French: Beginner, Part 1 - Evening - in Person
For people with no or very little knowledge of French who would like to build a solid learning foundation of the language for travel, business, culture. . . The students will discover how English and French are similar in their structure and vocabulary. For Winter 2025, people joining this class will attend with French Beginner, Part 1b - Evening - in Person on Wednesdays starting February 5 (see below). To see if you would be able to jump in to this group, please call (203) 431-2812 or email ridgefieldcontinuingeducation@gmail.com to set up a time to meet with the instructor for a one hour in person or video conference session for a "sneak peek" of the course via the content of pages 1 to 7 with focus on alphabet and pronunciation, and language similarities between English and French. Text is Learn French the Fast and Fun Way (Barron's 4th Edition. ISBN-10: 1438074948 or ISBN-13: 978-1438074948). Focus will be on listening, written comprehension and short conversation related to everyday life situations with native speaker, Jean Vianes, who formerly worked for IBM in France and the U.S. and is now teaching and tutoring French.

8 Sessions (12 hours)
Mon., next session starts Fall 2025 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School.


French: Beginner, Part 2 - Evening - in Person
A continuation of Part 1 from Fall. For people with no or very little knowledge of French who would like to build a solid learning foundation of the language for travel, business, culture. . . Newcomers are welcome. The students will discover how English and French are similar in their structure and vocabulary. Text is Learn French the Fast and Fun Way (Barron's 4th Edition. ISBN-10: 1438074948 or ISBN-13: 978-1438074948). Focus will be on listening, written comprehension and short conversation related to everyday life situations with native speaker, Jean Vianes, who formerly worked for IBM in France and the U.S. and is now teaching and tutoring French.

8 Sessions (12 hours)
Mon., next session starts Winter 2026 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School.


French: Beginner, Part 3 - Evening - in Person
For people with very little knowledge of French who would like to build a solid learning foundation of the language for travel, business, culture. . . Newcomers are welcome. The students will discover how English and French are similar in their structure and vocabulary. Text is Learn French the Fast and Fun Way (Barron's 4th Edition. ISBN-10: 1438074948 or ISBN-13: 978-1438074948). Focus will be on listening, written comprehension and short conversation related to everyday life situations with native speaker, Jean Vianes, who formerly worked for IBM in France and the U.S. and is now teaching and tutoring French.

8 Sessions (12 hours) $ 174 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 155)
Wed., next session starts Fall 2025 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School. Note: No class 10/1.


French: Advanced Beginner / Intermediate - Evening - on Zoom
This class is a continuation of the French Advanced Beginner / Intermediate class from this past winter. Participants can express personal information, needs, and everyday events in French and are building vocabulary, strengthening grammar and pronunciation, and exploring the richness of both the language and culture of France.  We cover reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills using a variety of sources while practicing French together in an easy, relaxed atmosphere. Newcomers with equivalent experience are welcome. Nancy Maxwell was a teacher and counselor in an international school in Switzerland for more than twenty years. She had the opportunity to familiarize herself with the palaces and cathedrals of European cities, to savor the extraordinary wealth of artistic treasure that they contain, and to walk in the very footsteps of historical figures. She has taught French for Travelers previously in Ridgefield and has extensive travel experience in France. CLICK here to view her history classes.

4 Sessions (6 hours) $ 87 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 77)
Mon., next session starts Fall 2025 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Zoom. Note: No class 10/13.


French: Intermediate, Part 3 - Evening - In Person
The course is designed for people who have completed Beginner Parts 1, 2, 3 and newcomers with equivalent knowledge are welcome. Students will consolidate already acquired vocabulary and strengthen the way they can express themselves. Each session will encompass discussion(s) between the attendees themselves and the speaker. Topics covered will be linked to daily life matters, history, geography, books, tourism, health, shopping, etc. There will still be references in the classes to grammar, speaking, and conjugation. The idea is to bring all students closer to fluence in speech. Text is Learn French the Fast and Fun Way (Barron's 4th Edition. ISBN-10: 1438074948 or ISBN-13: 978-1438074948). Instructor is native speaker, Jean Vianes, who formerly worked for IBM in France and the U.S. and is now teaching and tutoring French.

8 Sessions (12 hours) $ 174 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 155)
Mon., next session starts Fall 2025 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at East Ridge Middle School. Note: No class 10/13.


French: Intermediate / Advanced - Afternoon
This class will read à haute voix and discuss an extraordinary book - La Carte Postale by Anne Berest. Winner of numerous awards, ce livre d’histoire, qui se lit comme un grand roman, retrace le destin des Rabinovitch, leur fuite de Russie après la révolution d’octobre, leur voyage en Lettonie puis en Palestine, leur arrivée à Paris, avec la guerre et son désastre. Instructor John Lamb will annotate the reading with historic photos, maps, musical selections and speeches from the period.  Copies of the book are available at Amazon.com John Lamb began his decades-long love affair with the French language at Fordham Preparatory School where he also studied Latin and Ancient Greek. He continued his French studies at Amherst College and later spent a year in Paris studying Islamic art history at the Institut d’histoire de l’art et d'archéologie (Paris IV) and colloquial Arabic at Langues O as well as participating in a post-graduate seminar in Arabic epigraphy at the École pratique des hautes études. Mr. Lamb currently serves as vice-président of the Alliance française du Northwest Connecticut (AFNWCT) and is a member of its governing Conseil. He has given private lessons to adults seeking to improve their ability to read and speak French and also leads a French book club at the AFNWCT.

7 Sessions (14 hours) $ 203 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 181)
Wed., 4/23, 30; 5/7, 14, 21; 6/4, 11 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Annex. Note: No class 5/28.


Why Learn a Foreign Language? in Person? or Online with active Instruction and Participation?

Step away from a rote computer program and into live, active learning of a foreign language.

Absorb news as heard in another country.

Visit another country to see the sites, converse, eat, and enjoy the culture.

Use original genealogical sources.


European History, Meso Armerican Archaeology and More!


The Rise of Civilization in Meso America ~ the Olmecs and the Zapotecs
3 Sessions $ 77 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $ 65)
Wed., 10/15, 22, 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Annex (66 prospect Street) + Zoom (hybrid)


The Rise of Civilization in Meso America ~ the Teotihuacan, Mayans, Toltecs, Aztecs
3 Sessions
Winter / Spring 2026. Contact us to be on a notification list or visit website.


The Creation of Italy
1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Tue., 6/10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


Diego Velazquez  – The Painter’s Painter
1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Wed., 6/11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


The Wives of Henry VIII
1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Wed., 7/30 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.


Hans Holbein - Painter to the King
1 Session $29 (Ridgefield Seniors and Disabled pay $25)
Wed., 8/6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom.

Click here to view the European History and Local History and Meso American Archaeology classes above.