What we’re about
Do you hum la Marseillaise in the shower? Is wearing a béret de rigueur? Or is your French a little rusty? Speakers at all fluency levels are welcome. Attend any of our many events and enjoy the camaraderie of French-speaking people in Chicago's northern suburbs. Il y en aura pour tous les goûts !
We are a chapter of the cultural and educational not-for-profit Alliance Française organization, a worldwide network of chapters that seek to educate members about francophone cultures, language, history and literature. Visit our website for more details: http://afnorthshore.org/.
Si vous voulez améliorer votre compréhension et expression de la langue française, venez vous joindre à nous.
Join us and put a little French in your life.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Online Book Discussion: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of RevolutionLink visible for attendees
Join AFduNS President Karen Baldwin in a discussion in English of Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution, by Mike Duncan.
Few in history can match the revolutionary career of the Marquis de Lafayette. Over fifty incredible years at the heart of the Age of Revolution, he fought courageously on both sides of the Atlantic. He was a soldier, statesman, idealist, philanthropist, and abolitionist.
As a teenager, Lafayette ran away from France to join the American Revolution. Returning home a national hero, he helped launch the French Revolution, eventually spending five years locked in dungeon prisons. After his release, Lafayette sparred with Napoleon, joined an underground conspiracy to overthrow King Louis XVIII, and became an international symbol of liberty. Finally, as a revered elder statesman, he was instrumental in the overthrow of the Bourbon Dynasty in the Revolution of 1830.
From enthusiastic youth to world-weary old age, from the pinnacle of glory to the depths of despair, Lafayette never stopped fighting for the rights of all mankind. His remarkable life is the story of where we come from, and an inspiration to defend the ideals he held dear.
Click here to watch a video presentation by the author.
Click here for the discussion questions.
The meeting will be held on Zoom. The link to the meeting will be visible when you RSVP. Doors open at 6:55 PM.
Please make sure your Zoom screen name includes your first and last names so that we can identify and admit you.
Program Registration for Members of the AF DuPage: Free
If you're a member of the AF DuPage and are attending a program for the first time, please RSVP to programmes@AFnorthshore.org with “DuPage” in the subject line. Include your name and Zoom screen name, if different. If you're a member of our Meetup group, we'll mark you as such and you'll no longer need to send RSVP emails as long as you RSVP on Meetup. The meeting link will be available on Meetup.If you're not a member of the AFduNS Meetup group, you'll need to send an email RSVP for each program. The meeting link will be emailed to you the evening before the program.
Program Registration for Nonmembers: $10
If you're not a member of the AFduNS or the AF DuPage, the cost of attending this program is $10. Click here to register and pay online with PayPal by 8 PM the day before the program. The meeting link will be emailed to you the evening before each program. There will be no refunds or credits.We appreciate reservations by 8 PM the day before the program.
Membership in the AFduNS
While no membership is required for newcomers, we welcome new members whose membership will support the activities of the AFduNS, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For further info, visit our website or contact us at info@AFnorthshore.org. If you wish to join the AFduNS, you may sign up online. Annual dues are $50.00. - Café Conversation Après-midiCorner Bakery, Glenview, IL
Meet a group of 10 to 15 fellow Francophones for relaxed, afternoon conversations in French on third Thursdays.
All fluency levels are welcome. While no membership is required for newcomers, we welcome new members whose membership will support the activities of the AFduNS, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
For further information, visit www.AFnorthshore.org or contact cafe-apresmidi@AFnorthshore.org.
Membership in the AFduNS
While no membership is required for newcomers, we welcome new members whose membership will support the activities of the AFduNS, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For further info, visit our website or contact us at info@AFnorthshore.org. If you wish to join the AFduNS, you may sign up online. Annual dues are $50.00.
- Carmen : l'Image rebelle de Mérimée et de BizetLink visible for attendees
Is the "gypsy in Spain" merely a femme fatale, or does Carmen have a mythic dimension? Both Prosper Mérimée, in his tale, and Georges Bizet, in his opera, borrow the image, language and musical vocabulary that evoke the separation of the creature from his creator-redeemer. Just as the pact with the devil is at the core of the Faust myth, Mary Blackwood Collier suggests the identification of Carmen with Satan constitutes the heart of the Carmen myth. She will discuss this mythical quality and analyze several interpretations of the character of Carmen as a cultural phenomenon. En français.
Born to musician parents, music, languages and literature were the household curriculum and joy. Mary Collier studied piano and voice at the Music Academy of the West and received the B.A. and M.A. degrees in French language and literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Doctorat avec la mention Très Honorable at l'Université de Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV. She was named Chevalier de France dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques by the République Française and retired as full professor from Westmont College. Mary is the author of La Carmen essentielle et sa réalisation au spectacle.
Program Registration for Members of the AF DuPage: Free
If you're a member of the AF DuPage and are attending a monthly program for the first time, please RSVP to programmes@AFnorthshore.org with “DuPage” in the subject line. Include your name and Zoom screen name, if different. If you're a member of our Meetup group, we'll mark you as such and you'll no longer need to send RSVP emails as long as you RSVP on Meetup.
If you're not a member of the AFduNS Meetup group, you'll need to send an email RSVP for each monthly program.Program Registration for Nonmembers: $10
If you're not a member of the AFduNS or the AF DuPage, the cost of attending this program is $10. Click here to register and pay online with PayPal by 8 PM the day before the program. There will be no refunds or credits.We appreciate reservations by 8 PM the day before the program. Walk-ins may pay at the door on their mobile device.
Membership in the AFduNS
While no membership is required for newcomers, we welcome new members whose membership will support the activities of the AFduNS, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For further info, visit our website or contact us at info@AFnorthshore.org. If you wish to join the AFduNS, you may sign up online. Annual dues are $50.00. - Online Apéro ConversationLink visible for attendees
Meet fellow Francophones for evening conversation. This gathering is facilitated by one or more of our native or fluent AFduNS leaders.
Pour yourself a glass of wine, gather some snacks and settle in at home for our online conversation group.
The meeting will be held on Zoom. Although you don't need to download Zoom to attend this meeting, we encourage you to do so (https://zoom.us/download) for a smoother experience. Depending on the number of attendees, we may break out into smaller groups.
The link to the meeting will be visible when you RSVP. The meeting ID is 859 8255 4800.
All fluency levels are welcome. RSVPs help us plan.
Membership in the AFduNS
While no membership is required for newcomers, we welcome new members whose membership will support the activities of the AFduNS, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For further info, visit our website or contact us at info@AFnorthshore.org. If you wish to join the AFduNS, you may sign up online. Annual dues are $50.00.
