Alliance française

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Alliance française (AF) is a non-profit 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 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 per cent of its budget (nearly €665,000 in 2003).

More than 420,000 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
over 1000 locations in 136 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.

1 Certificates and diplomas
2 Diplomas given by the French ministry of national education
3 Recognition
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] 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