Collaboration Between Alliance Française de Detroit/French Institute of Michigan and Alliance Française de Grosse Pointe
The Alliance Française de Detroit/French Institute of Michigan (AFD/FIM) and the Alliance Française de Grosse Pointe (AFGP) share a common mission: to promote the French language and Francophone culture in Southeast Michigan. While both organizations work toward this goal, we do so in complementary ways, leveraging our unique strengths to serve the community.
For over 40 years, AFD/FIM has been a recognized teaching Alliance, offering high-quality French language instruction that adheres to the rigorous standards set by the international network of Alliances Françaises. Its experienced instructors, and established educational framework make it the ideal institution for those looking to learn or perfect their French.
AFGP, on the other hand, has offered French classes for over twenty years. The structure to provide language instruction was harder to maintain since the small size of the chapter did not allow the hiring of a salaried managing staff. The classes are important to members and a need for a more organized and rigorous program was apparent. However, AFGP is very active and plays a vital role in fostering cultural exchange, organizing events, and creating opportunities for Francophiles to engage with French culture in a meaningful way.
Together, our two organizations formed a partnership by combining AFD/FIM’s expertise in language education with AFGP’s commitment to cultural engagement, that way we ensure that both learning and cultural experiences are accessible to a wider audience. Since the two Alliances are located in different areas (about 20 miles apart), this collaboration is particularly meaningful for opening doors for in-person structured French classes in both locations, making it easier for students to immerse themselves in the language. While the number of classes at the Grosse Pointe location remains small, AFD/FIM successfully opened classes at first offering, reinforcing that the partnership idea may have been a good idea to serve the community.
Click here to see an article about the collaboration in the Grosse Pointe News.