Course Description

This course is designed for "post-bonjour" beginners, either for first-time learners with a smattering of French or those who want to refresh their French at a basic level.

Throughout the course students will acquire the essential French skills (writing, speaking, pronunciation) needed to function in everyday-life situations.

Each class will take place in a lively and friendly atmosphere that encourages students' enjoyment and active participation. Along with  linguistic exercises, references to French culture and gastronomy will also be presented.

The course meets twice a week for 90 minutes  (1.5 hours in person downstairs at the Impact Cafe on Mondays and 1.5 hours on Zoom on Thursdays) and is conducted in French. When necessary, supplementary explanations may be given in English.
The class does not meet during the second week of French school holidays: 2-6 March 2026.
Contact Languages@wice-paris.org with any questions

About the instructor

Nathalie Allain is a native French speaker with a master’s degree in FLE (French as a foreign language) who is also fluent in English, German, and Japanese. To future students, she says: “In addition to textbooks, I like to make French come alive by using the language to discover the culture and history of Paris in one field trip each month.”

 

Course Description

This lively French course will improve your ability to deal with an array of everyday life situations in French. This level is for students who understand simple, straightforward information and can express themselves in familiar contexts and take part in an everyday conversation on simple, predictable topics.

Using interactive methods to ensure learner engagement and lasting progress, the course will help you develop your vocabulary, oral and written expression, comprehension, and pronunciation.

Geared for learners with an intermediate knowledge of French,  the course meets twice a week for 90 minutes  (1.5 hours in person downstairs at the Impact Cafe on Mondays and 1.5 hours on Zoom on Tuesdays) and is conducted in French. 
The class does not meet during the second week of French school holidays: 2-6 March 2026.
Contact Languages@wice-paris.org with any questions.

About the Instructor

Nathalie Allain is a native French speaker with a master’s degree in FLE (French as a foreign language) who is also fluent in English, German, and Japanese. To future students, she says: “In addition to textbooks, I like to make French come alive by using the language to discover the culture and history of Paris in one field trip each month.”

Course Description

This French Guided Discussion Group is open to people who have a strong intermediate or advanced level of French. Group leaders provide participants with engaging weekly readings on a wide range of topics prior to each dynamic and fast-paced seminar. If you enjoy reading, speaking, presenting, and engaging in varied, topic-centered discussions, this group is for you. In addition to learning through focused conversation with other participants, you will also have the opportunity to get personalized constructive feedback. The French Guided Discussion group speaks only in French for 90 minutes which gives participants an excellent space to practice.

Please note: the Discussion moves to Wednesday evening this trimester so that Paris0based members can attend the WICE apéro on Thursdauys. Classes do not meet during the two weeks of vacances scolaires: 21 February - 9 March.
A Zoom link will be provided the day before the course begins. Be sure to check your email for it
Contact Languages@wice-paris.org with any questions

About the Instructors

Brice Dardel and Brigitte Le Quéré, both native French speakers with extensive experience leading discussions, alternate weekly sessions.

Course Description

This English Guided Discussion Group is open to people who have a strong intermediate or advanced level of English. Our group leaders suggest interesting topics and readings prior to each group discussion. If you enjoy reading, speaking, presenting, and engaging in diverse topic-centered discussions, this group is for you. In addition to learning and developing through guided conversation with other participants, you will also have the opportunity to get personalized constructive feedback. The group speaks only in English for one
hour.

The class will not meet on 6 March (vacances scolaires).

Note: A Zoom link will be provided the day before the
course begins. Be sure to check your email for it.

Contact languages@wice-paris.org with any questions.

Ce groupe de discussion guidée anglaise est ouvert aux personnes qui parlent anglais presque couramment (niveaux intermédiaire-avancé ou avancé). Nos animateurs proposent des sujets intéressants et des textes avant chaque groupe. Si vous appréciez la lecture, la communication, la présentation et la participation à des discussions
diverses, ce groupe est pour vous. En plus d’apprendre et se développer à travers des discussions guidées avec d'autres participants, vous aurez également la possibilité d'obtenir des
commentaires constructifs. Ce groupe de discussion guidée est un endroit idéal pour rencontrer d’autres passionnés de la langue anglais. Le groupe ne parle qu’anglais pendant une heure.

Facilitators

The group will be led by several native English speakers of varying interests and backgrounds.

Course Description

French 4 is designed for upper-intermediate learners who want to move toward advanced proficiency. The course strengthens fluency, accuracy, and confidence while expanding students' ability to express complex ideas with nuance both in formal and informal settings.

Real-Life Situations Practiced:

• Participating in professional or academic meetings
• Presenting and justifying a project or idea
• Managing misunderstandings and clarifying meaning
• Writing formal emails or structured texts
• Debating cultural or social issues with well-supported arguments.

This course will not meet 6 March, the second week of vacances scolaires, 

Contact Languages@wice-paris.org with any questions. 

About the Instructor

Audrey Charmont has a Masters in Marketing and Communications as well as a DAEFLE (French as a Foreign Language). She has many years of teaching experience in France and abroad.

Course Description

French 5 is an advanced conversation-focused class created for learners who already communicate fluently and aim to reach near-native mastery. The emphasis is on rhetorical finesse, persuasive speaking, and highly nuanced comprehension.

Focus of the Conversation Training:

• Persuading, negotiating, and convincing with credible arguments
• Defending a viewpoint under pressure
• Handling complex, fast-paced discussions
• Subtly adjusting tone, register, and rhetorical strategy depending on audience

This course will be held in French once a week on Zoom for 90 minutes. It does not meet on 6 March, the second week of French school vacation. Please contact Languages@wice-paris.org with any questions. 

About the Instructor

Audrey Charmont has a Masters in Marketing and Communications as well as a DAEFLE (French as a Foreign Language). She has many years of teaching experience in France and abroad.

Friday In-Person French - English Conversation Group

Looking for a relaxed and welcoming place to practice and improve your French or English? WICE conversation groups allow you to practice your language skills in an easy, convivial atmosphere with native speakers.

The Friday group meets upstairs at the Le Nelsons, near Les Halles, from 15:00 - 16:30. Participants are divided into small groups of 5 - 6 people, and the conversations are 45 minutes in French and 45 minutes in English. The subjects are of  the group’s choosing. Though an intermediate level of English and French is expected, there is a wide range of abilities.

There is no need to register, just show up and look for the WICE tables upstairs.

Le Nelsons, 16 Rue Coquillière, 75001. Metro lines 1/4/7/11/14, RER A, B, D, and buses 74, 85

Participation is free with WICE membership.

Friday Online French - English Conversation Group

There is no better way to practice your foreign language than by conversing with native speakers, and WICE can help you do just that.

We meet online (Zoom) every Friday evening (Paris time). Participants are divided into small groups of 5-6 members. We converse 45 minutes in French and 45 minutes in English. Conversations are free-form and address topics of interest to the individual group members.

The group is open to WICE members at all language levels. However, to get the most out of the conversations, an intermediate level in both languages is helpful. 

Participation is free for WICE members.

To participate, contact Mike Franks at: mike.franks@wice-paris.org

Tuesday In-Person French - English Conversation Group

Looking for a relaxed and welcoming place to practice and improve your French or English? WICE conversation groups allow you to practice your language skills in an easy, convivial atmosphere with native speakers.

The Tuesday group meets at the Maison Communale, 69 rue Violet , 75015 Paris from 15:00 - 16:30. Participants are divided into small groups of 5 - 6 people, and the conversations are 45 minutes in French and 45 minutes in English. The subjects are of  the group’s choosing. Though an intermediate level of English and French is expected, there is a wide range of abilities.

There is no need to register, but if it is your first time to participate in person in Tuesday's group, please contact Christian Paolasso at c.paolas@laposte.net (primary), or Ellen Bryson at ellen.bryson@wice-paris.org  (secondary) and let one of them know you are planning to come.

Maison Communale, 69 rue Violet , 75015 Paris. Metro line 8 stop Commerce, and buses #42, #70, #88.

Participation is free with WICE membership.

Mastering Scene

Course Description

Being “in scene” is where storytelling comes alive on the page. It’s where readers feel, understand, and enter a story’s world—where we experience deeper emotional truths. Where magic happens.

Structure

This eight-week workshop teaches you the essential elements of compelling scene construction—the foundation of memorable storytelling. You will learn to create authentic characters, weave exposition seamlessly into narrative, and build scenes that draw readers into the story world and keep them engaged page after page.

Each class session will include:

• Study of effective published scenes
• Analysis exercises mapping scene and expository techniques
• Scene writing practice
• Supportive read-alouds of new work
• Collaborative workshopping of participants' pieces
• Q&A on scene craft and technique

Course Outcome

By the workshop's end, you'll have developed a compelling narrative scene and gained the confidence to craft stories that invite readers in and hold their attention.

Prerequisites: Open to writers of all levels working in fiction, memoir, or creative nonfiction. Some previous writing experience helpful but not required.

This class is on ZOOM. We will send you the link.

About the Instructor

Becky Ellis's debut memoir, Little Avalanches (Regalo Press, 2024), won the Rubery Book Award for Best Nonfiction Book of the Year and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. Her work has appeared in Northwest Review, The Ethel, Best Small Fictions, Psychology Today, and others. 

Find out more about her at beckyellis.net.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: For this advanced French course, you will watch a film at home (available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Canal Plus, Orange, YouTube and other platforms) before a lively and engaging discussion in class. Each month a new film provides a basis for an immersive lesson with authentic spoken language and cultural reference points. If you love movies, there’s no more enjoyable way to increase vocabulary, improve conversational skills, and deepen your understanding of French cinema and culture. 

Each discussion will focus on analyzing the film from different angles:

• Creation; production; and reception, both critical and commercial
• Screenplay, direction, and artistic collaborations such as script, cinematography, acting, and music
• Specific features in the director's filmography and its place in the French cinema of his/her era.

Trimestre d'hiver: Une trilogie provençale

Le Sud de la France est à la fois une géographie et un cliché de cinéma, représenté par des cinéastes mythiques comme Marcel Pagnol et des films qu’on reconnaît immédiatement à l’accent des personnages, aux lieux filmés : la Canebière, les calanques, la prison des Baumettes etc. Je vous propose un passage en revue composé de 3 films du Sud :

• Marius et Jeannette de Robert Guédiguian (1997)

Les amours de Marius et Jeannette qui vivent dans les quartiers Nord de l'Estaque à Marseille. Marius vit seul dans une cimenterie désaffectée qui domine le quartier, gardien de cette usine en démolition. Jeannette élève seule ses deux enfants avec un maigre salaire de caissière. Leur rencontre ne sera pas simple car, outre les difficultés inhérentes à leur situation sociale, ils sont blessés par la vie.

Cinéaste de ce qu’on appelle caricaturalement « les gens simples », Robert Guédiguian a commencé son œuvre humaniste dans les années 80. Tous ses films (plus de 25 à ce jour) se passent à Marseille, avec une même troupe de comédiens qu’il retrouve et dont il déplie les géométries sentimentales.  

La graine et le mulet de Abdellatif Kechiche (2007)

Sète, le port. Monsieur Beiji se traîne sur le chantier naval du port dans un emploi devenu pénible au fil des années. Père de famille divorcé, il traverse une période délicate de sa vie où tout semble contribuer à une impression d'échec qui lui pèse depuis quelque temps, et dont il ne songe qu'à sortir en créant sa propre affaire : un restaurant. Seulement, rien n'est moins sûr. Ce qui ne l'empêche pas d'en rêver, d'en parler, en famille notamment. Une famille qui va peu à peu se souder autour d'un projet. Grâce à leur sens de la débrouille, et aux efforts déployés, leur rêve va bientôt voir le jour... Ou, presque...

Cinéaste très controversé ayant révélé les actrices Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos et Hafsia Herzi, A. Kechiche est un metteur en scène flamboyant qui raconte l’intimité des liens et épuise par son regard et son montage les scènes. Un des plus grands cinéastes actuels, auteur de huit longs-métrages, lauréat de six Césars, du Lion d’argent, du Grand Prix du jury (La Graine et le mulet), d’une Palme d’or (La Vie d’Adèle).

Un prophète de Jacques Audiard (2009)

Condamné à six ans de prison, Malik El Djebena ne sait ni lire ni écrire. A son arrivée en Centrale, seul au monde, il paraît plus jeune, plus fragile que les autres détenus. Il a 19 ans.

D'emblée, il tombe sous la coupe d'un groupe de prisonniers corses qui fait régner sa loi dans la prison. Le jeune homme apprend vite. Au fil des " missions ", il s'endurcit et gagne la confiance des Corses. Mais, très vite, Malik utilise toute son intelligence pour développer discrètement son propre réseau...

Film tourné dans un studio qui reconstitue la prison des Baumettes, Un prophète est un film violent et radical qui dévoile un pan ignoré de la modernité au cinéma : la délinquance et la prison regardée comme une école de la vie. Audiard filme comme personne.

• ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and ESCP Business School with a master's in political philosophy, Pascale Borenstein co-founded the first professional training course for screenwriters, the Conservatoire Européen d'Ecriture Audiovisuelle (CEEA), which she subsequently directed. From 2004 to 2017, she was Director of International Relations and Continuing Education at France's national film school, La Fémis, where she collaborated with the film departments at NYU, Columbia University, and Calarts. Pascale is the co-author of "Histoire de films français" published by Bordas and a lecturer at l'ICART (École du Management Culturel & Marché de l'Art).

Course Description

Discover and discuss masterpieces of American cinema in this class for intermediate and advanced English speakers. You’ll watch a film at home on streaming, or borrow the DVD from your local library, before a lively and engaging discussion in class. You’ll be assigned one scene to watch at least three times! Every month you’ll view a film from an influential director so you’ll come to know the stylistic hallmarks of favorite genres and filmmakers.

If you love the movies, this course is an enjoyable way to increase vocabulary, get comfortable with idiomatic expressions, improve your conversational skills, and deepen your understanding of American culture and cinema.

Films for the Winter 2026 trimester:

Stand by Me (1986) directed by Rob Reiner, with Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, and Corey Feldman. Based on a Stephen King novella, the film is set in the fictional town of Castle Rock in 1959 where four boys set out on a journey to find the dead body of a missing boy. Critic Carrie Rickey (Philadelphia Inquirer) described the film as “a small, quiet film that walks tall and resonates long after.”  

Annie Hall (1977), an iconic New York film directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay written by Allen and Marshall Brickman and starring Diane Keaton and Allen. Alvy Singer, played by Allen, tries to figure out the reasons for the failure of his relationship with the eponymous female lead, played by Keaton in a role written specifically for her.

Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), directed by Susan Seidelman, with Rosanna Arquette, Aiden Quinn, and Madonna. Set in New York City, the plot involves the interaction between two women – a bored housewife and a bohemian drifter – linked by various messages in the personals section of a newspaper. In her review for The New Yorker, critic Pauline Kael referred to Madonna as "an indolent, trampy goddess.”

About the instructor:

Ellen Feldman grew up in Philadelphia and currently lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She holds a Ph.D. in cinema studies from New York University and has taught film studies at the State University of New York, Geneseo campus, and Brooklyn College.

Advanced Intensive Fiction Workshop

Description

This fiction workshop (meeting weekly via Zoom) is designed to help you make significant progress on a project you’re already working on and raise your craft to the next level. Whether you’re exploring short-story writing or knee-deep in a novel manuscript, you’ll have ample opportunity to workshop your writing and troubleshoot obstacles. We will supplement participants’ own works-in-progress with published pieces of fiction carefully selected based on the specific genres and craft issues participants are grappling with, analyzing the ways other authors have tackled those challenges themselves.

In a supportive, generous, intellectually curious, and motivating atmosphere, we’ll dive into stories aiming to understand how they work, what they’re trying to achieve, and how to more fully realize their vision.

The extended 12-week format will allow for greater investment in each other’s writing, more occasions for each writer to receive peer and instructor feedback, and a stronger sense of community and mutual support among participants. 

Instructor

Noah Weisz has an M.F.A. in Fiction from the University of Texas at Austin and over a decade of experience teaching creative writing. A past winner of the F(r)iction Short Story Contest, the Katherine Paterson Prize, and the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award, his short stories for children, teens, and adults have been widely published in literary magazines. Based in Paris, he regularly teaches creative writing to undergraduates at Sciences Po as well as to American study-abroad students through CEA CAPA.

Note: The registration limit for this event has been reached. Please put your name on the waitlist and you will be notified if a seat becomes available.

Now that you've come to live in France, do you know who Marianne is, why 1901 was an important date, and what "System D" is? If not, come to Hilary Kaiser's talk and find out. You'll also learn a lot more about the roots of French culture, French communication and everyday living in France and Paris.

Hilary Kaiser, who originally hails from San Francisco, has been living in Paris for more than 50 years. She holds a PhD from the Sorbonne and was a tenured Maître de Conférences (Associate Professor) who taught Intercultural Communication to French business students before she retired. She has also worked for relocation firms as an intercultural trainer for American, British and French expatriates.

NOTE:  Le Bistro de Buci allows us to use their space for this event at no charge to WICE.  However,  like any cafe or restaurant, all customers are required to order at least one paid item from the menu, be it food or beverages.  Please respect their hospitality.

Can you imagine a life where your mind is a source of peace and strength, where calmness flows through you like a gentle river even amidst daily challenges? What if you had the power to observe your thoughts without judgement, steady your emotions, and tap into a deeper well of wisdom within yourself? What if you could have moments of freedom between the triggering events of your life and your responses to them, moments of choice?

The pressure of daily life can leave us feeling overwhelmed and trapped, with no space for movement or reflection. Meditation offers us a more spacious life, an opportunity to descend to a more profound and rich experience of our lives and our relationships with ourselves, others and the world we inhabit.  In terms of daily life and routine activities, regular practice can help the body regulate itself more effectively. It can help with getting a more relaxed and sound sleep or decreasing the severity and/or frequency of migraine headaches. It’s a pathtoward mental clarity, emotional resilience, and enriched creativity.

WICE members can join us for a biweekly hour of meditation practices. One variety is Vipassana,  a mindfulness practice focusing on direct nonjudgmental observation of body and mind in order to cultivate greater awareness and ease. Others include heart practices such as generation of lovingkindness, compassion and equanimity. These  practices are available as non-sectarian techniques, open to anyone seeking to understand their mind and body. 

We’ll meet for about an hour on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month.  We’ll start with a few minutes of self-introduction, then some guided meditation, followed by a period of silence, then finishing with some final minutes of conversational reflection. Whatever level you are, beginner to advanced, you are welcome! Hosted by Lori Zeller and Cheryl Purvis, who have been meditating on and off for a total of over 70 years between the two of us, all the while taking classes, joining groups and going to retreats.

Welcome to WICE! Are you new to Paris, or just living your meilleure vie associative? WICE President Pamela Combastet would love to welcome you to the WICE family. Join her for a casual lunch and a free-flowing discussion regarding your ideas and aspirations for WICE, as well as getting to know our association a little bit better.

Please note: this lunch is organized by WICE, but you are responsible for paying for your own order. Space is limited to 30 new members.

Registration opens on Friday, 23 January.

WICE member Valerie Helmbreck-Mascitti (knitting on the left) opens her lovely apartment in the 1st arrondissement every Thursday afternoon to WICE members for an afternoon of needlework: knitting, crocheting, creweling, embroidery, etc..

Any and all WICE needle workers are welcome to attend. Bring your project, and if you're so inclined, something to nosh on (by no means necessary).

Valerie's apartment is conveniently located near the Louvre. Upon registration, Valerie's address and phone number will be shared with you to coordinate your visit to her.  

Free for WICE members! Come with us on a captivating journey where literature and history intertwine to offer a uniquely vivid perspective on France's past. You’ll plunge into a vibrant tapestry of pivotal events, cultural shifts, and influential figures…while falling under the spell of some of France’s best historical novelists.  And then the discussion begins!

Our meetings take place in French so you'll enhance your understanding of the past while simultaneously improving your French reading, comprehension, and speaking skills in a friendly convivial group.

Group facilitator: Claudia Oudet, French teacher, editor, and translator, will offer linguistic help and literary/historical insights. (Please note: Claudia will be unable to join us on 20 November.)

We'll meet in person at Le Nelson's Café, 16 rue Coquillière, 75001  

• Métro : Lignes 1/4/7/11/14 RER A/B/D Châtelet Les Halles 
• Bus : 74 – 85 : Louvre – Etienne Marcel / Bourse du commerce

Préparez-vous à discuter:

Les Rois maudits, tome 6: Le Lis et le Lion

Avec la mort de Charles IV le Bel s'éteint la dynastie capétienne, remplacée par les Valois. Le comte Robert d'Artois s'est dépensé sans compter pour faire attribuer la couronne à son cousin Philippe de Valois. 

En échange, il attend qu'on lui rende le comté de ses aïeux. Pour soutenir son bon droit, rien ne l'arrêtte: ni l'usage de faux ni le parjure ni les crimes. Déchu de ses titres, banni de sa patrie, c'est lui qui prononcera devant le roi Édouard III et le Parlement d'Angleterre, la harangue qui sera le premier acte de la guerre de Cent Ans. 

Come prepared to discuss:

Les Rois maudits, volume 6, Le Lis et le Lion

With the death of Charles IV the Fair, the Capetian dynasty came to an end, replaced by the Valois. Count Robert d'Artois spared no effort to secure the crown for his cousin Philippe de Valois. 

In exchange, he expected to be given back the county of his ancestors. To support his claim, nothing could stop him: not forgery, perjury, or murder. Stripped of his titles and banished from his homeland, it was he who delivered the speech before King Edward III and the English Parliament that would be the first act of the Hundred Years' War. 

Audition, by Katie Kitamura, is a taut, psychologically charged novel that examines intimacy, performance, and the fragile boundaries between truth and self-invention. The story centers on a woman whose carefully constructed life—shaped by her marriage, her work, and her sense of control—begins to fracture when an encounter tied to an audition unsettles her assumptions about those closest to her. Small moments of uncertainty accumulate, exposing the quiet power dynamics and unspoken compromises that structure her relationships.

As the narrative tightens, Kitamura shifts the ground beneath the reader, revealing how identity can be shaped by what we choose to show, conceal, or rehearse for others. The novel becomes less about a single event than about the roles people play to survive emotional proximity, and the cost of maintaining those roles over time. Spare, precise, and deeply unsettling, Audition probes the tension between observation and participation, asking how well we can ever know another person—or even ourselves—once performance becomes indistinguishable from reality.

Audition was short-listed for the Booker Prize in 2025. It was long-listed for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize.

Two spaces are reserved for new WICE members. If no new WICE members have registered by one week prior to the meeting, those two spaces will become available to the general WICE membership.

The Booker Book group reads and discusses books that have either received, or been on the short list for, the Booker Prize.

Join fellow WICE members for morning coffee at Le Sarah Bernhardt, hosted by WICE member Georgia Gruen.

Open to all WICE members, but registration is required. This is a public restaurant, and anyone can go, but WICE reserves 14 seats together, and if you don't register you may not be able to sit with us.

Registration opens on Sunday, 15 February.

Also, it is expected that all attendees will purchase at least one beverage or other item appropriate for sitting around a café.

Le Sarah Bernhardt is located at 2 Place du Châtelet. It can be reached by metro lines 1, 4, 7, 11, and 14 (Châtelet, Secteur Seine, Sortie 17),  and buses 38, 67, 69, and 72.

Create a Surrealist Short Film Using Only Your Smartphone

Step into a playful, imaginative workshop where we’ll blend everyday Paris footage with dreamlike visuals to create a short surrealist video - all edited on your phone using CapCut, a powerful (and free!) mobile app.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to:

• Think Like a Director: Discover how to plan, shoot, and frame your shots with intention, using Paris as your canvas.
• Mix Reality & Imagination: you’ll film one simple video clip and transform it into surreal scenes using layering, masking, speed changes, and creative transitions. You’ll build a mini film with a whimsical, cinematic feel.

This workshop is best for students who have already taken Cathleen's other video course, Shoot, Edit, Wow: A Creative Video Workshop With Your Phone. 

Requirements:

• Download CapCut on your smartphone before the event
• Some tech-savviness or a quick-learning mindset is helpful
• Guided workshop; techniques are simple but need a bit of practice (difficulty: 6/10)
• Please note: this workshop works best for iPhone users, as this is the format the instructor knows best. Non-iPhone users are welcome with the caveat that Cathleen is not very familiar with Android phone settings.

This event is FREE!

Whether you're a TikTok newbie, an Instagram story pro, or just love capturing beautiful moments, this creative session will help you see the city — and your camera roll — in a whole new light.

About the Instructor:

San Francisco native Cathleen Bowen is an art and design enthusiast who splits her time between Paris and the Bay Area. 

Djuna Barnes’s Nightwood offers a very different but equally haunting vision of expatriate life in interwar Paris. Written after nearly a decade Barnes spent among the city’s avant-garde circles, the novel reflects the disquiet and disillusionment that underlay the glitter of the Left Bank.

First published in 1936 with an introduction by T. S. Eliot, Nightwood is a modernist masterpiece of lyrical density and emotional darkness. Set among a drifting cast of expatriates, aristocrats, and outcasts, it traces the doomed love affair between the American Nora Flood and the elusive Robin Vote, whose restlessness and ambiguity make her both irresistible and unknowable. Through long, baroque sentences and dreamlike imagery, Barnes captures a nocturnal Paris of desire, loss, and spiritual exile—far removed from Hemingway’s sunlit cafés. Her portrayal of sexual identity, alienation, and obsession was revolutionary for its time, and her uncompromising style influenced writers from William Burroughs to Jeanette Winterson.

Nightwood remains one of the most challenging and rewarding works to emerge from the Left Bank’s modernist experiment, a fevered echo of the same era that Hemingway immortalized in daylight.

Two spaces are reserved for new WICE members. If no new WICE members have registered before 21 February, those two spaces will become available to the general WICE membership.

The book group meets in the downstairs of the Impact Café.

Registration for the February meeting opens on Sunday, 25 January.

Join fellow WICE members for coffee on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday mornings  of the month (and occasionally the 5th Tuesday) at Les Editeurs with hosts Mary Bartlett and Hilary Kaiser. It's a great opportunity to hang out with fellow WICE members, make new friends, and enjoy those special experiences unique to Paris.

Open to all WICE members, but registration is required. This is a public restaurant, and anyone can go, but WICE reserves 10 seats together, and if you don't register you may not be able to sit with us.

Registration opens on Wednesday, 18 February.

Also, it is expected that all attendees will purchase at least one beverage or other item appropriate for sitting around a café (and pay for it before leaving).

Les Editeurs is located at 4 Carrefour de l'Odéon, 75006. It can be reached by metro lines 4 and 10 (Odéon), and busses 58, 87, and 89.

Join us for a relaxed and welcoming morning coffee hosted by Pam Combastet at Le Grand Comptoir d’Anvers — a stylish and vibrant café-brasserie nestled in the heart of Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Situated conveniently just a short stroll or metro ride away for members living in the 9th, 10th and 18th arrondissements, with its warm wood-panelled interior and large windows, Le Grand Comptoir d’Anvers offers an ideal setting for catching up, meeting fellow members, and enjoying beautifully brewed coffee (or tea!) in a welcoming atmosphere.

Stay for as little or as long as you like, and enjoy friendly introductions, new connections, and the joy of relaxed attendance. Pam will be there to welcome you, introduce you to fellow members, and make sure it’s a memorable start to your day. Come unwind, engage, and start your morning in good company. We look forward to seeing you there!

Open to all WICE members, but registration is required. This is a public restaurant, and anyone can go, but WICE reserves 10 seats together, and if you don't register you may not be able to sit with us.

Registration opens on Thursday, 19 February.

Also, it is expected that all attendees will purchase at least one beverage or other item appropriate for sitting around a café.

Beyond the Bottle: The French Bubbles Experience

Pop, Sip, and Explore the Effervescent World of France.

While the world knows and loves Champagne, the rolling vineyards of France hold many more sparkling secrets. Join us for an evening dedicated to the "art of the bubble," where we’ll journey from the historic chalk cellars of Reims to the sun-drenched valleys of the Loire and Alsace.

The Deep Dive: The Magic of Champagne

We begin our evening in the world’s most famous sparkling wine region. We’ll deconstruct what makes Champagne the gold standard—exploring the "Méthode Traditionnelle," the unique terroir, and the complex notes of brioche, citrus, and mineral that define a true vintage.

The Discovery: France’s Best-Kept Secrets

Once we’ve mastered the classics, we’ll expand our horizons. Did you know France produces world-class sparkling wines that rival Champagne in quality but offer incredible value?

We’ll explore the elegant world of Crémants, including:

Crémant de Bourgogne: The sophisticated neighbor to Champagne, using the same Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.

Crémant de Loire: Zesty, fresh, and often featuring the unique character of Chenin Blanc.

Crémant d’Alsace: Floral, aromatic, and the darling of French dinner parties.

What to Expect

A Curated Flight: Taste 6 hand-selected sparkling wines, ranging from prestigious Champagne houses to artisanal regional producers.

Expert Guidance: Learn how to read a label (what does "Dosage" mean?), how to pair bubbles with more than just appetizers, and how to spot a "bargain" bottle that tastes like a luxury.

Whether you’re a lifelong Champagne lover or a curious novice looking for your new favourite weeknight sparkler, this event is designed to celebrate the joy of the pour.

Tickets are limited—secure yours today and let’s raise a glass to the French Art de Vivre!

Price: €65 for WICE members, €75 for non-WICE members. 

About the Instructors:

A native of Bordeaux, Elisabeth Iriart started her career in the wine business for Bordeaux wine merchants, where she developed her knowledge and love of wine.

She earned her WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) diploma and started her own business in Paris in 2011. She leads tasting classes and training for WSET in wines (Levels 2 and 3), as well as in spirits (Levels 1 and 2). In 2012 she was certified as a Cognac Educator for the BNIC (National Office of Cognac), and in 2017 she was certified as a Bordeaux wine educator for the Bordeaux Wine School. She currently works all over France in the area of wine and spirit education.

Elisabeth will be supported by Felicity Pritchard-Witts, who some may know from her Development role at WICE. Felicity passed her WSET Level 3 in wines in June 2024 and is now studying for her French Scholar qualification. 

Further information: Due to the upfront costs of the event, Payment is required on booking to secure your spot. 

Please note: refunds are available up to two weeks in advance of the event. After that period e.g. Wednesday 18th February, refunds are still available but only if your spot can be replaced by someone on the waiting list. 

Come enjoy a lively lunch with fellow WICE members. Catch up with old friends and meet new ones over a fun and leisurely meal in a charming café in the Latin Quarter.

We normally stand, mingle, and chat for 30 - 45 minutes, and then sit down to eat at about 12:30 or 12:45. So please plan accordingly.

You pay for what you eat and drink, no extra fees, but registration is required.

Served by metro line 10 (Sorbonne-Cluny), metro line 4 (Saint Michel), and busses 21, 27, 38, 63, 86, 87, and 96.

Registration opens on Friday, 06 February.