Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

What is the purpose of Le Café Musée?

The purpose of the Café is to enjoy the French language in lively discussions about art and history and to meet other CCSF students of French with various levels of fluency. The Café Musée also provides students with a great opportunity for networking, finding recommendations about reasonable hotels in Paris, apartment exchanges, or exciting summer courses in the countryside.

Where and when does Le Café Musée meet?

Almost every week, at one of the members' places, on Saturday mornings. We are exploring the possibilities of evening meetings, and of meetings held at the Castro (James Lick Middle School) campus.

Where and when are campus-wide events held?

At present, meetings are held on the Ocean campus of City College of San Francisco, on Saturday mornings. Dates and times for campus-wide events are posted on this web site under upcoming events and members are notified by E-mail, too.

What is the format of the Café's meetings?

This is a café! So we start with coffee, fruit, bread, and other treats while we introduce ourselves and chat for a while. Then we enjoy a slide-show about the topic of the day and participate in a discussion about the chosen topic which is led by a French-speaking presenter. Frequently, we have good fortune of having Mme Renée Morel as our presenter and discussion-leader, but others also lead discussions, depending on the topic. Past presenters include artists Lisa Esherick, Jack Freeman, and James Groleau, as well as docent Florence Lewis. 

Does one need to be proficient in French to join Le Café Musée?

The meetings of the Café are held in French, but there is a very wide variance in the level of proficiency of the members. Newcomers to the French language are always welcomed (please don't be shy)!

Do members need to be City College Students?

The weekly meetings are for officially enrolled CCSF students (who can bring an occasional guest), as are the "business meetings" for our officers, but the campus-wide events that the Club holds twice a semester are open to the general public.

How can I enroll in a French class at City College of San Francisco?

Go to admissions/registrations (CCSF home). City College offers French classes at all levels (from beginning to advanced) at various locations in San Francisco. Here is a tip for already enrolled French students at CCSF: if you think you could need a little help (or, if you are already good, become "excellent," you can go to the Learning Assistance Center on Phelan Campus, Rosenberg Library, R207 (415) 452 5502 and see a French tutor (and it's free!). The tutors will support you to achieve your individual goals. They help you with grammar, pronunciation, etc. Please keep in mind that at certain times, many students seek help simultaneously and it can get a little crowded, especially during midterms and finals. So it is always best to bring some extra time and material you can work on while you are waiting (textbook, assignments etc.). And don't forget to bring a current student I.D. card, so you can proof that you are a current CCSF student.

How can I become a member of Le Café Musée?

There is no formal membership in the Café. Any person interested can participate by joining us at any of our Café meetings. Contact Café Musée Coordinator Jan Elvee at elvee1@earthlink.net or Renée Morel at (415) 255 8301 rmorel@ccsf.edu for more information. If you wish to be notified of upcoming events, please provide us with your Email address or simply log-on to this web site and go to upcoming events where future events will be posted.

Why does Le Café Musée have a focus on art and history?

We seek to gain an understanding of various times and cultures through discussions and presentations in French. We use the generous sources available throughout San Francisco: museums, colleges, universities, collections, galleries--all provide source material for our explorations and discussions. Although our conversations are in French to the extent possible, we do not focus exclusively on French culture. On the contrary, we want to embrace a wide range of countries and artistic movements as seen in our presentations on Self-portraits or Art Déco or Artists and Photography.

How does the club govern itself?

We have terrific officers and coordinators! The records of the club are kept by a volunteer secretary on this web site. Decisions are made by consensus. If someone wants to offer suggestions/ideas etc, please contact Mme Renée Morel at rmorel@ccsf.edu.

Are there admission fees for museum visits?

Yes. The fee is $3 per visit for the permanent collection at the Legion of Honor.

How does Le Café Musée finance itself?

Le Café Musée is a non-profit organization. As an officially recognized CCSF student club, it receives $300 per semester from the ASU [Associated Student Union]. All officially recognized CCSF student clubs do. The funds go towards the purchase of refreshments, books, reproductions, slides, office supplies, light bulbs for the projector, and other miscellaneous items used for our regular meetings. In addition, the Café Musée solicits additional funding for its two campus-wide events as these draw an increasingly large number of Francophiles.
We gratefully acknowledge funding from the ICC [Inter Council Club] for our first event in October and from the Office of Cultural Affairs for our second event in December.



Date last modified: March 2007