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. The higher the membership, to more benefits you may enjoy, at the Alliance Française as well as at many local organizations. Please visit our "Become a Member" page.
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 or send the announcement to our office so we can verify it 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 “blue” general brochure (8,000 issues every year) costs $1,500. The same sized ad in our seasonal cultural bulletin costs $300. A banner on our website home page is $400/month and a banner on an interior page costs $200/month. We have 50,000 vistors/month to our website and a listserv of more than 20,000 addresses. Please contact us at 202-234-7911 ex. 11 or alliance@francedc.org if you are interested.
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).
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 l'Institut de Français in Villefranche-sur-Mer, ADomLingua at www.adomlingua.com (where AFDC members get a discount) and Ceran Lingua in Avignon at www.ceran-us.com.
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 CampusFrance at the French Embassy: 202-944-0000 or Campus France.
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 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 four students. If you are more than 4 students, you may register for corporate classes.
What is the placement test?
The Placement Test is a test divided in two parts: a written test and a phone interview 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 your placement test is over a year old, please take a new test.
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 TEF and TCF certificates as well as DELf and DALF diplomas. For any information, log on to /en/TefCertificate.aspx.
Cultural and Social Events
What is the pricing and cancellation policy for cultural events at the Alliance Française?
To reserve a spot 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?
Please e-mail alliance@francedc.org. All comments are welcome!
Library
What are the library hours?
Monday through Thursday: 12pm to 8pm
Friday and Saturday: 10am to 5pm
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 alter Ego, 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 AFEI program?
The AFEI program (“Alliance Française 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 AFEI 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 AFEI 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 AFEI program?
Regular cultural workshops with French singers, actors and lecturers are offered in AFEI elementary schools.
Some are directly selected from the Alliance Française’s own cultural programs while others were specifically organized for AFEI.
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.