Celebrate International Francophonie Day the L’Alliance Way

L’Alliance New York promotes the French language and Francophone culture year-round, but did you know that March 20th is officially recognized as International Francophonie Day? The annual holiday dates back to 1988, when it was created to honor the establishment of the International Organization of La Francophone in 1970. The Organization unites 93 member countries that share French as a common language, and promotes their cultural and semantic diversity while also supporting education, research, and human rights initiatives. 

Since L’Alliance New York is a home for francophone cultures and the French language, we have plenty of ideas for how you can fête the occasion here in NYC, or anywhere else in the world. Here are our top choices for immersing yourself in la joie de la Francophonie !

Take a French Class

This holiday bolsters the French language above all, so what better way to join in than by parlez vous-ing into L’Alliance’s courses? They’re taught by native speakers, and we’ve got options for every learning level and age group—you can even choose between online and in-person classes. Beyond building your skills, they’re a fantastic way to meet and converse with other like-minded culture-curious folks!

Eat at a French or Francophone Restaurant

There are countless incredible French and francophone eateries across the five boroughs, where you’ll enjoy a heaping helping of authentic food—and if you’re lucky, a side of language immersion care of staff and fellow diners! To get you started, we rounded up our 20 favorite French restaurants in NYC and our favorite NYC restaurants that serve food from francophone regions. If you feel like staying in, here are five of our go-to recipes for traditional French comfort foods—take the meal to the next level by toasting your prowess in the kitchen with a glass of your favorite French wine.

Read a French Book or Watch a French Film

Consuming French media is an excellent way to effortlessly learn the language. We always have enriching events for you to attend here at L’Alliance—from movie screenings to art openings to cultural festivals—and we’re also home to a fantastic library, which happens to be one of the largest private collections of French literature in the U.S. Our librarians are endlessly helpful and knowledgeable—their fantastic winter reading picks are just one example.

Book a Trip to a French-Speaking Region

If all this Francophilia has given you a serious case of wanderlust, we fully support your fancy to adventure across the pond for some in-person French practice. In fact, we even host fully-planned multi-day culture and language voyages to French and francophone regions. Some of our upcoming itineraries include adventures to Marrakech, Aix-en-Provence, Paris, and Normandy. Bon voyage! 

Ready…set…aller International Francophonie Day! 

Photo Credit © Hélène Aldeguer