French alliance finds its roots in NCC
By Rebecca Creamer
Assistant campus editor

Have you always been interested in French culture? Wish to better your French speaking skills, while keeping your French dialect, clean, fresh and practiced?

The Alliance Française of DuPage is a perfect way to enhance your speaking skills, and they are looking to bring their group ties to North Central back on campus to attract a better student involvement.

Natalie Pankow, a steering committee member with the Alliance said “the organization was founded in the 1970’s by a North Central professor, Pierre Lebeau, and eventually moved off-campus for meetings, though the group still kept a PO Box number at North Central.”
“Recently the group needed a venue where they could meet, and the organization decided to move its meetings back to North Central where it had roots. We also looked into offering French classes in the future.”

Although the group was founded on the North Central campus, the Alliance Française of DuPage, which recently celebrated its 33 year anniversary as part of the U.S. chapters, is only a small part of a much larger organization that spans the United States and has similar groups in Europe, according to the AF DuPage’s website, www.afdupage.com.

Also it isn’t necessary to be part of DuPage County to participate in the group. The group meets all over the DuPage county area but anyone is welcome to join.

For students to join, Pankow advises students to go onto the organizations website and become a member there.

“Most of our members have found us through the website www.meetup.com, where the group also has a page that is very informative.

There is a minimal fee for students, $10.00, which is paid yearly.

She also stresses “you don’t have to speak French to have a role in the organization. We have all different levels of French Speakers, from beginners to advanced.”
“The meetings vary in nature depending on what is planned. There are two types of meetings,” said Pankow. “There are café meetings that focus on practicing French casual speaking, and the main special meetings where speakers, books, movies and other presentations are given.

“The main meetings with speakers, movies and books are usually held on Fridays, from 6-9p.m. The café meetings are held at different times to allow all members with different schedules to participate.”

Some different upcoming events already scheduled include a presentation of the French in the state of Illinois on Oct.9. One of the most important events is the Alliance Française of the United State’s conventions which is to be held this year on October 22-24 in Chicago at the “Chicago Palmer House Hilton.”

This is where all the other chapters of the organization come together to meet and celebrate everything French.

When asked how she got involved in the organization Natalie replied, “I was a French major and went to France to teach students there English. I made progress with my French speaking skills and I didn’t want to lose it.”

“I looked around and found this group and went to a meeting. That’s what is so great about this group, you can keep those skills.”

Natalie Pankow also finds the French culture to be incredibly unique and interesting. “I first got interested in French culture when I was enrolled in ballet because of all the terms used in ballet were French.”

“And like the rest of Europe, there is so much history, kings, and revolutions that make it interesting. I also love all the artists and the French movies.”

“The French people even have their own unique sense of humor. Also people think it’s only Paris in France but like the U.S, there are so many different regions and each have their own sense of unique culture and things to explore.”

As for finding the French Culture in DuPage County she says ” the alliance is here in the suburbs so those who are interested don’t have to travel to the city and can stay.
A good group of people always come to the meetings and it’s so surprising to discover who actually knows this language.

This group is a really great outlet. It’s almost like a little treasure out here. Why not take advantage of it?”