language.

Together, we’ll create a fun, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where everyone feels encouraged. No apologizing for mistakes—they’re a natural and essential part of learning!

Materials needed:

o French in Action Textbook, Hard Copy, Third Edition, Part 1. This Textbook is in French only with dictionary in back.

o The Ultimate French Review and Practice, Premium Third Edition

o Computer, laptop, or tablet

$ 240.00 Membership Enrollment Required if you are not already a member.

You may send questions to: yvonnepk@usa.net

 Register on line: https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/online-payment/

The Adult Intermediate/Advanced French Class will meet every Wednesday,  starting, Wednesday January 21st ,  2026  and run for 8  weeks at the home of Jacqueline Munk in Milford. (The location may change to a New Haven site, depending on number of students.)

 Our classes are small and the atmosphere is friendly, non-judgmental and conducive for conversation. Classes will be two hours at a time, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm EST on Wednesday and run for eight weeks. Starting day: January 21st. Class sizes are limited to give everyone the optimum experience.  

In this course, we will concentrate mainly on the conversational aspect of the language. Our goal is to have you easily express yourself on various topics du jour, incorporating correct grammar as much as possible. This course will be conducted entirely in French. All four language skills listening, speaking, reading and writing will be practiced and homework will be assigned.

Cost: $320 for members Membership Enrollment Required (if you are not already a member)

You may send questions to: Jacqueline Munk jjmunk@msn.com

Register on line: https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/online-payment/

Save the dates, More info to follow:

January 10, 2026 La fête des Rois at Bethesda from 3-5 PM

February 1, 2026 La Chandeleur at Bethesda from 5-7 PM

Celebrate Francophonie with us!

Try Fantastique for a whole month for free! The interactive, daily lessons only last 10 minutes and allow you to immerse yourself playfully and tailored to you in the French language.

After an assessment test, the lessons adapt to your level and interests, for optimal learning progress.

Discover Aimigo at the end of your lessons, your new AI-powered virtual friend with whom you can practice speaking. Aimigo helps you feel more confident when speaking and can discuss a variety of topics with you!

Click HERE TO TEST FOR FREE.

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Dear Colleagues,

Memberships are from Sept.-August. If you have not already renewed your membership,

renew now.

Your benefits include:  

-Participation in the events of the Alliance Française (See programs on our website https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/

-Close communication with the Alliance (emails, newsletter, Bulletin)

-Exclusive and free participation in Le Café Littéraire

-Access to the French classes at the Alliance Française of New Haven

-Participation in Le Ciné-Club

-Access to Culturethèque Your French multimedia e-library!

-Links to other Francophones and Francophiles .

Cost: Student: $30, Senior: $35, Individual: $45, Couple: $55, Family: $60

You may pay online at https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/online-payment or you may pay with a check. If full membership is difficult for some due to financial constraints, please let us know. Send us an email at alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com Please make checks payable to the Alliance Française of New Haven. Send payment to Alliance Française of New Haven, P.O. Box 207333, New Haven, CT 06520.

Join us for a special conversation with bestselling author Cara Black, as she unveils her much-anticipated new novel, Huguette.August 1945: Seventeen-year-old Huguette Faure is a survivor. The war has taken everything from her—both her parents and her sense of safety. Now, pregnant and on the lam, she cannot return to her childhood home in Paris. Forced to reinvent herself, she must outrun her father’s enemies, who want her dead. After narrowly avoiding jail time—thanks to the help of a kindhearted police officer named Claude Leduc— Huguette lands a job assisting a legendary film director. As her role develops from helping him with chores to cooking his books, she sees an opportunity to break free from the ghosts of her past once and for all.

Click HERE to register.

3 PART SERIES: 

NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS – BEFORE AND AFTER THE FIRE

December 4, December 11, December 18, 2025

In partnership with the Alliance Française Miami Metro, the Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris

This illustrated lecture will explore the long and eventful history of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, from its foundation in 1163 to the devastating fire on April 15, 2019, which destroyed its attic, roof, and iconic spire.

The story of Notre-Dame de Paris begins in 1163, when Bishop Sully laid the first stone on the Île de la Cité, at the heart of medieval Paris. One of the earliest Gothic cathedrals, it took 182 years to complete. Over the centuries, this architectural marvel hosted defining moments in French history, including the coronation of a young King Henry VI of England, the marriage of the future Henri IV and Marguerite de Valois, and the crowning of Napoléon I as Emperor.

After falling into neglect during the Revolution, Notre-Dame was restored by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, who added the iconic spire that tragically burned in 2019.

Click HERE to register.

Life Between Two Ovens: Baking Anytime, from Paris to New York

Dec 9 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Join us for a special online event featuring five-time James Beard Award–winning author Dorie Greenspan, in conversation with Jane Bertch. Beloved for her warm storytelling and approachable recipes, Dorie will share the inspiration behind her newest book, Dorie’s Anytime Cakes—a joyful collection celebrating simple, irresistible cakes meant for every moment, from afternoon coffee to festive gatherings.

Drawing on her life between Paris and New York, Dorie will reflect on how French traditions and American kitchens shaped her “anytime” philosophy, and offer a peek into the stories and flavors that bring her cakes to life. Don’t miss this intimate conversation filled with baking wisdom, cultural insight, and plenty of sweet inspiration.

Click HERE to register.

This lecture will provide a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most significant architectural restoration projects of our time, describing the painstaking process behind the meticulous rebuilding and restoration of the cathedral, from the careful documentation of architectural elements to the revival of centuries-old craftsmanship techniques. 

Thanks to global donations and the work of dedicated craftsmen, the extensive fire damage was repaired in record time, and the rebuilt cathedral reopened almost exactly one year ago, ready to reclaim its place as a symbol of Paris and French heritage.

 But wait: There is still more work to be done. The lecture will conclude with the restoration works unrelated to the damage caused by the 2019 fire that will continue for the next five years.

This talk will be conducted in French. When you join the Zoom event, you can choose translated captions in either English or French. Click here for instructions on how to enable this feature.

Click HERE to register.

French Cinémathèque: Nouvelle vague

Dec 15 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm

December 2025: Nouvelle vague (2025)

Director Richard Linklater

Starring Guillaume Marbeck, Zoey Deutch, Aubry Dullin, Alix Bénézech

A fictionalized account of the making of Jean-Luc Godard's 1959 film Breathless, that uses the same style, color, aspect ratio, and language as the original film. A celebration of the French New Wave and its impact, this biopic focuses on Godard, his style, and his legacy.

Discussions will usually take place on the fourth Monday of each month. Participants are encouraged to watch the film via streaming before attending the discussion. The Zoom link will be sent out via email after registration.

Click HERE to register.

In partnership with the Alliance Française Miami Metro, the Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris

In 2022, the City of Paris announced that the team led by Belgian landscape designer Bas Smets won the competition to reimagine the area surrounding Notre-Dame Cathedral. Bas Smets will describe how the team plans to redesign the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral and the underground parking spaces beneath it, the Jean XXIII square located behind the cathedral, the Seine riverbanks, and the adjacent streets, in order to create a microclimate to mitigate the effects of climate change. This extensive project is scheduled to begin in 2025 and end in 2030.

Click HERE to register.

• The online bookseller Lireka continues to ship for free to the United States without passing along any delivery fees to its customers. 
• Click here for an article in France Today exploring how comics (“the ninth art”) are deeply engrained in French culture.
• Click here for a recent NYT article on the French secret to healthier eating.
• FRANCE Calendar 2026: See the new France Today calendars here.
• France Today is offering the following for AF Members: "France Today" Membership: 3 months free trial and "Bonjour Paris" Membership 50% off.