French Language Courses

French is well-known for its fluid sounds and air of romance. It is not only popular in France, but also widely spoken throughout West Africa. At Bend Language Institute you can learn the basics of French to prepare for upcoming travel, or master your language skills by studying French literature and art. We currently offer private tutoring sessions for students of all levels. Stay tuned for upcoming interactive (and tasty) workshops this fall as well as future course offerings.

Introductory French I

Introductory French I is designed for people who are new to the French language. In this course we will learn the basics of the French language. We will cover fundamentals of sentence structure, vocabulary of food, hobbies, weather, as well as simple conversations for daily situations. You will also be introduced to basic French grammar and verb conjugations. Whether you are planning a trip or would like to learn something new for the fun of it, join us in this casual atmosphere.

Sessions – Winter 2024

Introductory French I will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2pm – 3pm from Jan 9 – Feb 29. Please email bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or give us a call at 541-728-3022 if you have any questions. We will be happy to give you a free language level assessment to help find the course that best fits your needs.

French II

French II is designed for students already familiar with basic French vocabulary and grammar conjugation in the present tense, as we will continue to improve our conversation skills in the past and future tenses. We will acquire vocabulary in specific subject areas (like leisure, travel, work/study, culture, or even your class suggestions) and use it in lots of conversations. This will be a fun time to practice speaking French with others!

Sessions – Spring 2024

French II Conversation will meet again in Spring 2024.  Please email bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or give us a call at 541-728-3022 if you have any questions. We will be happy to give you a free language level assessment to help find the course that best fits your needs.

French III Conversation

In French III Conversation, we will strengthen students’ knowledge of French while increasing oral/aural and writing /reading proficiency through texts, songs, videos and other various authentic sources. By the end of the class you should feel confident to speak and write about a variety of topics in more details, such as future travel plans, the weather and related activities, personal relations and emotions, using new grammatical tools such as the imparfait, direct and indirect object pronouns, among many others.

Sessions – Fall 2023

French III Conversation will meet on Thursdays from 3:15-4:45pm from September 28 – November 16.

Please email bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or give us a call at 541-728-3022 if you have any questions. We will be happy to give you a free language level assessment to help find the course that best fits your needs.

French IV and Up

This class is designed for advanced French learners. Each week will include a grammar review, as well as conversation practice on various topics and activities. Students in the class should be familiar with French sentence structure and verb conjugations in present, past and future tenses. In this class we will also practice reading aloud and expanding our French vocabulary.

Sessions – Winter 2024

French IV and Up will meet on Thursdays from 3:15pm-4:45pm from January 11 – February 29. Please be sure to register in advance. Send us an email at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or call us at 541-728-3022 if you would like more details or have any questions.

French Travel Essentials

In this workshop you will learn the essentials for conversational French to prepare for an upcoming trip. We will learn to make restaurant reservations and order food, purchase tickets and items, navigate train schedules, and more. This course is designed for beginners to the French language who are looking for ease when traveling.

Sessions – Spring 2024

French Travel Essentials will be offered again in Spring 2024. Please check back for updates! Send us an email at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or call us at 541-728-3022 if you would like more details or have any questions.

Debating in French | Advanced French

Want to have a blast practicing your French conversation skills? In Debating in French we will learn all about French culture, useful phrases, and the attitude required in French debating. In the spirit of cross-cultural understanding, we will learn vocabulary and grammar structures conducive to debate and have some fun and meaningful  discussions. This class is designed for students who are conversant in French and looking to master their language skills and cultural knowledge.

Sessions 

We are not currently offering any sessions of Debating in French. Send us an email at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or call us at 541-728-3022 if you would like more details or have any questions about our French classes.

French for Kids

French for Kids will engage your children’s conversation skills in an interactive environment. In this class, students will develop their French language skills through games, short stories, writing and artwork. This class is designed for youth ages 6-11. As an immersion class, youth who have had a range of exposure to the French language (beginner to intermediate) are welcome to join. In the class we will introduce verb conjugation, while encouraging conversation using vocabulary about home life, school and activities.

Sessions – Fall 2024

We are organizing small private groups for French for kids this fall. If you would like more information, please contact us as bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or give us a call at 541-728-3022.

Musique Francophone Workshop

Discover some of the trends and exciting artists in French language music- from Québec to Belgium, France to Francophone Africa.  Contemporary Francophone music is rich in rhythms, lyrics, social commentary, videography and diverse musical influences. Music is a fantastic way to connect with the cultures of the French-speaking world as well as a fun way to learn vocabulary, expressions and naturally improve pronunciation, intonation and fluidity in speaking.

The French of Relationships

The pandemic has given us all a renewed appreciation of face-to-face interpersonal interactions!  We will view and listen to some favorite contemporary songs about friendship, community, love and family. Please email us at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or call us at 541-728-3022 if you have any questions. We would be happy to help!

Participants from the previous music workshop say:
“Your selection of music was broad, interesting and fun even for me who rarely listens to anything later than the 1960s!  In particular, I complement you on incorporating French language music from several countries and cultures.  This was a delightful surprise and wonderful music.”
“My French is very rusty.  I signed up with trepidation and wondered if I would be able to follow.  My fear was unfounded as you used an approach that made the music and lyrics clear and interesting, no matter one’s level of French.”
Join us for a fun afternoon of music, culture and community!

Sessions

We do not have any sessions currently scheduled, but please check back in the future for more updates. You can also reach us at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or call us at 541-728-3022 and we would be happy to help.

French Cinema

Are you feeling a bit restless at home and want to enjoy your month of January? Come and join us for a fun, interactive French course through Zoom! In this 4-week course, we will watch a French film at home (Netflix or Amazon) each week and then come together once a week to discuss it. By acting as film critics, we will further develop our French conversational skills while building our vocabularies and consolidating our grammar.

This class is specifically designed for intermediate to advanced French speakers. In class we will examine characters’ personalities, behaviors, activities, likes and dislikes, among other topics.  Through critical discussions we will not only strengthen our French language skills, but also our knowledge of French culture.

Sessions 

We are not currently offering any sessions of French Cinema. If you have any questions about this class, please give us a call at 541-728-3022 or email us at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com.

The Language of Quiche

You all know what a quiche is… but have you ever tasted THE quiche lorraine? In this workshop, you will learn about the key ingredients of an authentic quiche lorraine* while also learning about Lorraine’s famous heroine Joan of Arc, all in the French language. While the quiche is baking we will prepare une salade verte, the typical accompaniment to a quiche, and set the table the French way. We will finally savor our creation with a drink and end the evening singing all together En passant par la Lorraine avec mes sabots, a popular song that dates back to the 16th century.  Food, wine, music, history… a great evening that you can’t miss!

Check this page for future offerings of this class. You can also sign up to be on our mailing list at the bottom of this page and email bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com if you have questions.

The Language of Crêpes

Everybody knows about crêpes… but do you know where and when they originated? What they symbolize? And how to make an authentic, exquisitely thin French crêpe, from your own home-made batter? Come try making them with us!

Check this page for future offerings of this class. You can also sign up to be on our mailing list at the bottom of this page and email bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com if you have questions.

Individual Tutoring

Private tutoring with an experienced teacher can help you improve your language skills while working around your schedule. We offer both in-person and remote one-on-one lessons to help you meet your language learning needs. Our language tutoring rate is $50 dollars per hour, and when you purchase your time in advance you can reduce that rate down to $46 per hour.

We also offer semi-private tutoring small groups youth and/or adults at an affordable price, so you can have fun learning with your friends. If this is something that would interest you, contact us and we will be happy to arrange this. You can see more about small group tutoring here: https://bendlanguageinstitute.com/product/small-group-private-lessons/

If you are new to Bend Language Institute, just send us an email at bendlanguageinstitute@gmail.com or give us a call at 541-728-3022 and we will be happy to put you in touch with a local teacher to discuss your language level and interests.

Current French Language Courses, Tutoring, and Events

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR

Diane Brown
Diane BrownInstructor —French and Spanish
Bonjour and Hola! I grew up in Bend and have made language learning my life’s work. I just recently retired from Bend High after more than 30 wonderful years teaching young people to communicate in French and Spanish. I have lived in France, Spain and China and hope to inspire and empower others to discover new places and people. I love sharing the fun of language learning with others of all ages and backgrounds, using stories, songs, movement and games. I look forward to meeting you! À bientôt!
Catherine Leavitt
Catherine Leavitt Instructor —French
As a teacher, I love being part of my young students’ lives to instill confidence and find ways to help them engage in their own learning. I also have enjoyed teaching adults because we often share the same motivation to be lifelong learners.
In my free time, I love spending time with my family, and listening to my adult/teen children share their various world changing ideas; they say it is their French heritage that makes them good at arguing! Some of my other pursuits are piano, fitness/nutrition coaching and rock climbing. I am very much looking forward to meeting new students and have fun learning.
Laura Bouvet Feryn
Laura Bouvet FerynInstructor —French
Bonjour! After being a neuropsychologist for a few years, I decided to switch careers and become a French teacher. I got inspired by the English teachers I had after moving to the US, who taught with kindness and passion. It’s now my turn to empower students of all ages and levels to discover French and the Francophone culture. In addition to lessons with adults, I’ve been teaching French for kids in afterschool programs and high school students for the International Baccalaureate. My background as a neuropsychologist gave me a better understanding of language development and its components. When I’m not chasing my kids around Bend parks, I love hiking, practicing yoga and handmade embroidering. I’m looking forward to meeting new students and sharing more about the French way of living. A bientôt.

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