French lessons, events & trips
FRENCH LESSONS EVENTS & GIFTS
‘Tis the season to perfect your French vocab with this handy list of festive terms. From holiday greetings to the baubles decorating your sapin de Noël*, pop these up your sleeve to spread the holiday cheer like a pro.
*Christmas tree
If you’re not lucky enough to be visiting the French Christmas markets this year, don’t despair. You can still enjoy the perfect verre de vin chaud* – in the (air-conditioned) comfort of your home.
Ideal for serving at any festive season soirée*, this traditional mulled wine will be a hit with family and friends. Filling your home with the delectable sweet, spiced scent of orange, cinnamon and star anise.
Santé*!
Merci à Marmiton pour la recette*.
*A glass of mulled wine | *Cheers! *Thank you to Marmiton for the recipe.
As you’re putting out a cold one for Santa this réveillon de Noël*, spare a thought for Père Noël*. The traditional treat to refuel Father Christmas in France is a plain old glass of milk.
Children also fill their shoes with biscuits and carrots (for the reindeer), which are replaced with sweets and gifts as they slumber.
The French natives in le nid* may find our beery tribute odd, but we’re not alone. Here are the countries who think Santa might need a stiff drink amidst all the stocking stuffing.
*Christmas eve | *Father Christmas | *the nest
In the last How To Learn French post, I mentioned that there are certain things that seem to trouble most learners, regardless of their level. I named the letters e and i in the French alphabet as particular bugbears.
So for this post, I thought I’d share one of the techniques I learned when it was time for me to really come to grips with French pronunciation. It may surprise you to know that it wasn’t just before my Year 12 exams, or in preparation for moving to Paris many years later. It wasn’t until I started tutoring French upon my return that I realised I’d been approximating many of the French sounds until that moment.
Looking back, I know my accent was okay, but it wasn’t until I sat down with The Good Pronunciation Guide put out by Bien Dire publications (very highly recommended) that it dawned on just how loose a lot of my pronunciation was. In an effort to tighten it up, I pored over the little booklet that came with the CD (yes, it was il y a longtemps*) for many, many hours. As frustrating as it was (at times I wanted to tear my hair out) it was ultimately very illuminating.
With the booklet’s help, I was able to group together combinations of letters and accents that made the same sound. For example, the sound è can be written in a variety of ways: è, ai, ei and ê, to name a few. We’ll get into that in a future post, as I can see I’m already starting to get ahead of myself. Before learning the different spelling combinations for a particular sound, we need to have a fail-safe way of remembering the sound itself. Enter the idea of anchor words.
An anchor word is a word a student already knows how to pronounce and can therefore recall easily. We use these words as a reference point to ensure our pronunciation stays on track and doesn’t drift along in the linguistic tides.
So, let’s get right into by taking a look at the French vowels. I’ve offered up my personal anchor words, but feel free to choose another from the ones I’ve listed, or encore mieux*, come up with your own. I’d really recommend you start a little list in a notebook you can access at all times. I think you’ll be surprised by how reassuring it is and therefore how often you’ll reach for it.
By the way, if you’re not absolutely sure of the pronunciation of my anchor words, you can check on this very helpful little website.
Others you might like:
la
ma
voilà
baguette
chat
Others you might like:
le
me
de
demain
revoir
lit
Lyon
Fifi
midi
Paris
Others you might like:
orange
dos
trop
photo
gogo
Others you might like:
bus
jus
tutu
uniforme
lu
Remember, the more you identify with a word, the more likely it is to come to mind when you need it.
Next time, we’ll look at some vowel combinations (like oi, ui, ou and others) and hopefully you’ll start to see how quickly you can combine the sounds in your anchor words to confidently pronounce words of more than one syllable, and, with a new degree of confidence, even words you’ve never come across before.
Bon courage*!
*a long time ago | *even better | *Good luck
If you need a break from Mariah on repeat these next few weeks, here are three classic French chants de Noël* to add to your Spotify playlist. Two carols you’ll definitely be familiar with – but you might find a new festive favourite in the nation’s most beloved Christmas song.
Enjoy!
While you’ll recognise the tune in an instant, you might notice something awry with the French translation of the classic ‘Jingle Bells’. T'inquiète pas*, it’s no reflection of your comprehension skills! The lyrics to ‘Vive le vent’ (Long live the wind) are completely different – but festive and fun to sing along.
Long live the wind, long live the wind
Long live the winter wind
Which goes whistling, blowing
Through the tall green Christmas trees, oh!
Long live the season, long live the season,
Long live the holiday season
Snowballs and new year’s day
and happy new year Grandma!
Along the long road
All white from the white snow
Walks an old man
With his cane in his hand
And the wind way up there
Which whistles in the branches
Blows the romantic tune on him
That he sang as a young child, oh!
Merry, Merry Christmas
To the thousand candles
Which delight toward heaven
The night’s bells.
Long live the wind, long live the wind
Long live the winter wind
Which brings to old kids
Their memories of yesterday, oh!
And the old man
Goes down toward the village
t’s the time when everyone is good
And the shadow dances near the fire
But in each house
There floats a festive air
Everywhere the table is set
And you hear the same song, oh!
Vive le vent, vive le vent
Vive le vent d’hiver
Qui s’en va sifflant, soufflant
Dans les grands sapins verts, oh!
Vive le temps, vive le temps
Vive le temps d’hiver
Boules de neige et Jour de l’An
Et Bonne Année grand-mère!
Sur le long chemin
Tout blanc de neige blanche
Un vieux monsieur s’avance
Avec sa canne dans la main
Et tout là-haut le vent
Qui siffle dans les branches
Lui souffle la romance
Qu’il chantait petit enfant, oh!
Joyeux, joyeux Noël
Aux mille bougies
Qu’enchantent vers le ciel
Les cloches de la nuit
Vive le vent, vive le vent
Vive le vent d’hiver
Qui rapporte aux vieux enfants
Leurs souvenirs d’hier, oh!
Et le vieux monsieur
Descend vers le village
C’est l’heure où tout est sage
Et l’ombre danse au coin du feu
Mais dans chaque maison
Il flotte un air de fête
Partout la table est prête
Et l’on entend la même chanson, oh!
Written in 1944 and made famous by iconic French singer and actor Tino Rossi in 1946, 'Petit Papa Noël' (Little Father Christmas) is France’s favourite holiday song. The original version of the non-secular song was rewritten to remove references to the war.
It’s the beautiful Christmas eve
The snow spreads out on a white blanket
And eyes are raised towards the
The little children are on their knees
Before closing their eyelids
Saying a last prayer
Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking
But before you leave
You should cover yourself well
Outside you will be so cold
And it’s kind of my fault
I can’t wait for daybreak
To see if you brought me
All the nice toys I see in my dreams
And that I ordered from you
Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking
It looks like it’s past bedtime
The kids are going to go to sleep
And you’ll be able to start
With your sack on your back
To the sound of church bells
Your delivery of surprises
And when you’re beautiful cloud
Come first to our house
I wasn’t well behaved everyday
But I’m asking you to forgive me
Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don’t forget my little stocking
Little Santa Claus
C’est la belle nuit de Noël
La neige étend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux levés vers le ciel
À genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupières
Font une dernière prière
Petit Papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier
Mais, avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C’est un peu à cause de moi
Il me tarde tant que le jour se lève
Pour voir si tu m’as apporté
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve
Et que je t’ai commandés
Petit Papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier
Le marchand de sable est passé
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des églises
Ta distribution de surprises
Et quand tu seras sur ton beau nuage
Viens d’abord sur notre maison
Je n’ai pas été tous les jours très sage
Mais j’en demande pardon
Petit Papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N’oublie pas mon petit soulier
Petit Papa Noël
Penned in the 1800s by an Austrian priest, Silent Night has been translated into over 300 languages – including English and the French version, ‘Douce nuit, sainte nuit’ (Sweet Night, Holy Night). Read more about the history of ‘Stille Nacht’ here.
Sweet night, holy night
In the heavens, the star shines
The announced mystery is fulfilled
This child sleeping on straw
It’s infinite love
It’s infinite love
Holy child, soft lamb
How big He is, how beautiful He is
Listen to the pipe sounding
Shepherds driving their flocks
Towards his humble cradle
Towards his humble cradle
He comes running towards us
In a gift without return
In this world ignorant of love
Where he’s starting his stay
May he be the King forever
May he be the King forever
What a welcome for a King
The spot of the shelter, the spot of the roof
In his manger he shivers from cold
Oh sinner, without waiting for the cross
Jesus suffers for you
Jesus suffers for you
Peace to all, Glory to heaven
Glory to the maternal heart
Who for us, on this Christmas day,
Gave birth to the eternal Saviour
That Israel was waiting for
That Israel was waiting for
Douce nuit, sainte nuit!
Dans les cieux ! L’astre luit.
Le mystère annoncé s’accomplit
Cet enfant sur la paille endormi,
C’est l’amour infini!
C’est l’amour infini!
Saint enfant, doux agneau!
Qu’il est grand! Qu’il est beau!
Entendez résonner les pipeaux
Des bergers conduisant leurs troupeaux
Vers son humble berceau!
Vers son humble berceau!
C’est vers nous qu’il accourt,
En un don sans retour!
De ce monde ignorant de l’amour,
Où commence aujourd’hui son séjour,
Qu’il soit Roi pour toujours!
Qu’il soit Roi pour toujours!
Quel accueil pour un Roi!
Point d’abri, point de toit!
Dans sa crèche il grelotte de froid
O pécheur, sans attendre la croix,
Jésus souffre pour toi!
Jésus souffre pour toi!
Paix à tous ! Gloire au ciel!
Gloire au sein maternel,
Qui pour nous, en ce jour de Noël,
Enfanta le Sauveur éternel,
Qu’attendait Israël!
Qu’attendait Israël!
*Christmas songs |*Don’t worry
Struggling to find the perfect last-minute gift for the Francophile in your life? We happen to think experiences make the best cadeaux de Noël*, so why not treat them (and yourself) to a riotous, champagne-fuelled night of entertainment?
Playing now until 14th Feb at The West End Electric, Blanc de Blanc Encore is the self-proclaimed “show that pops your cork”. An “intoxicating Gatsby-esque ride (that) astonishes and delights with its unique brand of opulent, cheeky, edge-of-your-seat theatre”, the smash-hit show from Strut & Fret first premiered at the Sydney Opera House in 2019 and is headed for London’s West End on the next leg of its tour.
A fusion of circus, bawdy comedy and cabaret acts, Blanc de Blanc Encore has won a legion of fans among audiences and critics alike.
“This was one of the funniest, most entertaining shows I have been to & I have been to a lot. Total engagement from start to finish. Do yourself a favour & book for a truly amazing show. Love, love, loved it!!!” ★★★★★ Brenda Webber
“A hilarious, risqué show that runs the risk of upsetting prudish types (and we absolutely loved it).” Sunday Telegraph
Interested? We have some exciting news! The lovely folks at Strut & Fret are offering an exclusive discount for Lingua Franca students. Enter the code MYLINGUAFRIENDS at checkout to unlock 15% off tickets! Or purchase directly through this link, which will apply the code automatically.
For more information, check out this video. Or visit the website to snap up your sièges*. We’ll see you there!
* Christmas gifts | *seats
As a fairly obsessive person in many ways, I can get myself into a bit of a lather from time to time.
It can be a positive (it’s the things I’m passionate about that tend to trigger this character trait in me) but at times it really works against me. I know I’m in its grip when I find my mind racing and my breathing shallow, thinking to myself “how am I going to get there FASTER?”.
Over the years I’ve read dozens of self-help books, studied philosophy and taken up meditation and these practices have undoubtedly helped. However, it’s one simple piece of advice, offered up to me many years ago, that now has the power to make me take a breath when I can feel myself winding right up.
I joined Qantas as an international flight attendant straight out of university, at the tender age of 23. I’d barely travelled before that point and after six weeks of training was sent on my very first trip. I was beside myself with excitement and fronted up to the briefing room at the jet base in Sydney, groomed to within an inch of my life and proudly wearing my brand new navy blue uniform and regulation pantyhose. I’m surprised I didn’t salute as I went in to meet the rest of the crew, so primed was I to make long-lasting friendships based on extraordinary shared travel experiences.
In those days, trips were allocated on a seniority basis, but because I was brand new, I’d been called out on a trip to a very desirable (and therefore very senior) destination: Tahiti. Where my training class was full of highly excitable, nervous goody-two-shoes like me, desperate to toe the company line by going ‘above and beyond’, my first crew was a ragtag bunch who barely bothered to look up as I awkwardly entered the room.
Relieved I’d decided against the salute, I quietly took a seat at the back and had no choice but to listen in on their off-hand, world-weary exchanges about what they were going to get up to in Tahiti during their slip time. They were all about 20 years older than me and wore their uniforms with an insouciance that would have had them reported tout de suite* in the training rooms upstairs. Sunglasses pushed onto the tops of heads, jackets slung over the backs of chairs, ties undone, skirts riding up to reveal non-regulation (gasp!) stockings… Louche was the only way to describe it and yet I was in absolute awe. How could these people get away with breaking all the rules and be so incredibly cool simultaneously? Remembering back to how naive I was makes me cringe and smile all at once.
Cut to two hours later and we’re ready to greet the passengers as they file onto the aircraft, anticipating their trip to paradise. Without any to-do whatsoever, uniform jackets had been buttoned, sunglasses removed, skirts pulled down to graze the knees and cigarettes stowed within arm’s reach for the minute the no-smoking sign went off (yes…). I watched as my fellow crew members greeted, assisted and gently teased the passengers in that most Australian of ways. “Got ya boardies with ya, mate?” to a young boy travelling with his parents. “Looking forward to your first Mai Tai, doll?” to an older woman who tittered in appreciation. It was a different time, that’s for sure, but the ease with which they dispensed their charm across the entire economy cabin was truly a sight to behold.
Meanwhile, I could barely distinguish one end of the aircraft from the other and yet couldn’t let go of my newly-acquired policies and procedures training, swirling though they were in my head.
Picking out the most approachable-looking of my colleagues, I started peppering him with questions.
“So we do waters pre-take-off and then once the seatbelt sign goes off we start the bar service, is that right? Or do we hand out the menus first? Oh, no, I remember,” I said, answering my own question, as my colleague’s moustache betrayed a small smile, “we do headsets first up, or is that before take-off? Do I get them out myself, or have you already done that? Where are they again?”
“Easy, tiger, it’s a long flight. You don’t want to puff yourself out.”
I wish I could report that those words snapped me out of my self-imposed stress coil, but they didn’t. They did make me laugh, though, and over the next eight hours or so I was able to witness the crew pace themselves in a way that ensured the passengers got what they needed (food, drink, safety) as well as what they wanted: a comfortable flight, a quick chat and a bit of a laugh.
So, why am I meandering down memory lane and how does it relate to learning French?
One of the great things about my job as a tutor at Lingua Franca is that I have the privilege of teaching people who choose to be there. They lead busy, interesting lives, yet find time once a week or more to turn their attention to French. I love watching the French bug bite them and know it’s happened when they start a sentence with : “I was in the shower/car/supermarket the other day and was trying to work out how I’d say…”
This is such a wonderful development and one that should be celebrated.
However, sometimes that passion can spill over into anxiety and I’ve seen people giving themselves a hard time instead of giving themselves a huge pat on the back, which is what they deserve.
If you recognise yourself in this description, I offer you a few observations:
As tutors, we teach many classes across all sorts of levels and we can report with confidence that almost every French learner struggles with the same things. A couple off the top of my head:
the letters ‘e’, ‘i’, ‘g’ and ‘j’ in the alphabet
the numbers 14, 15, 40 and 50.
how to ask for water
It’s not just you, I promise.
It’s a cliché, but there really are no dumb questions. You are literally learning a different language, so of course there’ll be things that just don’t make any sense. As a tutor, I’m always happy when someone says “This may be a dumb question, but…” as it just alerts me to the fact I haven’t explained something clearly enough. And I know that in offering a more careful answer the second time around, I’ll be helping those who didn’t speak up.
You have to be resilient to stick at learning a language. If you’ve been learning for any length of time, you’ll know there are days when things really seem to be clicking. Your mind’s sharp, your conjugations are impeccable and you may even surprise yourself by thinking “What I just said sounded pretty French!” And then there are the other days… Your head’s like cotton wool, you can’t even think of the verb let alone conjugate it and you may wonder why you embarked on this folly in the first place. Try not to be too disheartened. In my experience, it’s usually down to a lack of sleep or a bit of stress, or it may simply not be your day.
Learning French can be an absolute pleasure, but beware of turning it into a chore in your enthusiasm to get to an arbitrary finishing line. Just like my Tahiti crew who built up their skills over a number of years, you’ll one day meet a newbie and think “Easy, tiger. You don't want to puff yourself out.”
*straight away
Whether au nid* or on Slack, many of you will already have crossed paths with our wonderful office manager and French tutor, Marion Boyer. Joining the Lingua Franca team in April this year, Marion has a passion for the beach and Brisbane’s most scenic form of public transport.
Get to know more about Marion here.
Je viens de Lyon.
I come from Lyon.
Le 27 décembre, cela fera 2 ans que je suis en Australie! Je suis venue pour le travail de mon partenaire.
On December 27, I will have been in Australia for 2 years! I came for my partner's work.
J’adore le fromage, le champagne, la danse, voyager, écouter la musique trop fort dans ma voiture, rencontrer de nouvelles personnes, aller à la plage avec ma fille et mon partenaire.
I love cheese, champagne, dancing, travelling, listening to music too loud in my car, meeting new people, going to the beach with my daughter and my partner.
Je déteste la chantilly, la méchanceté gratuite, le mensonge et attendre quelqu'un.
I hate whipped cream, nastiness, lying and waiting for someone.
J'adore prendre le ferry pour me déplacer en ville ou à Southbank. J'ai l'impression d'être en vacances.
I love taking the ferry to get around town or to Southbank. It feels like I'm on vacation.
L'expression australienne que je préfère est 'YeahNah' or barbie.
My favourite Australian expression is 'YeahNah' or barbie (BBQ).
*in the nest
Looking for the perfect cadeau de Noël* for the fellow francophile in your life? Look no further. From food to fashion to something to read by la piscine*, our team has the perfect suggestion – no trip abroad (sadly) required.
Marion
Un sac Abel de chez Sézane.
An Abel bag from Sezane.
Alicia
Du foie gras de chez France at Home.
Foie gras from France at Home.
Alexia
Un dîner à La Cache à Vin.
A dinner at La Cache à Vin (Spring Hill).
Katrina
Du saucisson à acheter ou commander en ligne – Le Fromage Yard.
Sausage to buy or order online – Le Fromage Yard (Morningside).
Angéline
Le livre ‘Kilomètre Zéro’ de Maud Ankaoua – Abbey’s Bookshop.
The book ‘Kilometre Zero’ by Maud Ankaoua.
Justine
Un coffret de produits cosmétiques chez l'Occitane.
A box of cosmetic products from L’Occitane.
*Christmas gift |*the pool
With an iconic look and a delightful backstory, La Vache Qui Rit, or “The Laughing Cow”, is a brand of processed cheese products produced by Fromageries Bel. Wrapped in nostalgia, the wedges of mild and creamy, spreadable cheese – made with a blend of cheddar, gouda, edam, emmental and comté – were created in 1921 by French cheesemaker Léon Bel.
The instantly recognisable red cow logo, complete with cheese-round earrings, was designed by celebrated illustrator Benjamin Rabier. During World War I, Rabier, then a French officer, painted a laughing cow on meat trucks transporting rations for soldiers. He nicknamed it “Wachkyrie,” a cheeky nod to the Germans’ “Walkyries,” inspired by Wagner’s famous Ride of the Valkyries.
When said aloud in French, the pun sounded like “Vache Qui Rit” – sparking the imagination of young dairy farmer, Léon Bel. When Bel later launched his fromage* – the first soft, portioned processed cheese in aluminium packaging that could be easily shared and transported – he asked Rabier to create a new version of the laughing cow. In bright red with her signature earrings, she became the cheerful mascot stocking dairy aisles today.
Loved by adults and kids alike, La Vache has since become a staple in lunchboxes in over 120 countries across the globe.
* cheese
PS: This one’s for you, Antoine.
Fashion meets high drama in this behind-the-curtain look at an iconic French haute couture house. When the family dynasty behind the house falls into scandal, they must find a way to reinvent themselves – or be destroyed by their rival. – La Maison, Apple TV
Now that term 4 has almost wrapped up, don’t let your French learning slide over les vacances*. We find les chouchous* who progress the fastest are avid consumers of French culture – from TV to movies to podcasts and music.
Touted by The Guardian as “an irresistibly moreish mashup of Emily in Paris and Succession”, une série* many students are devouring is La Maison. One for fans of the glamorous yet cutthroat fashion world, it’s sure to spice up those empty days between Christmas and le jour de l'An*.
Watch the trailer or stream it now on Apple TV.
*the holidays | *the teacher’s pets | *a series | *New Year’s Day
Meaning simple and fuss-free, à la bonne franquette is exactly the type of fare you can expect to pick up from New Farm’s fabulous new French deli and takeaway of the same name.
The brainchild of French natives Delphine and Hugo Wintzer, located on Brunswick Street, À la Bonne Franquette has been received with open arms by local gourmands. And with a menu of classic French fare like soupe à l’oignon* and bœuf bourguignon to go, and gourmet cheeses, pâtés and goodies for your next soirée*, it’s easy to see why.
Co-owner Delphine recently took five minutes out of her busy day to give us the lowdown on their new venture. Make sure you drop by and dit ‘Bonjour!’*
The idea behind À la Bonne Franquette was to bring a piece of France to both Australians and French expats longing for a taste of home. We offer a menu of authentic French dishes at very reasonable prices. Since it’s just Hugo and me running the business, and we focus solely on takeaway, we’re able to keep our prices affordable.
We also wanted to introduce a deli section where Australians can discover French products, and French people can find items that remind them of home.
We opened on September 17, just two months ago, and the response from the community has been amazing. The neighbourhood has welcomed us warmly, and we’ve been thrilled to see so many customers return after trying our food. Some have even become regulars!
Word of mouth has been wonderful, and we often see new customers who’ve heard about us from friends. It’s heartwarming and fun to see this organic growth.
Hugo and I were backpacking and we arrived in Australia six years ago. We met and spent time in Melbourne before making Brisbane our home two years ago.
Hugo, who has been a French chef for over 10 years, is the heart of our kitchen. He’s at the shop from Tuesday afternoon to Saturday night, while I join him with our baby, Ophelia, around 3 PM most days.
Although we’re primarily a takeaway restaurant, we do have three small tables for customers who wish to dine in.
Alongside our menu, we offer a selection of nostalgic French treats – like biscuits and lollies from our childhood – as well as pâtés, terrines, foie gras, cheeses, chips, and even raclette machines. We also stock beautifully crafted French cutlery sets.
Brisbane’s French culinary scene is evolving rapidly, and we’re proud to be part of this growing landscape. We’re excited to share our concept with the community and bring a little slice of France to Brisbane.
À La Bonne Franquette
710 Brunswick Street, New Farm
*onion soup | *evening party |*say Hello | *the kitchen
Katrina’s back from Morocco but not before adding some weight to her valise* in the form of these irresistible finds from the souk*.
You’ll find them soon enough in La Petite Boutique*, but in the meantime, if you’d like us to put something away for you, just let us know here.
Ideal as des cadeaux de Noël, non*? Very limited stock (a medium-sized Samsonite only has so much capacity). See the full range au nid*
Pencil case-sized handmade burlap zippered pouch. Fully lined with bespoke embroidery and clip. Various colours/messages/motifs - $39 AUD
Medium clutch-sized handmade burlap zippered pouch. Fully lined with bespoke embroidery and handy clip. Various colours/messages/motifs - $49 AUD
Handmade straw tote with kid leather pom pom and plaited covered handles in Majorelle blue. One only - $250
Retro “La Gazelle” wicker picnic basket. One only - $150
*suitcase | *market | *The Little Shop | *Christmas presents, don’t you think? | *at the nest (Lingua Franca, Upstairs, 884 Brunswick St, New Farm, Brisbane)
You may know the French expression faire attention meaning ‘to be careful’. But do you know less formal faire gaffe? It, too, means to pay attention or be careful, even to watch out. and this is exactly what we want you to do with these common faux pax* which are easy to avoid once you’re aware of them.
ABSOLUTE BEGINNER
We’ve spoken about apostrophes before but it bears repeating. Ignore them! Same goes for the letter ‘h’, which is always silent in French.
What we often hear at Lingua Franca: Je habite
What we’d love you to say: J’habite* (sounds a bit like: juh-beet)
BEGINNER
Lingua Franca Chouchous* are a happy lot en général* and often want to tell us they’ve had a good time. Unfortunately a word-for-word translation doesn’t cut la moutarde* in this instance.
What we often hear at Lingua Franca: J’ai eu un bon temps.
What we’d love you to say: J’ai passé un bon moment*.
INTERMEDIATE
The phrase il y a is nothing if not versatile. It can mean: ‘there is’, ‘there are’, ‘is there?’, ‘are there?’ and even ‘ago’ if placed before a time period.
What can be difficult to grasp when you’re first learning is that the ‘a’ in il y a is in fact a conjugation of the verb avoir*. So when you want to use this expression to indicate the past (the imperfect tense, to be exact), you’ll need to conjugate the verb accordingly.
What we often hear at Lingua Franca: Il y était.
What we’d love you to say: Il y avait*.
ADVANCED
Wouldn’t life be so much more simple if we used the verb visiter (to visit) in every situation? No such luck I’m afraid.
Visiter is certainly used in French, but only for visiting places and things, not people. To say that you visited your parents, for instance, you’d need to employ the phrase rendre visite à (literally ‘to render visit to’).
To break it down a bit, rendre is the verb ‘to give back’, ‘to render’, or more colloquially ‘to make’. It’s a regular -re verb and therefore its past participle is rendu.
Please pay special attention to the next word: visite*. In this phrase, it’s not a verb but a noun. Note, too, that it isn’t preceded by a definite or indefinite article (la* or une*). The good news is that, as a noun, there is absolutely no need to change it to suit the person doing the action or, indeed, the tense.
Lastly, remember to add the preposition à (to) and you’re home and hosed.
What we often hear at Lingua Franca: J’ai visité mes parents.
What we’d love you to say: J’ai rendu visite à mes parents*.
*mistake (literally: false step) | *I live | *Teacher’s Pets | *in general | *the mustard | *I had a good time | *to have | *There was/were | *visit | *the | *a | *I visited my parents
Bringing an infectious laugh to Lingua Franca since early 2021, Rikki is a dedicated étudiante* with some interesting ties to France. It was a pleasure to have her join us on our trip to Morocco, where she and another cat-loving chouchou*, Lisa, took to feeding the local chats*. (And quite possibly whisked a few home.)
Read on to hear about Rikki’s fun taunting a French colleague from afar and her tried-and-tested tips for mastering la langue*.
I have wanted to learn French for as long as I can remember. I always did well at language classes in school and, as a Canadian-Australian, I’ve always felt a bit of a connection to the language.
My grandfather learned French to a level of fluency at school (his year 12 assignment was translating The 3 Musketeers from French to English), and my mom self-proclaims that she can read the back of a cereal box in French!
One day I decided to sign up for a one-week intensive “absolute beginner” group class, and here I am years later, taking the Wednesday night Club de Culture class with a great group of people!
Almost 10 years.
I like learning about the culture through the language. France has such a rich and dynamic culture and it’s really fascinating to learn how this has shaped the language.
I’ve been learning for almost 10 years and still frequently mess up basic things like the gender of nouns.
I work for an Australian company which has a partnership with a French multi-national, so I work with a lot of French people. In fact, my first teacher at Lingua Franca was the husband of one of my French co-workers.
I recently learned the word “époustouflant” (breathtaking) and thought it sounded amazing (and very French)!
I’m a little bit partial to La Vache Qui Rit*, the little triangles of French cream cheese, much to the disgust of one of my French colleagues. He insists that La Vache Qui Rit is not real cheese, let alone real French cheese.
When I travelled to Morocco on one of the Lingua Franca voyages, I realised that La Vache Qui Rit has a cult-like following in Morocco. It was everywhere! Of course, I started sending my colleague a daily photo of a triangle of La Vache cheese in an exotic location.
Then when we arrived in Essaouira, we found all sorts of merchandise available for purchase with the La Vache logo on it – Berber jackets, t-shirts, and even shopping bags! I asked my co-worker if he would like me to bring back some merchandise from his favourite French cheese brand, which he politely declined.
(I did a quick Google search on my return to Australia and realised that La Vache makes up 30% of the cheese consumed by Moroccans and consistently receives product awards in Morocco.)
My biggest tip is to just keep going! Sometimes it feels like you’re not improving, but if you compare your French to a year ago, I can guarantee you have improved more than you think!
For a more practical tip, if you like watching French TV shows and movies, try switching the subtitles to French on Netflix (or your other streaming service) – sometimes it helps to be able to see the words as you hear them.
*student | *teacher’s pet | *cats | *the language | *cheese | *The Laughing Cow | *Finally
Nous sommes de retour* from Morocco with de grands sourires*, gorgeous souvenirs (more on that soon!) and fabulous memories. What a feast for the senses (and stomach) it was.
Interested in seeing what we got up to? Head to our Instagram account for (near-daily) vlogs about our adventures. Perhaps it will entice you to bite the bullet and join us on one of our 2025 voyages*!
Not on social media? Pas de problème*. Check out our trip report page where you’ll find all the videos waiting for you.
*We’re back | *big smiles | *trips | *No problem
La campagne, une grande ville ou le bord de mer* – where do nos profs* prefer to visit when they head back to the Motherland? Find out with this month’s Sneak Peek into Le Nid*.
Katrina
Paris en août pour la paix.
Paris in August for the peace and quiet.
Angéline
Bordeaux pour aller visiter les vignobles en été.
Bordeaux to go visit the vineyards in summer.
Alexia
La Côte d'Azur.
Marion
L'île d'Oléron.
Alicia
Hyères-les-Palmiers.
Justine
J'adore le Sud de la France, cela me rappelle des souvenirs d'enfance.
I love the South of France, it brings back childhood memories.
*The countryside, a big city or the seaside? | *our teachers | *the nest
Keen to speak like a true French native? It’s time to master Verlan – a form of French slang created by inverting the syllables (or sounds) in a word. Un exemple*? Try cimer – the cool-kid way to say merci*.
Check out this article on the 15 Verlans words you should know. And be prepared to impress your French amis*.
*An example | *thank you | *friends
With the nickname 'gem of the lake', Yvoire is a medieval French city bursting with charm. Adorning Lac Léman (Lake Geneve) in the department of Haute-Savoie in the southeastern French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the 14th-century village is considered one of the country's plus beaux*.
A treat for historians and green thumbs, Yvoire is renowned for its beautiful springtime blooms and well-preserved medieval atmosphere. With cobbled streets and stone houses, remnants of fortified walls and the striking Chateau d'Yvoire, the village is picture-postcard perfect.
Not to be missed is Le Jardin de Cinq Sens (The Garden of the Five Senses) – a spectacular garden designed to engage all the senses.
*most beautiful
If you've ever done a group lesson here at Lingua Franca, you've probably come into contact with La Petite Histoire*. A tale with the very humblest of beginnings, it winds up becoming a rollicking schlockbuster as you move up the levels and your French improves enough to handle the outrageous (some would say impossible) turns of events of the six young friends.
La Petite Histoire is currently only available to our students, however La Préquelle is for everyone’s enjoyment. Below, another instalment of this new series, Chapter 2 of the Advanced 2 level.
*The Little Story | *The Prequel
Après avoir passé quelques heures très agréables à boire du Pimm’s sur la terrasse, Robert est sorti de la cuisine pour nous appeler à dîner. Alors que nous nous installions autour de la grande table en chêne de la salle à manger, je me suis enfin sentie assez détendue pour prendre le temps d’apprécier où j'étais.
J’ai souri en regardant Anouk montrer à Beth ses dessins des canards qu’elle avait tellement aimés à Hyde Park. Beth avait la patience d’un saint, écoutant ma fille babiller dans un mélange de langage bébé en français avec quelques mots d’anglais ajoutés pour faire bonne mesure. De l’autre côté de la table, Amina a gloussé tandis que Michael la taquinait à propos de sa prononciation du mot « sheets » en anglais quand elle est arrivée chez eux il y a des années. Hervé regardait avec fierté, ne suivant pas totalement la conversation mais appréciant sa légèreté et le rire cristallin de sa femme. Robert, grand et élégant, faisait tout un spectacle en découpant le rôti de bœuf, transférant soigneusement les tranches sur les assiettes empilées devant lui et demandant à son fils Michael de les distribuer autour de la table.
Même si les images d’harmonie domestique devant moi étaient indéniablement charmantes, j’ai réalisé que c’était plus un sentiment que la scène elle-même qui me rendait si satisfaite. La chaleur avec laquelle les Proctor nous avaient accueillis chez eux était remarquable, surtout étant donné que leur seule vraie connexion était avec Amina.
Involontairement, mes pensées se sont tournées vers ma propre vie familiale, et j’ai pâli en réalisant que, bien que Jean-Louis et moi puissions facilement reproduire l’image de la famille parfaite, la chaleur et l’attention nécessaires pour compléter ce tableau n’étaient tout simplement pas là. À la place de la chaleur, il y avait de l’oppression, et à la place de l’attention, de la méfiance. Désespérée d’échapper à cette prise de conscience, j’ai levé les yeux et croisé directement les yeux bruns et liquides de Simon, qui a soutenu mon regard pendant un long moment, une expression de douleur traversant son visage avant que Michael n’attire son attention en disant : « Tiens, Si, celle-là est pour Leïla. Sauce à la menthe en extra. Papa pense que ça l’aidera avec son anglais. » Simon a souri à son père avant de me tendre l’assiette : « L’anglais de Leïla n’a pas besoin d’aide, fais-moi confiance. »
« Comment tu le sais, Michael ? » demanda Michael. « Tu es arrivé il y a à peine quelques heures et Leïla n’a presque pas dit un mot depuis que nous nous sommes assis. Vous avez eu une leçon d’anglais secrète dont nous ne savons rien cet après-midi ? »
« Non, bien sûr que non – » a commencé Simon, avant que j’intervienne.
« Je suis désolée, Michael, je m’excuse d’être un peu silencieuse. Je pense que je suis un peu fatiguée, mais je profitais aussi simplement d’un moment de calme après tous nos déplacements des derniers jours. Ça fait vraiment du bien d’être ici, à profiter de ce moment en famille, même si je suis une intruse. »
« Ne sois pas ridicule, » a répondu Robert, en lançant un regard désapprobateur à Michael. « Michael aime juste taquiner son grand frère. Ne fais pas attention à lui. »
« Oui, désolé, Leïla, c’était juste pour rigoler. Tiens, laisse-moi t’en donner un autre pour me faire pardonner, » a dit Michael en me tendant le plat de pommes de terre rôties. « Avant que Simon ne les mange toutes, » il a ajouté, incapable de résister à une dernière pique.
J’ai souri faiblement et commencé à savourer mon rôti, bien décidée à me débarrasser des pensées intrusives qui me hantaient à propos de ma soi-disant vie parfaite à Paris.
After a very enjoyable couple of hours drinking Pimm's on the patio, Robert came out from the kitchen to call us in for dinner. As we settled in around the large oak table in the dining room I was finally relaxed enough to take the time to appreciate where I was.
I smiled as I watched Anouk showing Beth her drawings of the ducks she’d loved so much in Hyde Park. Beth had the patience of a saint, listening to my daughter babble on in a mixture of French baby talk and the odd English word thrown in for good measure. Across the table, Amina giggled as Michael teased her about her pronunciation of the word “sheets” in English when she first arrived at their home all those years ago. Hervé looked on proudly, not entirely following the conversation but enjoying its levity and his wife’s tinkling laugh. Robert, tall and handsome, was making quite a show of carving the roast beef, carefully transferring the slices to the plates stacked in front of him and instructing his son Michael to pass them around the table.
Though the images of domestic harmony before me were undeniably charming, I realised it was more a feeling than the scene itself that made me feel so utterly satisfied. The warmth with which the Proctors had welcomed us into their home was remarkable, especially since their only real connection was with Amina.
Involuntarily, my thoughts turned to my own home life, and I blanched as I realised that though Jean-Louis and I could replicate the picture of the perfect family with ease, the warmth and care required to complete the package was just not there. Instead of warmth was oppression and in place of care was suspicion. Desperate to escape this realisation, I looked up and straight into the liquid brown eyes of Simon, who held my gaze for a long moment, a look of pain passing across his face before Michael caught his attention by saying “Here you go, Si, this one’s for Leïla. Extra mint sauce. Dad reckons it’ll help with her English.”
Simon smiled at his father before passing the plate to me “Leïla’s English needs no help, trust me.”
“How do you know, Michael?” asked Michael. “You only arrived a few hours ago and Leïla’s barely said a word since we sat down. Did you two have a secret English lesson we don’t know about this afternoon?”
“No, course not - “ started Simon, before I jumped in.
“I’m sorry, Michael, I apologise for being a bit quiet. I think I’m a bit tired but I was also just enjoying being still for a moment, after all our moving around the last few days. It feels really good to be here, enjoying some family time, even if I am an interloper.”
“Don’t be silly,” countered Robert, shooting Michael a disapproving look. “Michael just loves to tease his big brother. Don’t pay him any attention at all.”
“Yeah, sorry, Leïla, just teasing. Here, let me give you another one to make it up to you,” said Michael, offering me the dish of roast potatoes. “Before Simon scoffs them all,” he added, unable to resist a final dig.
I smiled weakly and tucked into my roast dinner relish, determined to rid myself of the intrusive thoughts plaguing me about my so-called perfect life back in Paris.