Kathmandu:

It is always an advantage to know as many languages as you can. You’ll face less problems communicating with others who do not speak your language, and if you love travelling, then this skill is always a great bonus.

Eyes on Europe

If you are thinking of Europe, then knowing French is necessary. And if you are thinking of taking up lessons in the French language, then no better place than Alliance Francaise at Tripureswor. ‘Open your door to Europe’ is Alliance Francaise’s slogan, and here you will have the advantage of being taught by and learning under professionals — both French and Nepalis — who have graduated from France.

Courses offered

The Alliance Francaise offers Beginners to Advanced Level courses. Each level is of 50 hours, or 10 weeks. The courses have been designed to help and encourage students to actively engage themselves and participate in the classes. Theoretical knowledge along with the practical aspects make it more useful for students.

They usually start with 25 students in a class at the beginners’ level. To make it convenient for all, the classes are held from 7:00-10:00 am, and from 4:00-7:00 pm.

The cost of each level is Rs 3,000.

Fly to France

If you are among the top two in the advanced level class, then the Alliance Francaise will send you to France for a month to further enhance your language learning skills. And the best part is that the French government will bear all the expenses.

Books and movies

Besides the classes, the facilities at Alliance Francaise include a well-equipped library with a wide range of French books, magazines and DVDs, and membership is open not only to the students alone, but to the general public as well.

Sine Club is a movie show they have every Sunday at 2:00 pm, and another one called Sine Dine every last Friday of the month with dinner (booking necessary). For those interested, most of the movies screened have English subtitles and besides French, movies from other countries are also shown.

Musicals

The well-known Fete de la Musique is organised by the Alliance Francaise to celebrate the International Music Day. It is held with the intention of building good cultural relations between the two nations and has been providing a platform for inspiring new artistes to showcase their talents every year.

Contacts in AF

If you desire to get detailed information about the educational and living expenses in France, then Niranjan Neupane at the Educational Counselling Department is the right person to talk to.

The Alliance Francaise office is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except on Sundays when it is open from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. It remains closed on Thursdays.

If you are not confident enough about how to go about it, they also work as intermediaries between colleges and students, do the correspondence work and follow up until enrollment.

Why learn French?

One of the main advantages of learning French is that it is spoken not only in France but in many countries of Europe. And once you reach France, which lies at the centre of Europe, the European Union gives one the flexibility to travel to any country that is under EU without any hassles.

According to Pravin Rana, Deputy-director of Alliance Francaise, referring to their slogan ‘Learn French, Be Different’, “Learning French is very beneficial in today’s context as it gives one an edge over the others. If your decide to venture into another country, or even in Nepal itself, it would certainly be an added advantage for those who are interested in working in NGOs, INGOs and other organisations.”