Do you want to take charge of your own learning?
Are you unable to join a regular course because of a hectic schedule or specific language requirements?
Do you want to learn on your own and yet be guided by a professor?

Guided Self-Learning (GSL) at Alliance Française de Bombay

As a guided self-learner at AF de Bombay, you can :

Learn with the help of books, audio cds and cdroms in our Self-Learning Centre (SLC)

Access and borrow magazines, novels, Easy French books, comics, music cds and movies (VHS, DVD) in our French Information Resource Centre (FIRC)

Access learning resources (press, language learning websites) on Internet through the computers at the FIRC

Your self-learning at AF de Bombay will be :

Partially autonomous : You will take all the important decisions regarding your learning (what you want to learn, when, with what materials, at what pace and how you will be evaluated) and learn on your own.

Partially guided : Your self-learning will begin with an orientation meeting with a professor/counselor, during which you can discuss your learning objectives and possible ways to achieve them. You will also meet a professor/counselor once after every 9 self-learning hours for a follow-up session. This will be an opportunity for you and your professor/counselor to review your progress, discuss any questions or difficulties and decide on further action.

How to enroll :

After your orientation meeting, you will receive this document, explaining the structure of self-learning at AF de Bombay, the different resource centres, the procedure and the fees. Please go through it carefully and contact us if you have any questions.

When you decide to enroll, please complete the enrolment procedure at our office at Theosophy Hall, New Marine Lines (Mon-Fri., 9:30 to 17:30, Sat. 9:30 to 13:00, tel. 22035993/ 22036187). You will need to fill out a form, pay the fees and provide a passport sized photograph for your student identity card.

Once these steps have been completed, you can begin your self-learning. Please note that to use the SLC and the computers in the FIRC, you need to reserve a slot. This should be done at least 24 hours and up to one week in advance, in person at the respective centres, or by telephone. When you make your reservation, please give your name, along with the date and time slot you want to reserve, and specify that you are a GSL (guided self-learner).

Structure of Guided Self-Learning and Fees

Our GSL is a minimum 20 hour programme, which includes 18 hours of self-learning and 2 hours of one-to-one sessions with a professor/counselor, at SLC/FIRC. You can either enroll for a multiple of 20 hours (for example, 40 or 60 hours) or enroll for additional blocks of 20 hours at the end of your initial 20 hours, as per your needs.

The structure of a 20 hour GSL is as follows :

Step	Details	Duration
Self-learning	by prior reservation, SLC or FIRC	9 hours
Follow-up session	by appointment	1 hour
Self-learning	by prior reservation, SLC or FIRC	9 hours
Concluding follow-up session	by appointment	1 hour
	Total duration	20 hours
	Total fees	Rs. 1700

Additional one-to-one sessions (@ Rs. 490 per hour) with a professor/counselor can be arranged if required.

Details of our Resource Centres

Self-Learning Centre (SLC)

Alliance Française de Bombay, 2nd floor, GD Somani School, Cuffe Parade (Open Mon-Fri, 10:00 to 19:00, Sat/Sun, 14:00 to 18:00, tel. 22189884) Learning materials can be used only in the SLC, no lending facility

‘Learning how to learn’ at the Self-Learning Centre

Before your session at the SLC:

You need to identify what you would like to work on, based on the learning objectives you have determined for yourself.

Start maintaining a self-learning log book (just a regular notebook in which you can record your activities and your progress), for example:

Date	Material used	Activities	Self-Assessment/ Comments

Choose the material you would like to use, either by browsing through different material (check the Sommaire or table of contents to find what you need) or by checking the computerized catalogue (which lists available activities and in some cases, activity sheets), which is currently being developed.

The signage in the centre tells you where all the resources (books, cds, dictionaries, etc) are located.

If you come across new words or you need to check something, you can refer to the dictionaries available in the centre.

Keep track of each of your self-learning sessions in your log book. This record will also be useful during your follow-up sessions with your professor/counselor.


French Information Resource Centre (FIRC)
Alliance Française de Bombay, Theosophy Hall, near Churchgate, New Marine Lines(Open Mon-Fri, 10:30 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, Sat. 10:30 to 13:00, tel. 22036187/ 22035993, Ext 21)