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.

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.

Tuesday 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. 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.

Tuesday 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 Tuesday. 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.

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 Paris based members can attend the WICE apéro on Thursdays. As usual, this class does not meet during vacances scolaires: l2 22 et le 29 avril.

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.

This new course will be conducted in French and is suitable for those with a higher level of French comprehension (High A2 and above). For those who have taken Nathalie's classes, this course is a natural outgrowth of her love of teaching French through the art, literature, and culture of France. The class is inspired by an upcoming exhibit at the Musée d'Orsay entitled, "Renoir et L' amour."  The class will read relevant materials and listen to lectures about Renoir, and the people, culture, and events surrounding his life. The class will include visits to the Musée d'Orsay exhibit as well as to the Musée de Montmartre. (Students will be responsible for purchasing their own tickets to both museums.) The class will meet once a week in person at the Impact Café.  

There will be no class on the French holiday: 14 mai. 

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. In addition, Nathalie graduated in art history from l'Ecole du Louvre.

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 on Zoom on Mondays and 1.5 hours at the Impact Cafe on Thursdays) and is conducted in French. When necessary, supplementary explanations may be given in English.
This class does not meet on French holidays: 6 April, 14 May, and 25 May.
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 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 14 mai.

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

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 on Zoom on Mondays and 1.5 hours in person downstairs at the Impact Cafe Thursdays) and is conducted in French. 

This class does not meet on French holidays: 14 May or 25 May. 
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

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 1 May or 8 May.

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. This class does not meet on French holidays: 1 May and 8 May.

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.

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. 

Les femmes à l'honneur ce printemps

Trois films de réalisatrices françaises, trois portraits de femmes filmées dans leur complexité, leurs nuances, et explorant à fines touches leur reconstruction.

L’Avenir de Mia Hansen Love (2016) avec Isabelle Huppert, André Marcon, Judith Magre

Nathalie, mariée et mère de deux enfants déjà adultes, enseigne la philosophie avec implication et passion. Sa mère très âgée se fait de plus en plus possessive. Quand son mari lui annonce qu'il a rencontré une autre femme et qu'il part s'installer avec elle, elle voit sa vie sous un autre jour. Portrait d’une femme qui se libère de ce qui pourrait l’enfermer et la transformer en victime. Ours d’Argent au festival de Berlin.

Un beau soleil intérieur de Claire Denis (2017) avec Juliette Binoche, Xavier Beauvois

Isabelle, une artiste-peintre divorcée et mère d'une fille, cherche le grand amour au tournant de la cinquantaine. Elle s'essaye à de nombreuses rencontres, avec des hommes très différents, sans jamais trouver le bonheur, ni même la sérénité dans aucune d'entre elles. Finalement, profondément déprimée, elle se rend chez un voyant qui lui prédit un avenir surprenant. Claire Denis est considérée comme l’une des plus grandes depuis les années 90 avec « Chocolat », « Trouble Every day », « White Material »

Revoir Paris d’Alice Winocour (2022) avec Virginie Efira, Benoit Magimel, Grégoire Colin

A Paris, Mia est prise dans un attentat dans une brasserie. Trois mois plus tard, alors qu’elle n’a toujours pas réussi à reprendre le cours de sa vie et qu’elle ne se rappelle l’évènement que par bribes, Mia décide d’enquêter dans sa mémoire pour retrouver le chemin d’un bonheur possible. Film d’une réalisatrice qui joue sur des gammes variées depuis ses débuts et explore la mémoire post traumatique des attentats de Paris, entre regard concret et vision poétique.

• 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).

This two-session virtual course is for photographers (beginners and advanced) who dare to break a few rules along the creative path. 

Session I (Monday, 13 April):

We will begin with a review of photography “best practices” and what makes a memorable photo. You have to be aware of the “rules” to know when the moment is right to break them.

We will explore the beauty and drama of intentionally going rogue and why that might make a photograph even more memorable. We’ll study the dissidents—for example, Robert Frank, Diane Arbus, Saul Leiter, and Sally Mann. And we will tackle assignments that will push boundaries and upend perspectives … all with a goal of yielding truly creative results.

Session II (Monday, 27 April):

In the second session we will discuss the photos you completed during the first class and your follow-on homework assignments. We'll learn, as always, from the varying reactions and insights of the class members. 

Price:

The price for both sessions, held on Zoom, will be included in the initial fee.

You will automatically be registered for the second session when you register for the first one.

The Zoom link will be sent in the 7-day and 1-day reminder emails.

Refund for cancellation is available until 8 April.  

Requirements:

• For photography and art lovers of all levels
• Suitable both iPhones and cameras

Students can expect to:

• Become familiar with photography best practices

• But know when to break the rules to make memorable photographs

• Participate in a friendly critique session of their work

About the Instructor

Meredith Mullins is a popular photo instructor and fine-art photography mentor, an internationally exhibited photographer, and a winner of international photography competitions, including the Grand Concours Photo sur Paris, PX3 Competition, Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Photographer’s Forum, and Worldwide Gala Photo Awards. She is the author of the award-winning book In a Paris Moment, a leader of photo adventure tours, and the Co-Founder and Director of the International Fine Art Photography Competition.

www.meredithmullins.artspan.com 

Photo Credits: Meredith Mullins

Lives Other Than My Own is a deeply moving work of literary non-fiction that blurs the boundaries between memoir, reportage, and philosophical inquiry. The narrative centers on two devastating tragedies that occurred within months of each other: the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which Emmanuel Carrère witnessed while vacationing in Sri Lanka, and the terminal illness of his partner’s sister back in France. Through these interconnected stories, Carrère explores the profound randomness of life-altering events and the fragility of human existence.

The first half of the book provides a haunting, firsthand account of the tsunami’s aftermath, focusing on a French couple who lost their four-year-old daughter to the waves. Upon returning to France, Carrère turns his attention to Juliette, a young judge and mother of three who is succumbing to a long battle with cancer. Rather than a simple wallow in grief, Carrère investigates the "wealth of human solace" that follows loss, detailing Juliette’s meticulous planning for her family’s future and her professional partnership with Étienne, a fellow judge and cancer survivor.

Precise, sober, and emotionally astute, Lives Other Than My Own is a meditation on the "extraordinary beauty and nobility of ordinary lives". A strong discussion angle for the group is Carrère’s role as a "witness" and how he uses the suffering of others to interrogate his own capacity for love, commitment, and empathy.

Winner of the 2010 Globe de Cristal for Best Novel/Essay.

The book group meets at the organizer's apartment. The directions, door code, telephone number, etc., are sent in the 7-day and 1-day reminder emails, following registration.

Two spaces are reserved for new WICE members. If no new WICE members have registered before 15 March, those two spaces will become available to the general WICE membership.

Registration for the April meeting opens on Saturday, 21 March.

Join fellow WICE members for morning coffee at Le Sarah Bernhardt, hosted by WICE members Caroline Harvey and Rick Jones.

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 for this event opens on Sunday, 5 April.

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.

Ladies of WICE . . . by popular demand, join us for a pay-for-your-own women's lunch!

This is a great opportunity for WICE women to meet each other and to hang out for a few hours to discover common interests and such over good food and beverages.

We meet upstairs at Le Nelson, a charming and warm Parisian restaurant located in Châtelet that has a very good relationship with WICE. 

Registration opens on Sunday, 22 March.

Gothic architecture was born just outside of Paris in the 12th century and sparked a rapid and widespread revolution in art and architecture across France and Europe. Through structural innovations and masterful artistry in stone, glass, and paint, this new style made tangible a mystical philosophy of divine light as a bridge between heaven and the earthly realm. Paris, with its rich layers of history, contains traces of each phase of the Gothic style as it evolved from its Romanesque roots through to the Renaissance. Over the course of four sessions, these walks aim to reveal those layers by visiting eight churches in roughly chronological order, each church offering a window into the ways in which Gothic architects, artisans, and patrons experimented with light, structure, and technique to create a reflection of heaven in their medieval world.

The fourth and final part of this series on Gothic architecture in the parish churches of Paris will begin at Saint-Nicholas-des-Champs which provides an interesting insight into how Gothic sensibilities married Renaissance ideas about architecture. Concluding our series, we’ll walk towards Les Halles to the French Renaissance wonder that is Saint-Eustaches, a grand and highly enigmatic church whose proportions if found in any other city would surely be a cathedral.

Matt Potts is a licensed architect in the US, where he practiced for 10 years after studying architecture in New York and Rome. He has lived in France since 2022 where he founded his own interior architecture firm. Matt is passionate about France’s rich built heritage - whether renovating a 16th-century manor house in the Burgundian countryside for his family, designing thoughtful renovations for his clients’ historic properties across France, or studying great works of Gothic architecture. He splits his time between Paris and Burgundy, enjoying the best of city and country life in France with his wife and their two sons (one human, one canine).

In the grand tradition of pub quizzes across the anglophone world, join a team of fellow WICE members for a bilingual evening of trivial merriment. On a bi-monthly basis, WICE has reserved space with Paris Quiz Mistress to participate in a quiz night that consists of four rounds of trivia in English and French on a wide variety of topics, movies and TV, pop culture, geography, fashion, and anything strange and peculiar that comes through the mind of the Quiz Mistress Host.

This is not a WICE-exclusive event. We have reserved spaces for two teams of 5 (the maximum number of participants per team). There are prizes to win for the top teams and the best team name. A WICE volunteer will be at each event to help you identify our group.Please note that the quiz location changes depending on the night of the week, so please pay attention when registering to make sure you are going to the correct pub.

This event is free for members, but registration and the purchase of food or a beverage is required.

Have you ever wondered how otherwise intelligent people can believe that the earth is flat, that vaccines cause autism, or that Bill Gates caused COVID to use nanochips for mind control? In this talk, Dr. John Eigenauer will address the mysteries of irrational beliefs and behaviors with insights into how our brains work.

John Eigenauer is an intellectual historian and professor emeritus of philosophy at Taft College in California. He holds a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies from Syracuse University. His work has been published in variety of publications. He has spoken internationally on human rationality and the pedagogy of critical thinking. His book, 'Paris and the Birth of Public Knowledge,' is available online. John lives in Vincennes and has been a WICE member for a year.

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, 8 April.

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.

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. 

Registration opens on Friday, 27 March.

Set in the humid, restless atmosphere of New Orleans A Streetcar Named Desire follows the tragic unraveling of Blanche DuBois, a fragile and fading Southern belle who arrives unexpectedly at the modest apartment of her younger sister, Stella Kowalski who welcomes her warmly, but Blanche quickly clashes with Stella’s husband, Stanley Kowalski.

Through the clash between Blanche’s fading romantic ideals and Stanley’s raw realism, author Tennessee Williams explores themes of illusion versus reality, desire, class conflict, mental fragility, and the changing social landscape of the American South. The play remains one of the most powerful examinations of human vulnerability and cruelty in modern theatre.

The general concept of The Living Room Players is that people receive the script by email about a week before the reading, and then roles are assigned at the meeting. Attendees sit around a living room and simply read their parts with as much theatrical flourish as they care to give (but there are no expectations of real acting).

The readings take place at a member's apartment in the Marais. The address, door code, and phone number are sent in the 7-day and 1-day  reminder emails.

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

Registration for the April reading opens on Friday, 20 March.

Yoga classes for physical and mental well-being focused on mindful, precise movement, breath awareness, and the mind-body connection. You can expect asanas (yoga postures), breathwork exercises, and simple guided meditations designed to help you feel safe and empowered in your body.

Each class starts with a short check-in and is adapted to the students’ current needs and abilities. All levels are welcome. If you have had any surgeries or have physical injuries, please contact Ola prior to class (contact information will be provided upon registration).  

Following class, members are encouraged to meet upstairs in the cafe for coffee, tea, cake, or other delicious creations made by the team at the Apycem cafe, to which the studio belongs.  

Cancellations may be made more than 3 days before the first session. Please notify wice@wice-paris.org to cancel so that someone on the waitlist may attend in your place.

A word about Ola:

I am an experienced yoga teacher and psychologist. I teach yoga that supports body awareness and gently explores the inner world, combining movement with tools for stress management and emotional regulation.

What matters most to me is the person in front of me, their needs, story, and intention. I enjoy accompanying people in their self-discovery and witnessing their growth through yoga.

More information: https://practicewithola.com/about

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.

In the Spriing trimester, we'll discuss three films from 1939, arguably one of the best years for American cinema.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington by Frank Capra with Claude Reins, James Stewart, Jean Arthur. 

A naive youth leader is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate where his idealistic plans promptly collide with corruption at home and subterfuge from his hero in Washington. 

The film was controversial when it was first released, with attacks from many politicians claiming that it brought Washington into disrepute. However, it was very successful at both the domestic and international box offices, and it made Stewart a major star.

Only Angels Have Wings by Howard Hawks with Cary Grant, Jean Arthur, and Rita Hayworth. 

At a remote South American trading port, the manager of an air-freight company is compelled to risk the lives of his pilots in order to win an important contract as a traveling American showgirl stops in town. A romantic adventure, the film is generally regarded as among Hawks' finest films, particularly in its portrayal of the professionalism of the pilots, the atmosphere, and the flying sequences.

Stagecoach by John Ford with John Wayne and Claire Trevor. On the stagecoach to Cheyenne, an eclectic group of passengers must work together to survive the arduous journey and the Apache attacks. 

Widely considered to be one of the most influential films every made, Stagecoach has not escaped controversy. Like most Westerns of the era, the film's depiction of Native Americans is simplistic and reductive. 

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.