Yes, time flies! For those of you that have joined us from the beginning you will have followed the evolution of the Language Apéro which began on 27th September 2007 with 46 participants. We now have a regular participation of anything between 70 and 120 people and thanks to its popularity we have recently launched a very different but also enjoyable and successful version in Aix en Provence.

MAABN’s principal incentive for the Language Apéros is to unite Anglophones and Anglophiles in and around the region in a relaxed setting and to network in English. Our primary target audience is business / professional people. The time has come to develop the LA so that this new format will continue to stimulate conversation and networking opportunities but to also position our Language Apéro as THE business networking event of the region for our community.

As from September we are going to focus even more on the business side of the LA events by adding two new aspects .

1.We will be inviting members, sponsors and partners to make short 5 minute informal presentations of their business activity. There will be three 5 minute slots for many of the Language Apéros organised on a request basis with the opportunity reserved for members, sponsors and partners only. This a great chance for anyone to communicate their business message to the local business community as well as being an opportunity for non native speakers to practice their presentation skills in English (and possibly even get some constructive feedback if that’s what they want).

2.We will also be organising a number of informal, interactive short presentations given by local professionals on a range of business subjects pertinent to our Anglophone or Anglophile membership. (The first of these is scheduled for October “Marketing to an American Audience”). We are open to suggestions on themes of business interest where attendees can not only find them interesting but also learn something.

You can help us by sending us your suggestions, recommendations and requests before La Rentrée via our usual email address: contact@maabn.fr with the subject “Ideas for LA presentations”

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a pleasant summer break and we look forward to sharing a successful “rentrée” with you all in September at our first two Language Apéros of the season on Thursday 16th September at Domaine La Brillane in Aix-en-Provence or Thursday 30th September at La Boate in Marseille.

Kind regards

Rebecca Penna & Daniel Eisenberg Language Apéro Coordinators