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 MAY we will meet at BOOK TRADER CAFE (1140 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511). July 12, 26, August 9, 23, 2026.

White Picnic

Grab your white clothes and your white shoes, grab your white blanket (tablecloth), bring your meal and join us for a picnic in white to celebrate Bastille Day.

Guests may be dressed in white from head to toes.

Dîner en Blanc ("Dinner in White" in French) is a worldwide event spanning six continents in which people have a meal dressed in white in a temporary dining setup in a public space. Diners are required to provide their own food, tables, chairs and tablecloths. To read about the white picnic, here's a link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%AEner_en_Blanc

The Alliance Française of New-Haven will provide plastic tablecloths, plates, glasses, napkins, and silverware as well as beverages (water, beer, wine) . Bring a meal for yourself and something to share.

Date:  Sunday, July 12, 2026 Time: 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Rain Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026

Location: Eliza and Warren Holcomb, 71 Carrington Avenue, Milford, CT

Email alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com to participate.

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 July is "Les Compères". Christine (Anny Duperey) is distraught when her adolescent son runs away. When the cops are no help, she contacts two former lovers -- François (Pierre Richard), a suicidal teacher, and Jean Lucas (Gérard Depardieu), a burly journalist working on a story about the Mafia. She then convinces them to help find her boy by claiming that she believes one of the men is her son's father. It is available on for rental on Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube and free on Kanopy, Hoopla. For further information and to receive the Zoom link, send an email to alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com .

Join the Alliance Française for Happy Hour at Atelier Florian, 1166 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511 on Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM. See their website for the menu https://florianbelgianbistro.com/menus/happy-hourTo reserve your spot, email alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com

FRENCH FOR BEGINNERS A1continued

ON ZOOM

Mondays 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM on Zoom Starting July 20, 2026

Join us this Summer for a six-week course. This is a gentle and engaging introduction to French, continuing the Spring course. 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, and brush up on your basic, introductory French.

We learn reading, speaking, writing, grammar. Expect themed lessons, friendly practice, as we build confidence together. Perfect for adult students who enjoy learning in a

relaxed, supportive environment.

Level: Beginner – no prior knowledge required

Materials needed:

a) 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.

b) Grammar Book: The Ultimate French Review and Practice, Premium Third Edition

C) Computer, laptop or tablet

$240.00 for course plus membership enrollment if you are not already a member.

You may send questions to: yvonnepk@usa.net

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

​ Email alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com with your name and contact phone number indicating the class you wish to take.

FRENCH FOR MIDDLE BEGINNERS A2, Continued

ON ZOOM

Tuesdays, 5:30 PM to 7:30 Starting July 21, 2026

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 continued, six-week course, we'll focus on overcoming the fear and hesitation that can hold us back from speaking freely. Together, we’ll practice speaking out loud without second-guessing ourselves. We’ll work with words, fine-tune our pronunciation, while we are working with stories and easy articles from various media. This will help us build sentences with confidence. Along the way, grammar and new vocabulary will seamlessly be woven into our practices.

We'll create a fun, friendly, and nonjudgmental environment where everyone supports one another. Apologizing for mistakes will not be allowed.

Material Needed:

a) French Short Stories, by Dylane Moreau

b) The Ultimate French Review and Practice, Premium Third Edition

c) Computer, laptop or tablet

$240.00 for course plus membership enrollment if you are not already a member.

You may send questions to: yvonnepk@usa.net

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

​ Email alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com with your name and contact phone number indicating the class you wish to take.

FRENCH FOR STRONG BEGINNERS A3 continued

ON ZOOM

Thursdays, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Starting July 23, 2026

In this six week course, we will continue to explore a variety of short stories and discuss them together in a lively, supportive atmosphere. We will also watch selected video clips from different sources and work actively with what we have seen— summarizing, analyzing, and responding to the material.

Throughout the course, we will strengthen our vocabulary, practice clear and confident pronunciation, and develop our writing skills through short paragraphs and guided

exercises. We will complete a range of activities designed to reinforce essential grammar and help you use it naturally and comfortably.

Material Needed:

a) French Short Stories, by Dylane Moreau

b) The Ultimate French Review and Practice, Premium Third Edition

c) Computer, laptop or tablet

$240.00 for course plus membership enrollment if you are not already a member.

You may send questions to: yvonnepk@usa.net

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

​ Email alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com with your name and contact phone number indicating the class you wish to take.

Wednesday evenings beginning July 22, 2026 CHEZ JACQUELINE MUNK in Milford.

Classes meet Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for four weeks, July 22, 2026-August 12, 2026. This course focuses primarily on conversation, helping you express yourself with ease on a variety of current topics while strengthening grammatical accuracy. You will practice all four language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—and homework may be assigned.

Cost $160 plus membership enrollment if you are not already a member..

Register and pay online https://www.alliancefrancaisenewhaven.org/online-payment/ USE THE DONATION BUTTON FOR THIS CLASS! Email us at alliancefrancaisenh@gmail.com with your name and contact phone number.

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.

Save the dates, More info to follow:

August 2, 2026 Family Swim and Picnic Rain Date: August 9

August 22, 2026 Outdoor movie event 8 PM

September 24, 2026 Apéro Atelier Florian 4:30-6:00PM

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.

Présenté par Anne Paccard, directrice marketing et communication Fonderie Paccard, Annecy, France.

Si vous avez déjà visité un Capitole d’État aux États-Unis, vous avez sans doute aperçu les répliques de la Liberty Bell. Mais avez-vous remarqué que chacune d’elles porte l’inscription « Paccard, Annecy, France » ?

À l’occasion du 250e anniversaire des États-Unis — et du 230e anniversaire de la Fonderie Paccard — venez découvrir comment cette entreprise familiale située près d’Annecy, en Haute-Savoie, a été amenée à réaliser le projet de la Liberty Bell. Vous entendrez également parler de plusieurs de leurs autres installations à travers les États-Unis, qui entretiennent elles aussi un lien direct avec les Alpes françaises.

Anne Paccard abordera ces différents sujets, principalement en français, lors d’un entretien avec Charles Coulon, membre du conseil d’administration de la Fédération.

Click HERE to register.

Join us for a discussion with Anne Higonnet, author of Liberty, Equality, Fashion.

Liberty, Equality, Fashion is about three revolutionary women who turned themselves into style celebrities. Joséphine Bonaparte, future Empress of France, Térézia Tallien, declared the most beautiful woman in Europe, and Juliette Récamier, icon of artists and writers, had nothing left to lose. They had emerged in 1794 from the worst violence of the French Revolution, just barely. Joséphine and Térézia had been incarcerated and threatened every day with death by guillotine; Juliette had been married to her father and condemned to perpetual virginity. The three survivors reacted by overthrowing centuries of royal dress codes. They tossed away corsets, petticoats, brocades, baubles and coiffure towers to introduce light, mobile dresses, cropped hair, and the handbag.

Fascination alternated with shock as Joséphine, Térézia, and Juliette boldly took control over their sexuality. Paris succumbed. News spread. All of a sudden, Europe could see the female body, and see it move. The French Revolution had defeated monarchy to usher in universal human rights and elected government. No one had imagined it would also include a total change of clothes, let alone one which would express liberty for all women.

Click HERE to register.

La Renaissance Française USA honored Linda Witt, past Federation of AF USA president, in a ceremony last month. Click here to read more. 

The Le Robert 2026 editions have hit the shelves. This year's 150 linguistic additions showcase a blend of global pop culture and AI technology, cementing words like balado (podcast), hypertrucage (deepfake), and the Anglicism chill (to stay calm) into the official French lexicon. Check out the top entries on the Le Robert Feature Page.

The OIF has launched its 2026 call for projects under the "Cultural Industries and Discoverability" initiative to boost the visibility, distribution, and digital promotion of French-language content worldwide.

For history buffs: this Frommer's article lists places in Paris where you can still see evidence of the Nazi Occupation.

This poster outlines the unwritten rules of French etiquette.