Learn French For Fun

New Language Learning eNewsletter: Free French Worksheets Every Month

2009-01-08T11:57:00.001-08:00

Visit Foreign Language Fun

2008-10-23T16:08:00.001-07:00

Au Revoir

2008-10-05T17:35:00.000-07:00

A sermon at church today about being busy got me seriously thinking. It seems as though I've been functioning lately on coffee and a "sleep is for the weak" mentality. Not the way to live life, especially one as blessed as mine with a precious young family and a job I love.

Although I've been enjoying this blog and some other online writing gigs, something has to go. My kids have eaten at McDonald's one time too many. After the decision, I curled up for a wonderful afternoon nap and woke up to fix a simple, healthy dinner for my family. I still face laundry and school papers to grade, but I feel calm and relaxed :-)

I hope you'll come visit me at the one blog that gets to stay: ForeignLanguageFun. Encouraging teachers and families to make language learning a fun and natural part of a child's life is my true passion. And I'll keep working hard to develop useful and cheap language learning materials in English, Spanish and French at the new and growing Foreign Language House.

It has been a privilege to meet so many like-minded Francophiles :-) I won't completely rule out future blog posts, but for the indefinite future, let me just say Merci et Au revoir!

Learn Spooky French Words for Halloween

2008-10-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

C'est octobre. I love the chill that's in the air this time of the year. It can only mean one thing . . . l'Halloween! I took my boys costume shopping this afternoon. Looks like I'm going to have a little pirate and a Darth Vader this year. I can't wait to dress in costume and take the kids trick-or-treating on a dark, chilly night. Tomorrow we're decking out our house with the paper skeletons and light-up bats. J'adore l'Halloween!

I grew up with this holiday, but it's a relative newcomer to France. Every year I'm amazed by how it's catching on.

Learn some spooky vocabulary in French, and challenge a friend to a game of Halloween Tic Tac Toe. It's the latest language download by Foreign Language House.

Disguised as the classic X and O game, this effective activity encourages speaking and communication. Instead of a blank tic tac toe grid, you'll find Halloween vocabulary pictures in each square. Players must speak in order to place an X or O in a box. Beginners can just identify the picture with a single word, while more advanced speakers can make descriptions or create original sentences in a variety of tenses.

haunted house - maison hantée

bat- chauve-souris
ghost- fantôme
owl- hibou
pumpkin- citrouille
black cat- chat noir
skeleton- squelette
mummy- momie
scarecrow- épouvantail
witch- sorcière

spider - araignée

Visit the Foreign Language House storefront at Lulu.com for an ever growing collection of fun, convenient, and affordable language learning downloads. Halloween Tic Tac Toe is less than one dollar :-)

Photo Credit: by Tinneketin at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1083110

Bon Anniversaire à Moi

2008-10-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today's my birthday--mon anniversaire. The big number this year is 41 . . . not quite as traumatic as the big 4-0h of le 3 octobre 2007.

Of course, it's only fitting to teach some French birthday vocabulary on this auspicious occasion. Here are a few useful expressions you can use in a French birthday card:

Bon Anniversaire - Happy Birthday
Joyeux Anniversaire - Happy Birthday
À - to
Pour - for
De - from
Mon cher ______ - My dear (insert boy's name)
Ma chère ______ - My dear (insert girl's name)
Je pense à toi. - I'm thinking of you
Le meilleur reste à venir. - The best is yet to come.

Read Make a French Birthday Card for more words and expressions.

Well, I've got to run! Time to blow out those birthday bougies:

Photo Credit: by nkzs at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1076967

Am Stram Gram: Eeney Meeney Miney Moe the French Way

2008-09-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

When you're a kid, picking the person to be "It" for a game is serious business. I grew up with this elimination rhyme:

Eeney meeney miney moe,

Catch a tiger by its toe,

If he hollers let him go,

Eeney meeney miney moe.

My mother says to pick

The very best one

And you are not it!

Meanwhile in France, children were up to the same serious business with an equally silly rhyme:

Am, stram, gram,

Pique et pique et colégram

Bourre et bourre et ratatam

Am, stram, gram

No, it doesn't mean anything. (Though it's great practice for pronouncing the French "r"!) Whenever you need to make a decision, turn to Am Stram Gram!

Learn French Clothing Vocabulary with Your Dog

2008-09-26T05:24:00.001-07:00

Every beginning French student learns clothing vocabulary. As a high school teacher, I often send my kids on web quests to experience real language vs. textbook language. All kids love to shop . . . why not do some pretend internet shopping in Paris?

Yeah, right. Just try to find a site with no snicker-producing, parent-complaining photos of beautiful women in sexy lingerie. Luckily, I had what Oprah calls an "Aha!" moment. Why not shop for dog clothes?

The Parisians' love and acceptance of man's best friend did not disappoint. I found the ultimate in canine-couture at Un Chien dans le Marais: the boutique "Pour tous les chiens qui ont du flair!" My students will spend a little time and imaginary euros in the computer lab today, pretending to outfit the likes of Paris Hilton's high-class chien.

Here are a few basic vocabulary items to get you started on shopping for your best friend:

le pantalon - pants

la chemise - shirt

le pull - sweater

le chapeau - hat

la robe - dress

la jupe - skirt

le blouson - jacket

le pyjama - pajamas

You've got to check out Un Chien dans le Marais! Doesn't your chien deserve a little flair?

Photo Credit: planetka at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/771661

Guest Post: How Learning a Second Language Can Translate into Business Success

2008-09-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to welcome a guest blogger today! Emmy from Transparent Language, take it away:

In many cases, knowing a second language will be an assumption rather than something compulsory in your current MBA program. If you are on the cusp of entering the business world, learning a foreign language will help your future. If you second language is something you haven’t practiced since high school, there may be a course that you can take outside of your existing program. If your MBA program does however offer second language courses as a part of the regular curriculum, take advantage of any opportunity to improve your skills. It’ll be the quickest way, and your best odds of actually getting it done. Why should you bother? A second language can be a great help in business, in many ways.

While you may not need to have the proficiency necessary for complicated negations, being able to be conversational in a foreign language will help you to stand out from the crowd. For existing and potential clients, being able to accommodate their language will be a great asset in putting them at ease with you, allowing you to build on a social connection.

The further world markets mesh, the greater the value of being multilingual becomes. The business world and the money that fuels it know no borders and strong language skills will need to reflect that attitude. More and more businesses will deal with international partners, so being the one to help make the connection can create great opportunities for you to shine for your employer. If you run your own business (or plan to), speaking a second language can help make the difference in building clients or forming partnerships.

Where I live, having that second language knowledge is essential, and while it may not keep you from working, it will keep you from moving up in the ladder. Being able to switch on the fly with the correct aphorisms into that second language has helped me put potential clients at ease. I’ve been able to build on a social connection, and increase customer loyalty. Even if you don’t live in a bilingual community, there are many opportunities to make use of your language skills, especially in big cities with larger proportions of international population.

Speaking of other cities, learning a second language can open many international employment opportunities, too. Having an English speaker on staff is handy, depending on the part of the world, so if you can get by with basic communication in their language, you might be unique candidate they’re looking for, giving you a chance to travel as you work. Aside from being exciting and personally enriching, working abroad shows an ability to adapt to challenging new work environments, and will add life to your resume.

The image you project with your language skills will open as many doors in the business world as you can say hello in. It can help you communicate better with and form closer bonds with colleagues where you work that speak the language, help you build better relationships with company clients and partners, and enrich your mind and resume as you face new challenges at home or abroad. Once you do have that second language learned, speak it as frequently as possible. When it comes to language, use it or lose it, definitely applies. If you need, try language learning software to keep your skills sharp. Take your career to the next level!

Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Fleur-de-Lys

2008-09-23T19:23:00.001-07:00

Did you play "Rock, Paper, Scissors" when you were a kid? I did. Still do, as a matter of fact :-)

I did a little research and found all sort of variations in French. Here are just a few:

En France:

Pierre - Feuille - Ciseaux

Papier - Caillou - Ciseaux

Au Québec:

Roche - Papier - Ciseaux

En Belgique:

Pierre - Papier - Ciseaux

En Suisse:

Feuille - Caillou - Ciseaux

To start the game, players pound a fist into their palm. In English, I usually just say, "One, Two, Three!" before revealing rock, paper, or scissors. Just the other day, I learned that a bilingual amie of mine does this cool French chant instead:

Un, deux, trois, fleur

Un, deux, trois, lys

Un, deux, trois, fleur-de-lys!

Speaking of fleur-de-lys . . .

A few weeks ago, I wrote to you about a fantastic giveaway for a pair of fleur-de-lys earrings. I didn't win. Zut! In case you were not the lucky winner either, I wanted to share with you the huge selection of fleur-de-lys jewelry available at Amazon.com. When you purchase here, you help support this free site.

des bijoux - jewelry

un collier - necklace

des boucles d'oreille - earrings

un bracelet - bracelet

un anneau/une bague - ring

Photo Credit: by ctechs at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/933320

Amazon.com Widgets

Learn French Numbers: Un, Deux, Trois

2008-09-21T19:42:00.001-07:00

Learn how to count in French with this traditional French children's song.

Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois  (1,2,3, we’re going to the woods)

Quatre, cinq, six, ceuillir des cerises  (4, 5, 6, to pick cherries)

Sept, huit, neuf dans un panier neuf  (7, 8, 9, in a new basket)

Dix, onze, douze elles seront toutes rouges  (10, 11, 12, they will be all red.)

Here are the French numbers 0-20:

0 zéro

1 un

2 deux

3 trois

4 quatre

5 cinq

6 six

7 sept

8 huit

9 neuf

10 dix

11 onze

12 douze

13 treize

14 quatorze

15 quinze

16 seize

17 dix-sept

18 dix-huit

19 dix-neuf

20 vingt

Foreign Language House is on a roll, with another downloadable e-book ready for the francophiles (or francophile wannabe's) out there! French Numbers 0-20 is a nifty little 10-page packet for beginners of any age. You'll find word lists, flash cards, a mini-workbook, culture (like this song) and LOTS of games. Check it out here. Only $3.25!

Learn French Question Words

2008-09-18T17:02:00.001-07:00

I call them the "Question Words" . . . things a reporter might ask, such as: who, what, where, when, how, why, etc. When I teach my French students, I always introduce the Question Words as soon as possible. Even if a beginner doesn't formally understand all of the intricacies of question formation, the use of these single words are vitally important for communication.

Of course, it's best to use these French question words within a logical context. We spend plenty of time in class doing just that. But there's a place for simple memorization, too. And what better way to memorize that with la musique?

Without further ado, here are the French Question Words to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."

Qui - Who

Que (Qu') - What

Où - Where

Quand - When

Comment - How

Pourquoi - Why (parce que . . . because!)

Combien (de) - How much/many (of)

À quelle heure - (At) what time . . .

Voilà les questions!

Listen to my French II students singing La Chanson des Questions. The quality is rather poor since I recorded them on my cell phone. (Shhh . . . don't tell my administrators that I broke the "no phones" rule.) Hopefully, you'll be able to get the general idea. Ignore my cheesy "teacher persona" and enjoy!

questions-song1

Photo Credit: by lusi at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/787433

French Teaching Activities: Telephone and Numbers Games

2008-09-17T16:07:00.001-07:00

I would like to announce the arrival of my first foreign language teaching e-book. Since 1990, I've shared classroom games, activities, and projects at teacher conferences across the U.S. Now I'll be sharing ideas digitally on-demand!

I have partnered with a former Spanish teaching colleague to create Foreign Language House language learning materials. My talented friend, Catherine, and I are working on lots and lots of e-publications for teaching French, Spanish, and English in the classroom or at home. Let me tell you about our first baby.

French Telephone Games is a resource for teaching numbers and conversational skills to students in upper elementary through high school. If you teach foreign languages, perhaps you've played the "Telephone Game." Every student receives a paper telephone with a phone number on it. When the teacher draws a phone number out of a hat and "dials," the owner of the phone must pick up and perform the dialogue. This activity is intended for use in a classroom, but it can easily be adapted for groups of four or more.

My students love the Telephone Game for the simple reason that they love to talk on the phone. Yes, even my high schoolers get that little paper phone in their hands and start happily gabbing away! I like the Telephone Game because I can review numbers quickly and naturally at any point in the year; my students develop the useful skill of using phones in French; each and every student is accountable to practice dialogues and listen for their phone number; the activity is adaptable to almost any context and ability level; and best of all---it's just plain fun!

Check out the snazzy cell phone Table of Contents to see what you get in this e-book: over 15 pages of directions, culture, language, student handouts, and a dozen fun numbers games. The best part is the template for the paper phones. Just print and go! Plus, I've included a variety of authentic French telephone numbers to use on your phones as your students practice numbers 0-99.

French Telephone Games is available to be downloaded now for only $5 US. Click this link, or visit the Foreign Language House store on Lulu.com (The link is on the side bar.) The Spanish version of Telephone Games will be out any day now, and we've got several other works in progress.

Comment if you have any requests for teaching or learning materials in English, French, or Spanish. Merci :-)

Learn Rainy French Weather Expressions: Il Pleut!

2008-09-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Ike is certainly no threat here in Michigan, and I am grateful to be safe and sound. My thoughts are with my amis in Texas. I experienced just one hurricane many years ago in North Carolina, and once was enough.

But if you can indulge just a wee bit of whining, it has rained here sans cesse all weekend long. Ça suffit!

In honor of our wet, wet weekend, learn some rainy French weather expressions.

Quel temps fait-il? - What's the weather like?
Il pleut. - It's raining.
Il fait mauvais. - It's bad out.
Il fait nuageux./Il y a des nuages. - It's cloudy.
Il fait orageux. - It's stormy.
Il fait des éclairs. - There's lightning.
Il fait du tonnerre./Il tonne. - It's thundering.
Il fait du vent. - It's windy.

N'oubliez pas . . . - Don't forget . . .

un parapluie - an umbrella

un imperméable - a raincoat

I'm hoping to soon see . . .

un arc-en-ciel - rainbow

Check out this traditional French song about the rain. (La grenouille means frog.)

Il pleut il mouille c’est la fête à la grenouille.

Any other French expressions for rain? Feel free to comment and add to the list.

Photo Credit: by kalilo at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1066907

Learn How to Tell Time in French

2008-09-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

It's time for a French lesson. Let's synchronize our watches and get started!

Quelle heure est-il? What time is it?

À quelle heure (est) = At what time (is)

C'est l'heure = It's time

Il est une heure. (1h00)

Il est deux heures. (2h00)

Il est trois heures. (3h00)

Il est quatre heures. (4h00)

Il est cinq heures. (5h00)

Il est six heures. (6h00)

Il est sept heures. (7h00)

Il est huit heures. (8h00)

Il est neuf heures. (9h00)

Il est dix heures. (10h00)

Il est onze heures. (11h00)

Il est midi. (12h00) = noon

Il est minuit. (24h00) = midnight

To indicate how many minutes have passed the hour, simply state the time followed by the number of minutes. For example--

Il est trois heures dix. (3h10)

Il est six heures vingt-cinq. (6h25)

Il est sept heures cinquante-cinq. (7h55)

For 15 minutes past the hour, you can say "quinze" or "ET QUART."

Il est huit heures quinze = Il est huit heures et quart = 8h15

For 30 minutes past the hour, you can say "trente" or "ET DEMIE"

Il est six heures trente = Il est six heures et demie = 6h30

There is often more than one way to express a time. You can say "It's two forty" or "It's twenty to three." In French, you do not say "to" or "til". Instead, you SUBSTRACT the number of minutes before the hour. The word "minus" is "MOINS" in French.

Il est huit heures quarante = Il est neuf heures moins vingt = 8h40

Il est deux heures cinquante-cinq = Il est trois heures moins cinq = 2h55

If you are subtracting 15 minutes (a quarter) say, MOINS LE QUART.

Il est trois heures quarante-cinq = Il est quatre heures moins le quart = 3h45

Other useful time expressions:

tôt = early

tard = late

du matin = in the morning

de l'après-midi = in the afternoon

du soir = in the evening

Instead of using a.m. and p.m. most French schedules are based on the 24-hour clock. You will see this on train schedules, school schedules, and TV guides. If you see an official or military time over 12, simply subtract 12 to find the time in p.m.

Play around on this fun ONLINE TIME GAME for kids from the Hello-World website.

Now that you are a telling-time-in-French-expert, try your luck on this TIME QUIZ from About.com.

Photo Credit: by jayofboy at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1064321

J'aime la Poutine

2008-09-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

One way or another, le fromage seems to be a staple ingredient of many comfort foods. For this American girl, it's the classic grilled cheese sandwich. And then my blogging buddy Lyne, a Québécoise, reminded me about that Canadian comfort specialty, la poutine.

Now, this isn't fancy cuisine. We're talking a fast food guilty pleasure dating back to 1950's Quebec. You can't get poutine just anywhere--although you can get it at any McDonald's in Quebec. For poutine you need . . .

les frites (fries)

le fromage (cheese--the fresher the cheese curds the better!)

la sauce (gravy--brown)

To find out more about this sometimes controversial Canadian original, follow this link to watch a film clip called, "Vive la Poutine."

Miam-Miam! Moi, j'aime la poutine!

Photo Credit: by digiology at http://morguefile.com/archive/?display=133314

Grilled Fromage Sandwich: A French Twist on an American Classic

2008-09-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

Did you know that France is home to over 400 different varieties of cheese? In fact, some sources even put the number closer to 1000. That's a lot of fromage! I'm not a huge cheese connoisseur, especially when it comes to anything remotely smelly. I like my cheese smooth, creamy, and mild. My favorite French cheese is Port Salut, a semi-soft pasteurized cheese from Bretagne (Brittany.)

Well, I had an idea for a little mélange of cultural cuisines tonight. The kids and I were tired out from our back-to-school schedules, so I turned to my favorite classic American comfort food--grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. It's what my mom often made for me when I was a kid. Miam-miam! As I was preparing my sandwich with good 'ol squares of processed American cheese, I remembered the Port Salut sitting in my fridge. Hmmm . . . American cheese AND Port Salut! It was, indeed, the perfect French twist on a classic American sandwich.

I do hope I have not committed an unpardonable sin by pairing French fromage with processed American--and then relishing every bite. I remember a French acquaintance who was horrified by the mere existence of Cheez Whiz. But, in fact, my grilled fromage sandwich is pretty much symbolic of me . . . a classic American girl with a just touch of French!

Photo Credit: by cohdra at http://morguefile.com/archive/?display=136544

Bollyrobics: Work Out in French and Hindi

2008-09-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

Bollywood is hot. Still, I was a bit surprised to find a French Bollywood workout video. That's right, you can get in shape to Hindi music and French directions. Bollyrobics en français. How very multicultural!

The song on this video clip is from a Bollywood musical called Kal Ho Naa Hol. The song is Maahi Ve, which means "Oh, my love" or "Oh, mon amour." I've been singing it all day.

As an educator, I can assure you that movement reinforces learning in a powerful way. So, enjoy this kinesthetic, effective, and fun French lesson. Voilà Bollyrobics:

Foulard (scarf/veil)

Vite (quickly)

Lentement (slowly)

Les hanches (hips)

Le foulard au dessus de la tête. (Scarf over the head.)

Rotation (rotate/circle)

Saisir le foulard. (Grab the veil.)

Maahi Ve

Encore deux (Two more)

Dernière fois (Last time)

Flamant rose (Flamingo)

Mouvement en forme de huit (Figure eight movement)

Flamant rose (Flamingo)

Le huit (Figure eight)

Ondulation (Sway)

Avant (Forward)

Arrière (Back)

Maahi Ve

Encore deux (Two more)

Dernière fois (Last time)

Brillante Blog Award

2008-09-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

Merci, Heathen Homeschoolers, for bestowing this coveted award upon Learn French for Fun :-)
I'd like to accept the Brillante and join in the fun. Here are the rules:

Put the logo on your blog.
Add a link to the person who awarded you.
Nominate at least five other blogs.
Add links to those blogs on your blog.
Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

And my French-speaking, French-loving nominees are . . .

Keep up the brilliant French blogging!

Whales in Quebec

2008-09-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, I studied French at l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. During my stay, a friend and I went on a weekend excursion to a charming little village called Tadoussac. It's situated on the St. Lawrence River and Saguenay Fjord.

Tadoussac, established in 1599, was France's first trading post in what would one day become Canada. But the real claim to fame of this village are the whales.

Les baleines

We boarded a whale watching boat and I had the privilege of witnessing the beauty of more than a dozen of these magnificent creatures.

Oh, comme les baleines sont belles et magnifiques!

I had never before heard French speakers use the expression "Wow!" as much as I did that day. If you ever have the opportunity, go whale watching in Tadoussac, Quebec.

You just never know where speaking French will lead you!

Photo Credit: by Bodoklecksel at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Tadoussac.jpg

Learn French in the Past, Present, and Future with Francis Cabrel

2008-09-06T22:02:00.000-07:00

It's rough being a language teacher sometimes. You hear a great song and all you can think about is, "Wow, I can use this to teach grammar!"

Such is the case with one of my favorite songs, Je t'aimais, je t'aime, et je t'aimerai (1994), by French singer-songwriter Francis Cabrel. Despite years of using the song to teach tenses, I still love it. It was the only non-English song at my wedding almost ten years ago.

So, I'll make the grammar lesson brief and let you enjoy la chanson.

Je t'aimais (l'imparfait) - I loved you (imperfect past tense)

Je t'aime (le présent) - I love you (present tense)

Je t'aimerai (le futur) - I will love you (future tense)

Learn French Expressions for "I'm Tired!"

2008-09-05T18:51:00.001-07:00

What a week it has been! I write to you on this Friday evening after my first hectic week of teaching, new schedules for the kids, and a nasty 24-hour stomach flu (oui . . . already needed a substitute teacher.) My lazy days of summer are indeed just a memory.

Here are some phrases to express my present state:

Je suis fatigué(e) = I'm tired

Je suis crevé(e) = I'm beat, wiped out

Je suis à bout de force = I'm beat, out of steam

J'ai sommeil = I'm sleepy

Au lit! = To bed!

Bonne nuit = Good night

Comment if you've got any more good French expressions for extreme fatigue.

I'll leave you with a classic French lullaby, Fais Dodo. Bonne nuit mes amis.

Amazon.com Widgets

Photo Credit: by planetka at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1057846

Learn the French Alphabet

2008-09-03T18:53:00.001-07:00

With a kindergardener and a preschooler in the house, I sing the Alphabet Song on a fairly regular basis. Knowing the sounds of the alphabet are fundamental to learning any language, and crucial for reading and pronunciation. Whenever my students read out loud, I am always giving them little alphabet reminders, like "i" in French sounds like "ee" in English.

Even if you are 80 years old, you've got to go back to those fundamental building blocks if you are new to learning French. At least for us English speakers, the French alphabet is nice and familiar. No new letters or hard-to-decipher symbols.

Voici l'alphabet français. Go ahead and sing along!

A (ah), B (bay), C (say), D (day), E (eh), F (eff), G (zhay),

H (osh), I (ee), J (zhee), K (kah),

L (el), M (em), N (en), O (oh), P (pay),

Q* (kew), R* (air), S (ess),

T (tay), U* (ew), V (vay),

W (doo-bleh vay), X (eeks), Y (ee-grek), et Z (zed)

Some French sounds don't exist in English. The R sound is produced in the back of your throat. For U and Q, try saying "ee" but move your lips into position for "u." Listen to the pronunciation of the French Alphabet on this Studio4Learning video lesson:

Practice spelling your last name out loud using French letters. That's a skill that you will most likely use when you travel. Another fun way to practice the alphabet is to play a game of le Pendu (Hangman).

The following downloads will come in handy for helping you master the French alphabet. Most (but not all) are for children. Even so, learning through song is an effective, proven method for language learning.

Learn your basic French building blocks with l'alphabet français.

Amazon.com Widgets

Photo Credit: CBI Design at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/149856

Fleur-de-Lys Earrings Giveaway

2008-09-02T17:59:00.000-07:00

For centuries, the fleur-de-lys (lily flower) has been the royal emblem of the French monarchy. It is, in fact, a religious symbol. As such, it reinforced the reigns of French kings as divine. The three petals of the fleur-de-lys represent the Trinity. The fleur-de-lys is also a symbol of the Virgin Mary.

You'll see fleur-de-lys symbols in French castles, on Quebec's flag, around New Orleans, and in fashion and home decor. How 'bout seeing them dangling from your ears? I just stumbled upon a giveaway for a beautiful pair of fleur-de-lys earrings from Beads by Evelyn.

Want to enter to win? I do! Simply click this link of "The Not So Blog" blog and follow the directions. The giveaway ends le 8 septembre, 23h59. (Sept. 8 at 11:59 p.m.)

Bonne chance tout le monde!

Brad and Angelina's French Fairytale Castle

2008-08-31T20:14:00.000-07:00

I've decided to live vicariously through Brangelina. Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and their six children recently moved into a lovely $70 million home. It sits on 880 acres in the sun-drenched south of France near Aix-en-Provence.

The amenities of Chateau Miraval include:

trente-cinq salles (35 rooms)

un vignoble (vineyard)

un lac (lake)

une forêt (forest)

deux piscines (two pools)

un gymnase (gym)

des douves (moat)

A moat? Oh la la!

Here are a few useful phrases du jour:

J'habite dans un appartement. (zhah-beet dohnz un ah-part-a-mohn) -- I live in an apartment.
J'habite dans une maison. (zhah-beet dohnz ewn may-zohn) -- I live in a house.

J'habite dans un château. (zhah-beet dohnz uhn shah-toe) -- I live in a castle.

. . . avec des douves (ah-vek day doov) . . . with a moat.

Où habitez-vous? (ooh ah-bee-tay voo) Where do you live?

You might be interested to know that Angelina has been busy learning French the past few years. According to this story at TheImproper.com, she eventually wants to try out for a role in a French film. Wonder if Brad knows any French?

For more photos of the humble abode, click on this link from the Huffington Post.

Ne parlez pas anglais: Don't Speak English

2008-08-31T05:54:00.000-07:00

I've been on a quest to speak the language of my teenage students. Not the day to day lingo/slang. I don't even try. What I'm attempting to do, at the age of 40, is to become a digital, techie, texting type of gal. (Still don't get why people text. Eh bien!) I'm starting a blog for students this year in the hopes that they'll write more in the language and spend a little more time listening to French at home through hip video and audio clips. I'm even dipping my toe in the water of podcasting.

As I was on the prowl for fun videos for my students, I found this one. It isn't quite appropriate for them, but you might have a laugh. Ne parlez pas anglais. Enjoy!