Archive for January, 2018
CEOs and General Manager Presidents – French Corporate Vocabulary Posted by John Bauer on Jan 31, 2018
Au bureau (at the office) there is a lot of technical jargon that can be hard to understand, even if it’s in your langue maternelle (native language). Figuring out the differences between contracts is a good example, but knowing the title des hauts dirigeants (of the superior executives) should not be underappreciated! There is an…
French Culture – Current Events Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jan 30, 2018
The last few weeks have been busy in France. There are a number of notable passing and other news updates that I thought would be good to share this week. Some are happy, some sad, but all are making waves on the French airwaves over the last few weeks. Paris sous l’eau (Paris beneath the…
The French University System Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Jan 29, 2018
Last week was the start of my teaching semester. It’s always a fun and yet slightly nerve-wracking time for me, as I get used to my new classes and students. But, typically, the initial anxiety and stress of the beginning of the semester fades quickly, and I look forward to each class session. In honor…
Buying A Glass In French – Don’t Forget The Drink! Posted by John Bauer on Jan 24, 2018
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes when you speak French! Not knowing how to say simple words like mattress or shorts have put me in some strange situations, but if I had been too afraid to speak, I would never have learned les nouveaux mots (the new words) at all! Between looking at someone dans…
French Vocabulary – The Senses, An Update Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jan 23, 2018
A few years ago, the team at Transparent Language published a blog post with the key vocabulary related to the senses. It seemed like a good time to revisit that topic and spice it up with some multimedia! This week we’ll look at (and listen to!) les cinq sens (the five senses). Les cinq sens…
On Verra Bien (French Music) Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Jan 23, 2018
In French, on verra bien means “we shall see.” It’s an expression that you’ll often hear in French. For example, On verra bien comment ça va se passer. (“Well, we’ll see how it will work out.”) Or, On verra bien avec le temps. (“We shall see in due time.”) A popular French song, drawing on classic hip-hop, uses this French expression…
What Does a Dog Say in French? Come Learn the Animal Sounds! Posted by Josh Dougherty on Jan 21, 2018
Dogs, turkeys, and lions are all over the world, and they all make the same sounds. These sounds, though, are portrayed differently in our spoken languages. Over the new year holiday, I went on a cruise with my friend and her family. At some point, my friend and her brother were teasing their Russian stepmother…