Engaging with Your Area’s Francophone Public
Most AFs consider their primary audience to be Anglophone learners of French and Francophiles in general. What about Francophones? Could they be engaged as well? Even though most AFs may not have a strong focus on developing members from the Francophone community, it can be useful to take some simple measures to encourage that public to interact with the Alliance Française. French-speaking expats may enjoy the AF’s cultural events, become members, become board members, become event presenters, attend fundraisers, or even become volunteers -- all because of their maternal connection to the French language. The AF’s Anglophone students, in turn, also enjoy meeting French native speakers (other than their teachers), in informal settings. This offers an opportunity for simple exchange without correction.
It can be advantageous to provide a webpage on an AF chapter’s website, explaining some of the local administrative French resources (such as the local honorary consul), or links to a local, certified translation service. An example of such a page, called the “Coin des Expats Francophones” can be found here (AF Portland, Oregon).
Some AFs also find it advantageous to have a groupe d’accueil, run jointly by Francophone volunteers and the AF, to help welcome other Francophones who are newly arrived to the area.
As an example, see the description of the AF Portland’s Accueil group at right. For additional information on the acceuil concept, visit this page (scroll down past the top section).
The Portland Accueil group was initiated by Sophie Braccini, a volunteer, and has since evolved into a structured volunteer program under the oversight of the Alliance. Elene Zedginidze, the chapter’s Executive Director, describes: “Once the administration stepped up to manage the events as part of the Alliance’s official programming, we were able to successfully establish several activities, such as a regular game night, a book club, and dinners tailored to expats and francophiles. We’ve also expanded the scope with a dedicated expat newsletter, now integrated into the broader Alliance communications. This newsletter has already reached nearly 200 subscribers within just a few months.” Elene points out that a structured, collaborative approach—combining volunteer energy with administrative support—is the key to success for such projects.
An Accueil group can become a Cercle français of sorts. This kind of welcoming synergy between Francophones and Francophiles under the AF umbrella can cost relatively little in terms of time and resources, and yet can be beneficial to the participants and to the overall success of AF programming. It can also help the AF position itself as the city’s center of Francophonie, especially in geographic areas where the local French-speaking community may not be substantial.
"Oregon Accueil" est une initiative de l'Alliance Française de Portland, portée par un groupe de bénévoles, visant à renforcer la communauté francophone à Portland et à tisser des liens solides entre les Français à Portland et les francophiles locaux. L’objectif de cette initiative est de créer un espace de rencontres et d’échanges à travers des activités intellectuelles, culturelles, sportives et créatives, favorisant la convivialité et le partage.
D'une part, l'initiative permet aux nouveaux arrivants de trouver rapidement les ressources nécessaires pour réussir leur expatriation à Portland et développer leur cercle social. D'autre part, elle offre également à ceux qui sont déjà bien établis l'opportunité de se connecter, de soutenir la communauté expat et de partager leurs passions, expériences et savoirs, contribuant ainsi à l'enrichissement de la vie communautaire de Portland.
En participant aux activités de l'Alliance Française, vous contribuez à créer un véritable lien entre les communautés francophones expatriées et les francophiles locaux, un aspect essentiel de notre mission.
Submitted by Linda Witt