Recent EVENTS below:
Réunion Printanière
2023
AATF colleagues got together in New Haven for a delicious, multi-course meal at Union League Café for this year's Réunion Printanière.
AATF CT Trésorier Evan Downey presented a workshop on student feedback and engagement and followed it up with a fun trivia game.
Vive la convivialité!
Atelier sur la MUSIQUE
du monde francophone
& Fall Meeting
A fantastic group of enthusiastic CT French teachers gathered at Cheshire Academy for a workshop on la musique du monde francophone, presented by Laura Faga and Ally Cianci.
After the presentation, a rousing Karaoke competition ensued, and the talent was dazzling. Great performances from many of our talented AATF Connecticut members showcased both their linguistic and vocal talents. Evan Downey won the competition with his enthusiastic rendition of a current hit by Les Trois Gourmands, "À nos souvenirs."
Want a useful trove of excellent French-language songs AND lyric sheets to use in class? Click HERE for our AATF CT Livre de Chant.
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Rentrée Gathering "Nord/Sud" • 2022-23
Our first Rentrée Gathering in person since the pandemic, this one was held in two cities simultaneously:
NORD: ÀVERT Brasserie • West Hartford
SUD: Hub and Spoke • Black Rock
Friends new and old from all over Connecticut gathered to discuss the new academic year while enjoying delicious food, wine, and cocktails.
Réunion Printanière 2022
Finally, post-Covid, AATF Connecticut French teachers were able to get together in person for a lovely luncheon and interesting workshop led by Trésorier Evan Downey.
Atelier Florian in New Haven hosted this delightful event, where conversation flowed and many of us got to share a table for the first time in years.
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Soirée Cabaret
We had a full house at the New Haven Theater Company space for our Soirée Cabaret, featuring "Si Jamais" - a group of 5 professional musicians and educators from Rhode Island.
Guests enjoyed delicious food and wine as they sang along with Victoria Richter to a classic set list of French-language songs.
To contact or hear the band, click mic below.
CLICK mic
to hear the Band!
3rd Annual French Hockey Night
with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
CT French students and their families gathered along with French teachers at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport for a reprise of our French Hockey Night!
After the game, there was a meet-and-greet with the francophone players during which students could practice their French and get autographs.
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Atelier de
Chocolaterie et Vins
AATF members gathered at the beautiful Westport home of Comité Exécutif member Susan to enjoy a special evening of gourmet chocolate with paired wine tastings
Belgian Master Chocolatier Benoît of BE Chocolate provided an educational workshop about all things chocolate and led attendees in a ganache-making activity.
Paired wines accompanied tastings of the delicious confections as attendees got to mingle over charcuterie and cheeses.
6th Annual
Rentrée Gathering • 2019
The lovely Bistro Basque in downtown Milford was the location of this year's annual Rentrée Gathering.
Passed appetizers from the Basque region sated the group's hunger while custom cocktails and wine were poured skillfully by our friendly bartender.
Many new faces were in attendance and numerous ideas were shared as new friends were made.
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Cérémonie de
Remise des Prix 2019
Connecticut families gathered at Hopkins School in New Haven, where students earning medals on Le Grand Concours were recognized publicly for their fantastic accomplishments.
Connor Hartigan of Hopkins School accepted the AATF CT Tom Betts Senior Prize ($1000). Amelie Warneryd of St. Luke's School in New Canaan was the recipient of the AATF CT Alberta Conte Junior Prize of $500. Both students gave speeches in both French and English.
Sienne Moore and Sofia Mancinone of Shepaug Valley H.S. accepted the Alliance Française of Northwestern CT Junior and Senior Prizes (respectively) of $500 each.
For more info on how your students can apply for all AATF CT prizes, click HERE.
La Réunion Printanière
at Bar Bouchée
Fabulous, sunny weather and an incredible 4-course gourment French meal were the highlights of this year's Réunion Printanière at Bar Bouchée in Madison.
In addition to culinary delights and much new friend-making, attendees enjoyed a workshop on Project-Based Learning (PBL) led by St. Luke's School French teachers Evan Downey, Susan Sarrazin, and Jon Shee.
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6th Annual CT French Teachers'
TIP SWAP
An AATF Connecticut tradition, 2019 marks the 6th year of the Tip Swap!
This year, teachers from around the state met up in West Hartford at Àvert Brasserie for super wine, cocktails, and appetizers as they shared tips in an "unconference" format.
Topics varied greatly, from ways to incorporate technology into the curriculum, tricks for doing cultural comparisons, and innovative units using music and lyrics.
There were many new faces at this year's Tip Swap, and many new friendships were made!
National French Week CONCERT 2018:
Webster!
An AATF CT record for attendance: Almost 1500 Connecticut French students and teachers came together at Southern CT State University's Lyman Center for a rousing performance by Québécois/Sénégalais hip-hop artist Webster.
Webster got kids jumping out of their seats, waving their arms, and repeating refrains in French, as he shared important messages about believing in oneself, working hard, and never giving up.
Visit Webster's website HERE.
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Fall Meeting 2018:
Science in the French Classroom
Organizers Laura Faga and Geneviève Brand put together a fantastic set of presentations that showed attendees successful ways of integrating science-related themes into a French language curriculum.
Held at a laboratory classroom in the stunning Hartford Science Center, this event was full of information and helpful, innovative ideas for CT French teachers.
Jennifer Terni of UCONN also spoke about the hugely successful "UConn/Université de Toulouse Exchange Program," which is a 5-year program for engineering students and includes a full year in Toulouse, France. For more info on that program, click HERE.
5th Annual
Rentrée Gathering • 2018
Une belle quarantaine joined up at famed New Haven venue "Lyric Hall" in September for our annual Rentrée Gathering.
Guests caught up with old friends and met new ones while enjoying incredible food from Rawa Restaurant and drinks from the bar in the historic front room.
Then the crowd moved to the presentation space, which was an original vaudeville theatre around the turn of the century. AATF Comité Exécutif members presented a fast round of teaching tips and tricks, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry expert, Howard Scherry, led a show-stopping discourse on the world's most beloved author.
Gina Reichert earned the AATF CT "Vedette d'Honneur" thanks to her enthusiasm for our chapter and the great work she does at West Haven High School to promote French.
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Réunion Printanière 2018
Bernard's in Ridgefield
Une trentaine de profs et un repas extraordinaire....
Bernard's French restaurant in Ridgefield was the perfect locale for this year's Réunion Printanière.
Lisa Urso was chosen as the most recent AATF CT Vedette d'Honneur for all of her enthusiastic participation in our activities.
A recap of the year's events was followed by annual elections in which Jon Shee was reelected Président and Sandi Van Ausdal was reelected Vice-Présidente.
AATF Trésorier Evan Downey gave a workshop on using embedded Quizlet codes into Google Sites for students to have an interactive experience learning various grammar points via digital or analog data sets.
Luke Eilderts of SCSU won our fun trivia game that wrapped up an enjoyable, tasty event!
Cérémonie de
Remise des Prix • 2018
In spite of a last-minute tornado (!), families and teachers made it through the storm to get to Hopkins School in New Haven, where students earning medals on Le Grand Concours were recognized publicly for their accomplishments.
5 finalists from the AATF French Cultural Trivia Bowl competed live for the grand prize of a $250 Amazon Gift Card. Matthew Ichida-Marsh of Greenwich High School was the winner.
Dominic DeMarco of St. Luke's School in New Canaan accepted the AATF CT Tom Betts Senior Prize ($750). Caroline Lauf of Fairfield Warde High School was the first recipient of the AATF CT Alberta Conte Junior Prize of $350. Both students gave a beautiful speech in both French and English.
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French in Louisiana:
Film "Theo's Choice"
Teachers gathered at Greens Farms Academy to view the documentary film "Theo's Choice" and then do a question and answer session via videoconference with one of the film's creator's, Thomas Cauvin.
"Theo's Choice," a 2017 film, talks about the presence of French in Louisiana, and how the language and culture of the Acadians and Cajuns have been both threatened by globalisation and emboldened by it. A resurgence of interest in French in Louisiana is linked to bilingual immersion programs in public schools.
If you are interested in getting a copy of the film for your community, email us at info@aatfct.org.
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5th Annual French
Teachers'Tip Swap
Carole Peck's legendary Good News Café in Woodbury was the location for this year's winter tradition of the Teachers' Tip Swap.
Delicious homemade food accompanied French wines and an unforgettable Elderflower French 75 cocktail as teachers and friends followed the "unconference" format of the Tip Swap. Guests moved freely through three sets of diverse mini-sessions presented by their peers. Myriad topics from technology to new Vandertrampp songs were discussed, and there were a lot of happy people!
Heidi Edel of Shepaug Valley High School was the second recipient of the "Vedette d'Honneur de l'AATF CT." An event without Heidi is rare, indeed!
Fall Meeting & Atelier:
"Le Parler Québécois"
Professor J. Vincent Morrissette hosted a fabulous fall meeting and atelier at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield on Oct. 25th, 2017.
Before the atelier began, members mingled, enjoyed drinks and food, and shared experiences about the start of the school year.
M. Morrissette, also co-author of the recently published book "Je me souviens," talked about his upbringing that was saturated with "le parler québécois" as well as gave numerous fun examples of typical québécois words and expressions and their origins.
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4th Annual
Rentrée Gathering
Fabulous French teacher colleagues joined together at The Library Wine Bar and Bistro in Wallingford on Sept. 26th to kick off the school year in style.
Cocktails, wine, and good times flowed as teachers enjoyed delicious homemade pizzas, apps, and conversation.
Jacqueline Munk was the first recipient of the "Vedette d'Honneur de l'AATF CT" as she has been incredibly active in chapter activities. On t'aime trop, Jaqueline!
AATF CT PAST Concerts
Concert avec Brice Kapel LIVE!
Almost 1000 French students and teachers from around Connecticut gathered in November at Pomperaug H.S. in Southbury for an interactive, music-and-dancing-filled concert by artist Brice Kapel.
This concert, sponsored by the AATF CT, was in celebration of National French Week. The Alliance Française of Northwestern CT donated and distributed hundreds of free French books for students as well.
Mr. Kapel, originally from Togo and living in France, got everyone on their feet as he performed original songs in French with some lyrics in his native language, Mina. Some parts of songs were enacted with sign language.
Students were taught the lyrics and melodies of Mr. Kapel's songs weeks ahead of the concert, so they were ready and exceited to sing along with him.
Lyrics and audio clips are available HERE.
Visit Brice Kapel's YouTube channel HERE.
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"Édith Piaf Spectacular"
with Mélanie Gall
Almost 600 CT French students and teachers joined in song at this fabulous event at Pomperaug High School in Southbury in celebration of National French Week.
Mélanie Gall, a professional singer who has performed in French and English around the entire world, led students in a lively sing-along event and taught them all about the many details of Piaf's life, loves, and music.
Participating schools received lyrics packets and classroom activities in advance of the event, so there were many significant "take-aways" for students and teachers. Students learned many classic Piaf songs like "La vie en rose," "Milord," "Non, je ne regrette rien," "Sous le ciel de Paris," and many more.
Click on icons below for lyrics & activities:
LYRICS: ACTIVITIES:
Molière Than Thou
(Official AATF-CT event for
National French Week 2015)
Almost 800 CT French students and teachers gathered at Pomperaug H.S. in Southbury for a truly entertaining live performance featuring Molière's greatest scenes and characters as interpreted by Molière expert and internationally-touring actor and writer Tim Mooney.
Students were called up on stage for interarctive moments of this performance, and hilarity ensued.
Teachers had access to many prep materials before the performance so that their students could be best prepared for the show. During the show, students completed a "Chasse Aux Trésors" in which they hunted for famous Molière quotations as Tim Mooney spoke them during scenes.
For access to "Molière Than Thou" materials, please email us at info@aatfct.org.
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