Alliance Française of Port Elizabeth
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| Founded | 1960 |
|---|---|
| Type | Cultural Institution, Language Learning Centre |
| Location | |
Key people | President: Michel Beauvais |
| Website |
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The Alliance Française of Port Elizabeth is a South African non-profit making organisation supported by the French Embassy in South Africa, which is part of the worldwide network of over 900 Alliances, since 1960.
Presentation
The team is composed of a committee of around 13 members, a director appointed by the French Embassy and a dynamic staff.
Their main missions are:
- Teaching French as a foreign language
- Promoting Francophone and French culture
- Promoting cultural diversity and South African culture.
The Alliance occupies a beautiful Victorian style house in the historic site of Richmond Hill. It has three modern classrooms equipped with smartboards, a café, a library, a gallery as well as a multimedia room. This house was once the residence of South Africa's Prime Minister & later President, John Vorster, who was an attorney in Port Elizabeth prior to his detention in the Baakens Street police station for his Ossewa-Brandwag organisation activities.
It is primarily a language School, a cultural centre and then a French consular agency. In addition to our French classes, they organise monthly socio-cultural activities, such as exhibitions, concerts, walks and cinéma. They also welcome Francophone families, who settle in Port Elizabeth with their partner PE Accueil Association.
The library
In the newly renovated library the Alliance Française of Port Elizabeth offers a large range of novels by French or French speaking authors (about 1400), easy reading novels for French learners (100 with CDs), 12 subscriptions to French magazines (of which “Bien Dire”, specially designed for learners of French; Elle, Geo, Cuisine actuelle, Le Nouvel Observateur, Ca m'intéresse, Paris Match...), movies with English subtitles (more than 700 DVDs)…
Opening hours Monday to Friday: from 8h30 to 17h30
Official Diplomas
DELF (Diplôme d'Etudes en Langue Française) and DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) are official qualifications delivered by the French Department of Education to certify competencies of non-French native speakers in the French language.
DELF and DALF qualifications are internationally recognised, they are consistent with international standards for the test development (www.alte.org) and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (www.coe.int). The DELF and DALF consist of 6 levels, each independently recognised as a diploma. Candidates can choose their examination according to their level. They may also sit the examinations for more than one diploma during the same examination session.
At each level, 4 skills are evaluated : listening, speaking, reading and writing. People who have passed the DELF B2 or DALF (C1 or C2) are exempt from taking language tests for entrance into French universities. A mark of at least 50/100 is required in order to be awarded the diploma.
DELF and DALF are lifetime diplomas.
External links
- Alliance Française of Port Elizabeth Facebook page
- Art Journey Nelson Mandela Bay Website
- French Embassy in South Africa
- Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber
- French Institut of South Africa - IFAS
- French Consulate of Cape Town