Lingua Franca | Award-Winning French Lessons Brisbane

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884 Brunswick Street New Farm, QLD, 4005 Australia

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FRENCH LESSONS EVENTS & GIFTS

Sneak Peek into Le Nid*

September 29, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

Speaking of films, the team au nid* have been known to have an opinion or two on the very best of French cinema. Voici leurs choix*.

*the nest | *at the nest | *Here are their choices

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Quel est ton film français préféré?

What’s your favourite French movie?

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Les Misérables

KATRINA

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Intouchables

DEBORAH

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L’arnacœur

CAROLINE

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L’auberge espagnole

JOSEPHINE

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Les trois frères

DAVID

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Le dîner de cons

FIONA

Radio 4EB

September 29, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

Towards the end of Term 3, three of our more advanced classes were asked to participate in a linguistic experiment. Marie-Hélène Cremer, a Belgian native and former University of Queensland French lecturer who has turned her not-inconsiderable talents to the community radio station 4EB, paid a visit to Lingua Franca. Armed with a microphone, Marie-Hélène presented the Chouchous* with a word she was sure they wouldn't know (in fact the words were so obscure they'd be new to most French native-speakers as well), and then the pressure was on for them to come up with a possible definition.

Take a moment to listen to their very courageux* attempts below. We’ve included a transcript in French and English for those of you who want to know exactly what is being said. By the way, if you think the presenter's voice sounds familiar, that's because it's our very own office manager, Fiona Berrocal, whom many of you know.

Dernièrement*, if the idea of an hour of French radio appeals to you, why not check out the list of recent episodes here?

*Teacher's Pets | *courageous | *Lastly

TRANSCRIPT

Présentatrice: Cette semaine nous allons tenter de deviner la signification d’une expression du Burkina Faso. Les étudiants de Lingua France et leurs professeurs, Katrina et David, ont essayé de deviner et on vous laisse faire de même.

This week we are going to try to guess the meaning of an expression from Burkina Faso. The students of Lingua Franca and their teachers, Katrina and David, tried to guess and now we’re letting you do the same.

Marie-Hélène: Que signifie l’expression “c’est caillou”?

What does the expression “c’est caillou” mean?

Les Chouchous:

Un problème? - A problem?

C’est énervant? - It’s annoying?

C’est agaçant? - It’s irritating?

C’est mignon? - It’s cute?

C’est son envie (jealousy)? - It’s to do with being jealous?

C’est être jaloux? - It’s to be jealous?

C’est mauvais? - It’s bad?

Il n’y a pas de choses dans le placard? - There’s nothing in the cupboard?

C’est quelqu’un ennuyeux? - It’s someone boring?

Ce n’est pas possible? - It’s not possible?

C’est très facile? - It’s very easy?

C’est très cool? - It’s very cool?

Je dirais c’est petit ou alors ça ne coûte pas cher? - I’d say it’s small or maybe that it doesn’t cost a lot?

C’est certain? - It’s certain?

Peut-être c’est flexible? - Maybe it’s flexible?

C’est quand quelque chose est difficile? - It’s when something is difficult?

C’est difficile? - It’s difficult?

C’est compliqué? - It’s complicated?

Marie-Hélène: Bravo! C’est tout à fait ça. “C’est caillou” est une expression du Burkina Faso qui signifie “c’est difficile, c’est dur, c’est compliqué”. Un caillou étant, selon Le Larousse, une pierre quelconque de petites dimensions, le plus souvent assez dure. On peut facilement comprendre l’expression “avoir un caillou dans la chaussure” qui signifie être dérangé par quelque chose ou quelqu’un. Et l’expression “c’est caillou” est bien compréhensible par tout le monde, même les non-Burkinabé comme l’ont prouvé nos trois devineurs australiens. Bravo à eux! On peut donc dire que notre énigme cette semaine n’était pas vraiment “caillou”.

Well done! It’s exactly that. “C’est caillou” is an expression from Burkina Faso which signifies “It’s difficult, it’s hard, it’s complicated”. A caillou being, according the Le Larousse, any type of small stone, most often quite hard. We can easily understand the expression “to have a stone in your shoe” which means to be bothered by something or someone. And the expression “c’est caillou” is easily understandable by everyone, even people who aren’t from Burkina Faso, like our three Australian guessers. Well done to them! So we can say that our riddle today was not really “hard”.

La Petite Histoire

August 28, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

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. Far-fetched though the plot may be, La Petite Histoire nonetheless brings out some heated interpretations of the characters from our Chouchous*. Is Nicole really as naïve* as some say? Is Charles le rat* he appears to be and most importantly, is it possible that Stephanie is that much of a mégère*? Is anyone?

With our Chouchous crying out for more tales from La Petite Histoire we were very tempted to produce la suite* before realising of course that it would be the biggest spoiler ever for those who had not finished the first story. Instead, we're delving back into the past, to 1968, a time of revolution, passion and high drama in the streets of Paris and to the genesis of La Petite Histoire.

Here below, the very first instalment of La Petite Histoire - La Préquelle*. Enjoy!

As mentioned above, La Petite Histoire develops along with our students' skills. Starting at a level suitable for absolute beginners, each instalment becomes progressively more difficult, testing their comprehension at every plot twist.

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Bonjour. Je m'appelle Jean-Louis et je suis marocain et français. J'habite à Paris avec ma femme, Leïla.

Bonjour, je m'appelle Leïla et je suis étudiante. J'habite à Paris et je suis mariée à Jean-Louis.

Salut ! Je suis Hervé. Je suis le frère de Leïla et je suis fort mais timide.

Bonjour, je suis Simon et je suis professeur à l'université de la Sorbonne à Paris. Je suis anglais et je parle français, anglais et un peu d'arabe.

Salut ! Je m'appelle Roger et je suis étudiant à l'université de la Sorbonne. Je suis français et j'aime la littérature et les femmes intelligentes.

Bonjour tout le monde. Je m'appelle Noëlle et je suis australienne mais j'habite à Paris. J’aime la littérature française. Je suis intelligente, passionnée et j'adore les hommes français.

  1. Hello. My name is Jean-Louis and I am Moroccan and French. I live in Paris with my wife, Leïla.

  2. Hello, my name is Leïla and I am a student. I live in Paris and I am married to Jean-Louis.

  3. Hi! I'm Hervé. I am Leïla's brother and I am strong but shy.

  4. Hello, I am Simon and I am a professor at Sorbonne University in Paris. I am English and I speak French, English and a bit of Arabic.

  5. Hi! I'm Roger and I'm a student at the Sorbonne. I am French and I like literature and intelligent women.

  6. Hello everyone. My name is Noëlle and I am Australian but I live in Paris. I like French literature. I am intelligent, passionate and I love French men.

*The Little Story | *Teacher's Pets | *naive | *the rat | *shrew | *The Little Story - The Prequel

Casting call

August 28, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

À quelque chose, malheur est bon*...

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Though I'm sure none of us would voluntarily submit to another year like 2020, it is true that every cloud has a silver lining. In Lingua Franca's case, it has shown up in the form of a grant from the State Government to develop the business in a way that increases its future resilience. So, starting very soon, we'll be filming our first ever series of lessons to be offered online in perpetuity. That is, students from around the globe will be able to sign up for an Absolute Beginner 1 course which will be delivered to them in bite-sized chunks which they can consume at their own pace.

One aspect of lessons in the nest we're very keen to replicate for our online learners is the feeling of being en classe*. Hopefully, you know what I'm talking about: the feeling of camaraderie, support and pure enjoyment you get from being around a small number of like-minded people in pursuit of a common goal. We're convinced it is la formule secrète* to learning and therefore want to share it with as many people as possible, from Brisbane to Broken Hill to Bagdad!

We'll be looking for some volunteers to act as students in the 'class', and since you, our Chouchous* already know some French, unfortunately we can't call upon you. But we thought you might know some absolute French beginners who'd be up for being filmed as they learn their first words of French. We'd offer them the Absolute Beginner 1 course for free and in return they'd need to be available for filming. We'll know more soon once we've met with the film crew, but if you do think you may know someone who fait l'affaire*, please do let us know.


*Every cloud has a silver lining | *in class | *the secret ingredient | *Teacher's Pets | *fits the bill

Ultimate French Resources #2

August 28, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

As a long-term French learner, you'll likely find there are certain resources you use once and immediately forget, others you use for a period of time and then put to the side, and still others to which you return time and again to answer your trickiest questions.

Much like the old adage about people entering your life for a reason, season or a lifetime, we could say the same about French references. In my life, Schaum's French Grammar has certainly earned its place as a 'lifetimer'.

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WHAT:

A combined French grammar and exercise book.

WHO:

While the Schaum Outline Series covers topics as diverse as macroeconomics, topology and reinforced concrete design, if you're content to just stick to French for now, the French Grammar edition has clear explanations, illustrative examples and a large number of practice exercises.

POINTS FORTS*:

As above, it's the repetition that's the key. Hundreds and hundreds of exercises give you the chance to practise until you get it right. Also, while the explanations are simple and clear, they are very broad in their scope, so this is a book you'll hang onto for years as the ultimate reference.

POINT FAIBLE*:

Though there have been five updates since my trusty 2nd edition hit the shelves (and even mine was bought second-hand!), the interior pages have stayed much the same. So not an inspiring layout, but highly, highly effective.


*best bits | *weak point

Les arbres fruitiers

August 28, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

All of the tutors here at Lingua Franca are French, with the exception of votre humble serviteur*. The team often comments on how practical the English language is, something that had never occurred to me before starting this job. They claim that things are often called exactly what they are in English, whereas in French the 'thing' has a totally different name.

For example:

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C'est logique, non?*

So it's always a great feeling when you stumble across instances where French shows a logic that English lacks. It allows you to expand your vocabulary quickly and with a minimum of effort. So what is cette petite astuce*?

By adding the suffix -ier to almost any fruit, you will uncover the word for the tree that bears it. It's a great little hack and it works almost every time.

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Note that while many of the fruits are feminine in gender, the trees are all masculine. We couldn't make it too easy now, could we?

*yours truly | It's logical, isn't it? | *this little trick

Roland Garros

August 28, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

The French Open, or Championnats Internationaux de France de Tennis*, to use its official name (when not being referred to simply as Roland Garros - la confusion!*) has been delayed due to COVID-19 and is currently scheduled to take place in late September.

Since the French word for tennis is le tennis, you'd be forgiven for thinking the French imported the game from England. Oui? Non!* The modern game is actually based on an ancient French game called Jeu de Paume*. We don't want to lose you in translation, so take a look at this recent article from the New York Times to get to the bottom of the white games, hallways and eggs that make up tennis en français*.

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*The French International Tennis Championships | *how confusing! | *Yes? No! | *Real Tennis (literally: palm game) | *in French.

La Génération Perdue

August 28, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

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It appears intergenerational friction is as old as time. While today it's a tussle between the Boomers and Millennials, the period known as l'entre-deux-guerres* in France marked the arrival of La Génération Perdue, or The Lost Generation. So who were they and why were they lost?

The Great War had an enormous impact on everyone who lived through it, whether in Europe or elsewhere. Post-war America adopted a 'back to normal' policy, which was anathema to many of those who had come of age during the conflict. Finding their inherited values had no place in a post-war world, 5000 Americans a week boarded Cunard cruise ships bound for Paris, which promised a more liberal and permissive society (also, prohibition was bearing down in the States at this time - even more reason to escape to a less puritanical culture).

The artistic among them, chafing against the constraints of traditional values, descended upon Paris and started to explore a new paradigm along with other expatriates from all over the world.

A mix of writers, musicians, artists and dancers reinvigorated post-war Paris and produced a hotbed of creativity. Among the expats were F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Josephine Baker, Igor Stravinsky, Salvador Dalí, Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. In fact, it was Stein who first appropriated the term Génération Perdue after hearing a mechanic dressing down one of his apprentices who had neglected to repair her car on time, saying "Vous êtes tous une génération perdue!*". She mentioned it to Ernest Hemingway, who included it as an epigraph in his novel 'The Sun Also Rises’, about a group of American expats in Europe.

Revelling in the freedom Paris offered, these artists spent much time sitting in cafés, writing, dreaming, discussing, smoking, arguing and drinking - a heady mix indeed. Two of their favourite haunts were the renowned cafés Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, nestled côte-à-côte* on the Boulevard Saint-Germain in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Nearby, on rue de Rennes, was a third hangout, La Closerie des Lilas. It is said that this is where Hemingway first read Fitzgerald’s manuscript for The Great Gatsby.

Soon, entrepreneurial types were capitalising on the revitalised artistic movement, opening publishing houses to disseminate their works, which were often racier in nature than what could be printed in their home countries. In fact, it was at this time that the iconic left-bank bookstore, Shakespeare and Co., was opened by Sylvia Beach on rue de l’Odéon.

For a soi-disant* lost generation, they certainly made a huge contribution to the creative world and their revolutionary vision and talent continues to inspire today. Maybe not so lost after all.

*between two wars | *You're all a lost generation! | *side-by-side | *so-called

Cahier de Vacances

August 28, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

We are excited to announce the publication of our very first Lingua Franca Cahier de Vacances*.


While for some, doing extra French practice will sound the exact opposite of being on holidays, for others (most likely the true Chouchous*), there is nothing quite like sitting down with a brand new workbook to practise your skills.

The first in a series of sixteen, so you'll soon be able to buy a companion workbook for each Lingua Franca text, from Absolute Beginner 1 to Advanced Revision. We started with the Beginner 1 title as it is an area where many of our students struggle - those pesky slightly irregular verbs. As many of you will know, if you don't learn them properly as a beginner, they will come back to haunt you as an intermediate learner (l'imparfait*, anyone?).

Fear not, though, there is more than just grammar that is covered:

  • asking closed questions

  • the close future

  • un tas de* useful vocab.

  • sentence builders

  • throwback exercises and much more.

    Best of all, the inside front and back covers are home to the most delightful (and useful) grammar summaries to help you ace your holiday homework. Bon courage!*

*Holiday Workbook | *Teacher's Pets | *the imperfect | *a heap of | *Good luck!

Raclette Dinner

July 30, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

We are très tristes* that we'll be unable to hold our annual Dîner Raclette* this year due to Covid restrictions, but we may have just found the next best thing. Quelle excellente idée*!

By the way, if you’re a local Chouchou* and are planning on having your own raclette dinner this year, please fell free to borrow one of our machines. We'd love for them to see some use this year so they're primed for 2021.

*very sad | *Raclette Dinner | *What a great idea! | *Teacher's Pet

La Petite Boutique

July 30, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

If you haven't done so already, we'd encourage you to check out the newest addition to our "French with Benefits" programme: La Petite Boutique by Lingua Franca.

Why is it of benefit to your French? La Petite Boutique is where we stock our newest and most helpful workbooks as well as a bespoke range of French diaries, cheat sheets, stationery items and aide-mémoires*.

Très tendance* are the Challenge Series workbooks, designed to clean up your French by focusing or common pièges* such as pronouns and prepositions. Filling in these gaps helps your spoken French as well, since you’ll no longer stumble as you approach them and instead will breeze through them like a pro. Interestingly, though we designed these workbooks with our advanced students in mind, many upper beginner and intermediate students are snapping them up and are finding them really helpful to clarify the learning they’ve already done, as well as get a sneak peek into the future.

More of a real beginner? We haven’t forgotten about you either. Keep your eyes peeled for a beginner exercise book which covers the basics such as asking questions, present tense verbs, simple prepositions and really helpful vocabulary.


*memory joggers | *Very popular | *traps

Ultimate French Resources #1

July 30, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

At the start of my career tutoring French, I was a huge consumer of French grammar books. In fact, French language books of all kinds - I wanted them all. As befitting my personality (and that of many of our students, I hear), each book has two or three pages completed and the rest of the book is entirely blank. A true addict, once I'd realised a particular book was not going to magically make me speak French fluently, I discarded it and went looking for my next dose*. So the books piled up until I nearly ran out of new ones to buy. Sounding familiar?

Over the years, though, I've noticed there are a couple I return to time and again and along with a couple of websites, they have really become my French bibles.

In the next few newsletters, we'll cover my top five. Let's start with a fantastique* website: Lawless French.

 

WHAT:

A website for learners of all levels

WHO:

Laura K. Lawless, an American woman, fluent in French, based in Guadeloupe, who is also responsible for the French for Dummies book, which is actually very good.

POINTS FORTS*:

Very, very thorough, you can sign up for a weekly newsletter with helpful tips and for more advanced levels, her 'Subjunctivisor" will tell you whether your sentence requires the subjunctive or not. Very useful.

POINT FAIBLE*:

It's not a particularly beautiful site, but it is nonetheless very, very good.


*fix | *fantastic | *best bits | *weak point

How to type French accents

July 30, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

We are often asked by our Chouchous* how they can type French accents on their various devices. The wonderful website Thought Co has again come up with the goods, with a blow-by-blow account of how to do so, regardless of whether you are plutôt* Apple or Android. Here below, though, a quick guide to your options.

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*Teacher's Pets | *more/rather

French vintage posters

July 30, 2020  /  Katrina Waugh

We may not be able to indulge in le voyage* at the moment, but you can at least partially satisfy your wanderlust (and your penchant for la nostalgie*) on this very evocative site.

As you’ll see, some of the rarer posters cost about the same as a flight to Europe, but the joy of just gazing at them? Inestimable*.

*travel | *nostalgia | *priceless