Finding My Proof Of Memorization In French Posted by John Bauer on Apr 20, 2016
L’autre jour (the other day) I needed an important insurance document. One of my professeurs sent an email telling me what I needed, and as with many important documents it had a long and complicated name. Une attestation personnelle d’assurance de responsabilité civile A personal proof of civil liability insurance Before I left mon appartement…
Living in a Box Posted by Tim Hildreth on Apr 19, 2016
Ok, I’ve never actually lived in a box, but I have spent my fair share of time in one. You see, the French term for a night club or disco is “boîte de nuit” … and “boîte” is the French word for “box”! And even though I was only 16 when I first went to…
Le Monde: L’Atelier Diktée Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Apr 18, 2016
The French newspaper Le Monde has great resources for those who are trying to learn French. While Le Monde would certainly be useful for intermediate-advanced learners, it’s also a great way to learn not only about vocabulary, but about culture (including, of course, current events and politics!). In fact, Le Monde has several sections dedicated to French students…
It’s Springtime! – Open Windows in French Posted by John Bauer on Apr 13, 2016
Le printemps est arrivé (Spring is here) and the longer days, changing seasons, and changing clocks bring up thoughts of le grand nettoyage de printemps et les fleurs épanouies (spring cleaning and blooming flowers). The end of the cold months means that people will start opening up their houses and letting in l’air frais (fresh air)…
Mon Paris à moi / My Paris Posted by Tim Hildreth on Apr 12, 2016
After last week’s “trip” to ‘la Bretagne’, this week a few of my favorite things about Paris. The town I lived in during my time in France, Bois-Colombes, is just a short 10-minute train ride from the Gare St. Lazare (the St. Lazare train station) in Paris’s 8th arrondissement. Easy access to public transportation meant…
Le Passé Simple…in Action! Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Apr 11, 2016
Now that you’ve learned about what the simple past tense in French does and how to conjugate regular and irregular verbs, let’s take a look how it is used in classic works of literature. Here’s a passage from Guy de Maupassant’s famous short story “Les Bijoux”: Il chercha longtemps dans le tas de clinquant qu’elle…
Learning Through Poetry: “Le Jardin” by Jacques Prévert Posted by Josh Dougherty on Apr 7, 2016
La poésie (poetry) isn’t always everyone’s cup of tea, and reading and trying to understand it in a second language can be daunting. That being said, there are plenty of poems out there that are appropriate for any level. For beginners, I always recommend Jacques Prévert. I’ve taught a few of his poems, and my…