The French Corner

The Francophile's Guide to Discovering the History of Versailles

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:33:00 +0000

This post was inspired by a number of things. First, my copy of Le grand livre-jeu de Versailles arrived in the mail today from Canada. Yes, the same book I purchased in Versailles proper, and which never made it into the bag, and thus, which the Estate of Versailles essentially made 10 Euros on and never refunded me or apologized or sent me a new one despite my repeated efforts to reach them, or....you get the picture. So I spent CDN$30 + shipping additional to get the book from Amazon.ca, since it is not sold in the US. All that rigamarole, I know, but it's a neat little book. I can see some definite classroom possibilities. Customer service aside, I had a great time when I went to Versailles in May. For the first time, I toured the gardens in an electric car, which allowed me to really soak in the experience. I ended up buying the CD of the music that they pipe in, called Les Grandes Eaux Musicales de Versailles (click the link to hear some of the music and watch a short video). For some reason, this particular visit to Versailles really made me appreciate the history more than before. I think it's really important for French students (and teachers of course) learn about the monarchs who passed through Versailles, as many were very influential in French history. So, I have compiled a list of fun online resources that I think are very helpful for students wanting to learn more about it and teachers looking for new ways to share it with their students.

Discover Versailles Through a Photographer's Eyes
As you may know, one of my big passions is photography (I have a blog about it, The Sassy Shutterbug), and just as much as I enjoy taking pictures and playing around with them in Photoshop, I love looking at other people's work to get an inspiration or to see things from a new perspective. When I want to look at photos from a specific location, I use a site called Loc.alize.us (click the map to view it in real time), which uses Flickr API to show geotagged photos on a map. You can zoom in closer to see more photos, and if you like what you see, you can view photos on their individual Flickr pages. This is a great way to take a visual tour of the grounds of Versailles and see exactly (provided they were accurately geotagged) where pictures were taken. Even if you've visited Versailles before, you'll most certainly discover something new!

Le roi soleil: A Musical Interpretation of the Sun King
What better way to learn about history than with some music? The French are known for their historical musicals, and Le roi soleil offers a chance at glimpsing into King Louis XIV's life with songs to get hooked on. Admittedly, I have not watched it in its entirety, but thanks to YouTube I have enjoyed a number of the musical selections. Here is a popular song called "Etre à la hauteur." You'll notice portions of it were filmed on the grounds of Versailles. Do a search for "Le roi soleil" and you'll find many more videos!

Grand Versailles Numérique
Grand Versailles Numérique, available in French or English, is a Flash-powered interactive website which allows you to view Versailles from different perspectives throughout its history: past, present and future. View 3D maps, pictures from past and present, and historical videos. This would be a great tool for the classroom.

More Versailles on YouTube
The Château's own YouTube Channel features a great variety of historical videos, akin to what you would see on the History Channel, except most of it is in French.

Avertissement: Eating Too Much Can Cause Weight Gain

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:29:00 +0000

I returned from my trip to Europe with plenty of French magazines to keep me up-to-date on the goings on in l'Hexagone. About a week ago, I was reading Marie France magazine, when I came across an ad for chocolate with a big warning, the type you see on ads for tobacco, at the bottom that eating too much is unhealthy, with a link for Mangerbouger.fr. I visited the site and found out that it's a resource for staying healthy through eating right and exercising. Maybe they ought to be putting these warnings in American ads. I don't know if other countries have similar programs, [readers, please share!]. I'm glad I found this site though, because I think it's a great way to introduce French culture and vocabulary about health and wellness at the same time.

The French Corner in France

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:40:00 +0000

Hello, after a long hiatus! Lately my focus has been much more on photography than blogging, but I'm trying to keep up with my blogging the best I can. Recently I went to Europe, and spent some time in France, practicing the language and picking up some awesome educational materials! All the pictures from France that I put on Flickr will show up on the left sidebar and I'm constantly adding more. The one item I purchased in France that didn't make it back with me was an educational book about Versailles which had games in it! The cashier forgot to put it in the bag and I didn't realize it until I got back to the hotel! I've written them but I've yet to receive a response. I got most of the books above at Printemps department store in Paris, which has an excellent children's floor. "Portraits de régions" is an adorable picture book with paintings of life in every region of France, published by La Poste. It comes with stamps too! I bought it at the post office store at the Louvre, and I had a great conversation with the man working there, who showed me all the different books they were selling and which would be most useful for a teacher. "Panique à Paris" is a beautifully illustrated mystery story with pages that pull out. "Mon premier Larousse du Monde" is another beautifully illustrated atlas/encyclopedia of the world's cultures. I think "Ton livre à écrire" is my favorite. It's intended to encourage children to write, and it comes with lots of materials like book report pages and other things I can use in the classroom. I can't wait to pore over all of this this summer!

In other news, my book, Lettres de Paris, was featured in the online newsletter of Francophilia this month with other members' books! Yay!

Getting the Authentic Educational Experience in French

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:43:00 +0000

I recently discovered a program which airs on France 3 in France called C'est pas sorcier. It's a wonderful series that teaches science, technology, and French culture and history in a not-tacky sort of way. If you don't have access to France 3, you can still watch the show. YouTube and Dailymotion have a plethora of videos from the show. If you're looking for higher quality, the site has a DVD store for educators (I believe they are region 2 though, so make sure they match your DVD player's specs). The store also has games and other things for sale that would be a great way to practice French or to use in the classroom. This video below talks about the allied invasion of Normandy. They use toy models, then they go to Omaha beach itself. The clip ends with some archived footage.

Update - The video I found has been removed, but there are plenty more on DailyMotion and on the show's site.

What I've Been Up to Lately...

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 04:05:00 +0000

Lately I have not had much time for posting, as I have been busy with schoolwork and with this project: designing a logo for my university's French program and working to create a website and social network for faculty and students to interact on. I even created a Twitter account for it! I thought this might be of interest to those of you who are teachers. I know many of you already use these tools with your students, and I think they will work very well at the college level as well. When I am a high school teacher, I will surely do something very similar. Another project I am working on is Relay for Life. For those of you who aren't familiar, this is an event created by the American Cancer Society that takes place all over the United States. Organizations form teams and compete to raise the most money before and during the actual event. I am the co-captain of the Pi Delta Phi National French Honor Society team at this year's SUNY Oswego Relay for Life which will take place in April. Any donation you can make, even as small as $1 is greatly appreciated and goes towards cancer research! This semester I will be inducted into Pi Delta Phi, Theta Delta chapter.

A Thorough Guide to How to Use a Dictionary for French Students

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:11:00 +0000

All foreign language students turn to a dictionary from time to time, whether you're beginning learner or a fluent aficionado. Sadly though, so few students take the time to learn how a dictionary works and few teachers take the time to show their students. To some, it comes naturally, but to others, it's quite confusing. Using a dictionary correctly can vastly expand your vocabulary. Using one incorrectly can lead to some pretty embarrassing sentences! Here, I explain some of the most common mistakes students make when they turn to their faithful dico.

Know your parts of speech
In all truthfulness, you really can't get much use out of a dictionary if you don't know your parts of speech. So many words mean one thing as a noun and another thing as a verb in both English and French. Some words you may look up in French may have an ambiguous meaning in English if you don't understand what the part of speech is. When you go to look up a word, you must know what part of speech it is. Some students loathe grammar and see no point in learning the parts of speech, but I believe that language acquisition comes much faster if you are aware of what you're hearing/reading/speaking/writing. At least know that a noun is a person/place/thing/idea, an adjective is what describes it, a verb denotes the action, and an adverb describes a verb or an adjective. If you have that down, you have a fighting chance at being able to use a dictionary. Knowing all the parts of speech is stronly advised though. If your grasp of parts of speech is still frail, read this lesson on English grammar, which is accompanied by quizzes.

Don't stop at the first word you see
It should go without saying that you should not stop at the first word if it is not the part of speech you are looking for, but you must also read the examples, phrases, and sentences that often accompany words with many different meanings. These will give you an idea of what kind of context the word is used in. There will often be a word in parentheses describing in what sense the word is being translated. For instance, looking up "medicine" in WordReference, we have (field) médecine and (drug) médicament as two possible translations. These two words are not interchangeable, but in English the same word is used. The opposite can be true of a French word you are looking up.

Don't translate idiomatic expressions word for word
A good dictionary will have a list of idiomatic expressions that use the word you're looking up. Common verbs like "être," "avoir," "faire," and "aller" often come with an exhaustive list of idiomatic expressions. If you want to know what "avoir soif" means, you will find "soif" mean thirst, but looking under "avoir," you will probably see that "~ soif" means to be thirsty. If you look up two words separately and they don't sound good together in English, look up one of the words and read through the list of idiomatic expressions if there are any. It can be very difficult to recognize an idiomatic expression in English (or whatever your native language) because as a native speaker, it sounds natural to you. In this case, you must be on the lookout for idiomatic expressions whenever you look up a word or phrase. When you go to look up "thirsty" you will most likely find the idiomatic expression "to be ~" (avoir soif) as the first entry, since there really is no word in French that means "thirsty" (the closest is assoiffé which is closer to "parched" in English).

Know what the abbreviations mean
Many students are familiar with the basic abbreviations (n=noun, adj=adjective, v=verb, adv=adverb). What is prep though? Prep stands for preposition, a word that indicates direction or location and always goes before a noun (to, from, over, under, etc.). Trans or intrans indicates if a verb is transitive (can take a direct object) or intransitive (cannot take a direct object). Some verbs have both a transitive and intransitive meaning, so knowing this can come in very handy! To put this in simpler terms, "to go" is an intransitive verb because you can't "go" something. "To do" is a transitive verb because you can "do" something. In French you will see an m or f next to the n on nouns, indicating its gender. "Le" or "la" are not used in dictionaries like they are on vocab sheets.

Resources

Word Reference is the only really good online dictionary. It is incredibly thorough, and where it has gaps, it has an excellent forum where you can post a question or read answers to others' questions. At the end of the word entry, it will link to all the forum posts that talk about the word. It even has a verb conjugator, as well as a very full list of idiomatic expressions accompanying many words. If you're a regular user, you should download their Firefox extension that lets you type your query right into the Firefox search engine bar.
Le nouveau Petit Robert de la langue francaise 2009is an all-French dictionary, perfect for advanced users. Get to know the French language better by reading the French definition rather than the English translation.
Franklin BFQ-450 Larousse French/English Dictionary, an electronic hand held dictionary, is no replacement for a hard copy of a dictionary, but it's nice and compact and perfect for when you're on the go and space is limited.

Photo by Beauty addict

All the Presidents' Pastries: Talking with Former White House Pastry Chef Dr. Roland Mesnier

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:19:00 +0000

Dr. Roland Mesnier has had an amazing career, working as a patissier in some of the finest establishments in the world, most notably, at the White House! I recently finished reading one of his books, All the Presidents' Pastries, which chronicles his beginnings in France through his rise to the top, and shares some interesting insight about life working in the White House. Dr. Mesnier was kind enough to take the time to talk to me about his career and what plans he has for the future. I happened upon Dr. Mesnier's book when I passed by his book signing table at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC this past summer. My family was delighted to meet him and buy the book, signed of course! In All the Presidents' Pastries, he describes how he got his start as a patissier in France, and his journey through apprenticeship and his time working in Paris before moving on to various countries. Many people believe the French make the best food, especially the best pastries. I wondered what role he felt his formation in France played in making him the successful patissier he is today. "In France they still teach a real foundation on how to go about doing things," he tells me. Too many people today eat "convenience food," where most of the ingredients are made somewhere else and chef assembles it at the restaurant. "I learned to do everything from scratch." This is a big plus in France and in Europe, he says. I enjoyed reading about all the extensive research Mesnier did for each state dinner, and how beautifully he was able to incorporate the guest countries' cultures into his magnificent pastry dishes. But did he ever find himself putting "French" touches on some of his desserts for the First Families? "I would say 99% of my desserts were French foundation with an American twist, adapted to the American liking." A recipe might call for a nut filling, but he would exchange it for a peanut butter base, something more appealing to the American palate. When I read about how torn Mesnier felt when American-French relations were strained in 2003 with the onset of the war, I instantly remembered how I felt the same way, being a lover of French language and culture but also being an American citizen. "...[I]n general it's always been good between France and America, strained a little bit during [beginning of] the American and Iraq War. I think the press made it a big to-do and it wasn't a big to-do. This sometimes upsets me. The press in America and the press in general are not reporting exactly what is taking place. People would tease me in the White House, but it's not really a big deal. It was never in malice, and I never felt that they had bad feelings towards me as a Frenchman."

And now for the fun questions!

What are some terms an avid pastry connoisseur should know?
Mesnier explains that a pastry connoisseur should know the base of what they are eating, for example, genoise is a very typical cake. They should know what butter cream is, they should know mousse, which is very popular today, and dacquoise, a meringue-base with ground nuts (sometimes almond, hazelnut, or pistachio) mixed in.

What are one or two of his favorite pastries to create?
Crème brûlee, and custard desserts, and of course blown and pulled sugar, which is his specialty.

What are one or two of his favorite pastries to eat? Does he eat his own?
"I do eat my own;" His favorites are pies.

What endeavors is he undertaking in the future?
Writing more books, doing speaking engagements, and demonstrations for the public. "I am still very involved."

Some of his favorite spots in France to visit:
Mesnier loves to visit Paris – there so many good places to eat! He also enjoys the South of France and the Riviera,"especially in the winter time. I also like the countryside and just driving along; most of the time I will come across a wonderful countryside restaurant that has great food. It's very different from America because in France you drive a few miles and the food changes with the countryside. In America when you travel you will find pretty much the same food everywhere you go, which I don't really care for. Out of nowhere in France you can come across some of the best restaurants which is something very special to me."

Some of hisr favorite spots in France to eat good pastries:
"I like to discover new places because there are a lot of terrific places that nobody knows about. You'll never see those places in any newspaper, in any magazine, those are really great places to go. You do not need to go to famous places to have great food."

If you would like to purchase one of Dr. Mesnier's books, click a cover!

Photo Spot: French Pastries

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:21:00 +0000

Happy belated New Year! A new feature I am adding this year is photo spot, where I will feature some of my favorite Flickr photos showcasing life in French speaking countries. I have started with French pastries as the theme, and soon you'll see why! If you follow me on Twitter, you know already!

Photo by [phil h]

Photo by sokole oko

Photo by bloggyboulga

Photo by julieb1975

Photo by Jalapeño

5 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays à la Française

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:06:00 +0000

After somewhat of a hiatus, I am back to blogging at the French Corner! Just in time for the holidays, I've compiled a list of websites, books, videos, and songs that contain some great Christmas content in French. Much to my dismay, my quest for some great Hanukkah material in French was in vain. If you know of any French Hanukkah songs, movies, books, websites, etc., please share them with me! Also, I have added a playlist on the left column with 29 different French Christmas songs for your listening enjoyment! And now for your edutainment:

Read a French Christmas story or try an English language classic in French

Put a great twist on your holiday reading and discover A Christmas Carol in French (at left)! This bilingual version lets you follow along in both languages and gives readers an interesting insight into the translation process, as you will see that everything is not translated literally. Europa Foreign Books is a great place to find French language books.

Read a Bande Dessinée, Make a Difference
Mon beau sapin is a blog that posts a different French comic about Christmas every day, and visitors to the site help accumulate money which goes towards Red Cross' Christmas Trees project, to give gifts to underprivileged children. What a great way to enjoy a cherished French pastime and make a difference all at once!

Discover Christmas Through a French Child's Eyes
Children's literature can be a fun way to keep up with your French, especially since the vocabulary tends to be simplified. Popular children's website Momes.net has a great section on Christmas with songs, stories, tradtitions, and games. Or, why not try watching a holiday special in French? Below, you can watch the Christmas special from the beloved children's show T'choupi et Doudou.

Watch a Classic French Movie
Joyeux Noël (left) is a movie about the World War I Christmas truce. The movie is actually in English, French, and German, but it was written and directed by Frenchmen. I will admit I have not yet seen this movie but it is high on my list and I am hoping to see it this holiday season. A current film that has been generating a lot of buzz is Un conte de Noël.

Listen to Some Holiday Hits
I love listening to French holiday music. One of my favorite French Christmas songs is "Les cloches du hameau" on Céline Dion's album These Are Special Times. While most of the songs on this album are in English, she does have a couple of French-language Christmas albums, some of the songs of which are on the playlist at left. Another holiday album I love is Roch Voisine's L' Album de Noel.

A bord d'un train / On a Train

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:33:00 +0000

Vocab Words

A la gare / At the Station
le train = the train
le billet = the ticket
réservations = reservations
renseignements = information
la consigne automatique = the locker
le TGV (train à grande vitesse) = the TGV; high-speed train that goes through Europe
SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français) = France's national railway company
la voie = the track, path, or platform
le quai = the platform
le guichet = the ticket window
disponible = available
indisponible = unavailable
le kiosque = the kiosk, the newsstand
le chemin de fer = the railroad
la salle d’attente = the waiting area
rater = to miss
partir = to leave
l'horaire (m.) = the schedule
prochain(e) = next

A bord du train / On Board the Train
la voiture = the car
le compartiment = the car
le wagon = the car
la couchette = the sleeper car
le wagon-lit = the sleeper car
le siège = the seat
le contrôleur = the inspector
le conducteur = the conductor
monter dans le train = to get on the train
descendre du train = to get off the train
composter = to stamp
debout = standing up
assis/assise = seated

Teaching Tools
I have created an animation using GoAnimate to use in the classroom to help familiarize students with train vocaulary. I have also created a comic-strip version with accompanying comprehension questions.

Click here if you cannot see the animation.

Les parties du corps / Parts of the Body

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:53:00 +0000

Vocab Words

La tête / The head
le visage = the face
la mine = the mood
le front = the forehead
un œil = an eye
les yeux = the eyes
le nez = the nose
une oreille = an ear
les sourcils (m.) = the eyebrows
les cils (m.) = the eyelashes
la joue = the cheek
la bouche = the mouth
le sourire = the smile
sourire = to smile
le rire = the laugh
rire = to laugh
les lèvres (f.) = the lips
les dents (f.) = the teeth
la langue = the tongue
la moustache = the mustache
la barbe = the beard
les cheveux (m.) = the hair
le menton = the chin
la mâchoire = the jaw
le cou = the neck
la nuque = the back of neck
la gorge = throat

Le bras / The Arm
l'épaule (f.) = the shoulder
le coude = the elbow
la main = the hand
le doigt = the finger
l'ongle (m.) = the nail
le poignet= the wrist
le pouce = the thumb

La jambe / The Leg
le genou = the knee
la cuisse = the thigh
le mollet = the calf
la cheville = the ankle
le pied = the foot
le talon = the heel
l'orteil (m.) = the toe

Le torse / The Torso
le dos = the back
la poitrine = the chest
le ventre = the stomach
l'estomac = the stomach
le nombril = the belly button
les hanches (f.) = the hips
l'épine (f.) = the spine

Teaching Tools

"Savez-vous planter les choux ?" is a great Québécois folk song that you can use to learn or teach parts of the body. I have found a great karaoke version online that will probably stick in your head after one look:

Savez-vous planter des choux
Uploaded by flora41

The Lyrics:

Refrain:
Savez-vous planter les choux, à la mode, à la mode,
Savez-vous planter les choux, à la mode de chez nous?

On les plante avec les mains, à la mode, à la mode.
On les plante avec les mains, à la mode de chez nous!

Refrain

On les plante avec les pieds, à la mode, à la mode.
On les plante avec les pieds, à la mode de chez nous!

Refrain

On les plante avec le nez, à la mode, à la mode.
On les plante avec le nez, à la mode de chez nous!

Refrain

On les plante avec les genoux, à la mode, à la mode.
On les plante avec les genoux, à la mode de chez nous!

Refrain

On les plante avec l front, à la mode, à la mode.
On les plante avec le front, à la mode de chez nous!

Refrain

Announcing the French Corner's First Book!

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Today I am announcing the arrival of the French Corner's first book, Lettres de Paris! The book is 26 pages long and chronicles a fictional Québécoise student's trip to Paris as she writes letters home to her brother about what she sees and shares fun facts. Personal pictures that I have "cartoonified," so to speak, are included to give readers a visual sense of the city. The book is in French, intended for beginning French students. Difficult words are defined in the glossary. I will soon be releasing a Teacher's Edition with activities! I plan on self-publishing more books in the future for French students and teachers. The book is available at $3.99 for the ebook and $11.99 for a hard copy.

5 Ways to Frenchify Your Computer & Internet

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:00:00 +0000

They say the fastest way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in it, and it's true. You should always seize every opportunity to use French! If you read this blog regularly, I'd venture to guess you spend a fair amount of time on your computer. There are so many ways to use French on the computer and Internet by changing settings and downloading a few cool programs. What are some ways you

Change your language settings.
You can do this on your computer using the Control Panel, and on many social media sites such as Facebook. Be sure you know enough French to understand notifications and settings before you do this though!

Download a French language Facebook application
The French Corner has an application that displays random French phrases with English translations every time you ask for a new one. French Audio Word of the Day has a new word in French pronounced by a native speaker every day. Linguascope French Language Challenge lets you play games with your friends and practice your vocabulary skills.

Put a French language widget on your blog
Not only will you benefit, but so will your readers! The French Corner's Facebook application is also available in the form of a widget. You can also search for widgets for your computer or homepage at Windows Vista Sidebar (if you have Windows Vista) and iGoogle Gadgets.

Download a Firefox Add-On
Firefox Add-Ons are fun tools to maximize your Internet browsing experience. Some of these tools are quite useful. My favorites are the WordReference online dictionary search tools, which allow you to type in a French or English word and it will look it up on their online dictionary, which is very thorough!

Read French language headlines online
Thanks to the Internet, French language news is only a click away. Mon JT Quotidien is a great kids site with videos in French. Browse newspapers from around the world at Online Newspapers.

Guest Post: Happy Birthday Québec!

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 02:32:00 +0000

Bon anniversaire! Québec City is celebrating its 400th anniversary in high style this year – with all of 2008 dedicated to festivities. And as one of North America’s oldest (and coolest) cities, Québec City has plenty of reasons to celebrate.
Founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, Québec City would become the hub for French in North America. Anyone who has been to Québec City understands the draw the city has. With winding narrow roads and a distinct French flare, Québec’s capital city is as close to Europe as you can get without crossing the pond. It’s no wonder Québec City is a major tourist destination.
With the 400th blowout going on now, there’s never been a better time to visit Québec City. Every effort has been made to put on a fantastic party all year long. The festivities started in January, but really peaked this summer.
In honour of the 400th milestone, Paul McCartney played a free concert in Québec City to over 250,000 adoring fans in July. He did not disappoint, playing 36 songs during his two and a half hour set – performing hits that spanned his entire career. Other highlights included free performances by Céline Dion and Charles Aznavour, fireworks, and cutting-edge art exhibits.
Sound like a party you want in on? If you hurry you can still make the grand finale on October 19th. Featuring Québec’s own Cirque du Soleil, this is one show you won’t want to miss. For more information on Québec City’s 400th anniversary, click here.

Today's guest post was written by Nic. Nic runs Instant French, a website dedicated to helping people learn French fast.

Photo by *Muhammad*

Announcing the French Corner's Second Facebook App!

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 01:07:00 +0000

I made a new Facebook application, called French Cadeaux, and it's just for fun. It allows users to send free French-themed gifts to friends. Check it out, add it, and let me know what you think! This is my second application. My first, Random French Phrase, which displays French sentences and translations on your profile, is more educational.

Resources for Young French Learners Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:25:00 +0000

After publishing my last post on this subject, I realized I had left out a number of great resources so I have made a part two. I want to remind you that many of the resources in my literacy project post I did back in May are great for young learners (after all it was about encouraging student literacy in French!). Again, I encourage you to leave me some findings of your own so I can make a part three to this series! Most of these resources are games and activities.

Lez quizz du WebPédagogique - A great resource for older kids. These quizzes are intended for students in French schools, and they run the gamut of academic topics from the French language to mathematics to history.
Monument jeu d'enfant - A fun and colorful interactive game created by the French National Monument website. Discover monuments throughout the centuries, play different games at each area, and learn fun facts.
Copains de banlieue - An interactive story that tells the history of Paris in the early 1900s.
Fondation Arp Game - A flash game introducing students to artist and sculptor Jean Arp
Lettris - A highly addictive game of Tetris in which the play clears blocks by spelling out French words. The game can also be played in English or Portuguese.
Questions pour un champion - Simulation of a French game show where the player must answer a series of very difficult questions in French.
Didier BRAVO - A series of great French flash games!
TFO Machine à jeux - A plethora of educational games made by this French-speaking Ontario TV station
Languages Online French Games & Activities - A great selection of pre-made games and activities from a site that offers free software to create your own
M6 Kid - A French TV station's kids' site with games, videos, and the like
Zouzous - France5's section on kid's shows, with games, activities, and videos for each one.
Tintin.com - France5's site all about Tintin, the legendary bande dessinée!
Gulli - A great site for kids based from the TV station of the same name
Caillou - A French language TV show from PBS Kids
Babar - Fun activities for all ages at this popular elephant's home on the web
Astérix - Learn all about Astérix, a popular band dessinée!

Resources for Young French Learners

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:59:00 +0000

There are so many resources on the internet for young learners of French. Many of these resources are in French and intended for young French children, but this is a great way to immerse your child without even having to leave the house. Some of these resources might work great even as far up as middle school and beginning level French classes. I know this list is only the tip of the iceberg and I encourage you to leave some suggestions of your own in the comments and I will go back in and add them here!

TFou - A children's game site made by the French TV station TF1. Lots of fun things for youngsters and older children alike!
Tivi5 - TV5's children's site, with games, contests, and videos. You'll want to subscribe to this TV station to see all the shows in full.
Lire et Créer - A great place to find children's stories and songs.
JeDessine - Coloring activities, games, even blogs...everything a kid could want, all in French.
Pirouettes Contes - French poem blog for kids.
Tibous - A blog about educational activities for kids
UpToTen - A site with tons of activities for kids
BBC French - Intended for kids learning French
Playhouse Disney FR - The French version of Playhouse Disney!
Mon JT Quotidien - Daily news videos for adolescents
Nicoland - A beautiful "adventure" educational site for older kids
Jeux pour enfants - A great resource with links to games, puzzles, activities, and more.
Ma petite souris - A cute site with games and activities.

The French Remember 9/11

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:37:00 +0000

Seven years ago today a horrible tragedy happened in America, and 2,974 innocent people died. As I remember these horrific events, it is comforting to know that people all over the world are remembering with us. In an article in Paris Match called Vous et le 11 septembre, French readers recall where they were and what they were doing when they found out the news that planes had struck the Twin Towers. Many of them were very nice. The picture at left is of one of many mini flags lining the pathways along my college campus today. I helped set them up, and there is one for each person who lost his or her life.

New Feature: Pronunciation Audio Samples

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:37:00 +0000

I have recently created audio clips in the Animals vocabulary section. You can hear every word pronounced by clicking on a small icon. I am planning to do this for the entire site, but I would love some feedback on this first! Leave your questions, comments, or suggestions here!

How the French See It

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:06:00 +0000

One way to improve your understanding of the French language and culture is to watch coverage of world news in French. It's a great way to get a different perspective on something with which you are already familiar. You might hear references to things you haven't heard of before or discover the French (or the Canadians, or the Swiss, or the Belgians, etc.) see the issue quite differently than the citizens of your home country. As an American, I am always surprised to see that election coverage here is covered as extensively as it is worldwide, and that it certainly qualifies as world news. It's quite interesting to watch other countries weigh in on the subject. Here's an interesting video, broadcast recently in light of the Olympics, about how to be understood in Beijing.

Comment se faire comprendre à Pékin?
Uploaded by FRANCE_24

France 24's Dailymotion channel (click link above) has an English and French version of most of its videos, so if you missed the gist or even a word or two, you can watch the English edition as well.

Social Networking for Frenchies

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 02:09:00 +0000

It took me a long time to get on the social networking bandwagon, but now that I am on it I can't stop! Most social networks are open to anyone in the world to join but generally use an English-language interface. There are, however, social networks geared at French-speakers specifically, and even a social network geared towards Francophiles like you (presumably) and I! Before you make your foray into the "réseaux sociaux," though, you'll want to brush up on some key vocabulary - click on the speaker to hear the word spoken (further down is a list of French social networks):

réseau social=social network
réseautage social=social network
un contact=a contact
un compte=an account, a username
un mot de passe=a password
un utilisateur=a user
un profil=a profile
une communauté=a community
partager=to share
s'abonner=to subscribe
un lien permanent=a permalink
un commentaire=a comment
rédiger=to compose (post)
un lecteur=a reader
s'identifier=to login
se connecter=to login
fermer (une) session=to logout
s'inscrire=to sign up, to resister
envoyer un message=to send a message

And on to the réseaux !

Bookmarks.fr - You may remember my interview last summer with Bertrand Hardy, shortly after he founded this network, ultimately a French version of del.icio.us. It's a great way to find interesting links in French!
Le nuage des filles - Formerly just a huge link cloud linking to blogs written in French by women, the network now has all sorts of interactive goodies for French-speaking gals to enjoy.
Les influenceurs - A very interesting concept for a social network, where users submit items to the site which may appear on banners that other users can post on their blogs. Confused? Me too!
Copains d'avant - The French take on Classmates
Lexode - A social network just for young people
On va sortir ! - A place to find places in French-speaking countries to visit
Skyrock - Although it's available in several languages, Skyrock is first and foremost a French sensation. It calls itself the "Free people network," a vague description at best, but a quick look at the front page will tell you Skyrock has a lot in common with MySpace.
Francophilia - An English-language social network where French enthusiasts come to interact
Médias Sociaux - A blog that gives a French perspective on social networking

Are You a "Fan" of the French Corner?

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:33:00 +0000

Today I created a Facebook fan page for the French Corner. If you use Facebook you can show your support of the blog there! Once there are some fans I will add more to the page and make it worth your while!

Le divertissement / Entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:58:00 +0000

Vocab Words

La musique / Music
un instrument=an instrument
jouer de...=to play (an instrument)
le violon=the violin
le violon alto=the viola
le violoncelle=the cello
la contrebasse=the string bass
la flûte=the flute
la clarinette=the clarinet
le hautbois=the oboe
le saxophone=the saxophone
le tuba=the tuba
la trompette=the trumpet
le trombone=the trombone
le cor d'harmonie=the French horn
le tambour=the drum
la batterie=the drumset
le clavier=the keyboard
le piano=the piano
la guitare=the guitar
le banjo=the banjo
la harpe=the harp
composer=to compose
un compositeur=a composer
un chef d'orchestre=a conductor
un orchestre=an orchestra
un orchestre de jazz=a jazz band
un groupe=a band
un concert=a concert
un album=an album
une tournée=a tour
un clip=a music video
une chanson=a song
un tube=a hit
un chanteur=a male singer
une chanteuse=a female singer
la musique classique=classical music
la musique pop=pop music
le rock=rock
la musique country=country music

Le cinéma, la scène et l'écran / Cinema, Stage & Screen
un film=a movie
un cinéaste=a director
un metteur en scène=a directeur
un producteur=a producer
tourner=to film
mettre en scène=to direct
un acteur=an actor
une actrice=an actress
un comédien=an actor
une comédienne=an actress
un pièce de théâtre=a play
une émission=a show
une série=a series
une chaîne=a channel
un dramaturge=a playwright
un script=a script
un texte=a script (for a play)
interpreter=to portray
un rôle=a role
un personnage=a character
une superproduction=a blockbuster
le ciné=the movies
une comédie=a comedy
une tragédie=a tragedy
un thriller=a thriller

L'industrie / The Industry
une célébrité=a celebrity
une vedette=a star
une star=a star
une rumeur=a rumor
célèbre=famous
un scandale=a scandal
la presse populaire=the tabloids
une diva=a diva
un publicitaire=a publicist
le tapis rouge=the red carpet

Useful expressions

Catherine Deneuve est une comédienne française très bien connue.
Catherine Deneuve is a very well known French actress.

L'acteur Gérard Dépardieu a interpreté plusieurs rôles pendant sa carrière.
The actor Gerard Depardieu has portrayed many roles during his career.

Jean-Jacques Goldman a eu beaucoup de succès comme chanteur.
Jean-Jacques Goldman has had much success as a singer.

"Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain" était un film français qui a eu beaucoup de succès aux Etats-Unis aussi.
"Amélie" was a French movie that had much success in the United States as well.

Edith Piaf était une chanteuse très célébrée dans le monde entier.
Edith Piaf was a very celebrated singer all over the world.

Puy du Fou: Historic French Amusement Park

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:55:00 +0000

If you are planning a trip to France or live in France and are searching for a great place to take the family or yourself, head to Puy du Fou, located in the department of Vendée in Northern France (right on the Atlantic Ocean), in the region of Pays de la Loire. They are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. Puy du Fou is an historical amusement park which features an onsite 3-star hotel, a nighttime show called "Cinéscénie," and mini villages depicting various periods of French history. If you're a teacher, the park's website comes equipped with 4 pre-visitation guides (in French) for students to work on before visiting Puy du Fou. I would love to take my future students here! If you have ever visited this park I would love to hear what you thought of it!

La santé et la maladie / Health & Sickness

noreply@blogger.com (Samantha) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:08:00 +0000

Vocab Words

La routine quotidienne / The Daily Routine
se réveiller=to wake up
se lever=to get up
se coucher=to go to bed
s'endormir=to fall asleep
se laver=to wash oneself
se baigner=to bathe
prendre un bain=to take a bath
prendre une douche=to take a shower
une baignoire=a bathtub
se brosser les dents=to brush one's teeth
la dentifrice=toothpaste
se brosser les cheveux=to brush one's hair
se peigner les cheveux=to comb one's hair
s'habiller=to get dressed
les vêtements=clothes
les sous-vêtements=underwear
un pyjama=pajamas
faire sa toilette=to ready oneself (in the morning)
se maquiller=to put on makeup
le maquillage=makeup

Chez le médecin / At the Doctor's
un rendez-vous=an appointment
une maladie=a sickness
ausculter=to listen with a stethescope
prescrire=to prescribe
des médicaments=medicine
des pilules=pills
une piqûre=a shot
guérir=to heal
avoir mal à la tête=to have a headache
j'ai mal à....=my ___ hurts
la grippe=the flu
avoir de la fièvre=to have a fever
malade=sick
éternuer=to sneeze
Atchoum !=Atchoo!
tousser=to cough
vomir=to vomit
être enrhumé(e)=to have a cold
la pharmacie=the pharmacy

A l'hôpital / At the Hospital
une ambulance=an ambulance
un cas d'urgence=an emergency
la salle d'attente=the waiting room
enceinte=pregnant
accoucher=to give birth
se faire blesser=to get wounded, injured
une blessure=a wound, an injry
se casser=to break (a part of the body)
enflé(e)=swollen
se fouler la cheville=to sprain one's ankle
un accident=an accident
un plâtre=a cast
des béquilles=crutches
un fauteuil roulant=a wheelchair
une écharpe=a sling
le service de soins intensifs=intensive care unit
un infirmier=a nurse (m)
une infirmière=a nurse (f)