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Names for French Dogs Born in 2016 Must Start with the Letter… Posted by Josh Dougherty on Jan 14, 2016
Naming a dog can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a very serious decision. Your choice is important as votre toutou (your doggy) will have to carry this name the rest of his life. C’est pour cette raison que (it’s for this reason [that]) you need to choose wisely: don’t pick a name…
The Ultimate Transparent French Blog 2015 Year in Review Quiz Posted by Josh Dougherty on Dec 31, 2015
Well, 2015 is all over. Tonight people all over the world will be bringing in the new year and celebrating another completed year. It’s been a busy and productive year for all of us at Transparent, and we’re looking forward to more fun and interesting articles in 2016. A few weeks ago, John presented the…
What Better Dessert for Christmas Than a…Log? Posted by Josh Dougherty on Dec 25, 2015
While Christmas Day may be winding down, the season isn’t really over until the New Year. Christmas has many traditions, and many of them are tied to food. Everyone loves family meals consisting of a baked ham or turkey, savory sides, and delicious desserts (miam ! yum!) – and we’re not even counting the sugar…
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…
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…
Aux armes, citoyens ! The History of the French National Anthem Posted by Josh Dougherty on Nov 19, 2015
Les hymnes nationaux (national anthems) are patriotic numbers used to tell the history, traditions, and struggles of a country and unite its citizens. Their styles vary per country – some versions are standard fanfares, some sway more toward operatic pieces, and others have difficult lyrics that are very easy to flub! As an American, I…
Learning through Music – Calogero’s “Pomme C” Posted by Josh Dougherty on Nov 6, 2015
Music is a fun and stress-free way of learning a foreign language. You expose yourself to new genres and voices. You learn new phrases, hear new accents, discover plays on words, and learn vocabulary that you’ll never forget. And it makes sense – you can still remember all the words to the music you listened…