Learning French: Immersion Programme Homestay

I am a mature aged person and like my independence but I strongly believe that the homestay is a key, integral part of any linguistic stay or immersion programme experience.

Homestay in Rouen

No matter how interactive and effective the learning you do prior to commencing your immersion programme, the enormous benefits of the everyday incidental conversation around the dinner table should not be underestimated. Whether it be asking where things go when you are helping putting things away, when you can do your washing or use the bathroom, or discussing the culture. You will be exposed to everyday language that may be different to the textbook language you are familiar with. Listen and observe how the language is used. Look for patterns, idioms. Try to understand the gist of what is being said. Don't let it overwhelm you. Participate and enjoy it. I had studied  French for many years but still did not recall the word for tea towel! 

Rouen homestay family, fellow student and moi

If circumstances do not allow you to do a homestay then you will need to actively maximise your regular contacts with the locals rather than hiding away in your studio, dorm or hotel room. Spending every afternoon in a French museum, café or supermarket will help improve your language but it will do so in a  different and possibly more limited way. Varying your activities will increase the breadth of exposure to the language but you also need to consider the depth of interactions as well.

My Rouen bedroom

When choosing a language school and deciding to do a homestay, ensure that there is one person who has overall responsibility for homestays, including placements, visits and inspections plus dealing with any concerns. I did a homestay with a school where lots of the administration staff dealt with homestays but there was no one person to whom concerns or questions could be directed. You need to know in advance if you are obligated to stay with the family if either you or they decide it is not working out. At the Alliance française de Rouen, there is a kind of ‘no blame/fault’ option for both the family and the student. If things are not working out, either party may choose to cease the arrangement. The Alliance will assist, in the rare occasion of a change being required, with alternative accommodation. I am aware of one eighteen year old who was terrified of large dogs. She didn’t realise in advance that her family had a large dog. Neither she nor the family wanted her to move as they got along very well but she was too scared to go out into the backyard. It was preferable that she be placed in another situation where she would feel totally comfortable.

Rouen homestay family and moi

If you decide on doing a homestay, I recommend being specific about any preconceived ideas that you are expecting from the homestay. How important is cleanliness, fun and laughter, outings, private facilities etc to you? These things are not necessarily mutually exclusive but what is one person's ideal homestay is not necessarily the same as another person's. Make no assumptions. I incorrectly assumed with my first homestay that there would be more than one member in the host family. I found myself in an accommodation which was more like a boarding house with 3 other students. Lovely bedroom and bathroom but we were not encouraged to be in the kitchen apart from meal times. No other communal area was available to us inside. The lady went straight to her bedroom after clearing the kitchen so we did not get to chat. The next time I asked for a 'traditional' family explaining that I wanted more exposure to people speaking French between themselves as well as directly to me. I was allocated a retired couple and grandmother whom I adored. However, two of my friends who also did homestays at the same time stayed with women who were divorced or widowed. They thoroughly enjoyed it and these ladies organised visits with my two friends. There is no perfect foolproof formula. A family with parents and some children may allow the possibility to observe more interactions with people coming and going but it may be that with just one person in the family that there will be more chance and focus on your interaction. 

Rouen homestay garden

I also suggest checking the school's homestay placement policy for students. How many students are placed within the family? Do they place more than one student with the same native language in the same family? For some students meals are a priority. They want beautifully prepared meals with all the trimmings. Others want to be near the town centre so they can go out at night, others want the countryside. Some families may have fancy, beautiful homes but are very strict about things such as meal times. 

Prawns al fresco

Think carefully about what is important to you and what you are prepared to compromise on. It probably will not be possible to have a 100% match but schools will aim for the best possible. Usually the greater the period of  advanced warning you can give, the better you chances of a match. The important thing is to communicate as clearly and precisely as possible what you would prefer when requesting a homestay through a language school.

Homestay families get together for meal in Noumea, New Caledonia

I have done homestays in Toulouse, Noumea and 3 in Rouen. Each of these have been coordinated by the language school where I have been studying. To get the most out of the wonderful opportunity that a homestay presents, communicate as much as possible, at every occasion with the family and actively involve yourself in family life. Be open to new experiences that extend beyond the realm of learning the language and remain positive and I am confident that you will benefit and enjoy your homestays as much as I have.

View from homestay family's beach house in New Caledonia

I will cover making the most of your immersion programme in a future post.

Further reading with Femme Francophile:

• Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012
  
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1)
• Learning French: Cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2)
• Learning French: Immersion Programmes
• Learning French: Immersion Programme with the Alliance française de Rouen
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 3)

Learning French: Accent Isn't the Most Important Thing

Thanks to Sonia Gil's Facebook page, I came across this TIME Ideas article, How to Speak Like A Native. 

As usual with reports in the popular media it is hard for the layman to know the truth. Journalists quote studies and academics and yet they seem to be able to present opposing viewpoints. I am not in a position to confirm the validity of the studies quoted in this article but never the less it is very interesting, and as a language learner, rather reassuring and encouraging.

The article says:

...new research suggests that we would make better progress, and be understood more easily by our conversational partners, if we abandoned a perfect accent as our goal in the language learning process.

It goes on:

...traditional language instruction held up native-like pronunciation as the ideal, enforced by doses of “fear, embarrassment and conformity,”

In essence the article suggests that we should be focussing on comprehensibility rather than the 'unrealistic' ideal of native-like pronunciation which can create stress and be discouraging to language learners. 

What a relief! Whilst I have long held the belief that the primary reason for learning a language is about communication this article gives me permission to not beat myself up so much regarding my pronunciation. My pronunciation is not particularly good and yet I have found  that I can adequately communicate with native French speakers across a broad range of situations. It is no longer primarily problems of communication that drive me to want to improve my pronunciation, but rather pride. There are a however few notable exceptions. I don't think that I will ever be able to ask for a train ticket to Rouen without SNCF staff staring at me blankly. I definitely have to learn to pronunciate 'Rouen' in a manner that is more comprehensible to native speakers. 

Plant your Language Garden with Memrise

During the more than 10 years that I have been learning French I have tried many online applications in my quest to improve my French vocabulary. I have found Memrise particularly effective with its scientific basis and combination of learning with fun. The competitive aspects as you climb leader boards can become addictive. I have even lost track of time sometimes when learning vocabulary (playing). If you love using mnemonics and find them helpful you will love Memrise. 

Memrise has been designed to help you connect with the new words that you choose to add to your sets. It does this with mems.

Mems is our natty word for the morsels of interesting and relevant information you see beneath every word on Memrise. Mems can be mnemonics, etymologies, amusing videos, photos, example sentences: anything which helps connect what you’re learning and bring it to life. (www.memrise.com/about)

In addition to the videos showing people using the word or acting the word out, many of the words also have audio files. When you start, a few words (known as seeds) are presented at a time and then you are tested. Once you have learnt them, they are placed in your garden. The garden requires watering and this is done by scientifically calculated repetitions and timeframes to maximise learning. 

The other feature of Memrise is its community. It is an invaluable resource. I can tap in to what someone else has found useful to help them learn or I can create a new mem. 

Development of an iOS application is currently being undertaken. 

Memrise is a great tool for independent language learners who want to improve their vocabulary.

If you haven't tried Memrise before, have a look and leave your comments below.

Podcast: One Thing in a French Day

One Thing in a French Day is described as a "A small slice of a Frenchwoman's day - in France and in French". Since 2006 Laetitia has been sharing snippets of her day through podcasts each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

You can listen to the podcasts by:

• subscribing to them on iTunes or Podbean
• accessing them directly from the 'One Thing in a French Day' website. 

These entertaining podcasts are very useful as they use both interesting and common scenarios with everyday language. The pace is suitable for both intermediate and advanced French language learners. The podcasts are accompanied by a full transcript of the podcast so if you miss something it is easy to look them up.

If you are a lover of French pastries and want to learn how to pronounce some of your favorites, you will enjoy her slide show of both homemade and artisan prepared pastries.

For other ideas for learning French: Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2)

Thank you to Andrew from the Adelaide University of the Third Age for reminding me about this great resource for French language learners. 

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d share it with your friends by email, Facebook or Twitter. Thank you!

Learning French: Starting over again (Part 3)

View from the auberge near Annecy

I have only recently discovered Aaron Myers and his website The Everyday Language Learner which helps people learn another language. Aaron is a language coach. I had never heard of such a thing, but now that I have, I want one. 

Aaron has written a guest post for Multilingual Living titled Language Learning: Climb Past the Saddle! He believes that in language learning you reach where you need to reach in the language. My French has again plateaued but I am comfortable (or is that complacency?) with the level it is at. I can discuss a large range of topics in French with French friends and acquaintances. I can understand French books, magazines, films etc. I can manage to make myself understood and understand others in most situations. I make lots of errors and don't necessarily understand every word but I am able to communicate. I am an expert at finding alternative ways to say something if I don't know a particular language structure. I would like to be able have more 'shades' and 'nuances' in my language repertoire but the reality is that I don't need this as I can reasonably manage without it. When it becomes I priority, I will work harder to master the subtleties that are currently unknown to me.

I do however strongly advise against not understanding every word when ordering a meal. I was dining at an auberge near Annecy and when I read the menu I came across a dish that sounded most appealing. It had cream, bacon, onions etc. There was only one word in the entire description that I didn't understand. Not wanting to show my ignorance, and confident that it would just be the manner of presentation, I placed my order. The dish arrived and I took my first mouthful. I had to stop myself from gagging. I instantly realised my mistake. Rognons is the culinary term for kidneys. Sometimes knowing all the words is important! 

In my post, Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2), I listed a number of things that I have tried to supplement my language learning. Aaron succinctly lists 3 items to help 'stay in the game': 

• Reading: I couldn't agree more. I can't recall the last book or magazine I read in English. 
• Develop Friendships: Aaron talks about developing 'deep and lasting relationships with native speakers of the language you are learning'. I have also found that having good friends who are sharing the language journey is invaluable. They provide support, encouragement and also challenge me. I love having coffee or a meal with them and we chatter away in a 'safe' environment. It has helped break down reservations to speak the language and provides practice in getting my mouth around those tricky nasal sounds and the pesky French R. We may need to resort to looking up an online dictionary when none of us know the word and we don't always know enough to correct each other but still we are communicating in French. 
• Imagine and Do: Imagining what I would like to do with the language is not something that I had consciously considered. It does however make a lot of sense and is perhaps something I have subconsciously done. I recall an animated French class when we sidetracked our teacher and ended up discussing terms when buying clothes and shoes and going to the hairdresser. We were all highly motivated knowing that we would definitely be using these skills. Writing blog posts in French is something that I would like to try. They will be riddled with errors but they will push me to go further on my French language journey.

I recommend you check out Aaron's The Everyday Language Learner site for lots more tips for learning languages.

Further reading with Femme Francophile:

• Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012
  
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1)
• Learning French: Cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2)
• Learning French: Immersion Programmes
• Learning French: Immersion Programme with the Alliance française de Rouen
• Learning French: Immersion Programme Homestay

Paris: People Watching at a Café

One of my favourite activities in France is people watching when I am at a café. The chairs in front of the café are carefully positioned to directly face the street. They are inviting you to join in this traditional French past-time. I love the fact that I can order an espresso and then have the right to sit at the table for almost as long as I like watching the world go past. No need to even pretend to be doing something else such as reading the paper. I am of course welcome to read, study, chat etc but just looking is a perfectly acceptable.

Sonia Gil of 'Sonia's Travel' motto is: Every Place Has a Secret Code. I Get a Kick Out of Finding It. Her video of people watching certainly reflects one of France's 'secret codes'.  She has 8 videos in her YouTube France Travels play list should you need more of a French fix.  Every Thursday she releases a new travel video (not just France) and on Mondays she now also releases a vlog (video log). 

Her first two vlogs have some very interesting information about language learning. She suggests that the minute you start learning a language, e.g; French, you implant a seed of Frenchiness within you.  She adds, that she does believe that languages open the doors to new cultures, but it is up to you how far past that door you go. I totally agree on both counts. I am always appreciative to have found someone voice the thoughts that I share but have been unable to put into words.

You can view more of Sonia's videos on:

• YouTube
• Facebook
• Sonia's Travel website

Learning French: ielanguages.com - Free language tutorials

I am a huge fan of the linguist Jennifer Wagner and her easy to navigate ielanguages.com site and her 'Jennie n'est plus en France' blog. The ielanguages.com site covers a number of languages but for me the huge attraction is the abundance of free quality French learning resources. I particular like Jennifer's practical and realistic approach in recognising the importance of learning French as it is spoken and not just looking at the written French. 

The site is divided into the following main sections:

French: This part of the site is where you can learn French online for free. It includes phrases, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and listening resources.  The resources are well indexed and logically grouped. They are complemented by MP3 recordings, audio vocabulary lists, exercises and in some cases 'Real French' audio files to help improve aural comprehension. There is a an extremely useful section on Informal French. 

France: This section includes information for English Assistants as well as general information for expats living in France.

Realia: A treasure trove of authentic language resources. It highlights French objects and places that are different from their American counterparts. The differences often exist equally with English and Australian counterparts.

Blog: Jennifer covers a huge range of topics in her posts including culture, language learning, managing French bureaucacy and travel. She writes clearly and succintly and touches on topics interesting to not only French language learners but to anyone with an interest in language learning. 

Podcasts: Authentic recordings with transcripts are added here. They may be difficult at first but they are a great way to extend yourself when learning French.

Travel: Jennifer shares with her readers her photos, videos and travel tips. This is the first place I have found a cheap option to get from the airport in Lyon to Annecy.

There are also sections for learning other languages and linguistics.

I hope you find the site as interesting and useful as I do.

Learning French: Immersion Programme with the Alliance française de Rouen

I spent about 10 years studying at my local Alliance française (AF) in Australia, the Alliance française d'Adélaïde. It provided a wonderful environment for learning the language as well as an understanding and appreciation of the culture. The social events and support by teachers extends way beyond the classroom. I have also been fortunate enough to have made some wonderful lifelong friends who are equally passionate francophiles. 

My confidence in the AF organisation meant that I had no hesitation in choosing the AF for each of my linguistic stays within mainland France. I have done 5 stays including the last 3 at the AF de Rouen. Once I had done my first stay at Rouen my initial resolve to go to a different location each year was broken. The AF at Rouen not only met all my expectations but greatly exceeded them. I initially chose Rouen because I had spoken to other students at the AF in Adelaide who without exception spoke of the extremely positive experiences they had in Rouen. They cited the teaching skills of the staff, small size of the classess, warmth of the homestay families and the programme of visits. As an added bonus there was the ease of getting to Rouen from Paris by train in just little over an hour. They even organise transfers from Paris airports if you prefer.

My first visit to Rouen was organised through through the AF d'Adélaïde. I booked my flights but they organised my registration and payment for the course and the homestay. It could not have been simpler. All queries were quickly dealt with by my local AF who got back responses overnight from the AF in Rouen. Several months before I was due to leave I was allocated my host family and this enabled us to establish a relationship through written correspondence before my arrival. I chose to stay with them for each of my return visits.

Students participating in tour of Rouen

It can of course be daunting staying in someone else's home but I need never have worried with my family. My family was a retired couple and Mamie (Grandma). Breakfast was light and you helped yourself to it. I only had to ask if I had any special requests. Each evening there was a lot of laughter, joking and sharing over the gourmet dinner which the husband started to prepare immediately after breakfast. Dinner was included in the half-board family home-stay. Only French is spoken. Even with students who spoke nearly no French the family worked hard to ensure they were welcomed and were always supportive and encouraging of the students' attempts at French. Dictionnaries at the dinner table were not considered out of place. On my first day at the AF my homestay mother took me to the Alliance and introduced me. The family also provided me with an initial orientation of the town, ensured I was confident to use public transport and took me on visits in the region. I really felt I was a part of the family and not just a boarder. Staff in the office, teachers and homestay families actively encouraged feedback on all aspects of the homestays to ensure any concerns are immediately dealt with.

The first morning at the Alliance there were aural comprehension and written tests to assess competency in order to place you in the most appropriate level. Ongoing continuous assessment by teachers ensured that students remain in the most suitable class. Talking to other students I found that they all felt they were in a class commensurate with their abilities and were happy with their progress. Except for complete beginners, courses started each Monday which provided great flexibility when trying to fit in with travel plans. You can choose to stay for as few or as many weeks as you like.


The teaching staff were not only extremely professional but I would have to say very gifted. Over my 12 years of studying French I have had many teachers but the expertise of the teachers at Rouen in teaching adult learners from a huge cross-section of cultures, ages and backgrounds a second language is astounding. The classes were animated which made the entire learning process lots of fun. Time just flew. The classes were small and a variety of resources were used so that grammar, conversation and culture were integrated into all lessons in a natural and entertaining manner. Even if staff speak other languages they exclusively used French and always exhibited patience and good humour.

The office staff helped locate services in the town and even had bus passes for sale. Free internet and WiFi was also available. In the afternoon cultural and linguistic workshops were run which provided opportunities to focus on a particular topic of interest eg film, prononciation etc. A comprehensive programme of visits was provided and could be selected and paid for once you were there. The visits included Mont Saint-Michel, Bayeux Tapestry, Monet's Garden, Amiens Cathedral, Somme, D-Day landing beaches) etc 

I so appreciated what the AF de Rouen did for me and was doing for other that I chose to work voluntarily for them both in France and in Australia for a number of years. The personalised, warmth of the welcome from all those involved including the host family, teaching and office staff, the professionalism of the programme and the supportive environment make the AF de Rouen a highly recommended choice for a linguistic stay.

Video about Rouen (in French)

Zoom sur Rouen

Further reading with Femme Francophile:

• Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012 
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1)
• Learning French: Cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2) 
• Learning French: Immersion Programmes
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 3)
• Learning French: Immersion Programme Homestay

Alliance française d'Adélaïde, 319 Young St, WAYVILLE SA 5034, Australia

Alliance française de Rouen, 80 boulevard de l'Yser, 76000 ROUEN France

Learning French (and other languages): Pronunciator

This video cleverly illustrates numerous emotions through the use of simple graphics. No need here for a translation in English, Spanish, Korean etc.

If you like this then you probably will also enjoy the lessons provided online at pronunciator.com. Pronunciator says it is the 'world's largest language-learning service'. It has 60 languages available to  learn. The interface is not restricted to anglophones. You select the language you speak and which you would like to learn, from Afrikaans to Vietnamese. It looks like an ideal programme if you want to learn the basics of a language for travel. Not only do you get the vocabulary but the pronunciation as well using speech recognition software. Progression is tracked in the full version. 

Pronunciator has exercises in French across a range of levels. There are three access options for the product:

• There is limited free access which gives you plenty of opportunity to see if you want to pay the addtional ongoing monthly fee for the full version. 
• The full version includes access to up to 354 hours of downloadable MP3 audio lessons per language. 
• Free access is available to the full range of products and services using a library card number via remote access where the library subscribes to Pronunciator. 

I don't know what the retention rate is for language learning through this method but it certainly is a convenient adjunct to other tools for the motivated independent learner.

Learning French: Immersion Programmes

I have to admit first up that I am a huge fan of immersion programmes for learning a foreign language.  I don't have scientific evidence of their success compared to other methods of learning. Having completed 5 linguistic stays in France metropole and one in New Caledonia I have learnt lots about the French language and culture as well as improving my speaking, listening and writing of French. On top of this I had lots of fun, saw and experienced wonderful things and made lots of new friends.  I have lost much of my nervousness when speaking the language. These things may well have happened without travelling and undertaking immersion courses. I suspect not in my case.

In Judy MacMahon's article Continuing to Learn French Camille Chevalier-Karfis of French Today discusses not only the benefits but also the disadvantages of immersion programmes. It is a sad reality of life that there are scams as well as programmes of dubious quality. I cannot stress enough the importance of thoroughly researching an immersion programme before commiting to it. It should not only be of an adequate standard but needs to suit you and your specific requirements.

Students from Alliance française de Rouen

Selecting an immersion programme:
There is nothing better than a personal recommendation for an immersion programme, especially when it comes from a friend with a similar language ability and interests. This is not always possible so therefore in addition to ensuring that the programme is legitimate, my criteria are:

• Location: The size of the town tends to influence how busy the locals are and their perserverance in communicating with me in French.  The timing of the programme will also influence how willing the locals are to make the effort to speak to someone learning the language. As Camille says in Thoughts on Going to France to Practice your French, consider going at off-peak times. She also provides a number of other useful tips. On the other hand the town needs to be big enough that there are plenty of cultural activities. I also look for a location which is easily accessible by train so that I can venture further afield independently without needing to hire a vehicle.
• Homestay option: This is a crucial element of the programme for me. It is just as important for my learning as the classes I attend. How are the families selected? Is there a 'no fault' arrangement where if things don't work out between the family and the student that the school will assist with finding alternative accommodation?  Is there someone who has responsibililty for coordinating the placement of students?  I attended one language school where all admin staff were involved but there was no one person responsible to speak to if there was a problem.
• Responsiveness to enquiries: I have sent repeat emails to some locations and never had a response back. I prefer timely and comprehensive responses. 
• Additional activities and classes: Does the school offer excursions and visits in French? Are there some social activities offered?  What language or cultural workshops are offered?
• Class sizes and levels: What is the maximum and minimum number of students per class? How many levels are expected to be offered when you are planning to attend. Eight levels may be offered in summer but there may be considerably less in the middle of winter. Is it expected that there will be a class run at my level? Most language schools in France use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you are unsure of your current level of language proficiency, a good starting point is the Test de Charlotte offered by the CNED (Centre National d'Enseignement à Distance) which will indicate your level. You can self-examine online for this, free of charge and the test will take about 45 minutes. How are students assessed and placed in classes? How is progression monitored?
• Age range of students: I admit to being ageist. I am middle-aged but I don't want to be in a class where there are only 'seniors'. I find the enthusiasm and confidence of students in their twenties infectious and have found that my rate of learning increases when surrounded by them. I am generally less enamoured with those in their teens.  
• Class times: My preference is to have classes only in the mornings with optional activities in the afternoon. I have found that in the first few weeks of an immersion programme I am brain dead by lunch time. Having the flexibililty to later pick up extra afternoon workshops or classes is invaluable.
• Payment arrangements: I was nearly not going to include this. If the school is legitimate then the payment arrangements are usually fair and reasonable. I can't define what is fair and reasonable. I would however be wary if students are asked to prepay all in advance.  

I have not included a criteria for teaching staff as I have yet to find a practical way of assessing the school this way.

View from CREIPAC in Noumeea

There are a number of search engines for locating language schools and some of them are included in Isabel Eva Bohrer's Intelligent Travel article: The Key to Cultural Immersion– Learn the Language! – Intelligent Travel.

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Ministry of Culture and Communication jointly awards the Qualité français langue étrangère label to French as a Foreign Language centres that meet their guidelines. Their website allows you to search for centres that they have accredited. Whilst the standard of these centres undoubtably would be very high it does not mean that centres that are not accredited don't also offer equally high standard programmes. I will post about my wonderful experiences at the Alliance française de Rouen where I have done 3 linguistic stays and for whom I also worked as a volunteer for a number of years. I have already written about my experiences at the Centre de Rencontres et d'Echanges Internationaux du Pacifique (CREIPAC) in Noumea: Learn French in New Caledonia - August 2012

Finally, I stress the importance of carefully researching whichever centre you choose to ensure its legitimacy as well as to ensure it is a good 'fit' for you and your learning objectives.

Further reading with Femme Francophile:

• Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012 
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1)
• Learning French: Cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2)
• Learning French: Immersion Programme with the Alliance française de Rouen
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 3) 

Alliance française de Rouen, 80 boulevard de l'Yser, 76000 ROUEN

CREIPAC, 100 avenue James Cook, Nouville, 98800 NOUMEA

Learning French: Cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Comme étudiante de la langue française je cherche toujours de nouvelles façons d'apprendre et d'améliorer mon français. Je viens de découvrir une manière plutôt originale. Les cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens! C'est une situation authentique et bon marché. Pas de prof de français langue étrangère ici!

La Mairie de Paris et la Fédération Française de Cuisine Amateur (FFCA) proposent ces cours. Le thème cette année est la sensibilisation au gaspillage.

Tout d'abord, avec l'aide des commerçants du marché qui fournissent toutes les matières premières des recettes, vous choisirez vos ingrédients sur place. Puis vous participerez en plein air à la réalisation de la recette prévue par le chef. Ensuite vous la réaliserez chez vous. Rien de plus simple ! Oserai-je essayer de cuisiner en public ? Moi, qui ne cuisine jamais chez moi !

Les places sont très convoitées donc n'hésitez pas à vous inscrire sans délai. 

Pour de plus amples renseignements en ce qui concerne les dates et l'inscription : Mairie de Paris - Les cours de cuisine sur les marchés reprennent du service !

Allons-y !

N'hésitez pas à corriger mon français !

Further reading with Femme Francophile:

• Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1)
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2)
• Learning French: Immersion Programmes
• Learning French: Immersion Programme with the Alliance française de Rouen
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 3) 
• Learning French: Immersion Programme Homestay

Learning French: WordReference dictionary gets a new look

Today I noticed that one of my favourite online dictionaries, WordReference.com, has had a makeover.  

Gone is the jarring orange colour although it does remain incorporated into the icon associated with the site. I am not a typography expert but the font seems much crisper and clearer. I wish I had a copy of the screens previously to be able to determine the other changes. So far I have only detected cosmetic changes. I can't discern any changes in terms of features or content.

The user forums allow registered users (registration is free) to both ask and respond to questions. This is both an advantage and disadvantage of the site as doubts or questions posted can be answered by anyone regardless of their expertise in the topic. For me, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I can ask questions if the examples don't cover my context and I can locate previously posted questions and responses that relate to my translation query. The context is usually provided so I can make a much more informed choice about the word that I want to select or the appropriate meaning.

In addition to the bilingual dictionaries and forums other features include:

• Concise Oxford English Dictionary;
• WordReference Thesaurus;  
• Context search;
• Image search;
• Verb conjugators;
• Chrome and Firefox shortcuts;
• Mobile apps for iPhone and Android.

I use the Android 'application' extensively. I am not sure though that it really qualifies as an application as such given that it requires a connection to the Internet and appears to be just an interface to the online version of WordReference. Nevertheless it remains firmly planted on my screen for ready access.

Other bilingual dictionaries apart from French-English are available. If you are learning other languages checkIf you haven't used WordReference before, or if you haven't been back for a while, it is time to have a look.

Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2)

In Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1) I discussed the beginning of my second attempt at learning French. I didn't know when I started again that journey would be still going some 12 years later. The difference is that it is even more fun now than before.

Upon returning from France it was back to my classes at the Alliance. Teachers would ask the class if they had learnt the subjunctive before and there would be a collective sigh. I embarrassedly would admit yes, many times, and equally as many, had forgotten it. 

As my thirst for learning French grew, I realised that I needed to put in more effort. If you are young, you may be able to just turn up for your weekly lesson with no practice or study between but I found that this did not work for me. Perhaps it doesn't work for young people either. On the other hand age is no excuse for failing to learn a new language according to a report in New Scientist.

I look back now and realise what a scattergun approach I had taken to learning the language. I have tried everything that I can. I sought out opportunities to immerse myself in the French language in spite of living in an English speaking country.

In addition to classes at the Alliance and later at University of the Third Age there are a number of things that I have tried. Some of these I will cover in more detail in future posts:

• Buying extra grammar books to help understand grammatical principles and for additional practice. I found that you have to also open and use them to have any chance of effectiveness. 
• Private lessons with 1 or 2 others as well as a regular coffee and chat with friends in French (including one who is French).
• Participating in online French chats and forums: These have since been replaced as technology changes, my confidence and skills improve and I develop friendships with people whom I have met through the internet. I tend to use Skype more often now. 
• Changing my PC and smartphone to operate in French and setting the keyboard to French. Wherever possible the language in all applications, software and social media is set to French. Amazingly, I don't even notice anymore that it is in French. I have no hesitation in choosing the 'Enregistrer', 'Supprimer' or 'Envoyer' buttons or 'J'aime' on Facebook. Coming across terminology in French frequently has implanted it into my sub-conscious so that I am no longer aware that the word is in another language. They are no different to other  words in my vocabulary; they just happen to be in French. 
• Subscribed to French magazines: I took out a 6 month discounted subscription for 'L'Express'. I paid only 1 € per magazine but the postage was quite high.  
• Online resources: Online French lessons, exercises, magazines, radio, podcasts, videos, films - the options are almost infinite. I will detail more information in future posts.
• French language Meetup group: Meetup is an online facility to help groups of people with shared interests plan meetups and form offline clubs in local communities around the world. There are French language meetup groups internationally. If there is not one near you, you could start up one.
• Seek out French speakers socially and in my work environment whether they be colleagues or customers.
• Telling stories and chatting in French to my grandchildren in spite of them not knowing any French. Pets could easily be substituted for children. I have also talked aloud to myself in French when driving. Even if no-one responds it is good practice for articulating words in French and gaining confidence. I found it helped my tongue and mouth get around words where I would otherwise falter.
• French immersion stay: I have done 5 linguistic stays with various Alliance françaises in France and one with CREIPAC in New Caledonia (Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012). I will discuss this in more detail in a future post and will also include how to make the most of it.
• Studying French by distance at an Australian university.
• Volunteering: I volunteered with the Alliance française de Rouen for more than 3 years. I 'worked' for them both when I was in France and remotely from home in Australia. 
• Books with spoken CDs: There are some wonderful spoken CDs available in French. I particularly enjoyed Philippe Delerm's La Première Gorgée de Bière. It is a collection of magical short descriptions which are full of vivid imagery. I found the length ideal for being able to replay over and over. The vocabulary is quite rich so sometimes can be challenging but I enjoyed the change from the simplistic storylines in the Mills and Boon type books I was reading.  The stories can also be followed in the book if required. (Note: Not suitable for beginners. I would suggest at least intermediate level of French required.)

 

• Novels in French: I initially found it easier to read books that tend to use repetitive vocabulary  and familiar story lines such as Mills and Boon type novels and those by Agatha Christie. I quickly got the gist of fluttering eyelids and pounding hearts without stopping to look words up in dictionaries. 
• Frequenting French cafés, patisseries, boulangeries and restaurants in Australia and ordering and making small talk in French.
• Participate in social events run by my local Alliance française. As well as the Alliance française French Film Festival they offer a wide variety of social events including regular lunchtime gatherings, plays, social evenings, wine tastings etc. My Alliance even has regular bridge evenings for francophones.  If only I knew how to play bridge!
• French satellite television at home. An annual subscription was my gift to myself when I changed from working full-time to part-time. Not only are there benefits linguistically but culturally as well.  

I am eager to do a visit to Melbourne with a free tour in French through the Melbourne Greeter service.  The possibilities are almost endless.  It takes some effort to find the opportunities and also to make the most of them.

The listing above contains things that I have used to supplement formal classes. For a comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of some of the different learning methods I thoroughly recommend Judy MacMahon's article 'Continuing to Learn French'. In it Camille Chevalier-Karfis of French Today provides her advice.  What was effective for me may not be effective for others. Hopefully this list provides a prompt to consider alternatives when learning French.

My 'secret' if you like for 'perservering' with learning French has been my group of francophile and francophone friends. I have no idea how many coffees have been drunk in my pursuit to learn French. They have been there to support and encourage me throughout the journey. Un grand merci à toutes et à tous!

If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d share it with your friends by email, Facebook or Twitter. Thank you!

Further reading with Femme Francophile:

• Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1)
• Learning French: Cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens
• Learning French: Immersion Programmes
• Learning French: Immersion Programme with the Alliance française de Rouen
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 3) 
• Learning French: Immersion Programme Homestay

Mais au fait, à quoi sert "en fait" ?

I am fascinated how we use different phrases and words in both English and French to fill out sentences. I recall a few years ago deciding I would sound more French if I used a few catch phrases and words. I am not sure why I decided that I could just magically sound more French (whatever that may mean).

I chose words and phrases that I believed I could reasonably pronounce (hence none with that pesky French 'r' that I will never master). Whenever I could, I would throw in an en fait, tout à fait, absolument, génial or a ça y est.  This of course was all prior to knowing that really all I needed was one single word to sound French. Le mot indispensable en français

I was quite upset when one day a French friend indicated that tout à fait and absolument were the signs of an uneducated person. Oh dear ! Had I chosen the wrong words to build my 'Frenchness'?  Was I just sounding more uneducated?  It was interesting to then read and listen to Pierre Bénard's article 'Mais au fait, à quoi sert "en fait" ?' in his regular 'Faut-il le dire' programme on Canal Académie. Unfortunately the full article and podcast is only available for a limited time to non-paying newsletter subscribers.  So that's it, I am just stalling for more time.

What words or phrases do you use as fillers or to sound more French?

Faire apprendre : vocation, profession, occupation ou passe-temps ? « Didactique professionnelle »

An interesting article from Henri Boudreault (in French) for those who are interested in the role of the teacher in learning: Faire apprendre : vocation, profession, occupation ou passe-temps ? « Didactique professionnelle »

I suggest reading it in conjunction with : 10 fundamentals of learning - Les 10 fondements de l'apprentissage

Learning French: Starting over again (Part 1)

I had always wanted to travel to Paris, even as a young girl. When the opportunity was finally on the horizon it was time to start thinking about French lessons. I had studied French at high school twenty years earlier but in spite of receiving an undeserved high mark in my final exam I was never able to hold even a basic conversation. Real life is nothing like the scripted textbooks of yesteryear with Philippe and Claire talking on the telephone.

It was an easy decision as to where to study. My local Alliance Française. As a schoolgirl I had enjoyed their functions and they had fed my romantic notions of France. Additionally they met my requirements of native French-speaking teachers and the focus not only on the language but also on the culture. The social events that the Alliance offered was another significant factor in my choice. The combination of the 20 year hiatus and my dread of sitting an assessment test to determine my level led me to enrol in the class for complete beginners. I felt slightly smug on the first night when I remembered how to introduce myself. Naively I felt confident that I had allowed sufficient lead in time for my trip to be able to master basic conversations. I was sure that 30 two hour lessons would have me deciphering menus and responding to questions before our August departure. Progress was slow... very slow. As slow as the snails that I pictured myself eating in some small Parisian bistro. It was not a problem with the teaching. People half my age had no problems and would whizz ahead with responses whilst I was still thinking through what the question meant.

Eventually off to France I headed ... disappointed I returned, at least in regards to my linguistic abilities. Nobody would speak to me in French! As soon as I uttered a few words in French, the waiter or receptionist would launch into perfect English. It was as if my feeble attempts were causing them physical pain. I was however absolutely enchanted with Paris so I was determined to work on my French and return  parler-ing en français.

In  Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2), I look at some of the thing that I have tried to improve my French skills. 

Further reading with Femme Francophile:

• Learning French: New Caledonia - August 2012
• Learning French: Cours de cuisine gratuits sur les marchés parisiens
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 2)
• Learning French: Immersion Programmes
• Learning French: Immersion Programme with the Alliance française de Rouen
• Learning French: Starting over again (Part 3) 
• Learning French: Immersion Programme Homestay

Alliance Française d'Adelaïde, 319 Young St, Wayville SA 5034

10 fundamentals of learning - Les 10 fondements de l'apprentissage

Thanks to Ruth from New Zealand for having shared this informative slideshow.  Although general in nature, I found it useful to reflect on my own learning of French.

Merci à Ruth de la Nouvelle-Zélande d'avoir partagé ce diaporama riche en enseignements. Bien qu'il parle en termes généraux, je le trouve très utile pour m'aider à apprendre le français.


Merci à Fraussie (Aussie in France) d'avoir corrigé mon français.

Homographes et homophones français

Un grand merci à Ghislaine de Nouvelle-Calédonie d'avoir partagé ces exemples.

En français : deux mots composés des mêmes lettres se prononcent toujours de la même façon !
En êtes vous bien sûr ?

Homographes non homophones
Voici quelques exemples d’homographes de prononciations différentes !

Sortant de l’abbaye où les poules du couvent couvent, je vis ces vis. Nous portions nos portions, lorsque mes fils ont cassé les fils. Je suis content qu'ils vous content cette histoire. Mon premier fils est de l’Est, il est fier et l’on peut s’y fier, ils n’ont pas un caractère violent et ne violent pas leurs promesses, leurs femmes se parent de fleurs pour leur parent. Elles ne se négligent pas, je suis plus négligent. Elles excellent à composer un excellent repas avec des poissons qui affluent de l’affluent. Il convient qu'elles convient leurs amis, elles expédient une lettre pour les inviter, c’est un bon expédient. Il serait bien que nous éditions cette histoire pour en réaliser de belles éditions.

Homographes homophones
Voyons aussi quelques exemples d’homographes de même prononciation !

Cette dame qui dame le sol. Je vais d'abord te dire qu'elle est d'abord agréable. A Calais, où je calais ma voiture, le mousse grattait la mousse de la coque. Le bruit dérangea une grue, elle alla se percher sur la grue. On ne badine pas avec une badine en mangeant des éclairs au chocolat à la lueur des éclairs. En découvrant le palais royal, il en eut le palais asséché, je ne pense pas qu'il faille relever la faille de mon raisonnement.

Homophones

Voici le meilleur exemple d’homophone (mot de sens différent mais de prononciation identique) !

Le ver allait vers le verre vert