Don’t Miss a Single Session…Meet Up at the Temporary Saturday Location

For more than 9 years, Marie-Elisabeth Crochard and I have been exchanging French and English conversation with thousands of you of over 50 different nationalities in what we call the “Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group.” Over the years, we’ve held the sessions in many different locations, too, beginning with Berlitz Langues, to Cetradel Langues, to Coprom Langues and then to Eurocentres Langues. Packing our membership cards and shifting gears to a new setting is not at all unusual for us — and we’re about to do it once again.

The Saturday sessions (only!) will be moving to a new and different, but even better location. We are not at liberty to announce it yet as we’re still awaiting final approval from the powers that be, so hold on to your hat and stay tuned for another communiqué coming soon.

Meanwhile, this coming Saturday,
and until further notice, the conversation group will be meeting at an earlier time — 10:30 a.m. at…

La Croissanterie
168 boulevard St Germain
between the garden of the Eglise St germain des Près
and passage de la Petite Boucherie next to La Rhumerie

If you’ve never experienced Parler Parlor before, then let me explain just how it works. It is as simple as this:

A coordinator (Marie-Elisabeth or me) directs you into a group of approximately 6 people, balancing it Anglophone-Francophone as well as we can depending on who arrives that session. Usually there are several groups — but we never know who will come nor how many, and there is no predicting it, either! Once the groups are formed, each group is on their own to decide to start off in either French or English. For 45 minutes, they speak in one language, then switch to the other for the last 45 minutes.

The group can discuss any topics they want. We set certain guidelines for success:

1. Be on time. It is disruptive to the groups in session to be added or rearranged to accommodate you.

2. The group should consist of 5 to 7 participants, as well balanced Anglophone/Francophone as possible.

3. When you speak, try to speak slowly and clearly to be easily understood.

4. Only one person should speak at a time. Please avoid speaking to someone in the group while someone else already “has the floor.”

5. Invite everyone to participate and do not monopolize the conversation, especially in your native language. Everyone should have the chance to speak and practice speaking as much as they want in their second language.

6. Start in any language you wish by consensus of the group. Change from one language to the other at half-time (45 minutes) or when it seems appropriate. Sometimes when a group is unbalanced by Anglophones vs. Francophones, you may want wish to compensate by spending more time in the language most group members want to practice speaking.

It’s so easy to join the conversation group, it’s ridiculous. All you have to do is show up 5 minutes ahead and the first time you come is absolutely free…so all you have to lose is an hour and a half of your time.

The sessions are 3 times a week and you can come as often or as little as you like:

1. Tuesdays 6:30 to 8 p.m.

LE MARAIS
Upstairs at La Pierre du Marais
96, rue des Archives at the corner of rue de Bretagne, 75003
3rd arrondissement, Paris
Métro Temple, République or Arts et Métier

2. Wednesdays 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

AT EUROCENTRES
13 passage Dauphine (entrance between rue Dauphine and rue Mazarine), 6th arrondissement
Métro Odéon, Saint-Michel, Pont Neuf3. Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

3. Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

TO BE ANNOUNCED

Don’t be scared or intimidated by your level of French or English. You have to start SOMEWHERE and remember, everyone is there for the same reason. You’re not alone!

For more information, and to discover our new Saturday location, be sure to visit the Web site at http://www.parl

erparlor.com.

See you there!

A la prochaine…