In the news
The Greatist
"Adults can learn new languages. Here's why"
Tonight I’m one of 14 adult students at Act French, where instructor Manisha Snoyer teaches French language through drama. For the current exercise, everyone takes turns acting out a different French verb until someone guesses it correctly...
French Morning
"Une Comédie Française, made in New York" 25/01/2010
Depuis le 13 Janvier, les francophones amoureux du théâtre peuvent suivre les cours de la Comédie Française New York. L'occasion de réveiller le comédien qui sommeille en nous...
It's a Winderful Life Living La Vida Vino with Tracy Ellen Kamens, Director of Grand Cru classes
Bonjour with a side of French wine and cheese
f you are planning a trip to France (or another European destination), you might want to pick up a bit of language skills before you head off into the Parisian sunset. Enter Manisha Snoyer, educator and proprietor of Into this City. This unique company not only offers foreign language classes, but also provides acting classes in both English and French.
"Adults can learn new languages. Here's why"
Tonight I’m one of 14 adult students at Act French, where instructor Manisha Snoyer teaches French language through drama. For the current exercise, everyone takes turns acting out a different French verb until someone guesses it correctly...
French Morning
"Une Comédie Française, made in New York" 25/01/2010
Depuis le 13 Janvier, les francophones amoureux du théâtre peuvent suivre les cours de la Comédie Française New York. L'occasion de réveiller le comédien qui sommeille en nous...
It's a Winderful Life Living La Vida Vino with Tracy Ellen Kamens, Director of Grand Cru classes
Bonjour with a side of French wine and cheese
f you are planning a trip to France (or another European destination), you might want to pick up a bit of language skills before you head off into the Parisian sunset. Enter Manisha Snoyer, educator and proprietor of Into this City. This unique company not only offers foreign language classes, but also provides acting classes in both English and French.
A few words from our students
“If New York to you means what it does to me -- and that is pushing your boundaries to grow and always be better -- then this class is where you need to be. It's a wonderful challenge and something that will stay with you forever.” – Natalia Macrynikola (on-line editor)
"Je me suis tellement bien amusée dans ta classe et avec le groupe en Janvier aussi.. I so enjoyed it and would love to come back when I know I'll be in town. I've had a wonderful time working at a farm in Hauterives (between Lyon and Grenoble) this May and I'm headed to Paris on Thursday for 10 days. Still dying to work or study there, find any excuse to live there for a year without hemorrhaging money. I'll keep you posted. Would love to see you soon...We'll talk soon. Thanks for all the advice. I'm actually meeting with some casting directors on this Paris trip..." Randolph Harrison (actor)
“I booked and shot a national commercial the other week playing a French business woman, speaking only in French--cool, huh?” -Cat Walleck (actress)
-“thank you so much for your inspirational teaching throughout the summer French course. I was delighted to be able to reconnect with the French language after having taken it in high school -- decades ago. Hopefully, I'll be able to master the ability to speak French someday! Those weekly field trips were a phenomenal idea. The concert at Lincoln Center blew me away and the restaurants were terrific. Those outings reignited my love for New York and all it has to offer -- I'm not kidding! Also, the evening of Caribbean cuisine and French scene-work was positively delightful -- I had a wonderful time. My only hope is that I wasn't too much of a jambon!! “ Robert McKeon (actor)
Hi, Manisha! Hope all is going well. I've been using French so much now that it's starting to slow me down from learning Kinyarwanda here. Here on the border with the Congo, most adult businesspeople and salespersons etc. all speak French, so it goes a long way. I can even understand much of the news now if there isn't too much background noise!
Thanks again for everything, -Steven Bhardwaj
"Q: What's the advantage of learning language in a theater studio rather than in a classroom?
A: You will have no blackboard but a lot of mirrors around you. Then when learning the pronunciations, you will not only see the teacher's mouth but also your own. It helps, trust me.
Q: What's the advantage of learning language from an actress and with other actors and actresses?
A: You won't feel the old school nervousness of being picked up from your seat for questions. You will find yourself in a more expressive, relaxed, natural, and funny crowd.
Q: What's the advantage of learning language through acting?
A: You won't feel that you are back in high school to be a student again. You will feel that you are back in kindergarten to be a kid. But we were at our best of learning a language when we were in kindergarten, weren't we? Learning French through body language, games, monologue, or even a short play is much fun, and also more effective! Don't worry, you know you are still adult when starting and finishing the class with French cookies and beers.
By the way, don't get intimidated. This class is not only for actors and actresses. It's open to the public and around half of the people on my class are not acting related. Also the class has different levels, good for beginners as well!”
Cecille Chen (environmental engineer)
"Manisha Snoyer has a superb knowledge of contemporary French drama--and what a great way to learn the language! I found that, in studying the works of Koltès and Pommerat with her, my vocabulary, comprehension and grammar improved by leaps and bounds. A great teacher!" - Robert Stanton (actor)
"Act French is a wonderful place to master the French language. Manisha Snoyer is not only a great educator, but her instruction is equal to none. Students acquire techniques to practice the french language through scene study. And the class learns the most useful verbs to help them dominate conversational french. The pedagogy is like nothing I have experienced before, I highly recommend it."
-Miguel Suero (actor)
"Hey Manisha, merci pour la soiree d'hier! C'etait très impressionnant. Tes élèves sont vraiment tres forts.” – Alexis Buisson (free-lance French journalist)
“Many thanks, again, for planning such a great day yesterday. I thought of you having crepes today, and hope you had a good Bastille Day celebration…That was a great party -- everyone there seemed to be having a good time, including me. Thanks so much, for the soiree itself and for the imagination and generosity that made it happen!” Rena Gill (Theater editor and fashion designer)
“Unfortunately I cant participate (this semester), but for a very good reason! I was cast in the Lincoln Center's production of WAR HORSE playing Paulette a French Farm woman, speaking entirely in French! We start rehearsal on Jan 18th” ;)” Cat Walleck (actress)
“I would like to Thank You for the wonderful practice in the French Language, I had a phenomenal time in the class, and I learned a lot.” Miguel Suero (actor)
"Manisha - such a great class today, as well as last week of course... Thank you! “ Katya Sonina (pianist)
“Thanks so much for letting me come to your fabulous class last night. It was a true pleasure, and I found myself practicing my little moués walking down the street today (jogging actually!).” Daphne Beal (journalist)
“Terrific class last night! We are really enjoying it.” Stephanie Casaubon, with Josh Casaubon (actors and founders, Leo’s playground)
"Bonjour Manisha, Thank you so much for being a great teacher. You speak so well and finally a lot of the things I have always pronounced wrong make sense to why they are pronounced the way they are. Sarah Poist (Architect)
“You are fantastic! I loved the class. You are an amazing teacher. I loved watching you and all your faces and you are calm and focused. I learned so much.” – Katie Baldwin Eng(playwright)
“Thank you for last night's class. I love your method of teaching and it is great to be a part of it…I love this immersion over my head situation though and you seem ready to handle anything.” – Penny Lynn White (performing artist)
"Chère Manisha, I'm in St. Petersburg, FL, getting ready for opening night of Bizet's CARMEN! I just wanted to say thanks again for your excellent French instruction. Having your class really helped refresh my French for this production. It's going really well, and I just wanted to let you know. Merci beaucoup! Cherry"
Cherry Duke, (opera singer - www.cherryduke.com)
"I had such a great time in class this morning--you are a fantastic teacher! I have to tell you that no one has ever been able to explain the french 'r' as well as you did today--I've worked with countless coaches, studied diction, etc, and always sing it in a rather Italianate style. It was like the lightbulb went off and I am amazed. Thank you. :)"
-Elizabeth Munn (Opera Singer)
"I am on a relief team for Haiti now. Flying to LA Thursday and to Haiti in February. On a positive note, everyone I'm working with is speaking french or kreyol, and I'm understanding most."
Bridgit Antoinette Evans (Actress and Director - Fuel Change)
"I had my car towed yesterday and by the time I figured out where it was and got it back it was after 10pm so I missed class. Funny story about that too; I didn't have my vehicle registration in my car as I keep that in my house and they weren't going to let me take my vehicle out of the lot (because you have to prove your registration is up to date) but I realized that the guy at the gate spoke French (he's from Nigeria) so I did my best to speak French with him and explained that I forgot the registration in French. He was so impressed that I could say the few sentences that I did that he let me slide LOL....So thank you for the class...it saved me some head ache yesterday :)"
Sabrina Gilbert (Actress)
"I apologize for missing school last week and it looks as if I will also miss this week. I am the 'covering' the title role of Hamlet
the Met's new production (the opera is in French, by the way) ... As you may understand, this is demanding all my focus and energy right now. If I actually go on when performances begin, I will shoot you an email. -Franco Pomponi (opera singer www.FrancoPomponi.com). Franco went on to sing the role of Hamlet with the Opera de Marseille. His performance was broadcast live on Radio France in May 2010.
"Je me suis tellement bien amusée dans ta classe et avec le groupe en Janvier aussi.. I so enjoyed it and would love to come back when I know I'll be in town. I've had a wonderful time working at a farm in Hauterives (between Lyon and Grenoble) this May and I'm headed to Paris on Thursday for 10 days. Still dying to work or study there, find any excuse to live there for a year without hemorrhaging money. I'll keep you posted. Would love to see you soon...We'll talk soon. Thanks for all the advice. I'm actually meeting with some casting directors on this Paris trip..." Randolph Harrison (actor)
“I booked and shot a national commercial the other week playing a French business woman, speaking only in French--cool, huh?” -Cat Walleck (actress)
-“thank you so much for your inspirational teaching throughout the summer French course. I was delighted to be able to reconnect with the French language after having taken it in high school -- decades ago. Hopefully, I'll be able to master the ability to speak French someday! Those weekly field trips were a phenomenal idea. The concert at Lincoln Center blew me away and the restaurants were terrific. Those outings reignited my love for New York and all it has to offer -- I'm not kidding! Also, the evening of Caribbean cuisine and French scene-work was positively delightful -- I had a wonderful time. My only hope is that I wasn't too much of a jambon!! “ Robert McKeon (actor)
Hi, Manisha! Hope all is going well. I've been using French so much now that it's starting to slow me down from learning Kinyarwanda here. Here on the border with the Congo, most adult businesspeople and salespersons etc. all speak French, so it goes a long way. I can even understand much of the news now if there isn't too much background noise!
Thanks again for everything, -Steven Bhardwaj
"Q: What's the advantage of learning language in a theater studio rather than in a classroom?
A: You will have no blackboard but a lot of mirrors around you. Then when learning the pronunciations, you will not only see the teacher's mouth but also your own. It helps, trust me.
Q: What's the advantage of learning language from an actress and with other actors and actresses?
A: You won't feel the old school nervousness of being picked up from your seat for questions. You will find yourself in a more expressive, relaxed, natural, and funny crowd.
Q: What's the advantage of learning language through acting?
A: You won't feel that you are back in high school to be a student again. You will feel that you are back in kindergarten to be a kid. But we were at our best of learning a language when we were in kindergarten, weren't we? Learning French through body language, games, monologue, or even a short play is much fun, and also more effective! Don't worry, you know you are still adult when starting and finishing the class with French cookies and beers.
By the way, don't get intimidated. This class is not only for actors and actresses. It's open to the public and around half of the people on my class are not acting related. Also the class has different levels, good for beginners as well!”
Cecille Chen (environmental engineer)
"Manisha Snoyer has a superb knowledge of contemporary French drama--and what a great way to learn the language! I found that, in studying the works of Koltès and Pommerat with her, my vocabulary, comprehension and grammar improved by leaps and bounds. A great teacher!" - Robert Stanton (actor)
"Act French is a wonderful place to master the French language. Manisha Snoyer is not only a great educator, but her instruction is equal to none. Students acquire techniques to practice the french language through scene study. And the class learns the most useful verbs to help them dominate conversational french. The pedagogy is like nothing I have experienced before, I highly recommend it."
-Miguel Suero (actor)
"Hey Manisha, merci pour la soiree d'hier! C'etait très impressionnant. Tes élèves sont vraiment tres forts.” – Alexis Buisson (free-lance French journalist)
“Many thanks, again, for planning such a great day yesterday. I thought of you having crepes today, and hope you had a good Bastille Day celebration…That was a great party -- everyone there seemed to be having a good time, including me. Thanks so much, for the soiree itself and for the imagination and generosity that made it happen!” Rena Gill (Theater editor and fashion designer)
“Unfortunately I cant participate (this semester), but for a very good reason! I was cast in the Lincoln Center's production of WAR HORSE playing Paulette a French Farm woman, speaking entirely in French! We start rehearsal on Jan 18th” ;)” Cat Walleck (actress)
“I would like to Thank You for the wonderful practice in the French Language, I had a phenomenal time in the class, and I learned a lot.” Miguel Suero (actor)
"Manisha - such a great class today, as well as last week of course... Thank you! “ Katya Sonina (pianist)
“Thanks so much for letting me come to your fabulous class last night. It was a true pleasure, and I found myself practicing my little moués walking down the street today (jogging actually!).” Daphne Beal (journalist)
“Terrific class last night! We are really enjoying it.” Stephanie Casaubon, with Josh Casaubon (actors and founders, Leo’s playground)
"Bonjour Manisha, Thank you so much for being a great teacher. You speak so well and finally a lot of the things I have always pronounced wrong make sense to why they are pronounced the way they are. Sarah Poist (Architect)
“You are fantastic! I loved the class. You are an amazing teacher. I loved watching you and all your faces and you are calm and focused. I learned so much.” – Katie Baldwin Eng(playwright)
“Thank you for last night's class. I love your method of teaching and it is great to be a part of it…I love this immersion over my head situation though and you seem ready to handle anything.” – Penny Lynn White (performing artist)
"Chère Manisha, I'm in St. Petersburg, FL, getting ready for opening night of Bizet's CARMEN! I just wanted to say thanks again for your excellent French instruction. Having your class really helped refresh my French for this production. It's going really well, and I just wanted to let you know. Merci beaucoup! Cherry"
Cherry Duke, (opera singer - www.cherryduke.com)
"I had such a great time in class this morning--you are a fantastic teacher! I have to tell you that no one has ever been able to explain the french 'r' as well as you did today--I've worked with countless coaches, studied diction, etc, and always sing it in a rather Italianate style. It was like the lightbulb went off and I am amazed. Thank you. :)"
-Elizabeth Munn (Opera Singer)
"I am on a relief team for Haiti now. Flying to LA Thursday and to Haiti in February. On a positive note, everyone I'm working with is speaking french or kreyol, and I'm understanding most."
Bridgit Antoinette Evans (Actress and Director - Fuel Change)
"I had my car towed yesterday and by the time I figured out where it was and got it back it was after 10pm so I missed class. Funny story about that too; I didn't have my vehicle registration in my car as I keep that in my house and they weren't going to let me take my vehicle out of the lot (because you have to prove your registration is up to date) but I realized that the guy at the gate spoke French (he's from Nigeria) so I did my best to speak French with him and explained that I forgot the registration in French. He was so impressed that I could say the few sentences that I did that he let me slide LOL....So thank you for the class...it saved me some head ache yesterday :)"
Sabrina Gilbert (Actress)
"I apologize for missing school last week and it looks as if I will also miss this week. I am the 'covering' the title role of Hamlet
the Met's new production (the opera is in French, by the way) ... As you may understand, this is demanding all my focus and energy right now. If I actually go on when performances begin, I will shoot you an email. -Franco Pomponi (opera singer www.FrancoPomponi.com). Franco went on to sing the role of Hamlet with the Opera de Marseille. His performance was broadcast live on Radio France in May 2010.
Photo used under Creative Commons from pfala
