By KAREN LAGRANGE COX
French Tables provide opportunities to those wanting to learn, practice, improve or to converse with others in French. French Tables are happening all around Acadiana as well as around Louisiana. Each French Table is different.
Marie Ducote is the Captain or as it is said in French, the Capitaine, which is the feminine gender in French, of the French Table in Broussard. Ducote said she started learning French about six years ago and now has a high level of speaking French.
According to Ducote, Broussard’s French Table started in February 2022 by the request of Broussard Mayor Ray Bourque. It is sponsored by the City of Broussard and held on the second Friday of the month from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. at The Valsin Broussard House located at 408 West Main Street in Broussard. Coffee and light breakfast provided by Mayor’s office. Lessons start around 8:45 a.m. with the last hour as guided visiting in French. These guided visits are held within small groups for a combination of visiting, guided learning and guided French speaking practices and are unique to Broussard’s French Table.
One-fourth of those who attend the French Table at the Valsin House are new learners. There are many in Broussard for which French was their first language. This group of French speakers usually attend the French Table to converse with others in French.
The Valsin House was purchased by the City of Broussard from a member of the original family who owned the house. There are talks of making the house into a welcome center for Broussard.
All learning levels are welcome to attend to learn, practice and opportunity to speak French with others.
The next French Table in Broussard is Friday, January 13, 2023.
To learn where there is a French Table in your area, visit the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) website.
