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Learning a foreign language is not only exercise for the brain, it’s a fountain of youth.
By Catherine Jones
 Quel âge avez-vous? If you’re not a native French-speaker, being able to understand this simple French sentence could dramatically lower your brain’s cellular age. Learning a foreign language is not only exercise for the brain, it’s a fountain of youth.
Oprah’s O List, her monthly favorite picks, suggests giving yourself or someone else the gift of rejuvenation with French language classes at the Alliance Francaise. Founded in Paris in 1883, the Alliance Francaise works to promote French language and culture. There are Alliances in 138 countries and in the United States there are 145 chapters. Milwaukee has one of the oldest Alliances in North America.
The brain stays young by forming new connections and this is especially observed in the brains of bilinguals. So why not start reversing your mental age now? You can take a French class at Milwaukee’s local Alliance Francaise which turns 90 this year. Founded by Amélie Sérafon, a French professor at Milwaukee Downer College, the Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee still boasts a strong professorial staff of native French-speakers.
Alliance professor, Céliane Lambouret who was born and raised in Paris, says, “When I teach, both the students and I have to have fun. Learning is like love – it has to go both ways.”
“The Alliance has been in Milwaukee a long time because there is a teaching style that’s intimate. The students get more one-on-one and attention in our classes than they do elsewhere. Our preferred technique is immersion which empowers the student and increases comprehension sooner,” says Brett Lipshutz, the Language Center Coordinator of the Alliance Francaise.
Exercise your brain with warm-ups or a full workout. French classes at the Alliance Francaise are offered as short course as well as quarterly semesters for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Private lessons are also available. Not sure where to start? Don’t sweat it. The Alliance’s mental gym has a workout tailored to your goals.
“Knowing French creates a community with people who have similar interests, but who come from a variety of backgrounds. French is a link, not just to other people, but to a world community,” says Anne Hérisson-Leplae, Executive Director of the Alliance Francaise.
French is spoken in 38 countries and many international organizations use French as their official language. French is a “romance” language, the language of literature, art, cinema, music, cuisine, fashion, science and medicine. Right brain, left brain. Learn French and get those connections going.
The Alliance celebrates its 90th birthday on May 10th with a French salon in the drawing room of a private mansion. Cocktails and French cuisine complement the exchange of conversation and festivity with French music for flute and guitar. This event is open to the public with an RSVP for advance tickets.
For more information about the Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee and a schedule of classes, call 414-964-3855 or visit, www.afmilwaukee.org. The Alliance Francaise de Milwaukee is located at 1800 E. Capitol Drive at the corner of Oakland in Shorewood. |
In 1934, when Evelyn “Billie” Frechette, John Dillinger’s gun-moll, told her story to the Chicago Herald and Examiner from prison, Frechette said, “I was in love…you can’t argue yourself out of love! I come from French-Indian stock. Maybe that has something to do with it. My father was French…My mother was half French, half (Menomonee) Indian…”