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French Grammar – This and That Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 9, 2009
Demonstrative articles are a little bit different in French as opposed to English. And since they are words that you often want to use when speaking, well, I thought we’d discuss them today. First of all, not only is there a singular and plural form, but there are also masculine and feminine forms. So, that…
French Vocabulary – Phone Language Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 6, 2009
I once worked in a call center and was responsible for making the calls to French-speaking Québec. Although I had just graduated with a bachelor’s degree in French, I was a bit intimidated the first time I had to make a call. I mean what was I supposed to say to these people??? And the…
French Cuisine – Coquilles Saint Jacques Posted by Transparent Language on Jul 3, 2009
The summer is underway and the pilgrims on St. James’ Way can be seen making their way to Santiago. One of my very favorite appetizers or first course dishes is Coquilles Saint Jacques or what is known in English as simply ‘scallops’. I don’t know about you, but I find Coquilles Saint Jacques much more…
More Colloquial French Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 29, 2009
I broke my husband’s iPhone yesterday and no, he was not content. And just like many other people in today’s society, I decided to share this event with all of my friends on Facebook. About an hour later, one of my French friends responded with “Tu as des mains à faire des mottes!” and to…
French Regions – Montpellier Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 24, 2009
While I was studying in Paris, I went home with a friend for a weekend to Montpellier and it was really a beautiful city. Montpellier is located in the south of France on the Mediterranean coast and is the capital of Languedoc-Roussillon. Its name refers to the fact that it sits up on hilly ground…
Street French II – Food Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 18, 2009
French argot (slang) can be difficult to understand, but it’s really quite fun. So, today, we’ll talk about some expressions involving food that don’t have so much to do with food really, but might be useful to know. For example, if you want to say that you are a bit down in the dumps, you…
French Literature – Petit Nicolas Posted by Transparent Language on Jun 15, 2009
In my very first French class, the students were required to read Petit Nicolas by Jean-Jacques Sempé and René Goscinny. That was the beginning of my love affair with these French stories about a young schoolboy who gets into all sorts of mischief (un écolier à malice), his friends and family, all told through the…