Archive by Author
Les Fables de La Fontaine: Le Soleil et les Grenouilles Posted by mtaulier on Nov 25, 2014
Our last fable from Jean de La Fontaine is taken from Livre VI (Book VI) of the Fables de La Fontaine. Le Soleil et les Grenouilles (The Sun and the Frogs) is unique in that it is told by Aesop, the famous Greek fabulist of the 7th century B.C. who no doubt served as La…
France’s Contributions to the World (Part 2) Posted by mtaulier on Nov 21, 2014
In part 1 of this mini-series, we looked at six of the greatest French contributions to the world. Today, let’s look at few more you might find interesting. This series is meant not only to be informative but also to help you cultivate a deeper appreciation of French culture and its impact on world history…
France’s Contributions to the World (Part 1) Posted by mtaulier on Nov 18, 2014
The 20th and 21st centuries have proven to be fascinating periods in history. There have been greater advances in technology, science and medicine in the last hundred years than in all previous centuries combined. We live in a world where we can communicate with people across the globe in real time; where we can travel…
Édith Piaf: La Vie en Rose Posted by mtaulier on Nov 13, 2014
Few French songs are more recognizable than Édith Piaf’s La Vie en Rose (Life in Pink/Rose-tinted Life). Since its release in 1947 the song has been referenced in a wide range of movies, TV shows and books. La Vie en Rose has been translated into a number of languages and covered by no less than…
Parlez-vous Français?: A Study of French Expressions (Part 7) Posted by mtaulier on Nov 5, 2014
This is the final installment in our series on French expressions. When writing the posts for this series, I wanted to help readers inject a little humor into their conversations with native French speakers. The purpose was to amuse, surprise and even impress your listener. If you usually converse with people who are just learning…
Ghosts’n’Goblins: The Origins of Halloween Posted by mtaulier on Oct 31, 2014
Today, children all over the United States will be donning their déguisements (costumes) and at crépuscule (dusk) will be headed out the door to make the rounds of their neighborhood to celebrate Halloween. Mais d’où vient cette tradition (But where does this tradition come from)? What exactly is Halloween? And does France even celebrate it?…
A Meal for All Seasons: La Soupe à l’Oignon (Onion Soup) Posted by mtaulier on Oct 29, 2014
Bienvenue mes amis! (Welcome my friends!) Aujourd’hui nous allons apprendre à préparer un plat bien Français: la soupe à l’oignon (Today we will be learning how to prepare a typical French dish: onion soup). Tradition has dictated that French onion soup be served avec du fromage râpé (with grated cheese) and croutons. Although onion soups…