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The Paris-based Claude Beauclair Theater will return to WSU for the 22nd straight year to perform at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Campus Activities Center Theater. The actors, left to right, Beauclair, André Nerman and Francoise Mojeret, will perform four plays from "Théâtre de chambre" by French poet and playwright Jean Tardieu. The troupe’s performances have become a fall tradition in Wichita’s French-speaking cultural community. WSU is one of about 15 U.S. universities hosting the theater group. For more information or reservations, call ext. 3180.

As part of National French Week Nov. 4-10, WSU will host two events to highlight the French language and culture and the benefits of learning French.

La Semaine du Francais (National French Week) kicks off with a forum at WSU from 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Nov. 4, in the Sudermann Commons, Hughes Metropolitan Complex. Panelists will include individuals from Wichita-based companies who will talk about learning French in order to do business internationally, according to Brigitte Roussel, associate professor of French.

On Tuesday, Nov. 9, during "Allons à la Fac" (Let’s Go to Campus) Day, more than 100 students from Wichita-area middle and high schools will spend the day at WSU, learning more about the French language and culture. Winners of various contests that day will do encore performances during a dinner Wednesday, Nov. 10, for educators and business and community leaders.

Later in November, WSU will again host the Paris-based Claude Beauclair Theater who will perform four plays.

With French language enrollments declining nationwide, the American Association of Teachers of French decided to launch a national effort to bring attention to the French language. This is the first time National French Week is being observed, said Roussel, who also serves as president of Kansas’ chapter of the AATF.