Archive for 'Culture'
Hi Hungry, I’m Dad – La Fête Des Pères In French Posted by John Bauer on Jun 13, 2018
La fête des pères (Father’s Day) is just around the corner! Unlike la fête des mères (Mother’s Day), cette fête (this holiday) doesn’t involve remembering two different dates when you’re from les États-Unis! In both France and aux USA, la fête falls on the third Sunday of June. La fête des pères is both a…
Not all sugar and spice Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jun 5, 2018
Last week we read an old story designed to remind les jeunes garçons sages (good little boys) how to behave. As promised at the end of that last post, this week, we look at a similar reminder for les gentilles filles (good girls). La Mouche * Listen to how the t at the end of fort ‘runs into’ occupée. View…
French Lyrics: Le poinçonneur des Lilas Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Jun 5, 2018
Last week, we went over Serge Gainsbourg’s beloved song “Le poinçonneur des Lilas.” Now, let’s take a look at the lyrics and the word play the famous chanteur/compositeur wrote. The catchy réfrain of this song begins: “J’fais des trous, des p’tits trous, encore des p’tits trous.” (“I make holes, little holes, and more little holes.”) This refers…
French Music: “Le poinçonneur des Lilas” Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Jun 1, 2018
One of the most famous musicians of all time is, of course, Serge Gainsbourg. But for non-native French listeners, it may be difficult to fully appreciate his music. Over the course of his career, Gainsbourg wrote some 550 songs…the lyrics of which often delve into puns and other forms of word play. Indeed, upon his…
Show Me La Monnaie – The Paris Mint Posted by John Bauer on May 30, 2018
When you are in Paris, se promener (go for a walk) and you will stumble upon a historical site before you can count to soixante-onze (seventy-one). As long as le métro (the subway) is running, no matter how far you go, it will always be easy to make your way back home! One day while…
If only it were that simple Posted by Tim Hildreth on May 29, 2018
My son will be 24 years old next month! He is my pride and joy, but raising a boy did have its challenges. Like many parents, I was always looking for just the right way to guide him on the path to adulthood (and to good manners, behavior, and grades!) If only I’d come across…
A visit to Monaco Posted by Tim Hildreth on May 22, 2018
The Grand Prix de Monaco is this weekend (le 24 – 27 mai/May). It seemed like the occasion idéale (perfect opportunity) to talk about that tiny country nestled between France and Italy along la mer méditerranée (the Mediterranean Sea). Monaco or Monte-Carlo At just 2 square kilometers (or 485 acres), Monaco is the second-smallest country in the world (only…