Foyer Pinel Alphabétisation is an association that provides literacy and French as a Foreign Language (FLE) courses to nearly 600 learners each year in Saint-Denis. Classes take place in the evenings during the week, from 7 PM to 8:30 PM or from 10:30 PM to 11 PM at various locations in Plaine Saint-Denis and downtown Saint-Denis. Classes begin in early October and end in late June. We also organize cultural outings every month: museum visits, shows, and cinema trips. This is a way to allow learners to study French differently and discover French culture and history. We are always welcoming new volunteers: people available one evening per week for 1.5 hours of teaching. No experience is necessary—it is simply a matter of enjoying human contact and sharing with people from diverse backgrounds. Regular meetings are organized between volunteers to exchange teaching practices. Teaching literacy classes and being in contact with learners are extraordinary human experiences, particularly in Saint-Denis, a city that is home to over 130 different nationalities.
