Archive for December, 2015
You Know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer… The Dark Side of French Rudolph Posted by Josh Dougherty on Dec 18, 2015
Ah, it’s December, and baby, it’s cold outside! Don’t be a grinch about the weather, though. Even if Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, tis the season to be jolly! Whether you’re in church listening to yuletide carols being sung by a choir or at home decking your halls with boughs of holly, this…
Le Top 10 de 2015 – Top French Articles on This Blog! Posted by John Bauer on Dec 16, 2015
As 2016 approaches, it’s a good time to think about all the greatest moment of 2015. With that in mind, here’s a look back at the top articles of 2015. It’s an interesting mix of practical and cultural, and there’s sure to be something for everyone who studies French. 10) Must-Know French Words for Facebook…
French Accents Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Dec 14, 2015
Accents are essential to correctly using the French language, but for those of us who aren’t familiar to writing with accents, they can be very tricky indeed. In French, the pronunciation and meaning of a word can change with or without an accent. Sometimes, accents aren’t included when the French type online…but that’s another story…
Take Your Pills! – Finding Batteries in France Posted by John Bauer on Dec 9, 2015
I’ve been having trouble with electronics and hardware these past few months. It seems that when one thing goes wrong it creates un effet domino (a domino effect). I recently bought une souris sans fil (a cordless mouse), but forgot that it needs batteries to function. So I was surprised when ma souris stopped working…
La Cheminée Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Dec 7, 2015
This time of year in New York, as the temperatures drop, our best friend is…the fireplace! In our house, we have a wood-burning stove so its not just for decorative purposes, it also provides heat in the house. (We still have the heat on, but keep it on low. Our converted fireplace pushes out hot…
Can I Borrow a Few Minutes of Your Time? Borrowing and Loaning in French Posted by Josh Dougherty on Dec 3, 2015
Ah, French… The language of love. The language of diplomacy. The language of Molière. And unfortunately for learners of French, the language of so many confusing pairs! Whether you’re asking yourself if you need to use en or dans, c’est or il est, or encore or toujours, you’re going to keep running into words or…
Planes, Trains, and Carpooling in France Posted by John Bauer on Dec 2, 2015
Between all the subways, bus stops, train stations, and airports, it’s easy to get lost even if you’re not struggling in a foreign language. C’est-à-dire (that is to say) travelling while abroad can be difficult. All the different moyens de transport (modes of transport, means of travel) can be confusing. Est-ce qu’on devrait prendre le…