Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Rastignac Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Jul 25, 2016
In French culture, intellectualism runs deep. It’s not uncommon to have feuds by contemporary philosophers or scholars followed by the media and even become front page news. Recently, I was reading about a feud between two French scholars engaged in a public feud. They threw insults at each other through opinion pieces printed in newspapers…
July 14, 2016 Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Jul 19, 2016
France is once again in the news. Over the past year and a half, I have had to write several posts dedicated to the victims of terrorist attacks that targeted France: The Charlie Hebdo and related attacks in January 2015, the November 2015 attacks across Paris, and now the horrible events of last Thursday on…
Le Petit Journal Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on May 9, 2016
A big announcement in French television occurred today when Yann Barthès, the host of Le Petit Journal, announced that he would be leaving the show after five years as its host. Le Petit Journal is often compared to The Daily Show in America, and Barthès was often compared to former Daily Show host Jon Stewart. Although Barthès…
Voici Arnaud Fièvre – Real French Series Posted by John Bauer on May 4, 2016
It can be hard to find French outside the classroom if you don’t live dans un pays francophone (in a French speaking country). That’s why I started the Real French Series as a way to bring French speakers closer to all of you. This time I interviewed un ami qui s’appelle (a friend whose name…
Ancient France: La Forêt de Brocéliande Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Apr 25, 2016
Brocéliande is a mythical forest that first appeared in chivalric tales in the twelfth century, most notably legends featuring King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. (King Arthur is a mythic early sixth century king and scholars still debate over whether or not he actually existed, although it is likely he was based…
Le Prénom Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Feb 29, 2016
I rarely am awake to watch movies from beginning to end…except if they are spectacular. Well, yesterday, my husband and I stumbled upon a French film on Netflix called Le Prénom–and it was so good I watched the whole thing! The English version is titled “What’s in a Name?,” which differs, of course, from the…
Reform to French Labor Laws? Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Feb 22, 2016
This week, Myriam El Khomri, France’s labor ministry, has been the focus of many headlines in France. This week, she presented a bill that would reform current French labor laws, which is seen by many as the final push for large-scale reforms during President François Hollande’s five-year term. The law would allow employees to work more…