Albuquerque's Alliance Franáaise chapter is one of more than 1,000 worldwide.
The alliance operates as a cultural center and a school.
It will host an open house from noon to 6 p.m. Friday at 2917 Carlisle Blvd. N.E. in Suite 207.
"We try to foster friendly relations between Francophones and Francophiles," said Carolyn Simmons, director of the school. "Obviously, Franco-American relations have had bumps in the past few years."
Students pay $20 for a year membership. Nonstudents pay $23.
Members can sign up for French classes, attend Alliance Franáaise-sponsored events and use its library.
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"We have over 1,000 titles of books, videos and DVDs," Simmons said. "We have lots of French videos and albums and tapes and educational materials. We have a newly established section of children's books. There are some magazines. It's a nice library if you're looking for something to read in French."
It hosts Café Causette the last Saturday of every month.
"Causette means little chat," she said. "We meet at La Crepe Michel in Old Town from noon to 2, and we have a French lunch and speak French. And we also try to have another activity every month."
On Feb. 17, the Albuquerque Little Theatre is producing the biographical play "Cyrano de Bergerac," by Edmond Rostand. Bergerac is a cadet in the French Army. He's also a duelist, poet and musician. But his gigantic nose fills him with self-doubt, and he believes his ugliness won't allow him to be loved by even an ugly woman.
"It's a wonderful play. They're doing it in English," Simmons said. "We'll go to Flying Star afterward."
Sometimes they have a ciné-diner - dinner and a movie. And they also host speakers chosen by the Alliance Franáaise Federation - its national headquarter - to go on national lecture tours.
They also celebrate Bastille Day and have Beaujolais Nouveau parties to drink to the year's new wine stock.
Claude-Marie Senninger started the local chapter in 1961, when she moved to Albuquerque from Austin, Texas, with her late husband. She's from Paris, where she received her Ph.D. in 19th-century French literature.
"We were asked to sort of work on the French department (at UNM)," Senninger said. "The Spanish department was good, but the French was leaving a lot to be desired. We decided that were going to try to have an Alliance Franáaise here to sort of collect the people who were interested in general to connect with the French culture."
She said the French love visiting New Mexico.
"When the French come, they are extremely excited about the Indian culture," Senninger said. "We had lots of French people coming here to teach for a few semesters - French authors in the '20s and '30s and on until I would say the '90s."
Joyce Fay, a photographer, has been taking French classes with the alliance for a few years.
"I've been with the same professor for most of this time, and it's an advanced conversation and grammar class," Fay said. "We memorize a poem or a fable each semester. We get much more into French culture and thought. You're not just making conversation, because it's a language class. You have subjects of literature or philosophy or general interest, and you're really trying to make conversation. So, it's thought-provoking outside of the language, the way if you went to some sort of literature class."
