My son started kindergarten at a French Immersion school recently, and has been reluctant to speak, though I know he understands at least a little of what is said, and he can devine much more from the context and tone of the teachers. Still, he has not been speaking any French, and hasn’t wanted much to tell me about his school days (normale, je sais!)
Breakthroughs come in small, surprising packages sometimes.
The other morning, while getting ready for school, we began our usual “I hate brushing my teeth” dance, and when I told him to come to the bathroom, he gave me a very Frenchified “Non!” in response.
I said, "Did you just say Non?”
He said “Non!” again.
Flabbergasted, I said the first thing that popped into my head:
“Un...”
Friday, October 15, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Foster French Connections
A move to a new city--I have recently moved to the Seattle area, myself--can be a lonely effort, or you can view it as a vibrant opportunity to expand your community of friends and acquaintances. It's a matter of choice, and of knowing what you want. Presumably, if you are reading this, you want to learn or improve your French.
If you seek opportunities to work on your language skills, the best thing you can do is tell people--tell everyone!--you speak French, or that you're studying French. Francophones will come out of the woodwork, guaranteed. They will tell you where they connect with other Francophones in your city, where they take/took classes, what they have done in France, and where you can meet other Francophones.
Whether you feel you speak French well, or are just beginning, opportunities open up when you identify outwardly with what you want for yourself inwardly. Once the opportunities become clear, il faut profiter! Check out the classes, go to the conversation groups, look up the French theatre festival, and get involved. When you show up, talk to the others in French, and others will respond in kind.
If you seek opportunities to work on your language skills, the best thing you can do is tell people--tell everyone!--you speak French, or that you're studying French. Francophones will come out of the woodwork, guaranteed. They will tell you where they connect with other Francophones in your city, where they take/took classes, what they have done in France, and where you can meet other Francophones.
Whether you feel you speak French well, or are just beginning, opportunities open up when you identify outwardly with what you want for yourself inwardly. Once the opportunities become clear, il faut profiter! Check out the classes, go to the conversation groups, look up the French theatre festival, and get involved. When you show up, talk to the others in French, and others will respond in kind.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Never Let Them See You Move Your Mouth
French pronunciation for American speakers is a challenge. We have our pronounced Rs and twangy consonants, though we let a lot of things slide through our teeth, unlike our English counterparts: we say “twenny” instead of “twenty” for example.
The French are much more subtle, rolling everything together with liaison (connecting the ending sound of one word to the beginning of the next) and producing the R from the back of the throat, much like the American Y or G sound. The result is a harmonious phrase—and the reason that French rappers sound extremely silly.
Like many American speakers, I struggle with pronunciation, and saying things sans my Western accent. A friend recently was trying to help me pronounce Honolulu as the French would, when we hit on the crux of the matter.
I move my mouth entirely too much when I try to speak French.
If I pay attention and don’t bouge ma bouche, Honolulu glides out with ease and a French flair. It’s an good trick to help ameliorate the American pronunciation of French words: never let them see you move your mouth.
Not that the French never move their lips, but I’m thinking their speech patterns were developed partly out of a preference to save their mouth energy for other, more important things, like eating and kissing, perhaps.
I think a little more practice is in order for me!
The French are much more subtle, rolling everything together with liaison (connecting the ending sound of one word to the beginning of the next) and producing the R from the back of the throat, much like the American Y or G sound. The result is a harmonious phrase—and the reason that French rappers sound extremely silly.
Like many American speakers, I struggle with pronunciation, and saying things sans my Western accent. A friend recently was trying to help me pronounce Honolulu as the French would, when we hit on the crux of the matter.
I move my mouth entirely too much when I try to speak French.
If I pay attention and don’t bouge ma bouche, Honolulu glides out with ease and a French flair. It’s an good trick to help ameliorate the American pronunciation of French words: never let them see you move your mouth.
Not that the French never move their lips, but I’m thinking their speech patterns were developed partly out of a preference to save their mouth energy for other, more important things, like eating and kissing, perhaps.
I think a little more practice is in order for me!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
La Grammaire est une Chanson Dure
There's a book for youths here by Erik Orsenna that I'm slowly reading in my moyenne french, and every time I look at the title a potentially revised title comes to mind. French grammar is certainly douce, and slow to absorb, at least for me.
The wonderful teacher at the Alliance Française here, Christiane D'Angelo, tried to encourage our class when she saw 17 pairs of glazed-eyes trying to understand when to use the imparfait, the passé composé, and the plus-que-parfait for telling a story. She explained to us that even the French (children) have a lot of difficulty with the complex grammar.
Kind words, but we have a long way to travel on the road to proper French.
Essayons!
Kind words, but we have a long way to travel on the road to proper French.
Essayons!
 |
| Extract from "La grammaire est une chanson douce" |
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Filling in the Gaps
As much as one can enjoy learning a language over conversations at petits dejeuners, picnics at le Jardin du Luxembourg, and luxurious French diners, soirees never hurt either.
But all of that delicious work aside, classes are very useful for filling in gaps in grammar that come from learning on the fly, the way I have over the past year.
I’ve begun a class at Alliance Française in Paris, and though it at times seems to move slowly for a motivated student, and at other times the heat in the salle de classe threatens to put my brain to sleep in the second half of the three-hour class, it’s useful to study grammar points and fill in gaps in my moyen vocabulary.
This week, for example, the class has studied rules for the gender of nouns. Though as in English, there are many exceptions to the rules, in general one can divine the gender of many nouns by their endings. Nouns that end in –age, -ment, and –isme are generally masculine. Nouns that end in –sse, -oire, -ion, -ée, -ique, -té, and –ie, are generally feminine.
Another frustrating point in conversation until one understands the why is when to use qui and que. Qui does not always follow a person, and que does not always follow a thing, but rather, qui is used following a verb’s subject, and que follows the verb’s direct object. Confusing? Yes, un petit peu, but less confusing when you can follow a rule.
Though the points seem minor, they confuse many people like myself, I think, who hear them in action but don’t have the book learning to back up conversation choices.
After class, it’s back to the joyful practice speaking French over a luxurious dinner in Paris. A few more soirees couldn’t hurt either.
But all of that delicious work aside, classes are very useful for filling in gaps in grammar that come from learning on the fly, the way I have over the past year.
I’ve begun a class at Alliance Française in Paris, and though it at times seems to move slowly for a motivated student, and at other times the heat in the salle de classe threatens to put my brain to sleep in the second half of the three-hour class, it’s useful to study grammar points and fill in gaps in my moyen vocabulary.
This week, for example, the class has studied rules for the gender of nouns. Though as in English, there are many exceptions to the rules, in general one can divine the gender of many nouns by their endings. Nouns that end in –age, -ment, and –isme are generally masculine. Nouns that end in –sse, -oire, -ion, -ée, -ique, -té, and –ie, are generally feminine.
Another frustrating point in conversation until one understands the why is when to use qui and que. Qui does not always follow a person, and que does not always follow a thing, but rather, qui is used following a verb’s subject, and que follows the verb’s direct object. Confusing? Yes, un petit peu, but less confusing when you can follow a rule.
Though the points seem minor, they confuse many people like myself, I think, who hear them in action but don’t have the book learning to back up conversation choices.
After class, it’s back to the joyful practice speaking French over a luxurious dinner in Paris. A few more soirees couldn’t hurt either.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
L'Homme Qui Pêche
To take a modern look at Rodin's theme, as seen through my camera lens en marchant around Lac Daumesnil at Bois de Vincennes. The park is full of joggers, walkers and, this morning, this fisherman manning four poles.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Photo Du Jour: Metro Music Man, 12ème arr.
I thought this harp music was a recording--
or not really a harp--
until I peeked around the corner.
until I peeked around the corner.
We've also been trumpeted on the Metro trains.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Photo du Jour, Fête de la Musique
There was music all over France yesterday to celebrate the solstice, and we caught this delightful accordian orchestra that accompanied my friend's choir at a community center, Le Centre de Maurice Ravel, in the 12ème arrondissment. The choir sang songs en français, as well as selections en anglais from the musical West Side Story. Afterward, mon petit made musical instruments en papier and Danielle and I talked until minuit. Bonne fête vraiment!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Photo du Jour
There are many food delights to be enjoyed in France, and most are quite simple, like melon au porto. My friend Danielle's, shown here, is a slight variation to accommodate mon petit. Normally, in summer, one can serve the Porto-- a sweet Portuguese aperitif, or apero, inside half of a small French cantaloupe, along with un morceau de jambon de Parme, an italian ham. A perfect midday snack. The fruit vendor at one of Paris's many open air markets can produce a melon that will be perfect for consumption at the time of day you tell him you plan to eat it.
C'est delicieux!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
En France, la Fête de la Musique
After several days exploring; conquering finally my son's jet lag--le décalage de horaire--after several VERY early mornings; and finding the necessities--boisson riz et beurre de cacahoutes (rice milk and peanut butter) chez Franprix, and a few new favorite parcs--we are settled comfortably in the 12ème in Paris.
I was delighted to be a special guest at an English course at the local community center, where the instuctor, a delightful femme francaise, spoke with great animation and a heavy British accent. At the end of the class, my friend Danielle produced a wonderful apero (aperitive) and snacks and I offered to join the students for coffee en anglais parfois to help them supplement their class. Je suis contente :-)
Meanwhile, my son occupied himself by drawing our apartment building and the rope pyramid at the playground just below the building.
Tomorrow, the first day of summer (which we fully expect to banish the spring rain from Paris), we look forward to celebraitng the Fête de la Musique. In the 12ème alone, there are at least 24 listed performances, and there will be many more people just playing music where they will.
I've been too busy enjoying myself to worry much about learning the language, but my dear friend here speaks to me only in French, so I'm delighted toujours to be in a joyful class with her, while discovering Paris. In return, she says it helps her to listen to me speak with mon petit en anglais.
A très bientôt!
http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/site-2010/?page_id=29
I was delighted to be a special guest at an English course at the local community center, where the instuctor, a delightful femme francaise, spoke with great animation and a heavy British accent. At the end of the class, my friend Danielle produced a wonderful apero (aperitive) and snacks and I offered to join the students for coffee en anglais parfois to help them supplement their class. Je suis contente :-)
Meanwhile, my son occupied himself by drawing our apartment building and the rope pyramid at the playground just below the building.
Tomorrow, the first day of summer (which we fully expect to banish the spring rain from Paris), we look forward to celebraitng the Fête de la Musique. In the 12ème alone, there are at least 24 listed performances, and there will be many more people just playing music where they will.
I've been too busy enjoying myself to worry much about learning the language, but my dear friend here speaks to me only in French, so I'm delighted toujours to be in a joyful class with her, while discovering Paris. In return, she says it helps her to listen to me speak with mon petit en anglais.
A très bientôt!
http://www.fetedelamusique.culture.fr/site-2010/?page_id=29
Fête de la musique sur Nomao
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Prêt pour la voyage?
Can one be truly entirely ready to embark on a nomadic existence, even a French one, leaving address, work, and country for an experience in France that, while at two months draws sighs from fellow countrymen, will undoubtedly be too impossibly short for much more than an extended tourist vacation?
After bumming around for a week or more between relatives homes and between two cities, I've decided it will be a relief to spend a few days becoming ensconced in a small one-bedroom appartement in Paris where I am to make a home base for the next two months.
Still, it’s hard to say au revoir to Seattle friends in almost the same breath as je dis bonjour.
Hopefully, when I return, it will be with additional speaking facility and confidence, and a renewed vigor for the study. “Returning”to Seattle will be in itself a joy, with a vast array of possibilities available for further study of la langue française, and so many wonderful people and places to discover and love and get to know better.
That said, saying goodbye to Spokane, my home for most of my life, was pas facile, especially with the delightful francophone community there, cheering me on and helping me to make real mes rêves, and helping me to discover joy in that city, too. How could I have missed its discrete charm for so long?
I’ve determined to impart a true travelogue for the group when I return for a brief visit in August, with details and conseil for their own future voyages.
Mostly, I'll miss my daughter, an adult now, with new wings to fly, but la petite de mon coeur.
Donc, Tuesday nous nous envolerons, moi et mon petit, to finally arrive at our pied a terre in notre belle France.
Only then does the voyage really begin.
After bumming around for a week or more between relatives homes and between two cities, I've decided it will be a relief to spend a few days becoming ensconced in a small one-bedroom appartement in Paris where I am to make a home base for the next two months.
Still, it’s hard to say au revoir to Seattle friends in almost the same breath as je dis bonjour.
Hopefully, when I return, it will be with additional speaking facility and confidence, and a renewed vigor for the study. “Returning”to Seattle will be in itself a joy, with a vast array of possibilities available for further study of la langue française, and so many wonderful people and places to discover and love and get to know better.
That said, saying goodbye to Spokane, my home for most of my life, was pas facile, especially with the delightful francophone community there, cheering me on and helping me to make real mes rêves, and helping me to discover joy in that city, too. How could I have missed its discrete charm for so long?
I’ve determined to impart a true travelogue for the group when I return for a brief visit in August, with details and conseil for their own future voyages.
Mostly, I'll miss my daughter, an adult now, with new wings to fly, but la petite de mon coeur.
Donc, Tuesday nous nous envolerons, moi et mon petit, to finally arrive at our pied a terre in notre belle France.
Only then does the voyage really begin.
Friday, May 21, 2010
A new French pleasure
I’ve been big on conversation since I started studying French last May. It’s my goal to be able to communicate in French with French speakers.
Unfortunately, focusing so much on talking means that after a year of study j’ecris comme une femme des cavernes encore—I write like a cavewoman, lacking nuance and a variety of synonyms to inject into my speech.
Chatting online with French speakers found on social media Web sites is proving to be a good way for me to polish up a little and learn some informal phraseology with those willing to put up with my poor French grammar.
My profile pic on msn:
Being on the West Coast—I end up talking mostly with les oiseaux de nuit, night owls, or very early risers. Et moi, je suis le deux.
The downside? Abbreviations often are used in chats, so depending on who one’s talking to, it might not help that poor grammar as much as one would hope, though I am learning some new words and hopefully getting a better, more natural rhythm to my writing.
The upside, I can easily look up words I can’t understand (and hopefully learn them that way), using my favorite site de traduction, Reverso.
Skype adds an additional dimension of conversation for listening comprehension, all while talking with regular people about regular things, real time conversation practice.
An unfortunate side effect: the people can be so entertaining and interesting that it also diverts one from a long list of devoirs in preparation for an upcoming voyage and demanagement. Oh la la!
Things I have left to do so far outnumber those I have completed (my Facebook friends, English and French, have tired of my complaints, I am sure), but I have trouble breaking myself away from social commitments and cloistering chez moi to put my head down and finish everything up. (Two fun weekends in Seattle may not have helped much, but I loved trying out the Artisanal Brasserie & Wine Bar in Bellevue)
Soon I’ll turn my sights more to what I will do in France—I’ve signed up for a tour to Mont St. Michel, and found a gym to visit pour le santé perhaps, and still need to buy a little boy speedo-type slip de bain pour mon petit garcon (hard to get in my town), and bonnets de natation for us both, and perhaps sign up for a language workshop at the Alliance Francaise.
Enfin, the highest compliment I’ve received so far from newfound amis en ligne? Several people have wondered if I’m French or American—I suspect they are just exercising due politesse, though.
Unfortunately, focusing so much on talking means that after a year of study j’ecris comme une femme des cavernes encore—I write like a cavewoman, lacking nuance and a variety of synonyms to inject into my speech.
Chatting online with French speakers found on social media Web sites is proving to be a good way for me to polish up a little and learn some informal phraseology with those willing to put up with my poor French grammar.
My profile pic on msn:
Being on the West Coast—I end up talking mostly with les oiseaux de nuit, night owls, or very early risers. Et moi, je suis le deux.
The downside? Abbreviations often are used in chats, so depending on who one’s talking to, it might not help that poor grammar as much as one would hope, though I am learning some new words and hopefully getting a better, more natural rhythm to my writing.
The upside, I can easily look up words I can’t understand (and hopefully learn them that way), using my favorite site de traduction, Reverso.
Skype adds an additional dimension of conversation for listening comprehension, all while talking with regular people about regular things, real time conversation practice.
An unfortunate side effect: the people can be so entertaining and interesting that it also diverts one from a long list of devoirs in preparation for an upcoming voyage and demanagement. Oh la la!
Things I have left to do so far outnumber those I have completed (my Facebook friends, English and French, have tired of my complaints, I am sure), but I have trouble breaking myself away from social commitments and cloistering chez moi to put my head down and finish everything up. (Two fun weekends in Seattle may not have helped much, but I loved trying out the Artisanal Brasserie & Wine Bar in Bellevue)
Soon I’ll turn my sights more to what I will do in France—I’ve signed up for a tour to Mont St. Michel, and found a gym to visit pour le santé perhaps, and still need to buy a little boy speedo-type slip de bain pour mon petit garcon (hard to get in my town), and bonnets de natation for us both, and perhaps sign up for a language workshop at the Alliance Francaise.
Enfin, the highest compliment I’ve received so far from newfound amis en ligne? Several people have wondered if I’m French or American—I suspect they are just exercising due politesse, though.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Je ne vais pas voler…or quelle couleur est ton bonnet de natation
Je ne vais pas voler...mais je vais prendre un avion bientot.
A French friend has let me know that even though strictly speaking, to say I’m going to fly is grammatical, the everyday use in that context generally means I’m going to steal something. She said I also may say, if I’m flying: je m’envole.
This is where there’s no substitute for learning in context, because if you type “I’m going to fly” into a translating program (not to pick on Reverso.com, which I think is good, but which creates this very result) you come up with “je vais voler,” and all of your francophone friend will think you an admitted thief, rather than a world traveler.
Speaking of flying, my impending trip to France has me wanting to refresh my vocabulary of mundane place names and such, and make sure I can understand directions from here to there, and to pound into my head the importance of properly and politely greeting each person I meet, especially shopkeepers.
It also makes my heart soar to think of bringing a year’s worth of passionate, if clumsy, practice to fruition with a trip to the city I love and want to know more intimately. Mes amis here, and there, are so supportive of my desire to fly and I aim to find a way to share the pleasure of the journey with them.
Also, I turn my attention now to helping my son learn more these important phrases and local customs as he is joining me too. We’ll soon be buying swim caps to wear to one of the many local piscines in Paris, which we haven’t needed here, but which will be obligatoire la-bas, par example.
Really this whole year has been a journey, of community- and friendship-ship building, and how lucky I have been to be part of a surprising and delightful Francophone community in Spokane. I look forward also to spending more time with the vibrant Francophone community that I’ve just touched the edges of so far in Seattle.
So, for those of you who have helped me so much thus far, I invite you to share some of the local words or terminology you’ve found most useful (or confusing!) on your travels to France here in the comments section.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Juste pour un petit rire
I’ve mentioned before that I find watching French films with French subtitles to be very helpful for listening comprehension. Also, if you didn’t already know this, I love humor in its many and various forms. Thanks to some French teacher friends, I’ve come across this Web site that contains a multitude of brief, comical skits to watch along with French sous titres, or without, si vous voulez.
Tetes a Claques TV
I’ll be wading through them myself now for a bit.
Amusez-vous bien!
Tetes a Claques TV
I’ll be wading through them myself now for a bit.
Amusez-vous bien!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Parlaying the parlez-ing
For those franglaphones like me, who mostly study independently, hoping to pick up what we can while surrounded by the English-speaking world, it’s necessary to make opportunities to speak French and to hear it spoken.
On ne peut pas accentuer trop l’importance de la conversation française d’apprendre plus la langue.
Groups of French speakers can thrive anywhere…just ask my pals in Spokane, a place one doesn’t expect to find several active sub-communities of native speakers and learners!
Here, at least a key ingredient to a successful group (in my humble opinion) is ownership by the members and a sense that the goal is to have fun. For some events like parties, where spouses or significant others typically join in, there’s naturally more English spoken, but still plenty of opportunity for asking les vrais français de discuter la culture.
In addition, it’s very helpful for most people to have a weekly gathering for plain old conversation, with the goal to keep it all in French. Even that does better with an element of fun, food, or a bit of wine, however, to grease the wheels.
Though, in my experience here over the last year, a leader for the group is not required, a couple of passionate people and at least a few participatory native or advanced speakers make a group way better!
For those who help coordinate group activities, encouraging volunteers to execute their own ideas, and taking a few pictures to share from events serves to solidify the community of friends and help people see and remember how much they enjoyed the event. After one recent lunch, for example, I posted about seven pictures on a group Web site and had no fewer than seven comments about the photos and requests to repost them.
Please share your favorite strategies, or questions, in the comments area to guide future the weekly posts, and begin to look for France planning discussions starting next week, as I begin to gear up for operation Gonzo Franglaphone.
A très bientôt!
On ne peut pas accentuer trop l’importance de la conversation française d’apprendre plus la langue.
Groups of French speakers can thrive anywhere…just ask my pals in Spokane, a place one doesn’t expect to find several active sub-communities of native speakers and learners!
Here, at least a key ingredient to a successful group (in my humble opinion) is ownership by the members and a sense that the goal is to have fun. For some events like parties, where spouses or significant others typically join in, there’s naturally more English spoken, but still plenty of opportunity for asking les vrais français de discuter la culture.
In addition, it’s very helpful for most people to have a weekly gathering for plain old conversation, with the goal to keep it all in French. Even that does better with an element of fun, food, or a bit of wine, however, to grease the wheels.
Though, in my experience here over the last year, a leader for the group is not required, a couple of passionate people and at least a few participatory native or advanced speakers make a group way better!
For those who help coordinate group activities, encouraging volunteers to execute their own ideas, and taking a few pictures to share from events serves to solidify the community of friends and help people see and remember how much they enjoyed the event. After one recent lunch, for example, I posted about seven pictures on a group Web site and had no fewer than seven comments about the photos and requests to repost them.
Please share your favorite strategies, or questions, in the comments area to guide future the weekly posts, and begin to look for France planning discussions starting next week, as I begin to gear up for operation Gonzo Franglaphone.
A très bientôt!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Releasing le Chat from le Sac
Though I’ve been thinking, planning, "espoiring" for some time now, I may not have yet made it generally known that I’ll be taking my gonzo French learning on the road to Paris in June.
I plan to test thoroughly the adage that immersion is the key to absorbing a language. I certainly do not expect to become fluent sur mon premiere sejour, but I hope that two months in France will give my frustratingly lacking skills at understanding native speakers a boost, give me ample time to soak up the culture, and, bien sûr, give me time to relax a bit.
It will also give me more time to write about learning French, j’espere, as it will be a both writing and language-learning sabbatical from my post, the charming apartment of a dear friend in the 12th arrondissement.
Stay tuned for les details!
I plan to test thoroughly the adage that immersion is the key to absorbing a language. I certainly do not expect to become fluent sur mon premiere sejour, but I hope that two months in France will give my frustratingly lacking skills at understanding native speakers a boost, give me ample time to soak up the culture, and, bien sûr, give me time to relax a bit.
It will also give me more time to write about learning French, j’espere, as it will be a both writing and language-learning sabbatical from my post, the charming apartment of a dear friend in the 12th arrondissement.
Stay tuned for les details!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Watch, Listen, Read, Speak
My four-pronged approach to studying French
It can be challenging to process all the possible methods for language study, especially if you're not in a formal classroom setting. At times I've felt overwhelmed by the pile of books that I know are in French, but which all look Greek to me.
There are as a number of schools of thought, with “immersion” being among the most popular currently, at least in Spokane where I live.
The problem I’ve faced is trying to recreate immersion when there are no native speakers or teachers around (the other 165 hours per week outside of lessons and conversation groups).
Over the last few months I’ve included tried to simplify, including several basic practices into my home studies that have helped me pick up everyday vocabulary and improve my oral comprehension:
This is not reinventing the wheel, but it’s very effective and more entertaining than studying only textbooks or trying to use rote memory for vocabulary, so I highly recommend it.
I can put on a movie, but it’s usually too difficult to watch en français and understand enough of the words. On the other hand, watching it with English subtitles takes the brain out of the French. So, with the help of a friend, I’ve found some movies in French that also have French subtitles. Watching movies with French speech while viewing subtitles in French lets me better simulate immersion and connect the spoken words with the written words.
Also, I love to listen to music, but without some concentration, it’s just in the background, like wallpaper. After listening to a song for months, I might not know yet what it's about, though I recognize the tune and perhaps the dernier mots de les phrases. So now, I print out the lyrics to the songs, and use them to sing along, or just read them to myself while I listen. (Oh, who am I kidding? I sing loud and proud). I often use the written words as a translation exercise too, so I figure out what I’m listening to and reinforce it with my, um, singing. Also, though I can’t read while driving, I play only French music in my car and try to get my head in the French—it’s a petite immersion.
Also, I love to read, and I can read books in French, but it’s a start-and-stop, long process to look up enough words to get the proper sense of what’s happening. When mes yeux sont bien fatiguées, I turn to poetry that I bought from Amazon, which is read aloud by a native French speaker, again, using the printed words to help, but poetry is much easier to understand because it’s read more slowly, with purpose.
A final and very key practice, I think, is to speak as much as possible. Important connections are made when my brain has to get a word that lives in my head out through my mouth. It reinforces what one has studied, it expands the working vocabulary, and builds confidence when I discover that if I make a mistake it's no big deal and someone will help me find the right word. For this, there's no substitution for a friendly conversation group that lets people form themselves into small groups so everyone can practice those skills as much as possible. A bonus is that the music, movies, and poetry used for personal studies make perfect conversation fodder, too.
So, there are a few things that I find helpful. Please feel free to post in the comment section any additional tips you’d like to share with others.
Amuse-toi bien!
There are as a number of schools of thought, with “immersion” being among the most popular currently, at least in Spokane where I live.
The problem I’ve faced is trying to recreate immersion when there are no native speakers or teachers around (the other 165 hours per week outside of lessons and conversation groups).
Over the last few months I’ve included tried to simplify, including several basic practices into my home studies that have helped me pick up everyday vocabulary and improve my oral comprehension:
- Watch
- Listen
- Read
- Speak
This is not reinventing the wheel, but it’s very effective and more entertaining than studying only textbooks or trying to use rote memory for vocabulary, so I highly recommend it.
I can put on a movie, but it’s usually too difficult to watch en français and understand enough of the words. On the other hand, watching it with English subtitles takes the brain out of the French. So, with the help of a friend, I’ve found some movies in French that also have French subtitles. Watching movies with French speech while viewing subtitles in French lets me better simulate immersion and connect the spoken words with the written words.
Also, I love to listen to music, but without some concentration, it’s just in the background, like wallpaper. After listening to a song for months, I might not know yet what it's about, though I recognize the tune and perhaps the dernier mots de les phrases. So now, I print out the lyrics to the songs, and use them to sing along, or just read them to myself while I listen. (Oh, who am I kidding? I sing loud and proud). I often use the written words as a translation exercise too, so I figure out what I’m listening to and reinforce it with my, um, singing. Also, though I can’t read while driving, I play only French music in my car and try to get my head in the French—it’s a petite immersion.
Also, I love to read, and I can read books in French, but it’s a start-and-stop, long process to look up enough words to get the proper sense of what’s happening. When mes yeux sont bien fatiguées, I turn to poetry that I bought from Amazon, which is read aloud by a native French speaker, again, using the printed words to help, but poetry is much easier to understand because it’s read more slowly, with purpose.
A final and very key practice, I think, is to speak as much as possible. Important connections are made when my brain has to get a word that lives in my head out through my mouth. It reinforces what one has studied, it expands the working vocabulary, and builds confidence when I discover that if I make a mistake it's no big deal and someone will help me find the right word. For this, there's no substitution for a friendly conversation group that lets people form themselves into small groups so everyone can practice those skills as much as possible. A bonus is that the music, movies, and poetry used for personal studies make perfect conversation fodder, too.
So, there are a few things that I find helpful. Please feel free to post in the comment section any additional tips you’d like to share with others.
Amuse-toi bien!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Web sites que j'aime, part deux
A couple of Frenchable sites I've been enjoying lately:
Le premier: Enchanted Learning has great French language-themed printable worksheets and coloring books for kids. Mon petit lapin, loves to color, and it's a springboard for me to teach him a bit of vocabulary.
Et puis: A new Quebecois friend in Seattle pointed me toward a French-language site—Archambault—where one can buy music, books, DVDs, and games en français. I haven't bought anything yet to test the ease of getting product shipped here, but it looks promising. Merci, William!
Anyone with favorite sites to share, let me know!
Le premier: Enchanted Learning has great French language-themed printable worksheets and coloring books for kids. Mon petit lapin, loves to color, and it's a springboard for me to teach him a bit of vocabulary.
Et puis: A new Quebecois friend in Seattle pointed me toward a French-language site—Archambault—where one can buy music, books, DVDs, and games en français. I haven't bought anything yet to test the ease of getting product shipped here, but it looks promising. Merci, William!
Anyone with favorite sites to share, let me know!
Monday, March 1, 2010
When in Denver...Crêpes'n Crêpes
Wherever you go, seek opportunities to find French culture—and food. A simple weekend in Denver revealed one of the most delightful crêperies, called Crêpes 'n Crêpes with a staff including Jean-Phillipe, who hails from the Dijon area and makes a wonderful crêpe au jus de citron frais, and a just-as-delightful crêpe avec fraises et nutella.
Bon appetit!
Bon appetit!
Jean-Phillipe at Crêpes 'n Crêpes
Gabriel finishing up some crêpes salées.
A sampling of the menu at Crêpes 'n Crêpes.
They also have French boissons, such as Orangina, and soups and salads.
All I can say is, "Bring your restaurant to Spokane, s'il vous plâit!"
Sunday, February 7, 2010
French sites que j’aime
With the vastness of the Internet, it’s too facile de perdre beaucoup le temps, as a beginner, in all the possible Web sites offering French language or culture aid.
There are many wonderful sites and resources out there, but these are a few I have tried and liked myself in my own wanderings, or at the suggestion of wonderful amis.
French grammar and vocabulary
BBC languages
Vocab for kids—but good for beginning adults too
Enchanted Learning (activity sheets for kids)
French conjugation trainer online
French radio
NRJ French
Rires et Chansons -
News and lifestyles in French
Le Monde
Itele Direct
Femme: Le Journal des Femmes
France Amerique
Cross-cultural connections and language courses
French Embassy
Alliance Française (this is the U.S. site, but I visit the Seattle Alliance site for upcoming events and classes)
Literature:
The poetry of Charles Baudelaire
The poetry (fables) of Jean de la Fontaine
For translation and verb conjugation
Reverso
For conversation groups
Meetup (our lively Spokane group ,a great Seattle group, and many others are just waiting for you )
Facebook (search French and French conversation or find event pages like this:)
For help or advice on traveling to France
Paris Apartments
Some of my pet favorites:
Comedian Eddy Izzard's French lessons
The music of Gerard DePalmas, Stefan Sanseverino, Louise Attaque
If you come across others you like, let me know and I'll check them out and add them to the list.
Bonne chance!
Flag of France image courtesy of 4 International Flags
French grammar and vocabulary
BBC languages
Vocab for kids—but good for beginning adults too
Enchanted Learning (activity sheets for kids)
French conjugation trainer online
French radio
NRJ French
Rires et Chansons -
News and lifestyles in French
Le Monde
Itele Direct
Femme: Le Journal des Femmes
France Amerique
Cross-cultural connections and language courses
French Embassy
Alliance Française (this is the U.S. site, but I visit the Seattle Alliance site for upcoming events and classes)
Literature:
The poetry of Charles Baudelaire
The poetry (fables) of Jean de la Fontaine
For translation and verb conjugation
Reverso
For conversation groups
Meetup (our lively Spokane group ,a great Seattle group, and many others are just waiting for you )
Facebook (search French and French conversation or find event pages like this:)
For help or advice on traveling to France
Paris Apartments
Some of my pet favorites:
Comedian Eddy Izzard's French lessons
The music of Gerard DePalmas, Stefan Sanseverino, Louise Attaque
If you come across others you like, let me know and I'll check them out and add them to the list.
Bonne chance!
Flag of France image courtesy of 4 International Flags
Monday, February 1, 2010
Conversation—et café—sont mes amours!
Sometimes my friends joke that I’m trying to meet with French groups in all 50 states…but the truth is they aren’t far off from la raison.
And the reason is that the fountain of French language is in speaking it, hearing it, and in having fun with people you enjoy talking with.
Groups meet at coffee shops (mais oui!), but also bars or dance clubs. They meet for lunch, dinner, and special occasions. They meet for Scrabble nights or movie nights or wine tastings or potlucks. they direct and watch plays, they discuss books, they organize lectures. In French, les choses sont si plus amusants.
Most of the groups I’ve seen have a variety of speakers, from beginners to natives, and people who speak or want to speak French come from all walks of life. What’s more, since everyone goes to practice conversation, these varied and entertaining crowds share their interesting stories freely.
A fundamental flaw in earlier iterations of language instruction, I think, was that they contained too much bookwork and too little conversation. Most people want to learn a language in order to travel somewhere and speak to the natives, so though I love grammar and study it, I think conversational practice is primary—and super amazingly entertaining! Also, I know for me, hearing and using a word, such as hypothèque, (a loan) in conversation is a much better way to learn what it is and assimilate it into mon vocabulaire. Sometimes, to complete the connection, I ask someone to spell a word for me.
So, yes, I visit French groups wherever I happen to be. When I’m going somewhere, I hop on the Internet (man’s new best friend) and search for French conversation groups, Francophone events—anyplace where people who speak French will be congregating. Then I go to the events that are most interesting to me.
Now, I only wonder, with all these meetings over coffee, if there’s a French group to help me overcome my coffee addiction.
And the reason is that the fountain of French language is in speaking it, hearing it, and in having fun with people you enjoy talking with.
Groups meet at coffee shops (mais oui!), but also bars or dance clubs. They meet for lunch, dinner, and special occasions. They meet for Scrabble nights or movie nights or wine tastings or potlucks. they direct and watch plays, they discuss books, they organize lectures. In French, les choses sont si plus amusants.
A fundamental flaw in earlier iterations of language instruction, I think, was that they contained too much bookwork and too little conversation. Most people want to learn a language in order to travel somewhere and speak to the natives, so though I love grammar and study it, I think conversational practice is primary—and super amazingly entertaining! Also, I know for me, hearing and using a word, such as hypothèque, (a loan) in conversation is a much better way to learn what it is and assimilate it into mon vocabulaire. Sometimes, to complete the connection, I ask someone to spell a word for me.
So, yes, I visit French groups wherever I happen to be. When I’m going somewhere, I hop on the Internet (man’s new best friend) and search for French conversation groups, Francophone events—anyplace where people who speak French will be congregating. Then I go to the events that are most interesting to me.
Now, I only wonder, with all these meetings over coffee, if there’s a French group to help me overcome my coffee addiction.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Pas parfait? That’s okay!
I wish I could open my mouth and emit a stream of perfect French, wowing my friends and confusing my family.
What I find, though, is the more chances I take, the more mistakes I make.
One day I realized I’d made a ridiculous mistake in a Facebook post en francais—and it took me three tries to correct it properly.
Then, for the 20th time yesterday I told my friend I was on my way to get my horses cut, even though on paper I know the difference entre les cheveux et les chevaux* (but I still mix up my socks and mes chaussures in my head).
Sometimes, French amis offer me gentle correction, apologetically, assuring me that they can easily understand what I mean to say despite mes grosses erreurs.
I am so grateful for the aid, and I know that taking chances and making mistakes is important in learning anything new.
Sometimes, however, I feel certain my friends must be laughing inside. A couple of times this week I felt the dreaded "Mon dieu! I must sound so stupid to these people."
But like so many self-doubts, it’s self-talk that we brave learners must stamp out to continue making the brain connections that will lead us on a path to fluency—the logical goal to learning a language, in my estimation.
Every francophone I’ve encountered has been only too happy to help others learn and never made me feel bad about being less than perfect…cool, n’est-ce pas?
When I begin to worry about it, I try to remember that waiting for perfection never got anyone any closer to it.
Then, I remind myself of the motto of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which was first comprised of French engineers, and it’s my advice to my friends who are debutants, like myself:
Essayons!
(Let us try!)
*Image Clip art courtesy of DailyClipArt.net
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Language of the last word
French, j’ai pensé, is the language of the last word. At conversation groups, when French natives speak, I always seem to hear the tail end of each response, and in les paroles of French music I always seem to comprehend le dernier mot of a line.
This is, of course, because the syllabic stress is on the final sound of a rhythmic grouping—not, I swear, because I’m only listening to the last sound that’s uttered.
For those of us new to French, it sounds a little like lalalalalalalalalalavais, lalalalalalalalalanez, lalalalalalalalaouais, when we hear the French banter with each other.
If I can pick out a word mid-sentence, I sometimes think for a moment j’ai gagné, until I realize there was a pause that elicited an emphasized syllable.
Ainsi, I would like to suggest that French speakers, when addressing the great untrained such as moi, try to contain the gist of the sentence in the final word.
An example of how a debutante can get the wrong idea:
Cute francophone #1: Ne vois pas maintenant, mais le femme etrange viens—son nom est Jeanne, ouais?
(in this case, the final word is my name followed by the French “yeah,” so I know I’m the subject of the sentence)
Cute francophone #2: J’ai achete une nouvelle chienne qui aboye beaucoup mais ses poils sont si très jolies.
(now I’m liking what I hear)
#1: Si j’aurais le chance, je vais inviter la princesse de Monaco pour un diner romantique.
(wow, I never realized how much he liked me!)
#2: Alors, c’est plus tard et j’ai sommeil. Je pense que je pars de coucher.
(Ouah, je rougis!)
I’m just getting ready to pull an Amelie and don my zorro costume, when…
(Donc, ils partent. Le fin, mais moi, je suis en seule avec mes joues rouges.)
So, well, you can see how misunderstandings could arrive.
But emphasizing the final sound also leads one de trouver les gens françaises plus passionant, ouais? Et qui n’aime pas ça? And maybe, just maybe, sometime the last word will be mine!
This is, of course, because the syllabic stress is on the final sound of a rhythmic grouping—not, I swear, because I’m only listening to the last sound that’s uttered.
For those of us new to French, it sounds a little like lalalalalalalalalalavais, lalalalalalalalalanez, lalalalalalalalaouais, when we hear the French banter with each other.
If I can pick out a word mid-sentence, I sometimes think for a moment j’ai gagné, until I realize there was a pause that elicited an emphasized syllable.
Ainsi, I would like to suggest that French speakers, when addressing the great untrained such as moi, try to contain the gist of the sentence in the final word.
An example of how a debutante can get the wrong idea:
Cute francophone #1: Ne vois pas maintenant, mais le femme etrange viens—son nom est Jeanne, ouais?
(in this case, the final word is my name followed by the French “yeah,” so I know I’m the subject of the sentence)
Cute francophone #2: J’ai achete une nouvelle chienne qui aboye beaucoup mais ses poils sont si très jolies.
(now I’m liking what I hear)
#1: Si j’aurais le chance, je vais inviter la princesse de Monaco pour un diner romantique.
(wow, I never realized how much he liked me!)
#2: Alors, c’est plus tard et j’ai sommeil. Je pense que je pars de coucher.
(Ouah, je rougis!)
I’m just getting ready to pull an Amelie and don my zorro costume, when…
(Donc, ils partent. Le fin, mais moi, je suis en seule avec mes joues rouges.)
So, well, you can see how misunderstandings could arrive.
But emphasizing the final sound also leads one de trouver les gens françaises plus passionant, ouais? Et qui n’aime pas ça? And maybe, just maybe, sometime the last word will be mine!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
La musique plays “hard to get”
Because it’s hard to simulate French immersion in Spokane, Washington; because it’s sometimes trop difficile to understand lightening-fast spoken French; and, bien sûr, because I love music, I thought finding a French radio station to listen to and buy some music from on the Internet would be a fun and easy way to surround myself with French more often.
The quest has been anything but easy.
I spent several days listening briefly to some 100 stations listed on compendiums of French radio stations. Some I skipped because they were news only (I'm all about news, trust me, but I was looking for music), and most that I thought seemed like they would play the kind of music I want to listen to in general play mostly the music I already listen to—en anglais! It was d'abord maddening, et puis a little disheartening, and then a friend told me that stations in France are required only to play 40 per cent French music.
I did find one station, Rire 100% nouveaux talents, that has cute comedy sketches (good for me, since I’m a comedian in my own mind)—I don’t understand much but it’s good to listen to a little bit.
However, once the laugh track started to grate on my nerves, and I realized I’m often too distracted to listen carefully enough to understand anything but the last word of a sentence (more on that another day!), I resumed my search. I tried stations from Belgium and Canada, but still, I would endure five minutes of commercials en français only to discover that much of the music was English.
Finally, I came across NRJ French, which has a Web radio that plays only French language pop music. Enfin, de rester au courant, I thought! And it has no commercials, save for station identifications.
And I do like it, except for the fact that it seems always to cut off Vanessa Paradis’ song, Il y a, directly in the middle, leaving me hanging for the ending. Add to that the frequent lag between identification of a song, and the actual song being played a ce moment, and it’s proven to be an okay, if not parfait, solution.
Soon, of course, a Francophile music junkie like myself wanted more than to listen to NRJ online. I wanted to buy the music I hear, and play it in my car on my four-hour drives to the city I love, and pretend that the alfalfa fields near Moses Lake are Provincial Lavender fields and the Columbia Gorge at Vantage is vraiment the red cliffs of Rousillon.
Alas, the bubble burst when I went to iTunes. After dutifully noting the names of artists and song titles I managed to glean from NRJ, and searching out and printing the lyrics to some of my favorites, I wanted to buy some albums—or at least favorite singles—to play in my car. Nearly everything current, and my favorite artists, is unavailable via U.S. iTunes, and since I’m in the U.S., I’m not permitted to buy things from the French iTunes site. Even le petit cadeau de Nöel from Gerard de Palmas’ Facebook postings is unavailable to me.
I do understand there are other ways to get music on the Internet, I just prefer to travel the most direct (and least time-consuming) route when possible, and to pay the artists for their work through the normal channels. And, there are, of course, some French-language pop and rock cds for sale on iTunes U.S., just frustratingly not the most current songs, like those I’m listening to on NRJ French.
I will not give up, but the search for good music is never easy, I guess! As Christophe Maê would sing (his music is also unavailable sur U.S. iTunes) Dingue, dingue, dingue, dingue!
Fortunately, I do have at least four fun hours of French music, a la Louise Attaque, Sanseverino, and de Palmas, to transport me from Washington to France dans la voiture this weekend.
The quest has been anything but easy.
I spent several days listening briefly to some 100 stations listed on compendiums of French radio stations. Some I skipped because they were news only (I'm all about news, trust me, but I was looking for music), and most that I thought seemed like they would play the kind of music I want to listen to in general play mostly the music I already listen to—en anglais! It was d'abord maddening, et puis a little disheartening, and then a friend told me that stations in France are required only to play 40 per cent French music.
I did find one station, Rire 100% nouveaux talents, that has cute comedy sketches (good for me, since I’m a comedian in my own mind)—I don’t understand much but it’s good to listen to a little bit.
However, once the laugh track started to grate on my nerves, and I realized I’m often too distracted to listen carefully enough to understand anything but the last word of a sentence (more on that another day!), I resumed my search. I tried stations from Belgium and Canada, but still, I would endure five minutes of commercials en français only to discover that much of the music was English.
Finally, I came across NRJ French, which has a Web radio that plays only French language pop music. Enfin, de rester au courant, I thought! And it has no commercials, save for station identifications.
And I do like it, except for the fact that it seems always to cut off Vanessa Paradis’ song, Il y a, directly in the middle, leaving me hanging for the ending. Add to that the frequent lag between identification of a song, and the actual song being played a ce moment, and it’s proven to be an okay, if not parfait, solution.
Soon, of course, a Francophile music junkie like myself wanted more than to listen to NRJ online. I wanted to buy the music I hear, and play it in my car on my four-hour drives to the city I love, and pretend that the alfalfa fields near Moses Lake are Provincial Lavender fields and the Columbia Gorge at Vantage is vraiment the red cliffs of Rousillon.
Alas, the bubble burst when I went to iTunes. After dutifully noting the names of artists and song titles I managed to glean from NRJ, and searching out and printing the lyrics to some of my favorites, I wanted to buy some albums—or at least favorite singles—to play in my car. Nearly everything current, and my favorite artists, is unavailable via U.S. iTunes, and since I’m in the U.S., I’m not permitted to buy things from the French iTunes site. Even le petit cadeau de Nöel from Gerard de Palmas’ Facebook postings is unavailable to me.
I do understand there are other ways to get music on the Internet, I just prefer to travel the most direct (and least time-consuming) route when possible, and to pay the artists for their work through the normal channels. And, there are, of course, some French-language pop and rock cds for sale on iTunes U.S., just frustratingly not the most current songs, like those I’m listening to on NRJ French.
I will not give up, but the search for good music is never easy, I guess! As Christophe Maê would sing (his music is also unavailable sur U.S. iTunes) Dingue, dingue, dingue, dingue!
Fortunately, I do have at least four fun hours of French music, a la Louise Attaque, Sanseverino, and de Palmas, to transport me from Washington to France dans la voiture this weekend.
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