Welcome

Welcome to the Bristol French Circle!

The Bristol French Circle is for all those who enjoy speaking and listening to French.

Founded in 1905, the Circle is affiliated to the Alliance Française which provides us with financial support.

We meet at BAWA on alternate Thursdays from October to May each year. Our programme is very varied and we have French speakers on a wide range of subjects (including art, music, geography, culture and society), informal conversation evenings, a literary discussion (Le Chapeau de Mitterrand this year) and a ‘café-concert’ – an evening of poetry and music presented by our members.

Outside the programme, we enjoy dinners in local restaurants in Bristol and trips to see French films.

The main event of each evening starts at 8pm, with the announcement of information about the weeks to come at about 7.55pm, and we encourage members and visitors to come along from 7.30pm to have a chat before the start of the talk or other activity. On the dates when there is a speaker, shown in the programme by an asterisk *, Charlotte will do a ‘petit cours’, starting at 7pm, looking at vocabulary, idioms and the odd grammar point – it is all very light-hearted and completely optional.

Do have a look at the ‘Why join?’ tab to see members’ comments about the Circle – and come and join us if you enjoy this lovely language! Our FAQ (Frequently asked questions) may help you too.

Please don’t worry if your school French lessons seem a long time ago or you feel very rusty – there is absolutely no minimum level of language proficiency required and you are assured of a warm welcome. If you have any questions or hesitations, do get in touch with Charlotte, the President of the Circle by email (charlottejanetaylor10@gmail.com) or by phone (07976 922636) – she will be delighted to have a chat with you. In the meantime, keep up to date by checking this website and do let Charlotte know if you would like to be on the French Circle mailing list.

Bristol French Circle News

Dear friends

At our next session on Thursday 15 May – the final talk of this season – Annie Kean will be presenting Les comédiens du cinéma français. She says: ‘J’évoque brièvement les frères Lumière et Max Linder et traite plus en détail de la vie et de la carrière cinématographique de Fernandel, de Bourvil et de Louis de Funès. Ma présentation comprend la projection de plusieurs extraits de films.’ Annie will start her talk at 8pm and I will give a (completely optional) petit cours at 7pm.

The following session will be our Assemblée Générale on 29 May. We’ll start with refreshments and a quiz at 7.30pm before moving to the business of the meeting at 8.15pm. Do come if you can – it’s an important part of the life of the Circle, allowing us to look back at this year’s activities and have a preview of next season, with the essential voting in of the committee. If you feel that you have the skills to take over from Ian as our Treasurer please get in touch!

Other news!

Promenades francophones After our lovely walk on a beautiful sunny day to see the bluebells in Portbury Woods, we’re now thinking about our next walk, with many thanks to Paula who has been the driving force behind these really pleasant events!

Sunday 15 June.  Circuit of Bath with Pascale Souchon, our French Blue Badge guide
Meet at Bath Spa railway station at 11.15 (just after the arrival of the 11.00 train from Bristol Temple Meads, which arrives at 11.11. £10 per person.

Another date for your diary: We are planning a very nice social event on 11 June for those members of and visitors to the Circle who are cheese lovers… It will be a cheese tasting at the Affinage du Fromage, 39 North View, Bristol BS6 7PY. To see the poster and the map of the venue please click the link above.

Despite the French name the owners are English and will give the explanations in English but there’s nothing to stop us talking a bit of French between ourselves! We’re seeing this as just a really pleasant social time. We still have a few places left so do get in touch if you’re interested!

The details:

  • tasting of 9 artisan cheeses
  • glass of wine or soft drink
  • £30 per person
  • start 7pm
  • duration 1½ –2 hours
  • minimum 20 people
  • maximum 24 people
  • date Wednesday 11 June
  • rennet is used in the making of these cheeses so sadly this event is not suitable for vegetarians
  • full payment will be due on 26 May

Do get in touch if you would like more details about anything to do with the French Circle as I would be delighted to chat with you – and do let me know if you don’t think that you are on our mailing list so I can add you.

Charlotte

charlottejanetaylor10@gmail.com / 07976 922636

Phrase of the week

Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête – As you sow, so shall you reap

Do let me know your favourite French words and expressions so that I can put them here!

Committee 2024–2025

Officers

President – Charlotte Taylor

Treasurer – Ian Deegan

Membership Secretaries – Barbara Redshaw and Robin Harris

Programme Secretary – Ray Harding

Hospitality Secretary – Heather Clarke

Secretary – Sheila Cheatle

Members

Steve Alexander

Anissa Aumeerally

Niki Evans

Vicki Hasaballa

Paula MacLachlan

Liz Swift

Honorary President

Rod Shepherd

Why join?

  • Parce que toutes les séances se déroulent en français
  • As a newcomer and non-fluent speaker I am grateful for the opportunity to ‘fit in’ at my own pace
  • I always enjoy the conversation evenings – of particular benefit when fluent French speakers join those (like me) who are not so fortunate!
  • Parce que les conférences sont sur des thèmes variés et intéressants
  • I have really enjoyed the mixture of different activities in this my first season with the group, and look forward to the next.
  • Parce que les soirées de conversation sont très sympathiques et tout le monde peut y participer, quel que soit son niveau de français
  • For 90 minutes once a fortnight… ‘je suis en France!!!’
  • Parce que l’on choisit un livre chaque année, on le lit et on en discute en français – très bon pour élargir son vocabulaire
  • Parce que l’ambiance est chaleureuse et sympathique
  • I am really pleased that I have discovered the Circle. I am very encouraged by my success in speaking and understanding French, and by the warm welcome I have received
  • En tant que débutant, je trouve les réunions une bonne occasion de pratiquer la conversation. Les présentations m’aident à découvrir davantage la culture française
  • Pour moi la chose la plus importante c’est que l’on entend du français authentique parlé par quelqu’un qui a le français comme langue maternelle (ou par quelqu’un qui est expert dans la langue française) pendant au moins une heure et c’est toujours sur un sujet intéressant – à mon avis c’est mieux qu’une leçon de français (et beaucoup moins cher bien sûr!)
  • Tout d’abord c’est une opportunité de partager des soirées agréables avec des amateurs de la culture et la langue françaises. Cependant être experimenté avec la langue parlée n’est pas obligatoire!
  • Ayant habité en France pendant quelques années, mais maintenant installé en Angleterre, le Cercle m’a aidé à maintenir mon français et me garder au courant des affaires françaises.
  • Le Cercle me donne l’occasion de parler et d’écouter le français régulièrement dans une ambiance amicale.
  • I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed myself last night. I feel so inspired to go an visit. And I had a tremendous boost to my confidence when I realised I was understanding more than I thought I would. I was even able to laugh in the right places! I felt welcome and included from the very beginning. I won’t pretend that I knew everything that was said but I understood enough. 
  • Garfield est amusant et instructif à la même fois, lorsque les nouvelles, un poème ou les questions contemporaine pour discuter, sont bien pour augmenter nos vocabulaires. Je dois dire que vous livrez les petits cours avec panache – un sens d’humour et gentillesse. Je suis sûr que tout le monde les apprécie.
  • There is little I can say about the French sessions except that they were impressive, enjoyable and informative.   Even at my old age, I have learned so much from them; not just in French vocabulary but also more generally.   I can honestly say that I have greatly appreciated every session.  Thank you very much.  I must add that I particularly liked the poetry session.
  • Bref, tous les petits cours m’ont beaucoup plu. J’ai appris un tas de choses – beaucoup de vocabulaire français, ainsi que l’enseignement intéressant sur les oiseaux. J’ai appris à ma famille ce que veut dire nidicole et nidifuge en anglais et pourquoi les oiseaux ont une plaque incubatrice, par exemple. Alors, grâce à vous, tout le monde apprend les choses chez moi! Les conversations dans les petits groupes étaient très agréables et j’étais très heureuse le soir ou nous avions étudié un poème. En somme, tout m’a donné plaisir et je vous remercie beaucoup de tous vos efforts pour nous aider à améliorer notre connaissance de la langue française.