Tuesday Online French - English Video Conversation Group

There is no better way to practice your foreign language than by conversing with native speakers, and WICE can help you do just that.

We meet online (Zoom) twice a week. Participants are divided into small groups of 5-6 members. We converse 45 minutes in French and 45 minutes in English. Conversations are free-form and address topics of interest to the individual group members.

The group is open to WICE members at all language levels. However, to get the most out of the conversations, an intermediate level in both languages is helpful. 

Participation is free for WICE members.

To participate, contact Mike Franks at: mike.franks@wice-paris.org

Tuesday In-Person French - English Conversation Group

Looking for a relaxed and welcoming place to practice and improve your French or English? WICE conversation groups allow you to practice your language skills in an easy, convivial atmosphere with native speakers.

The Tuesday group meets at the Maison Communale, 69 rue Violet , 75015 Paris from 15:00 - 16:30. Participants are divided into small groups of 5 - 6 people, and the conversations are 45 minutes in French and 45 minutes in English. The subjects are of  the group’s choosing. Though an intermediate level of English and French is expected, there is a wide range of abilities.

There is no need to register, but if you wish to participate in person in Tuesday's group, please contact Mary-Jo at maryjo@wice-paris.org

.Note: There will be no sessions on 09 or 16 April due to school vacations.

After the conversation group finishes, participants often go the nearby Le Commerce Café, 80 rue du Commerce, for an hour or so of socializing.

Maison Communale, 69 rue Violet , 75015 Paris. Metro line 8 stop Commerce, and busses #42, #70, #88.

Participation is free with WICE membership.

WICE member Valerie Helmbreck-Mascitti (knitting on the left) opens her lovely apartment in the Marais every Wednesday afternoon to WICE members for an afternoon of needlework: knitting, crocheting, creweling, embroidery, etc..

Any and all WICE needle workers are welcome to attend. Bring your project, and if you're so inclined, something to nosh on (by no means necessary).

Valerie's apartment is conveniently located near the Arts et Metier metro stop (lines 3 and 11). For more information, send an email to wice@wice-paris.org.

For those who want to learn how to knit, WICE member Deborah Hunter will be holding classes in the late-winter or spring, so keep your eye on our activity calendar, our FaceBook page, or subscribe to our newsletter, WICE Direct.                     

Friday In-Person French - English Conversation Group

Looking for a relaxed and welcoming place to practice and improve your French or English? WICE conversation groups allow you to practice your language skills in an easy, convivial atmosphere with native speakers.

The Friday group meets at the Le Patronage Laïque Jules Vallès ,72 Avenue Félix Faure, 75015 Paris from 15:00 - 16:30. Participants are divided into small groups of 5 - 6 people, and the conversations are 45 minutes in French and 45 minutes in English. The subjects are of  the group’s choosing. Though an intermediate level of English and French is expected, there is a wide range of abilities.

Note: There will be no sessions on 12 or 19 April due to school vacations.

After the conversation group finishes, participants often go across the street to Bistro Mon Rêve for an hour or so of socializing.

There is no need to register, but if you wish to participate in person in Tuesday's group, please contact Mary-Jo at: maryjo@wice-paris.org.

Le Patronage Laïque Jules Vallès ,72 Avenue Félix Faure, 75015. Metro line 8 stop Boucicaut, and busses 62, 70, 80, 88.

Participation is free with WICE membership.

Tuesday Online French - English Video Conversation Group

There is no better way to practice your foreign language than by conversing with native speakers, and WICE can help you do just that.

We meet online (Zoom) twice a week. Participants are divided into small groups of 5-6 members. We converse 45 minutes in French and 45 minutes in English. Conversations are free-form and address topics of interest to the individual group members.

The group is open to WICE members at all language levels. However, to get the most out of the conversations, an intermediate level in both languages is helpful. 

Participation is free for WICE members.

To participate, contact Mike Franks at: mike.franks@wice-paris.org

Course Description

This lively French course will improve your ability to deal with an array of everyday life situations in French. This level is for students who understand simple, straightforward information and can express themselves in familiar contexts and take part in an everyday conversation on simple, predictable topics.

Using interactive methods to ensure learner engagement and lasting progress, the course will help you develop your vocabulary, oral and written expression, comprehension, and pronunciation.

Geared for learners with an intermediate knowledge of French, the 90-minute class will be held in French, twice a week for a total of 3 hours per week.

About the Instructor

Audrey Charmont has a Masters in Marketing and Communications as well as a DAEFLE (French as a Foreign Language). She has years of French teaching experience in France and abroad.

Course Description

This course is designed for beginners, either for first-time learners or those who want to refresh their French at a basic level.

Throughout the course students will acquire the essential French skills (writing, speaking, pronunciation) needed to function in everyday-life situations.

Each class will take place in a lively and friendly atmosphere that encourages students' enjoyment and active participation. Along with  linguistic exercises, references to French culture and gastronomy will also be presented.

The course meets twice a week for 90 minutes (a total of 3 hrs/week) and is conducted in French. When necessary, supplementary explanations may be given in English.

About the instructor

Nathalie Allain is a native French speaker with a master’s degree in FLE (French as a foreign language) who is also fluent in English, German, and Japanese. To future students, she says: “In addition to textbooks, I like to make French come alive by using the language to discover the culture and history of Paris in one field trip each month.”

 

Course Description

This English Guided Discussion Group is open to people who have a strong intermediate or advanced level of English. Our group leaders suggest interesting topics and readings prior to each group discussion. If you enjoy reading, speaking, presenting, and engaging in diverse topic-centered discussions, this group is for you. In addition to learning and developing through guided conversation with other participants, you will also have the opportunity to get personalized constructive feedback. The group speaks only in English for one
hour.

Ce groupe de discussion guidée anglaise est ouvert aux personnes qui parlent anglais presque couramment (niveaux intermédiaire-avancé ou avancé). Nos animateurs proposent des sujets intéressants et des textes avant chaque groupe. Si vous appréciez la lecture, la communication, la présentation et la participation à des discussions
diverses, ce groupe est pour vous. En plus d’apprendre et se développer à travers des discussions guidées avec d'autres participants, vous aurez également la possibilité d'obtenir des
commentaires constructifs. Ce groupe de discussion guidée est un endroit idéal pour rencontrer d’autres passionnés de la langue anglais. Le groupe ne parle qu’anglais pendant une heure.

Note: A Zoom link will be provided the day before the
course begins. Be sure to check your email for it

Facilitators

The group will be led by several native English speakers of varying interests and backgrounds.

Course Description

This French Guided Discussion Group is open to people who have a strong intermediate or advanced level of French. Group leaders provide participants with engaging weekly readings on a wide range of topics prior to each dynamic and fast-paced seminar. If you enjoy reading, speaking, presenting, and engaging in varied, topic-centered discussions, this group is for you. In addition to learning through focused conversation with other participants, you will also have the opportunity to get personalized constructive feedback. The French Guided Discussion group speaks only in French for 90 minutes which gives participants an excellent space to practice.

Note the new day and time to give members in other time zones the opportunity to join in.

About the Instructors

Brice Dardel and Brigitte Le Quere, both native French speakers with extensive experience leading discussions, alternate weekly sessions.

Course Description

This dynamic course will fine tune your abilities in an array of everyday life situations in French. Students at this level have the ability to express themselves on a range of topics. They are comfortable in most situations and have a strong vocabulary with few mistakes. Using interactive methods to ensure learner engagement and lasting progress, the course will facilitate your progress in vocabulary development, oral and written expression, comprehension, and pronunciation. Geared for learners with prior advanced-intermediate French, this course will be held in French once a week for 90 minutes.

About the Instructor

Audrey Charmont has a Masters in Marketing and Communications as well as a DAEFLE (French as a Foreign Language). She has French teaching experience in France and abroad.

Course Description

This dynamic course will fine tune your abilities in an array of everyday life situations in French. Students at this level have the ability to express themselves on a range of topics. They are comfortable in most situations and have a strong vocabulary with few mistakes. Using interactive methods to ensure learner engagement and lasting progress, the course will facilitate your progress in vocabulary development, oral and written expression, comprehension, and pronunciation. Geared for learners with prior advanced-intermediate French, this course will be held in French once a week for 90 minutes.

About the Instructor

Audrey Charmont has a Masters in Marketing and Communications as well as a DAEFLE (French as a Foreign Language). She has French teaching experience in France and abroad.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: For this advanced French course, you will watch a film at home (available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Canal Plus, Orange, YouTube and other platforms) before a lively and engaging discussion in class. Each month a new film provides a basis for an immersive lesson with authentic spoken language and cultural reference points. If you love movies, there’s no more enjoyable way to increase vocabulary, improve conversational skills, and deepen your understanding of French cinema and culture. 

Each discussion will focus on analyzing the film from different angles:

• Creation; production; and reception, both critical and commercial
• Screenplay, direction, and artistic collaborations such as script, cinematography, acting, and music
• Specific features in the director's filmography and its place in the French cinema of his/her era.

 For the spring trimester, we will be discussing the following films:

1. L'Armée des ombres (1969) de Jean- Pierre Melville. Avec Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret, Paul Meurisse. Canal VOD, Orange, Arte Boutique

2. A nos amours (1984) de Maurice Pialat
Avec Sandrine Bonnaire, Dominique Besnehard, Maurice Pialat
Universciné

3. Sans toit ni loi (1988) d’Agnès Varda
Avec Sandrine Bonnaire
Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Canal VOD

• ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and ESCP Business School with a master's in political philosophy, Pascale Borenstein co-founded the first professional training course for screenwriters, the Conservatoire Européen d'Ecriture Audiovisuelle (CEEA), which she subsequently directed. From 2004 to 2017, she was Director of International Relations and Continuing Education at France's national film school, La Fémis, where she collaborated with the film departments at NYU, Columbia University, and Calarts. Pascale is the co-author of "Histoire de films français" published by Bordas and a lecturer at l'ICART (École du Management Culturel & Marché de l'Art).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Discover and discuss contemporary classics in this lively class for high-intermediate and advanced French speakers. You’ll read a book at home, either a short novel or play, then participate in a class discussion. The instructor will supply context and cultural elements, as well as discussion questions intended to spark reflection and debate. In the spirit of literary cafés, the class will help you gain a deeper knowledge of French societal issues and controversies.

For the spring term, we will read...

"Dans les rapides," Maylis de Kerangal : In the 1980s, Lise, Nina and Marie are students in the same high school. Through rowing in the cold, at dawn, they become inseparable and learn to navigate the perils of their daily life : boys, popularity, choosing Debbie Harry or Kate Bush... This poetic short novel captures the subtle essence of adolescence. Éditions Folio.

"Migraaaants, ou On est trop nombreux sur ce putain de bateau ou Le salon de la clôture" Matei Visniec, who fled the Romanian dictatorship himself, wrote this dark comedy after months of investigating immigration issues for Radio France Internationale. In this series of short texts, we will read the point of view of migrants, but also smugglers, politicians receiving media training, and citizens willing to help. Éditions L'Oeil du Prince

"Le petit prince cannibale" : This novel interweaves the story of the narrator, mother of a young autistic child, and the story of the book she is trying to write when he is finally in bed. The little prince she struggles to raise and give access to the world, devours her time, creativity and words. Françoise Lefèvre won the Prix Goncourt des lycéens in 1990 for this beautiful novel. Éditions Babels

About the instructor

Bleuenn Simon has taught French literature and French as a second language for over 18 years in France and in the United States. She is also a theater teacher, amateur actress, and author.

Course Description

Discover and discuss masterpieces of American and British cinema in this class for intermediate and advanced English speakers. You’ll watch a film at home on streaming, or borrow the DVD from your local library, before a lively and engaging discussion in class. You’ll be assigned one scene to watch at least three times! Every month you’ll view a film from an influential director so you’ll come to know the stylistic hallmarks of favorite genres and filmmakers.

If you love the movies, this course is an enjoyable way to increase vocabulary, get comfortable with idiomatic expressions, improve your conversational skills, and deepen your understanding of American culture and cinema.

The spring we’ll discuss three films that are all premiere examples of 1930s (or early 1940s) Hollywood genre films:

Screwball comedy: My Man Godfrey (1936), directed by Gregory La Cava, with William Powell and Carole Lombard

Musical:  Swing Time (1936), directed by George Stevens, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

Detective film: Maltese Falcon (1941) directed by John Huston, with Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, and Peter Lorre

About the instructor
Ellen Feldman grew up in Philadelphia and currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She holds a Ph.D. in cinema studies from New York University and has taught film studies at the State University of New York, Geneseo campus, and Brooklyn College.

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Course description:

This on-line workshop is designed to help you investigate what lies behind the scenes in a short story and then apply that knowledge to your own writing to create entertaining, compelling, and profound stories of your own—whatever your preferred genre and your background in writing may be.  With stories by celebrated authors as different as Flannery O’Connor, Atsushi Nakajima, Kelly Link, and Bharati Mukherjee, we’ll delve into the principles of structure, characterization, plotting, voice, description, and more.  

By the end of the course, you’ll have written and received supportive class and instructor feedback on several writing exercises and one full-length short story.

NOTE: For non-WICE members who wish to register and attend, please use code OG2KL31Q.  

Instructor:

Noah Weisz has an M.F.A. in Fiction from the University of Texas at Austin and over a decade of experience teaching creative writing. A past winner of the F(r)iction Short Story Contest and the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award, his short stories have been widely published in literary magazines. Based in Paris, he currently teaches creative writing to undergraduates at Sciences Po as well as to American study-abroad students through CEA CAPA. You can find him at https://noahweisz.wordpress.com.

The Bois de Boulogne is one of Paris’ lungs. Covering an area of almost 847 ha. it incorporates two racecourses, lakes, the smaller parks of Bagatelle and Pré-Catalan and extensive woodland paths. This walk will follow part of the new GR75 path which encircles Paris and which is designed to be accessible to all. It will take you through the Hippodrome d’Auteuil racecourse, along the banks of the Lac Inférieur and down woodland paths. The walk will end at Porte Maillot on Métro Line 1 and will take approx. 90 minutes. The route is flat and smooth. This walk is a gentle and informal stroll where participants are encouraged to converse and contribute their knowledge if they wish.

Le Bois de Boulogne est un des poumons verts de Paris. Avec une surface de presque 847 ha. il comprend deux hippodromes, des lacs, les parcs plus petits du Bagatelle et du Pré-Catalan, et des sentiers forestiers étendus. Cette promenade suivra un pan du nouveau sentier GR75 qui entoure Paris et qui a été conçu pour être accessible à tous. Il vous mènera à travers l’Hippodrome d’Auteuil, le long du Lac Inférieur et le long des sentiers forestiers. La promenade va terminer à la Porte Maillot sur la Ligne 1 du Métro et elle va durer à environ 90 minutes. La route est plate et régulière. Cette promenade est une balade douce et informelle où les participants sont encouragés à parler et contribuer leur connaissance comme ils le souhaitent.

Meeting point: Outside Metro station Michel-Ange Auteuil Line 9. 

About the organizer:

Bryan Harty has lived in central Paris for 4 years. He’s a member of WICE and enjoys getting out of the city to walk through the countryside. He hopes these and other walks will be seen as outdoor conversation classes.

Photo credit: Polymagou

Come enjoy a lively lunch with fellow WICE members. Catch up with old friends and meet new ones over a fun and leisurely meal in a charming café in the Latin Quarter.

You pay for what you eat and drink, no extra fees, but registration is required.

Served by metro line 10 (Sorbonne-Cluny), metro line 4 (Saint Michel), and busses 21, 27, 38, 63, 86, 87, and 96.

A Midsummer Night's Dream - Part I

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" is one of William Shakespeare's most delightful comedies.

The story unfolds in the enchanting forest of Arden, a mystical forest inhabited by mischievous fairies just outside ancient Athens. The plot revolves around the romantic entanglements of four Athenian lovers—Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius—whose passions are manipulated by the fairy king Oberon and his mischievous servant Puck. Amidst their escapades, a group of amateur actors rehearses a play for the Duke's wedding, leading to hilarious misunderstandings and magical transformations. As the moonlit night unfolds, love triangles unravel, identities are mistaken, and the whimsical intervention of the fairy world weaves a tapestry of enchantment. With its intricate plot twists, sparkling wit, and timeless themes of love, illusion, and the transformative power of the imagination, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" remains a beloved masterpiece of Shakespearean comedy, captivating audiences with its charm and whimsy for centuries.

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This is a relatively long play, with an estimated reading time of 2 1/2 hours. We are going to divide the reading into two parts: one in May and one in June. Each will be approximately 40 pages.

The May reading will take place at a member's apartment. The address, door code, and phone number will be sent in the two reminder emails.

The June reading will take place outdoors at the Jardin d'Acclimatation on the morning of WICE's annual picnic.

Registering to read a part in the May reading does not commit anyone to also read in June. Nor will roles be maintained among those who do decide to participate in both readings.

As always, two spots are reserved for new WICE members until a few days before the reading. If they have not been filled, we open them to members on the wait list.

Registration opens on 22 April 2024.

The weather is back, and so is pétanque!

In the same way that—to some people—lobster is just an excuse to eat melted butter, WICE's afternoon pétanque games can be thought of as an excuse to hang out in a charming locale and have fun with other WICE members.

We play at Place Dauphine on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 2:30 pm until the last person decides to leave. A game usually takes about an hour, and generally everyone wanders over to one of the nearby cafés afterwards for beverages and a chat.

WICE provides four pétanque sets, and—if you're new—instructions on how to play.

The session is free for WICE members, but registration is required, and the registration limit is eight people. If the session is full, please join the waiting list so that we can better plan future sessions.

Look for Jo Jones (left) and Ron Scherl (right), WICE's two most seasoned pétanque players, who will be organizing the game:

Join fellow WICE members for coffee on Tuesday mornings. And, if the weather permits, perhaps a walk through the Luxembourg Gardens afterwards.

Members meet at Brasserie le Bullier, named after the famous ball located opposite the "Port Royal" station, to which the whole of Paris once flocked.

Offering a beautiful interior and exterior space, where everyone's privacy is preserved, Le Bullier gives each guest the feeling of the warmth of a Parisian salon and the decor of the Brasseries of yesteryear.

WICE member Brise Rickey, who has lived in the neighborhood a few years, hosts the Tuesday morning coffees twice a month. It's a great opportunity to hang out with fellow WICE members, make new friends, and enjoy those special experiences unique to Paris.

Open to all WICE members, but registration is required.

Brasserie le Bullier is located at 22 Av. de l'Observatoire, 75014. It can be reached by RER B (Port Royal), metro lines 4 and 6 (Raspail), and busses 38, 82, 91.

WICE men . . . join us for a men's lunch!

This is nothing mysterious, it's just a chance for guys to hang out with other guys for a few hours and discover common interests and such over good food and beverages.

Lunch will be at L'Académie de la Bière, just south of the Luxembourg Gardens.  As the name implies, L'Académie de la Bière specializes in beer. Specifically, Belgian & German beers (of which there are dozens). They also have good charcuterie,  mussels & Belgian frites, and more.

You pay for what you eat and drink, no extra fees, but registration is required.

This is a public restaurant, and any WICE member can come. But WICE is only reserving 20 seats together. If you don't register, there is no guarantee that you'll be sitting with the group.

Served by RER B (Port Royal), line 6 (Raspail), line 4 (Vavin), and busses 21, 38, 82, 83, and 91.

Bookers: Discovering the best in international literature

This 2019 Man Booker International prize shortlist is a subversive, entertaining noir novel.

In a remote Polish village, Janina Duszejko, an eccentric woman in her sixties, recounts the events surrounding the disappearance of her two dogs. She is reclusive, preferring the company of animals to people; she's unconventional, believing in the stars; and she is fond of the poetry of William Blake, from whose work the title of the book is taken.

When members of a local hunting club are found murdered, Duszejko becomes involved in the investigation. By no means a conventional crime story, this existential thriller by 'one of Europe's major humanist writers' (Guardian) offers thought-provoking ideas on our perceptions of madness, injustice against marginalized people, animal rights, the hypocrisy of traditional religion, belief in predestination - and caused a genuine political uproar in Tokarczuk's native Poland.

About the organizer: An AI scientist trained in Oxford, UK, Saumya has worked previously as a researcher, technology consultant and a university professor across India and the U.K. Now based in Paris, she is pursuing her long-standing interest in the fine arts, literature and writing.

Come enjoy some beverages, snacks, and fellowship with other WICE members, instructors, and volunteers at the late-spring apéro. Share your thoughts with the board of directors on the future of WICE.  Meet new people and connect with old friends . . . and if you're lucky, go home with the door prize. It's all happening here at the WICE late-spring apéro.

Note: Registration required. You can pay either online or at the door, although online payments are preferred. If you are having trouble registering, please contact wice@wice-paris.org

10€ for regular members and guests; free for active volunteers and new members.

See you there!

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Join fellow WICE members for coffee on Tuesday mornings. And, if the weather permits, perhaps a walk through the Luxembourg Gardens afterwards.

Members meet at Brasserie le Bullier, named after the famous ball located opposite the "Port Royal" station, to which the whole of Paris once flocked.

Offering a beautiful interior and exterior space, where everyone's privacy is preserved, Le Bullier gives each guest the feeling of the warmth of a Parisian salon and the decor of the Brasseries of yesteryear.

WICE member Brise Rickey, who has lived in the neighborhood a few years, hosts the Tuesday morning coffees twice a month. It's a great opportunity to hang out with fellow WICE members, make new friends, and enjoy those special experiences unique to Paris.

Open to all WICE members, but registration is required.

Brasserie le Bullier is located at 22 Av. de l'Observatoire, 75014. It can be reached by RER B (Port Royal), metro lines 4 and 6 (Raspail), and busses 38, 82, 91.