When parents decide that their children should learn the French language, adding bilingualism to their skills, they not only select a language but also a culture. A language is more than words; it is also a way of thinking and seeing the world. French, the language of Descartes and the Philosophers of the Enlightenment is also the common language of Francophone countries. It carries certain values, and possibly suggests a different approach to the world. In an increasingly English-speaking world, French, the language of culture par excellence, is still favored by many French-speaking artists and writers. On April 16, intellectuals, writers, educators will try to answer the question: Le Français Oui, But Why? There will be the first French-Speaking Cultures Fair in New York organized through the day in the cafeteria and two roundtables in the auditorium. 

10:00am - 12pm First Panel: Does the French language make us think of the world differently? with Adam Gopnik Jounalist at the New Yorker,  essayist and writer ,  Pr. Patrick Weil - Historian on immigration and citizenship), Rokhaya Diallo  Journalist, writer, filmmaker among others. 

1:30pm - 3pm Second Panel: Why create in French? With Alain Borer, Author of  De quel amour blessée. Réflexions sur la langue française(Gallimard, 2014), Writer Catherine Cusset, journalist and writer Jean-Benoit Nadeau, among others 

There will be Free cultural workshops in French for children.  This event is free and open to all the teachers, parents, professors, journalists, students and francophiles interested by bilingualism and French-speaking cultures. The round tables will be held in French and in English and earphones will be provided for translation.

Read more:  

www.ouibutwhy.com

 See video 

https://vimeo.com/159544718