On Saturday we cocked a snook at the closed shops in Basel and visited the farmer's market in St Louis and had lunch in a nearby restaurant.

I realised that my schoolboy French has become somewhat rusty through lack of use - and really had to think when doing the basics like buying a loaf of bread at the bakers.

I wonder if there is somewhere over the French border in the Basel environs an informal get-together-in-a-bar-and-speak-French or so? I did a search on this forum and nothing really turned up.

Cheers,
Nick

Other than the Centrepoint French conversation groups, I'm not aware of any...

Although sitting in a French café listening to French people while drinking coffee and eating French pastry couldn't be a bad thing!

Or better yet sitting in a French café drinking wine and listening to French people...

HI

I am learning french now a days.

Starting a convesation group is a nice idea.

If you are interested we can try to invite other interested ppl.

I don't actually need a French conversation group.
I live in France and work with French people every day.

And my husband is French...
I get all the French conversation I need.

But there are bound to be other people in Basel who don't have access to it...

It's a good way to practice expressing yourself in French
Although there won't be anyone to correct your word choice, grammar or pronunciation.

What has helped my French a lot has been watching TV in French for about a year...an hour or so every day...

Dear Nick,
I live in Saint-Louis and have a similar problem to yours which is quite frustrating when your neighbours are French! There isn't anything in town where you can just have a chat for free in French - and nowhere to post a notice, as far as I can make out. There are the usual evening classes starting in October which I am signing on for in 2009/10 (about €50 for 10 classes at one venue and €150 for ten at the second venue). I could send you more details if you want - but obviously the people in the class are not French - all foreigners!
Last year I went into Basel to do French conversation at the Academia school (€10 per session at Schifflande - quite good really).
Just this morning I discovered Centrepoint in Basel and since a year's membership is so cheap (80 CHF, I think) and they do French conversation, that seems like the best bet.
Other things I have done/will do just to talk to people are joining a local art class and (hopefully) a local wind ensemble. Can't really seem to find anyone 'just for a chat' without paying and I live here!
Sorry that this is not positive, just to let you know that its not that easy - but if you have since found more info yourself, would be delighted to hear about it!
Best wishes,
Cathy

I could help you!

I'm a at-home-mommy! I have not to much to do and I enjoy to be able to go out of the house. If you need to speak french, I can be there and help you with it during a conversation. As long as you don't mind to have a baby around...

I know how important it is to practice, I'm losing my turkish because of lack of practice. So if I can help some with french, it will be a great pleasure for me.

I'm a big swap fan (don't take it to an other level here...) Things shouldn't be always about money, we are between expats, we should be able to help each other.

Let me know!

Nil

Hi Nil,
That would be great! I'd be delighted to meet up for a little coffee and French conversation in Basel - not sure what I could swap though. Is anyone else interested?
Cathy

Un grand pain svp, merci beaucoup

I am also looking for a place/people to practice my French. Simply listening is not helping because I can understand but the speaking is lacking...

has anyone tried the Centrepoint? I am not sure how helpful it is.

So where can you find those art classes etc here in Basel because I am also searching for something "cultural" music club/lessons is also an option.

Hi, I am lucky because I have a French/English exchange conversation thing every week with another mum from the school (my kids go to school in Saint Louis, where I live). I think there must be other mums/people who would like to do that. You can put up small ads in places like Simply supermarket and Leclerc supermarket. The Universitaire populaire does its language classes in the protestant foyer on the main street - the little protestant church, just behind it are some rooms... - and there is a notice board there. Since many French go there for English classes, it's obvious that there might be some who would like to do this. In fact, if you search universitaire populaire and Saint Louis on the Internet, maybe you could contact the English teacher who could let her students know there is someone looking to do this.

I have also joined Club Vosgien ramblers group, there is one in Village Neuf. That is a great opportunity to practice. THere are also dance classes organised by K danse, and of course in the Conservatoire in Saint Louis, anyone interested in singing/music might get involved.

So there are some ideas to practise French. Mine needs a lot of work!! Good luck.

Joining a club or "association" around Saint-Louis is a great way to practice your French!

And there's a club for pretty much everyone over here.

If you google "association" and the name of a village, you'll find all sorts of stuff...

Then take your handy http://www.wordreference.com website so you can figure out what some of those words mean and VOILA...

Or you can go to the official village website and most likely find a list of them there too...

And last time I checked, you don't have to live in the village to be member of a club...

We have considered moving to Saint Louis. Could you recommend any areas and schools for the kids? We can pay for private school and We will be there in April to rent a home.

Hi,

There are no private schools in Saint Louis, and the school your child goes to depends on the area you choose to live in - you get allocated a school. I like the town very much. There are 'prettier' places to live, but we find it convenient to be near school, shops, a good library, great music/dance school and transport to Basel. Regarding where to rent, there is not a huge amount of choice. For example we wanted a house with at least 3 bedrooms, there was only one in the town of Saint Louis! It's easier if you are also considering apartments.

If you are not completely set on Saint Louis, other nice places very nearby are Huningue (pretty, practically attached to Huningue), Hegenheim (expensive, nice houses, a bit fancy, not very big village), Hesingue (pretty, a little further out, a good few amenities), Blotzheim (reasonable size, bit further, close to the airport, pretty), Leymen is on the tram line to basel, which is great, but otherwise is very very quiet. If you're willing to go further, lots of other nice villages/towns.

If you need more information let me know.

My husband went to a private catholic school...I believe it's in Blotzheim.

The best way to find a rental house or apartment is a local agence immobilière. Each one represesents different landlords.

Runser immo has someone who speaks English.
http://www.leboncoin.fr also has rental listings.