Alliance française

The "Alliance française" (AF) is an organisation whose mission is to promote French language and culture outside France. Its primary concern is teaching French as a second language. It is headquartered in the French capital city of Paris.

The "Alliance" was created in Paris on July 21, 1883, by a group of eminent men, including the scientist Louis Pasteur, the diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, the writers Jules Verne and Ernest Renan, and the publisher Armand Colin.

It finances most of its activities from the fees it receives from its courses and from rental of its installations. The French government also provides a subsidy covering approximately five percent of its budget (nearly € 665,000 in 2003).

More than 440,000 students learn French at one of the centres run by the "Alliance", whose network of schools includes:
* a centre in Paris,
* locations throughout France for foreign students and
* 1071 locations in 133 different countries.

The organisations outside Paris are local, independently-run franchises. Each has a committee and a president. The "Alliance française" brand is owned by the Paris centre. In many countries, the "Alliance française" of Paris is represented by a "Délégué général".

Certificates and diplomas

The Alliance Francaise also offers certification in French, with its own series of certificates and diplomas.
* "Certificat d'Études de Français Pratique" 1 (CEFP 1): Level 1 at ALTE and level A2 at the CEFR
* "Certificat d'Études de Français Pratique" 2 (CEFP 2): Level 2 at ALTE and level B1 at the CEFR
* "Diplôme de Langue" (DL): Level 3 at ALTE and level B2 at the CEFR
* "Diplôme Supérieur - Langue et Culture Françaises" (DSLCF): Level 4 at ALTE and level C1 at the CEFR
* "Diplôme de Hautes Études Françaises" (DHEF): Level 5 at ALTE and level C2 at the CEFR

Individual locations also may offer testing sessions for diplomas and exams from other organizations (i.e. DELF, DALF, TCF and TEF).

Recognition

In 2005, along with the Società Dante Alighieri, the British Council, the Goethe-Institut, the Instituto Cervantes and the Instituto Camões, the Alliance française was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for outstanding achievements in communications and the humanities.

See also

* Alliance Française de Manchester
* British Council
* Confucius Institute
* Goethe-Institut
* Instituto Camões
* Instituto Caro y Cuervo
* Instituto Cervantes
* Japan Foundation
* Società Dante Alighieri

External links

* [http://www.alliancefr.org/ Alliance française de Paris]
* [http://www.clickonfrench.com/ ClickOnFrench.com] an E-learning method by the Alliance Française network

Franchises

* [http://www.alliancefrancaise.com.au Fédération des Alliances Françaises en Australie]
* [http://www.alliance-francaise.or.th Alliance Française de Bangkok (Thailand)]
* [http://www.af.ca/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Canada]
* [http://www.afcaracas.org/alianza/index.htm Alianza francesa de Caracas]
* [http://www.afcartagena.org/ Alliance française de Cartagena]
* [http://www.alliancefrancaiseghana.com/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Ghana]
* [http://www.alliancefr-grenoble.org/ Alliance française de Grenoble]
* [http://www.alliancefrancaise.com.hk/ Alliance française de Hong Kong]
* [http://www.afindia.org/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in India]
* [http://www.alliance-francaise.ie/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Ireland]
* [http://www.alliancefrnairobi.org/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Kenya]
* [http://www.alianzafrancesalima.edu.pe/ Alliance française de Lima]
* [http://www.alliancefrancaise.org.uk/ Alliance française de Londres]
* [http://www.alliance.ph Alliance Française de Manille, Philippines]
* [http://www.alianzafrancesa.org.mx/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Mexico]
* [http://www.french.co.nz/new/wellington/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in New Zealand]
* [http://membres.lycos.fr/afslu/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in the OECS countries]
* [http://www.afpanama.org/ Alianza francesa de Panamá]
* [http://www.afsd.net/ Alliance française de Saint-Domingue, République dominicaine]
* [http://www.afelsalvador.com/ Alliance Française de San Salvador, El Salvador]
* [http://www.alliancefrancaise.org.sg/ Alliance Française de Singapour]
* [http://www.alliancefrancaise.es/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Spain]
* [http://www.alliance.org.za/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in South Africa]
* [http://www.alliancefr.lk/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Sri Lanka]
* [http://www.alliancefrancaise.org.tw/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in Taiwan]
* [http://www.alliancefrancaise.org.uk/ Délégation générale de l'Alliance française in the United Kingdom]
* [http://www.alliance-us.org Délégation générale de l'Alliance Française USA]
* [http://www.afusa.org Federation of Alliances Françaises USA]
* [http://www.afberkeley.org/ Alliance Française de Berkeley]
* [http://www.af-chicago.org/ Alliance Française de Chicago]
* [http://www.afdela.org/ Alliance Française de Los Angeles]
* [http://www.afmsp.org Alliance Française de Minneapolis-St Paul]
* [http://www.fiaf.org/ French Institute Alliance Française in New York, FIAF]
* [http://www.afsf.com/ Alliance Française de San Francisco]
* [http://www.afscv.org/ Alliance Française de Santa Clara Valley - Silicon Valley, Californie, USA]
* [http://www.afsantarosa.org/index.shtml Alliance Française de Santa Rosa - Sonoma County, California, USA]
* [http://www.francedc.org/ Alliance Française de Washington DC]
* [http://www.afcuba.org/ Alliance Française de Cuba]
* [http://www.afdenpasar.org/ Alliance Française de Denpasar - Bali, Indonesia]