Archive for October, 2016
“Divide” and Conquer French Math Vocabulary Posted by Josh Dougherty on Oct 13, 2016
You may have heard the saying that there are only 2 universal languages: music and math. While this is very debatable (love, anyone?), I thought it touched on something that we on the Transparent French blogs haven’t. We’ve talked plenty about the benefits of music in learning a foreign language, but today I wanted to…
Different Types Of Work In France – CDI & CDD Posted by John Bauer on Oct 12, 2016
Looking through all les annonces d’emploi (the job offers) in France can be a confusing exercise in vocabulary. The technicalities of the type of job listed are hidden behind abbreviations that have very specific legal meanings. When looking for a job, whether it’s un job à plein temps ou à mi-temps (a full or part…
Salade de mots* Posted by Tim Hildreth on Oct 11, 2016
Savez-vous planter des choux . . . et pourquoi l’on se bat pour des prunes ? (Do you know how to plant cabbages . . . and why one fights for plums?) French is full of interesting expressions about les fruits et les legumes (fruits and vegetables). This week I thought I’d share a few…
Le Temps: Both Time and Weather? Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Oct 10, 2016
In French, le temps can mean both “time” and “weather”–which can be a bit confusing for new French learners. In French, le temps when referring specifically to time refers to time in the abstract. That means that you cannot ask the equivalent of “What time is it?” in French (Quel temps est-il, which is not correct). Rather, you would ask…
Live, Laugh, Love – How to Express These Verbs in French Posted by Josh Dougherty on Oct 6, 2016
Last night, my friend and I were in a home decor store and came across one of those signs with the words live, laugh, and love painted on it. You know the ones I’m talking about – they’re a thin piece of wood with the words painted on in cursive. Sometimes they’re not painted at…
Setting The Stage – Internships In France Posted by John Bauer on Oct 5, 2016
During mon dernier semestre (my last semester) at school I had to split my time between mon mémoire et mon stage (my thesis and my internship), but at least in France you’re guaranteed to earn some money during le stage. There’s a law requiring un salaire minimum (a minimum wage) for les stagiaires (interns)! Faire…
Pesky Pronouns: Y and En Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Oct 4, 2016
In French, the most well known pronouns, of course, are je (I), tu (you singular), il/elle/on (he/she), nous (we), vous (you plural/formal), ils/elles (they). But there are many other–and more confusing–pronouns as well. The peskiest of these–and the most difficult for many French learners to master–is y and en. These pronouns are called, more precisely, adverbial pronouns because they actually act as adverbs, too. They replace both nouns…