Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The most frequent questions asked to the Alliance Française de Washington.
General Information
What comes with Alliance Française membership?
Access to classes and to the library, and discounts on cultural events. You also receive our language and cultural programs by mail, as well as special discounts for many cultural events in town.
Where do I find the names of the Alliance Française staff members ?
On our Staff Page.
Where do I find the addresses of other Alliance Française chapters in the USA?
Visit the website of the Délégation Générale de l’Alliance Française, USA at www.alliance-us.org.
I have recently moved to Washington and I am currently a member of another Alliance Française chapter. Can I transfer my membership?
Good news! The Alliance Française de Washington does honor membership transfers. Simply send us by mail or fax a photocopy of your current membership card along with you complete contact information (full name, mailing address, phone, email). We will print you an AF de Washington membership card with the same expiration date as your other card.
Can I advertise through the Alliance Française?
If you are a member of the AF de Washington, you may post non commercial announcements on our bulletin board. Please bring the announcement to our office so we can verify that it came from a member and we will post the flyer on the board ourselves. All flyers must have the AF stamp from our office or they will be removed from the board.
For commercial services: a business card-sized ad in our general “blue” general brochure (5,000 issues) costs $1,000. The same sized ad in our seasonal cultural bulletin costs $100. Please contact Sasha Pitrof at ex. 11 or alliance@francedc.org if you are interested.
To consult the prices for advertising though our web site, please click here: [Add link to web site advertising prices].
Does the Alliance Française provide translation or interpreting services?
No, but we recommend that you contact Alpha Omega Translations at (703) 768-2535 (www.frenchtranslating.com) or Language One at (202) 328-0099 (www.languageone.com.)
How do I apply for an internship at the Alliance Française?
To qualify for a long term internship at the AF, you must be studying in a French grande école or university, and able to commit to a 12 ½ month period from early September to late September of the following year. This internship must be at least your third year of school if you are studying in a grande école or your fourth year if you are in a university. There must be an agreement between your school and the Alliance Française (“convention de stage”.) All eligible candidates should email their CVs and cover letters to alliance@francedc.org before December 31st. There is usually an interview in Paris at the end of January.
For short term internships (e.g. annual francophonie festival from mid January through the end of May), you must be a university student in Washington, DC. All eligible candidates should email their CVs and cover letters to alliance@francedc.org before October 31st.
I’d like to study French in France. Whom shall I contact?
We recommend the Alliance Française de Paris as well as all the other Alliances Françaises in France. You’ll find their website address at www.alliancefr.org. (Washington AF Members get a special discount at the AF de Bordeaux). We also strongly recommend ADomLingua at www.adomlingua.com (where AFDC members get a discount) and Ceran Lingua in Avignon at www.ceran-us.com.
Do you offer immersion classes in France?
Yes, every year the Alliance Française de Washington organizes immersion programs at Saint-Raphaël on the French Riviera. These programs are very popular and fill up fast. Please call us in March or April for more info or visit our website.
What is the SCULE?
The Alliance Française may organize French undergraduate exams, following an agreement with the Embassy of France. For any information on those tests, please contact the French Embassy, SCULE, at 202-944-6000.
Who can I contact if I have advanced research to do on France?
Please contact the French Embassy at 202-944-6000.
I’d like to study in France. Where shall I get informations about it?
You may call EduFrance at (786) 385-5906 or edufrance@afmiami.org
Do you have any recommendations for housing in Paris?
We recommend the FIAP Jean Monnet (www.fiap.asso.fr) where you will meet many other international visitors in a friendly and engaging atmosphere.
French Classes
What are the dates of the next session of French classes at the Alliance?
Next session’s dates will always be printed in our bulletin and course catalog. You may also find them on /en/Calendar.aspx.
Can I try your group classes to see if I like them?
Yes, we organize open houses before each session.
Can I only take one hour of private class to try?
No. We ask our students to register for a minimum of 5 hours of private classes. It is not possible to register for less than 5 hours at a time.
How many students can take a private class?
Private classes can be held with a maximum of three students. If you are more than 3 students, you may register for corporate classes. Any information on those classes can be found on /en/CorporateClasses.aspx.
What is the placement test?
The Placement Test is a test divided in two parts: a written test and an interview, usually by phone, in French. It allows us to know your exact level and thus offer you the best classes for your level. Once you’ve taken a placement test, it is accurate for one year. If you do not practice French for a year, the level you had won’t be accurate anymore.
Can I request to have a teacher from France only?
No. Our teachers are selected based on their pedagogical skills, no matter where they come from, as long as they are native French-speakers. There cannot be and there are no racial, sexual, sexual orientation, or age criteria in our recruitment or class assignments.
Can I pay my class registration fees in more than one installment?
No. In order to be taken into consideration, a registration has to be paid entirely. We cannot guanrantee your reservation without your payment.
How can I pay my class registration fees?
You may pay your registration fees by credit card (Visa or Mastercard only, we do not accept American Express cards), by check, in cash or by money order. Please read our withdrawal policy carefully as we cannot make any exceptions to it.
Do you offer any certificate of French level?
You may have your French level recognized in three different ways.
If you attended a class at the Alliance; you may obtain a free certificate of completion at the end of it upon request.
The Alliance also offers the TEF (“Test d’Evaluation en Français”) certificate, a diploma delivered after an exam by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris and that is recognized worldwide. For any information, log on to /en/TefCertificate.aspx.
Universities may also ask for a specific evaluation of your level in French. This evaluation lasts one to two hours and costs from $50 to $70.
Cultural and Social Events
What is the pricing and cancellation policy for cultural events at the Alliance Française?
To reserve tickets for any of our cultural events, you must pre-pay in cash, by check or credit card (we accept Visa and MasterCard). The prices shown on our web site and in our cultural bulletin apply only to those who reserve in advance. Reservations for all events are accepted until 4:00 pm on the day of the event. After that time, you must pay at the door in cash or by check, and the tickets are $2 more for both members and non-members.
How can I volunteer for cultural events at the Alliance Française?
We are always in need of volunteers to help our on and off-site cultural events run smoothly. If you are interested in volunteering, email us at alliance@francedc.org with your complete contact information. We will email you a list of the upcoming events and you can choose which events fit into your schedule. Our Coordinator of Educational and Cultural Programs will remind you a day or so before the event. Most events begin at 6:30 pm and volunteers need to arrive by 6:00 pm to help set up. The length of the commitment on any given night depends on the type of event.
I am a French artist or an artist working on French-related themes and would like to show my work at the Alliance Française. What shall I do?
Please write to assistant@francedc.org or call 202-234-7911 x 16 to ask for our conditions of exhibition and our availabilities.
I’d like to send my feedback on a class or a cultural event organized by the Alliance. What should I do?
Send a letter to the Executive Director of the Alliance Française by mail at 2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 or by e-mail at alliance@francedc.org. All comments are welcome!
Library
What are the library hours?
Monday & Tuesday: 12pm to 8pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 10am to 6pm
Friday: 10am to 5pm
Saturday: 11am to 4pm
How do I join the library?
You just have to be a Member of the Alliance Française. Come to the library desk and ask for a sign-up form. There is a $30 deposit unless you are currently enrolled in a class at the Alliance, in which case the deposit is waived. You may borrow the same day that you sign up.
Do I have to pay to borrow documents?
No. However, we gladly accept donations ($5/year suggested.)
Is the catalog online?
Yes: catalog (URL : http://216.175.228.26/bcdi3web/bcdi3web.dll)
Can I see new acquisitions?
Go to the acquisitions page.
Can I make acquisition suggestions?
Yes! Email bibli.alliance@francedc.org.
What kinds of materials do you have?
Films, CDs, print and audio books (adult fiction, children’s literature, and non-fiction, including language learning materials), and periodicals.
Does the library have language-learning materials?
Yes! The library has various textbooks, workbooks, easy French readers and dual language readers (some with audio), plus sets of language-learning CDs, audiocassettes, films and CD-ROM. Methods include Pimsleur, Panorama, Living Language, Campus and French in Action, among many others.
Do you have current magazines?
We currently subscribe to Le Point, Nouvel Observateur, France-Amerique, Courrier International, Le Monde Diplomatique, Lire, Paris Match, Elle, Marie-Claire Idees, Champs Elysées, Bien-dire, Fusac, Journal Français, Scènes Magazine, Phosphore and Le Français dans le monde.
How many items may I borrow at one time?
6 adult books, 10 children’s books, 4 music CDs, 1 book on CD, 3 books on audiocassette, 3 films, 3 magazines.
How long is the loan period?
Everything is three weeks except the new and most popular movies, which are 1 week.
May I renew?
You may renew everything 2 times except items marked with a “new” sticker and 1-week movies, which may not be renewed. Renewal period is 3 weeks.
Are there late fees?
Late fees are 25 cents per item per day (Sundays and holidays excluded), except new and 1-week movies, which are $1 per movie per day. Late fees do not exceed the retail value of the item.
May I return materials when the library is closed?
Yes, you may return Monday through Saturday through the slot in the library door, hand returns to an Alliance Française employee, or send them by mail (borrower is responsible for loss or damage) to 2142 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008.
What is the policy in case of loss or damage?
The borrower signs a contract agreeing to pay replacement costs for lost or damaged items. If payment is not forthcoming, the deposit will be retained and/or borrowing privileges revoked.
Do you accept book donations?
We accept donations of NEW or "like new" books, CDs and DVDs (no videos). We cannot accept donations of items that are over 5 years old or that are marked on or damaged, or in any way unusable for the patrons of this library.
Alliance Française de Washington Community Outreach Program
What is the ABEI program?
The ABEI program (“Anne Bujon Educational Initiative) is an outreach community program initiated in 2002 by the Alliance Française de Washington under the patronage of Ms. Anne Bujon de l’Estang, wife of then-Ambassador of France to the US, H.E. Mr. Bujon de l’Estang and in close partnership with the DCPS.
The main goals of this program are to bring an initiation to the French language and Francophone world to underprivileged elementary DC public schools (DCPS) and to give them an appreciation of French cultures (from France and the French-speaking world) through students participation in some of the Alliance Française cultural activities, either on or off-site. The program runs on the basis of three years in a school.
How can I contribute to the ABEI program?
The Alliance Française works in close relationship with the District of Columbia Public Schools System (DCPS) to implement this program, and uses the services of its own employees and French language teachers.
We do not recruit temporary volunteers except for rare occasions, e.g. our Christmas and Mardi Gras children parties. Should you be still interested in volunteering for one of these events, please feel free to contact our ABEI Program Manager at 202-234-7911 X 31 to set up a time for us to meet and discuss this matter together.
To contribute financially to the program, please call us to receive an invitation to our annual Gala. Whether you wish to attend or not, donations are accepted at this time only.
What kind of cultural activities are organized in the ABEI program?
Regular cultural workshops with French singers, actors and lecturers are offered in ABEI elementary schools.
Some are directly selected from the Alliance Française’s own cultural programs while others were specifically organized for ABEI.
Ex: Gilles Ellkaïm (a solo French explorer of the Eurasian Arctic), Plantu (French cartoonist of Le Monde Newspaper), Les Acrostiches (renowned French acrobats), Jean Clottes( paleontologist), Dee Dee Bridgewater (jazz singer).
These cultural activities are a key to opening students’ minds, raising their curiosity and encouraging them to learn French.