Alsatian Language

by Marcel von Krafft
(Tempe, AZ, USA)

Hi! Well my family in the United States is very proud to be from Alsace.

Even though they moved here in 1913, I couldn't tell you how many times I heard "Alsace" growing up. Being 3rd generation but retaining pride has always been something neat for me.

However when my great-grandpa died, the last fluent speaker of French, German and Alsatian died. My Grandmother is near fluent in French, and speaks some German, but was born and raised here.

Next, my mother, knows her French home vocabulary but that's it, and then there's me.

Worried to lose our culture, my grandmother and mother made sure I was educated in the French language since I was young, so you could say I speak more than my mom, and sometimes maybe more than my Grandmother since her French is from a time long ago...

You could say I too am near fluent in French. But I would like to learn my dialect, Alsatian.

Are there any programs you know of in Alsace that I could take if I came for an extended stay?

Thank you so much!

Marcel Guillaume von Krafft