Learn French For Fun

Bilingual Bear: French and English Children's Books

2010-10-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the prowl for good French children's books. You'll have to check out the bilingual treasures I've discovered at Barefoot Books! These Bear books are very appealing and engaging to kids, both visually and linguistically. Designed for children ages 2-6, they can also be used for older novice level French learners. In fact, I've used Bear in a Square/L'ours dans un carré for many years to reinforce both shapes and numbers for students form preschool through 5th grade. The Bilingual Bear books are written by Stella Blackstone and illustrated by Debbie Harter. Enjoy!

Bear about Town/L'ours dans la ville

Bear at Home/L'ours à la maison

Bear in a Square/L'ours dans un carré

Bear in Sunshine/L'ours au soleil

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

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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.

Keep practicing the skill of telling time in French with this PowerPoint.

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!

Learn French Grammar: How to Conjugate Regular -ER Verbs

2008-08-28T17:00:00.001-07:00

I was just pondering the subtitle of this blog: "A Beginner's Guide to French Vocabulary, Phrases, Grammar, and Culture." I looked over my posts so far. The last four entries had at least one mention of le chocolat, but I have yet to address everyone's favorite topic--grammar.

Now, I know that grammar might not be the most riveting subject in the world, but I'll do my best to make it fun. You won't get the live version of the song and dance (literally) that I do with my middle and high school students, but hopefully I can provide a clear, easy-to-understand beginner grammar lesson about . . . Ta-da!

Regular -ER Verbs

Oh, did you want to know what a regular -ER verb is? So glad you asked. French verbs can be classified as regular (following a pattern) or irregular (memorize, memorize, memorize.) There are three types of regular verbs: those ending in -ER, -IR, and -RE.

-ER verbs are my personal favorite. They are partout (everywhere.) Here are just a few:

parler (par-lay) - to speak

écouter (ay-coo-tay) - to listen

penser (pohn-say) - to think

danser (dohn-say) - to dance

regarder (reh-gar-day) - to watch, to look at

jouer (zhoo-ay) - to play

étudier (ay-tew-dee-ay) - to study

habiter (ah-bee-tay) - to live

téléphoner (tay-lay-fone-ay) - to phone/to call

visiter (vee-zee-tay) - to visit

donner (doen-ay) - to give

toucher (too-shay) - to touch

pousser (poo-say) - to push

tirer (tee-ray) - to pull

voyager* (voy-ah-zhay) - to travel

manger*(monzh-ay) - to eat

nager*(nahzh-ay) - to swim

I could go on and on and on. -ER verbs are très, très populaires.

Did you notice that the -ER at the end is pronounced "ay"? And did you also notice that the translations of all of the verbs begin with "to"? These verbs are in their most basic form, an infinitive. Of course, you can't say "I to eat", "He to play", or "Do you to swim?" You've got to conjugate.

Conjugation is simply changing a verb to match it's subject. In English, we say "I eat" and "He eats." The verb ending changes to agree with the subject. You do it all the time without even thinking about it.

But we're learning French. Let's think about it.

To conjugate an -ER verb, first set up a verb chart with your subject pronouns. (You'll do this for every verb you conjugate, forever and ever.) It will always be set up like this:

je = I (j' before a vowel sound) nous = we

tu = you (singular/informal) vous = you (plural or formal)

il = he or it ils = they (masculine)

elle = she or it elles = they (feminine)

Let's conjugate the verb parler. Write it at the top of your chart. Now follow these steps:

1. Drop the -ER off of the infinitive. This will leave you with the stem parl

2. Add endings to the stem. Just memorize the following red endings pattern and you can use them on every -er verb:

parler

je parlE nous parlONS

tu parlES vous parlEZ

il parlE ils parlENT

elle parlE elles parlENT

I spell out and sing the -ER endings with my students to help them remember the endings. The tune is "The Mexican Hat Dance." Say every letter individually: e, e-s, e, e, (clap, clap) o-n-s, e-z, (clap, clap) e-n-t, e-n-t (now, everyone dansez!)

Try spelling French -ER verb endings with Pork Chop le chat:

I promise I'm almost done . . . just one word on pronunciation. -ER verbs are "shoe" verbs. Draw one large circle-like shape around all of the verbs in your chart with the exception of the nous and vous forms. Doesn't it look like a shoe? Everything in the shoe has something in common. For -ER verbs, it's the pronunciation. That's right . . . parle, parles, and parlent all sound exactly alike (like this-"parl"). Please, please, please, for the love of Dieu, do not pronounce the "ent." Drives this French teacher crazy.

Now go forth and conjugate!

*When -ER verb stems end with the letter G, add E on the nous form before adding the ONS: nous voyagEons, nous mangEons, nous nagEons.

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Zut! Zut! Zut!

2008-08-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

Our backyard deck needs some work. Nothing major--just a little routine staining. My dad happened to have two extra gallons of wood stain at his place, so he loaded the cans into the back of my minivan the other day. This afternoon, I discovered that one of the cans must have already been opened. A quick stop and sudden turn (not unusual when I'm behind the wheel) resulted in the can tipping over and spilling. Stain all over the car. Oh nooooooooo . . . .

Zut! (zewt) Darn! Blast! It's a tame little expression, but it feels good to say it in French. Go ahead . . . picture the interior of your car in a pool of deck stain and say it with feeling. ZUT!

Merde!* (maird) Shit! Bilingual dictionaries will put an asterisk by this one. It's not the worst thing that could slip out, but try not to say it in front of the kids.

This is not what I wanted to deal with my first day back to work. I need du vin blanc et du chocolat!

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Crepes: A Recipe for Learning French

2008-08-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

Crêpes are one of my favorite French specialties. Years ago I was a regular at a little street side crepe stand on la Rue Mouffetard in Paris. If I didn't eat a ham-cheese-mushroom crêpe for lunch, I'd often stop by later for a Nutella pick-me-up after class. (Wish I could recapture that youthful metabolism!)

Later, I discovered les crêperies bretonnes. Heartier galettes, made with buckwheat flour, are folded into the shape of a square. Friends from the northwest region of la Bretagne educated me on the way to enjoy a traditional sit-down meal of crêpes: one galette, then another, and perhaps a salad. The preferred drink is a bottle of the slightly alcoholic apple cidre. Topping off the meal are dessert crepes prepared with a sweeter batter, and sometimes even served flambée.

Too bad crêperies bretonnes are practically non-existent here in my little corner of Michigan. I'll just have to salivate over this crêperie menu and dream of my favorite French meals.

Today, I introduced about 20 preschoolers at my sons' day care to the wonder of crêpes. "They're like thin pancakes without the maple syrup," I explained. My cooking demonstration and taste-testing required a double batch of batter, my trusty crepe maker (see note below), and an array of toppings tempting to any 4 year-old. To say it was a hit would be an understatement.

Learn some French foods as you prepare some tasty crepes! Decent recipes abound online. Here are your basic ingredients:

de la farine (lah far-een) - flour

des oeufs (dayz euf) - eggs

du lait (dew lay) - milk

de l'eau (deh low) - water

du sel (dew sell) - salt

du beurre (dew burr) - butter

Crepe toppings are vast. Here's what the kids enjoyed:

des fraises (day frez) - strawberries

des bananes (day bah-nahn) - bananas

du chocolat (dew show-koh-lah) - chocolate

du sucre (dew soo-creh) - sugar

de la confiture (deh lah cohn-fee-tyer) - jam

de la chantilly (deh la shohn-tee-yee) - whipped cream

My intention wasn't to use every topping at the same time, but the kids assured me the crepes were délicieux!

What's your favorite kind of crepe?

Photo Credit: by woodsy at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/948646

At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I have to tell you how much I love my crepe maker. I bought the one pictured here a few months ago. Je l'adore!!!! You prepare your batter and put it in the shallow tray, and then you just dip the pan upside down into the batter and return it to the counter to cook. When the crepe's ready, you turn the pan upside down over a plate and it falls off. It sometimes needs a little nudge with a rubber spatula, but the non-stick surface is really great. This little crepe maker is perfect "on the go" when I cook in the classroom as a little cultural experience.

Learn French Foods for a Pique-Nique

2008-08-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

I ate dinner outside on my deck this evening, lingering afterward to sip a second glass of white wine (a delicious French Muscadet.) I'm so focused on la rentrée and heading back to school, I haven't been properly enjoying these last summer nights.

I decided that I need to celebrate the end of August with a classic French picnic. Un pique-nique français.

Last spring, when warm sunshine and summer vacations were on the brain, I wrote this French Picnic Lesson. I have fond and fuzzy memories of picnics in the French countryside that feel like they are from a lifetime ago. These days, my picnics usually consist of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, goldfish crackers, juice boxes, and my two favorite little boys in the world.

It's still not too late to spread out a lovely grown-up buffet on a blanket in the park. Here are some of my favorite French pique-nique foods and drinks:

la baguette (la bah-GET)– long, thin, crusty French bread
le fromage (ley fro-MAHZH) – cheese (my personal favorite is Port Salut)
le sandwich (leh sond-WEECH)– a sandwich served on baguette
les fraises (lay frez) – strawberries
les raisins (lay ray-zehn) – grapes
les oranges (layz-or-ohnzh) – oranges
les pommes (lay pum) – apples
l’eau minérale (low mee-nare-ahl) – mineral water (I like mine gazeuse--bubbly like Perrier)
le vin rouge (leh vehn roozh) – red wine
le vin blanc (leh vehn blahnc)– white wine
le chocolat (leh show-koh-la) – chocolate

Don't let my list end here. What are your favorite picnic foods? Respond in English if you would like to learn how to say the word in French, or share your favorite specialty en français.

Bon Appétit!

Photo Credit: theswedish at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/191707

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Back to Ecole: Learn School and Classroom Supplies Vocabulary in French

2008-08-22T09:31:00.001-07:00

Can you feel it? Something's out there, and it's getting closer . . . and closer. Tick . . . tock . . . tick . . . tock. Ready or not, here it comes.

It's time to go back to school. Or, as the French say, it's time for la rentrée.

So, are you ready? Got all those school supplies? There's nothing like sharp new crayons and crisp, blank notebooks. I noticed that my local office supply store was selling French notebook paper. I got such a kick out of seeing the grids that I came to know so well when I was a university student in France. I never did master the French cursive, though. The French teach children cursive much earlier than in the U.S. I didn't learn until I was in the third grade (age 8 or 9.)

Here's your French school supply list:

le crayon – pencil
le taille-crayon – pencil sharpener
la gomme – eraser
le crayon de couleur – crayon
le marqueur - marker
le stylo – pen

le surligneur - highlighter
le cahier – notebook
le cahier d’exercices – workbook
le classeur – binder
le papier – paper
la feuille de papier – sheet of paper
la règle – ruler
le livre – book
la calculatrice – calculator
l’ordinateur – computer
l’agrafeuse – stapler
le dictionnaire – dictionary
la trousse – pencil case
le sac à dos - backpack

la pomme - apple . . . for the teacher, of course. Unless I'm your teacher, then bring on le chocolat. I'm going to need it!

Here's handy-dandy classroom objects PowerPoint to help you teach or learn even more expressions: French School PowerPoint

Take your new vocabulary out for a spin by going on a virtual back-to-school shopping spree. Visit the Office Depot French website to see if you can locate your new vocabulary words. Browse through the online catalog, or search for an item by entering a word in the Rechercher field. (Only enter the word itself, not the article--le, la, l', les.) Look for new useful words, too.

Enjoy getting ready to go back to l'école!

Photo Credit: Public Domain from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Ecole.jpg

Learn French and Geography . . . Just Not From Kellie Pickler

2008-08-19T15:20:00.000-07:00

To the dismay of my husband, I'm both a country music and an American Idol fan. Do you remember a former contestant--the cute and funny Kellie Pickler from North Carolina? That little country girl can sing! Unfortunately, it looks as though the American educational system has failed Kellie. Big time. Here she is discussing world geography (more or less) on Jeff Foxworthy's game show, "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (Fox TV)

Oh, Kellie. (sigh. head shaking.) Kellie, Kellie, Kellie. How embarrassing. I know it might be tempting to "pick on Pickler", but I'm not going to do it. Instead, I'm going to make sure that my French students understand that Paris is not a country (I've had to answer that question one too many times) and that my own children know basic geography. Now, I'm no expert, mind you. Believe me, I get as confused as the next person by some of those eastern European countries that were a part of the USSR when I was sitting in my 7th grade World Geography class. (Do those classes still exist?) But, c'mon . . . even my 5 year-old knows that Paris is in France, that France is a country, and that it is located in Europe. Because of a good dose of Hungarian ancestry, he's heard of that country, too.

I make basic geography (countries, continents, capitals, languages, map skills) a part of every French course I teach. Even my preschool students play with inflatable globes and locate oceans and special places. I'm often shocked by what my high school students don't know. I take a deep breath, smile, and take it upon myself to teach them.

I know that readers of this blog are far "Smarter Than 5th Graders," so I'll hop off of my soapbox and we can finally get to our language lesson du jour. Here are some useful geography terms in French.

le monde – the world

le nord - the north

le sud - the south

l'est - the east

l'ouest - the west
un océan – an ocean
une mer – a sea
une montagne– a mountain
un fleuve – a river
un continent– a continent
une langue– a language
un pays– a country
une ville - a city
une capitale – a capital city

Just for the record . . .

L'Europe est un continent. La France et la Hongrie sont des pays en Europe. Paris est la capitale de la France. Budapest est la capitale de la Hongrie. On parle français en France, mais on parle hongrois en Hongrie.

Still love 'ya, Kellie!

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Learn French Cognates with Martha Stewart

2008-08-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

One of the benefits of studying another language is a better understanding of your own. Wondering which foreign language to learn first? Why, French, bien sûr! It is the modern language most similar to English. Though English is not a romance language, the Norman Occupation of England and the Hundred Years War solidified a strong linguistic link between the two languages. Ironic, huh?

I love to present nervous first-time language students with a long, long list of French words and immediately ask them to begin translating. A daunting task? Not with lovely cognates such as these: chocolat, table, art, céréale, carotte, classe, pique-nique, tigre, visite, poème, lion, famille, salade, et musique.

I came across a nifty little video clip from an episode of NBC's Martha Stewart Show that aired November 13, 2006. Martha's French guests make an entertaining presentation of French cognates.

No English-speaker can truthfully state that they do not know any French. For students, French is beneficial for achieving higher verbal scores on standardized tests. Even more important, the French language is breathtakingly beautiful to the ears, n'est-ce pas?

Learn Olympic Sports in French

2008-08-13T21:17:00.001-07:00

Have you been enjoying the Beijing Summer Olympics? As much as I like to follow the sporting events, the real magic for me is the coming together of diverse people, flags, cultures, and languages. Do you realize that there are roughly 5,000 translators providing 55 language services in Beijing? Two of those 55 are official languages of the Olympic Games: English and French.

Yes, French! Not only is French an influential, global language, but we have the French to thank for the modern Olympic Games. The original games were a Greek invention, of course, but they had disappeared for over 1000 years. Then along came a French teacher named Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who had the idea to bring back the ancient competition. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, in 1924.

In honor of the French contribution to the Olympic Games, learn how to say some summer sports in French. You'll see lots of easy-breezy cognates. If you're new to French, you'll be pleased to discover that over 50% of our modern-day English words have French origins.

Try to figure out the meanings of these Olympic events en français. Answers to the tricky ones are at the bottom. Bonne chance!

Athlétisme
Equitation
Softball
Aviron
Football
Taekwondo
Badminton
Gymnastique artistique
Tennis
Baseball
Gymnastique rythmique
Tennis de table
Basketball
Haltérophilie
Tir
Tir à l'arc
Boxe
Handball
Canoë/Kayak
Hockey
Trampoline
Judo
Triathlon
BMX
Lutte
Voile
Cyclisme
Natation
Natation synchronisée
Volleyball
Volleyball de plage
Pentathlon moderne
Escrime

Answers to Tricky Sports: 1) Athletics (Track & Field), 2) Equestrian, 4) Rowing, 5) Soccer, 14) Weightlifting, 15) Shooting, 16) Archery, 25) Wrestling, 26) Sailing, 27) Cycling, 28) Swimming, 29) Synchronized Swimming, 31) Beach Volleyball, 33) Fencing

Photo Credit: Public Domain at http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Olympic_rings.svg

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How to Introduce Yourself in French

2008-08-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

In my experience, the true joy of speaking another language is meeting interesting people. It's humbling to think about the people I would never have known if I didn't speak French--dear friends in France and Quebec who opened their hearts and homes to me; a former Rwandan Secretary of Social Services who spent hours and hours sharing his stories and photos of Africa; a transplanted family's little boy who became my son's very first friend . . . all "foreigners" who became special, precious amis.

Learn how to introduce yourself in French. It could be the beginning of friendship . . . or maybe even l'amour!

Bonjour (bohn-zhoor) Hello

Je m'appelle (zheh mah-pell) My name is

Je suis (zheh swee or zheh sweez if followed by a vowel sound) I am

Since you'll likely have an opportunity to meet French-speaking people from around the world, you'll want to identify yourself with a nationality. Nationalities are not capitalized in French. Gender agreement is important for communication, too, so you'll see both the masculine and feminine forms of each nationality. Guys use the first version and gals use the second.

américain/américaine (ah-mare-ee-kehn*/ah-mare-ee-ken) American

canadien/canadienne (cah-nah-dee-ehn*/cah-nah-dee-en) Canadian

anglais/anglaise (ohn-glay/ohn-glez) English

australien/australienne (oh-strah-lee-ehn*/oh-strah-lee-en) Australian

Je suis de (zheh swee deh) I am from . . . You can add a country, state, province, region, or city. If you are a true beginner, just stick with a city for now. The pronoun "de" forms various contractions. Take a look at these examples:

Je suis des États-Unis. I am from the United States.

Je suis du Michigan. I am from Michigan.

Je suis de Rochester. I am from Rochester.

Et vous? (ay voo?) And you?

Leave a comment to introduce yourself in French.

*Watch the pronunciation of these masculine adjectives. You do NOT pronounce the "n". It's a nasal sound.

French Goodbyes

2008-08-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

Bye-bye.

Good Night.

See you soon.

Have a good weekend.

See ya later alligator!

Just as in English, there's more than one way to say goodbye in French.

Give these "fare-thee-well" French expressions a try:

Au revoir (oh-reh-vwahr or or-vwahr when said quickly) This is your classic "goodbye" translation. It means "until I see you again."

À bientôt (ah-bee-en-toh) See you soon.

À la prochaine (ah lah pro-shen) Until next time.

À demain (ah deh-mehn--don't really pronounce the "n" at the end. It's a nasal sound.) See you tomorrow. You can also replace "demain" with a day of the week or time of the day.

À tout à l'heure (ah toot ah ler) See you soon, as in later the same day.

À plus tard or À plus (A+) (ah plew tar or ah plewss) See you later.

Adieu (ah-d'yer) Literally this means "until God" . . . it's a pretty final good-bye. Use sparingly!

Ciao (chow) Okay, this is Italian, but the French use it a lot. Go ahead--it's fun!

Bon week-end (bohn week-end--"bon" is a nasal sound, don't really pronounce the "n", and put a little French accent on the "weekend") Have a good weekend. This is used in France, but not usually in Quebec. The Quebecois say . . .

Bonne fin de semaine (bun fehn-deh-sem-en) Have a good weekend in Canada, eh!

Bonne journée (bun zhoor-nay) Have a good day.

Bonne soirée (bun swar-ay) Have a nice evening.

Bonne nuit (bun new-ee) Good night. Only say this right before going to bed.

Bonjour/Salut (bonzhoor or sah-lew) In Quebec, you'll hear people say "Hello" as a leave-taking. Kind of like aloha or shalom. I'm always reminded of the Beatles song ". . . You say Goodbye, but I say Hello."

See ya!

*Note--the pronunciation guides are only approximate! Some sounds simply don't exist in English.

Photo Credit: by ticci at http://www.sxc.hu/photo/66308

Learn French Greetings

2008-08-07T19:24:00.000-07:00

The first French word most people learn is Bonjour. If you break it down, you'll see bon, which means "good" and jour, which means "day" (as in soupe du jour.)

G'day!

Practice saying these greetings and you'll be officially on your way to speaking French!

Bonjour (bohn-zhoor)- Hello, Good Morning, or Good Afternoon

Salut (sah-lew)- Hi (informal)

Bonsoir (bohn-swahr)- Good Evening

It's both the custom and good manners in France to address people you meet with a formal salutation.

Mademoiselle (mah-dem-wah-zel) Miss

Madame (mah-dahm) Mrs./Ma'am

Monsieur (miss-yer) Mr./Sir

How would you say . . .

Good morning Ma'am
Hello Sir
Hi
Good evening Sir
Good afternoon Miss
Good evening Ma'am

Answers:

1) Bonjour Madame. 2) Bonjour Monsieur. 3) Salut. 4) Bonsoir Monsieur. 5) Bonjour Mademoiselle. 6) Bonsoir Madame.

Photo Credit: by calgrin at http://morguefile.com/archive/?display=26341&

Bonjour et Bienvenue

2008-08-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Learn French for Fun!

Have you always wanted to learn French? Let me be your professeur. I hope to create a relaxed little French corner of the internet where beginners can pop in for quick, easy lessons. Whether you want to brush up on the French you learned years ago, or discover the language bit by bit for your own interest or travel, Learn French for Fun is for you. And if you're a French student, I take requests. E-mail me any time and I'll be happy to answer questions.

My native language is English, but I have been sharing my love of the French language with students ages 2-adult since 1988. I am a certified teacher with a BA in French Language and Literature. I enjoy travelling to the places where my heart resides--France and Quebec.

Sit back and settle in with a hot café et croissant, or perhaps un bon vin rouge. Let's Learn French for Fun!