Alliance française
Alliance française or AF (, ; "The French Alliance"), is an international organization that aims to promote the French language and francophone culture around the world. Created in Paris on 21 July 1883 under the name "Alliance française pour la propagation de la langue nationale dans les colonies et à l'étranger" (French alliance for the propagation of the national language in the colonies and abroad) — now known simply as "L'Alliance française" — its primary concern is teaching French as a second language and is headquartered in Paris. In 2014, the "Alliance" has 850 centers in 137 countries, on each inhabited continent . History. The "Alliance" was created in Paris on 21 July 1883 by a group including the scientist Louis Pasteur, the diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps, the writers Jules Verne and Ernest Renan, and the publisher Armand Colin. It finances most of its activities from the fees it receives from its courses and from rental of its installations. The French government also provides a subsidy covering approximately five percent of its budget (nearly 665,000 € in 2003) More than 440,000 students learn French at one of the centres run by the "Alliance", whose network of schools includes: The organizations outside Paris are  local, independently run franchises. Each has a committee and a president. The "Alliance française" brand is owned by the Paris centre. In many countries, the "Alliance française" of Paris is represented by a "Délégué général". The French Government also runs 150 separate French Cultural Institutes that exist to promote French language and culture. By country. France. Paris. The Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France is a Higher Private Education Institute. It is an association from the law 1901. Located in the heart of the capital, the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France is a genuine international meeting point where more  than 11,000 students from 160 different countries come every year to learn French. It is also the oldest one since the school offers courses in Paris since 1894. Until 2007, the year of creation of the Alliance française Foundation, the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France was called "the Paris Alliance française". It was divided into three branches: the International Relations (DRI), the School of Paris, and the Department of Human and Financial Resources (DRHF). In 2007, the DRI has become the Alliance française Foundation, while the School and the DRHF became the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France. Three  conventions are now governing the relations between the Foundation and the Alliance française Paris Île-de-France: The Alliance française Paris Ile-de-France works with Alliances françaises from around the world, ministries, public bodies, and also large companies, supporting them in their desire to improve their command of the language in a professional environment. Montpellier. Alliance française Montpellier is a French language school in the south of France, a private higher education institution providing French courses for foreigners (FLE) and a non-profit association, established in accordance with the statutes and objectives of the Alliance française Foundation. This study  centre is part of the network of Alliances françaises de France.