My French Adventure: Jane Pratt

It’s a family affair with Jane and we’re pretty sure we know who the driver is! We’ll let Jane speak for herself but suffice it to say she’s gentille*, talentueuse* and déterminée* and a fantastic person to have au nid*.

Merci pour ta participation*, Jane.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO STUDY FRENCH?

I studied French at high school in England and always enjoyed it. We had some wonderful holidays in France caravanning when I was young. I had planned to continue studying and use it in my career, however, as happens, things change and I chose a different path. I have always had an interest in France and French language and intended to learn again at some time. My son moved to new Farm and one day I was here and happened to see the Lingua Franca sign. It looked great so I took the opportunity.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN STUDYING FRENCH?

I started French with Lingua Franca in 2021. My son and I joined together. We both really enjoyed it. He had to leave after a couple of terms, but I have carried on. It’s been a fabulous way to learn. 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT?

I have had three different teachers and they have all been really encouraging, enthusiastic and great to learn from. I find the groups really help each other and we learn from each other along the way. I’ve always felt comfortable in the groups to be able to learn and practise. I’m planning to spend more time in France in the future with my husband who has also joined Lingua Franca this year. We have lots of fun practising our French.

ANY HARD BITS?

Tenses are tricky! It’s hard to remember which is the right one when changing from past back to the future! And, of course, genders! I would say try and learn them as you go along. 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FRENCH WORD?

I have a couple of favourite French words: canteloup* is really nice to say and of course enchanté* would be my favourite. It sounds magical. I always remember a phrase my teenagers brought home from school French lessons, “Je déteste les petit pois*.” We’ve had some laughs with that one. 

ANY OTHER ADVICE TO FRENCH LEARNERS?

Listen to as much as you can – podcasts, French TV, movies are really helpful and fun. There are lots of different levels and finding something that interests you and you enjoy can make it a great way to learn. Je vous souhaite de réussir et profitez de votre apprentissage.

*kind | *talented | *determined | *at the nest | *Thanks for joining in | *cantaloupe | *delighted | *I hate peas | *I wish you success and enjoy your learning

Have You Seen Our Travel Vlog?

Are you tempted by our summer school in Paris or keen to join us in Nouméa next April? Then make sure you check out the Lingua Franca travel vlog, where we document all the highlights of our trips.

From une dégustation de fromage* in the capital to un tour de dromadaire* in Morocco, there’s plenty of content to whet your appetite. And perhaps even inspire you to join us on our next overseas French adventure!

*a cheese tasting | *a camel ride

Fun French Word: Pantouflard

Is lounging chez nous* on the weekends more your style than attending a fabulous soirée*? Then you, mon ami(e)*, could quite possibly be un pantouflard*.

Roughly translating as ‘homebody’, this phrase comes from the word, pantoufles* – meaning slippers. A fan of the indoors, a pantouflard is someone who spends life in their house slippers.

The expression has been used for decades by authors, appearing as early as the 1920s. C’est charmant, non*?  

Photo by Lisa Fotios

*at your place | *party | *my friend | *a homebody | *slippers | *It’s charming, isn’t it?

La Petite Histoire

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 4 of the Intermediate Revision level.

*The Little Story | *The Prequel

Dans le train en route à Oxford pour aller visiter la fameuse bibliothèque The Bodleian, j’ai essayé de lire un des petits livres en anglais que j’avais acheté le jour avant à Londres. Le texte était assez simple, mais je ne pouvais pas me concentrer. J’ai décidé alors de profiter de ce moment de solitude après toute l’activité du voyage.

Malheureusement, j’étais incapable de me calmer. J’étais bouleversée par tous les évènements des jours et semaines précédents. “Qui suis-je ?”, je me suis demandée et tout de suite, j’ai rigolé. “Quelle question, Leïla !” je me suis dit, mais je me sentais quand même mal à l’aise. Je ne savais plus si j’étais une bonne mère, une bonne femme, une bonne étudiante…oh là là ! La seule chose que dont j’étais sûre était le fait d’être ravie de me retrouver toute seule pour une fois de ma vie. Toute seule et…libre ? La question me troublait, alors j’étais bien contente quand le train est arrivé à la gare et je pouvais sortir pour commencer mon aventure.

En arrivant au foyer de la bibliothèque je me sentais tout de suite inspirée. Tous les livres, tous les étudiants et tout en anglais! C’était le paradis. Mon bonheur n’a pas duré très longtemps malheureusement quand j’ai vu la petite pancarte “Cardholders only”.

“C’est pas possible !” je me suis dit.

“Can I help you?” le bibliothécaire m’a demandé poliment.

“I hope so,” j’ai répondu. “I’m very sorry, but I don’t have a card. Je suis française.”

Tout d’un coup, j’ai entendu mon nom.

“Leïla ! Super, you’re here.”

“Simon !” je me suis exclamée. “Qu’est-ce que…”

“I’m terribly sorry, Mr Jeffries,” Simon a dit, “This charming young lady is helping me with some research and I, like a dolt, forgot to organise her a temporary card. You don’t mind do you?”

“Of course not, Simon. Off you go.”

Simon m’a dirigé vers l’entrée à la salle principale et a dit rapidement; “Ne dis rien.”

“Mais Simon, qu’est-ce que tu fais ?” j’ai demandé doucement. “Pourquoi tu es ici ?”

“Je peux te poser la même question, non ?” il a répondu, en souriant.

“Moi, je suis ici en Angleterre avec ma famille. Nous sommes venus en vacances. Je voulais pratiquer mon anglais.”

“C’est une très bonne idée, Leïla. Tu restes combien de temps ?”

“Juste une semaine. J’ai passé deux jours à Londres et je suis venue ici pour voir l’université et la bibliothèque en particulier. On me dit que c’est incroyable et je suis d’accord. Demain, je vais aller à Bath pour voir des amis de ma belle-sœur.”

“Vous allez à Bath ? Ah, bon ? Je connais Bath très bien, en fait - “

“Quiet please !” a dit un des étudiants derrière nous.

“Désolée,” je me suis excusée. “I mean, sorry.”

“Tiens, Leïla, je sais que tu veux est ici pour visiter la bibliothèque, mais il fait tellement beau, tu ne veux pas qu’on se promène dans les jardins botaniques avant de faire notre ‘travail’? Comme ça on peut se parler sans interruptions. Il y a même un vrai pub traditionnel près de la rivière où on peut s’installer en terrasse. Tu peux me raconter de ton voyage. En anglais, bien sûr !”

“Les Anglais, toujours à la recherche d’une excuse pour boire de la bière !” j’ai taquiné.

“Pas besoin d’excuse, Leïla. Belle journée, belle femme, belle coïncidence. Allez, on y va !”

J’étais hésitante, mais je n’ai pas dit non.

On the train on the way to Oxford to visit the famous Bodleian Library, I tried to read one of the little English books I had bought the day before in London. The text was quite simple, but I couldn't concentrate. So, I decided to make the most of this moment of solitude after all the hustle and bustle of the journey.

Unfortunately, I was unable to calm down. I was disturbed by all the events of the preceding days and weeks. "Who am I?" I wondered and immediately chuckled. "What a question, Leïla!" I thought to myself, but I still felt uneasy. I didn't know if I was a good mother, a good wife, a good student... oh dear! The only thing I was sure about was being delighted to find myself alone for once in my life. Alone, and... free? The question troubled me, so I was quite pleased when the train arrived at the station, and I could step out to begin my adventure.

Upon arriving at the library foyer, I immediately felt inspired. All the books, all the students, and everything in English! It was paradise. Unfortunately, my happiness didn't last long when I saw the small sign that read "Cardholders only."

"It can't be!" I said to myself.

"Can I help you?" the librarian asked politely.

"I hope so," I replied. "I’m very sorry, but I don’t have a card. Je suis française."

Suddenly, I heard my name.

"Leïla! Super, you’re here."

"Simon!" I exclaimed. "What..."

"I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Jeffries," Simon said. "This charming young lady is helping me with some research, and I, like a dolt, forgot to organise her a temporary card. You don’t mind, do you?"

"Of course not, Simon. Off you go."

Simon directed me to the entrance of the main hall and quickly said, "Don't say anything."

"But Simon, what are you doing?" I asked quietly. "Why are you here?"

"I could ask you the same question, couldn’t I?" he replied, smiling.

"I'm here in England with my family. We're on vacation. I wanted to practise my English."

"That's a very good idea, Leïla. How long are you staying?"

"Just a week. I spent two days in London, and I came here to see the university and the library in particular. I've been told it's amazing, and I agree. Tomorrow, I'm going to Bath to visit some friends of my sister-in-law."

"You're going to Bath? Really? I know Bath very well, actually..."

"Quiet please!" one of the students behind us said.

"Pardon," I apologised. "I mean, sorry."

"Hey, Leïla, I know you're here to visit the library, but it's such a beautiful day. How about we take a stroll in the botanical gardens before we do our 'work'? That way, we can talk without interruption. There's even a real traditional pub near the river where we can sit outside. You can tell me about your trip. In English, of course!"

"The English, always looking for an excuse to drink beer!" I teased.

"No need for an excuse, Leïla. Beautiful day, beautiful woman, beautiful coincidence. Come on, let's go!"

I hesitated, but I didn't say no.

La Petite Histoire

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 3 of the Intermediate Revision level.

*The Little Story | *The Prequel

“Bon, changeons de sujet. Qu’est-ce que vous pensez faire demain ?” j’ai demandé mon frère, Hervé, en piquant une frite de son assiette.



“On pensait aller voir Big Ben. Amina voulait le montrer aux enfants et, moi, je voudrais le voir aussi. Et toi ? Tu veux venir avec nous ?”



“Oui, tout à fait. Je crois qu’Anouk aimerait aller le voir. Quoique…” j’ai hésité, pas sûre de vouloir continuer.



“Qu’est-ce qu’il y a, Leïla ?” Hervé m’a demandé. “Tu as un meilleure offre ?” il a taquiné.



“Non, bien sûr pas,” j’ai dit, un peu trop rapidement, en pensant au jeune homme qui m’avais tellement flattée cet plus tôt dans la journée. “C’est juste qu’hier, quand j’étais dans la librairie dont je te parlais, le vendeur a mentionné une bibliothèque à Oxford qui est apparemment incroyable. C’est une des bibliothèques les plus anciennes d’Europe et c’est un de mes rêves de la voir, mais bon, c’est loin et je ne peux absolument pas y aller avec Anouk. Tu peux imaginer si elle décide de faire une crise ? Oh, la honte ! Non, je ne peux pas, c’es trop compliqué.”



”Mais non, pas du tout ! On peut la garder, Leïla, ne t’inquiète pas. Elle peut venir avec nous pour voir Big Ben. Les filles seront ravies d’avoir leur grande cousine avec elles. J’insiste !”



“Ah, c’est gentil, Hervé, mais je ne peux pas. Deux jours de suite que vous gardez ma fille ? Je ne peux pas me permettre. J’aurai l’impression d’être une mauvaise mère !”



“Arrête, Leïla, tu es un super mère et tu es en vacances ! S’il te plaît, laisse-nous faire ça pour toi,” il a dit, en tenant me mains.



“Laisse-nous faire quoi, chéri ?” a demandé Amina, en s’installant de nouveau à la table avec les enfants.



“Je disais à Leïla qu’on peut garder Anouk demain. Elle veut aller visiter une bibliothèque à Oxford.”



“Le Bodleian ? Mais si, Leïla. Tu vas l’adorer ! Je suis allée le voir quand j’ai fait mon échange ici. C’est extraordinaire. C’est La Mecque pour les personnes qui adorent les livres. Tu dois y aller. J’insiste.”



“Bon, c’est parti ! Leïla, on peut prendre le petit-déjeuner ensemble à l’hôtel vers 07h00 et puis Amina peut t’expliquer comment y aller. Tu m’as dit que tu y es allée en train, non, mon amour ?”



“Oui, c’est bien ça. C’est vraiment très facile, Leïla, et le voyage est très agréable. Tu peux te détendre, regarder le paysage qui passe, lire un peu. En fait, je vais devenir un peu jalouse si on n’arrête pas de parler de ça, donc c’est décidé. Tu vas aller à Oxford demain et on va garder les trois filles.”

“

Chouette, c’est un plan,” a dit Hervé, avec un grand sourire. “Tu mérites un peu de temps pour toi,” il a ajouté, et il a jeté un coup d’œil à Amina rapidement.



“Mais arrêtez, vous deux, avec ces regards ! D’accord, c’est parti, je vais y aller ! Oh là, là !” j’ai dit en rigolant.

“Anyway, let’s change the subject. What are you thinking of doing tomorrow?” I asked my brother, Hervé, stealing a chip from his plate.

“We were thinking of going to see Big Ben. Amina would like to show it to the kids and I’d like to see it, too. And you? Do you want to come with us?”

“Yes, absolutely. I think Anouk would like to go and see it. Although…” I hesitated, not sure to wan to continue.

“What is it, Leïla?” Hervé asked me. “Do you have a better offer?” he teased.

“No, of course not,” I said, a bit too quickly, thinking of the charming young man who had so flattered me earlier that day. “It’s just that yesterday, when I was in the bookshop I was telling you about, the sales assistant mentioned a library in Oxford that’s apparently incredible. It’s one of the oldest libraries in Europe and it’s one of my dreams to see it, but you know, it’s far away and I absolutely cannot go there with Anouk. Can you imagine if she decided to have a tantrum? How embarrassing! No, I can’t, it’s too hard.”

“But no, not at all! We can look after her, Leïla, don’t worry. She can come with us to see Big Ben. The girls will be delighted to have their big cousin with them. I insist!”

“Oh, it’s kind of you, Hervé, but I can’t. Two days in a row that you look after my daughter? I can’t do that. I’ll feel like a bad mother!”

“Stop, Leïla, you are a fantastic mother and you’re on holidays! Please, let us do that for you,” he said, taking my hands in his.

“Let us do what, darling?” asked Amina, settling in once again at the table with the children.

“I was saying to Leïla that we can look after Anouk tomorrow. She wants to go and visit a library in Oxford.”

“The Bodleian? But yes, Leïla. You are going to love it! I went to see it when I did my exchange here. It’s extraordinary. It’s Mecca for people who love books. You must go. I insist.”

“Right, that’s sorted! Leïla, we can have breakfast together in the hotel at about 7am and then Amina can explain for to get there. You told me you went by train, didn’t you, my love?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s really very easy, Leïla, and the trip is really lovely. You can relax, look at the passing view, read a bit. In facvt, I am going to become a bit jealous if we don’t stop talking about it, so it’s decided. You arte going to go to Oxford tomorrow and we are going to look after the three girls.”

“Great, that’s a plan,” Hervé said, grinning broadly. “You deserve a bit of time to yourself,” he said, and he stole a quick glance at Amina.

“But stop it you two with these looks! Okay, it’s happening, I’m going to go. Oh là là!” I said, laughing.

The Parisian ABCs

If you’re looking for a charming Christmas gift for a little one this year, we have just *le truc. Penned (*en anglais) by Aussie expat and Paris resident Emily Gaudichon, The Parisian ABCs is a beautifully illustrated picture book that delivers a delightful, tongue-in-cheek look at French culture. 

With a French husband, three children, and *un très mignon chien, *Noisette, ‘The Real Emily in Paris’ has lived in the City of Light since 2016. An avid foodie and former private chef, she runs cooking classes and tours and writes a weekly Substack, A Week in Paris – among other things.

Here, we steal five minutes from Emily’s busy schedule to chat about her life in Paris and her latest writing project. Enjoy!

Tell us about your move to Paris? How and when did that come about? 

After 11 years in London, I was all set to move back to Australia but then I met my French husband on Tinder and that was it, love at first sight. Within two months I was living in Paris. Such a cliché. 

Have you always had an interest in French culture or did it develop once there? 

I studied a little French at UQ while doing my Bachelor of Arts degree many moons ago and spent 3 months in Paris when I was 19 which left a lasting impression. But I learnt most of the culture once I moved here. 

Did you speak any French when you arrived?

I could order a glass of wine or use textbook classics like telling Jeanne that I liked her red car, but no, I didn't know anything very useful at all.

How did you go about learning the language? Any tips for learners? 

I really committed to intense classes and managed to do a level each round, so I completed B2 and C1 in 6 months. My main tip is to learn the gender of each object as you learn the word (e.g. learn *le verre, not just verre). I didn't do that and will now never know as I'm certainly not returning to the textbooks again any time soon.

What part of Paris do you live in?

I live in the 6th which is a lovely area. We're close to the Jardin du Luxembourg which is such a treat and there are cute cafes, bookstores and restaurants nearby. Paris is very walkable and I really appreciate not needing a car for everyday life. 

Your Instagram handle is The Real Emily in Paris. Does that mean you’re a fan of the show...? If so, what does it get right? Or wrong?

I’ve never actually watched it but a lot of it was filmed in my neighbourhood. It gets right that the croissants from Boulangerie Moderne are actually very good. It gets wrong pretty much everything else but if it makes people happy then it doesn’t matter, most TV isn’t realistic!

When did you start your A Week In Paris newsletter and what can subscribers expect?

I started it the 1st of January 2022 and it's a light weekly roundup of what I did, where I went and what I ate that week, with a recipe, cheese of the week and a 'real life in Paris' photo. I was looking for a creative outlet that I would do regularly and 18 months later I'm still committed.

Your cooking classes and tours sound amazing. Who is your typical client?

Lots of families, girls’ trips and couples looking to discover Paris a little more through food and it’s so fun getting to share recipes, cooking tips and my favourite corners of Paris with them.

And now you’ve written a children’s book! Congratulations. Can you tell us a little bit about it? 

It's a tongue in cheek ABC book called The Parisian ABCs that's for both kids and adults. It includes all the real Parisian stereotypes and was created with wonderfully talented illustrator Sarah Vesperini. It's a bit of fun and we are so proud of it.

How can our students get their hands on The Parisian ABCs?

Either via my website or there'll be a few copies available in the Lingua Franca store in late November!

With a husband, three children, Noisette, your tours and writing you sound very busy! What do you do to relax?

I find shopping at the market and walking through the park very relaxing, as well as Pilates classes, cooking and good old Netflix. Bon Marché is where I go if I've had a really bad day. I love the French word *flâneur and try to incorporate that philosophy of indulgent aimlessness into every day.

To purchase The Parisian ABCs or find out more, visit therealemilyinparis.com

*the thing | *in English | *a very cute dog | *Hazelnut | *the glass |*one who strolls around observing society

Écoute: 3 Fun French Podcasts

Do you ever listen to podcasts on your commute to work, during your afternoon walk or as you do *le ménage? Then *pourquoi pas try one of the many great French language pods on offer? 

There’s a series for every skill level and interest. And it’s an excellent way to improve your listening comprehension and boost your vocab while being entertained. 

Here are three of our current favourites to get you started. 

Bite-sized (beginner level): Louis French Lessons

With an average episode length of 5 minutes, Louis French Lessons is a great option for beginners. Or anyone wanting to snack on some bite-sized French content throughout the day. Narrated by French native Louis, these regular episodes feature short dialogues which are then broken down and explained using a mix of French and English.

Real-life stories (intermediate): Duolingo

Many Lingua Franca students use the Duolingo app to complement in-class learning – and the Duolingo podcast series is another brilliant resource. Each 20-odd-minute episode usually focuses on a real-life story – giving you a fascinating insight into different aspects of French culture. Told in French, with a small amount of English as needed to add context, the stories are diverse, and the dialogue is not too speedy. Well worth a listen. 

For fashionistas (intermediate-advanced): Chiffon

For lovers of fashion, Chiffon is a must. Hosted by journalist Valérie Tribes, this podcast series analysing our relationship with fashion and *les vêtements features in-depth interviews with stylish men and women from around the globe. Aimed at francophones, the episodes are all in French (you’d be amazed what you pick up!) and vary in length from around 20-30 minutes. 

*the housework | *why not | *clothes

Famous French Brands: Le Creuset

Step into any self-respecting cook’s *cuisine and you can bet your bottom dollar you’ll find at least one piece of cast iron cookware from iconic French brand, Le Creuset. Founded in 1925 in Fresnoy-le-Grand, a small French village situated *environ two hours north of Paris, *la marque is synonymous with culinary quality and covetable (much copied) style.

The brainchild of two Belgian industrialists, Armand Desaegher and Octave Aubecq, Le Creuset began with the creation of a cast iron *cocotte, or French Oven. Today, the brand’s enamelled cast iron cookware, utensils and kitchen accessories are instantly recognisable in vibrant, timeless colours, including Marseille (bright blue), classic Cerise (cherry red) and Volcanic (orange) – the most important of all. Inspired by the fiery colour of molten cast iron inside foundry moulds, Volcanique was the brand’s first enamelled colour. And it remains a firm favourite today.

Beyond those wanting a pop of colour in the kitchen, Le Creuset fans rave about the results come dinner time. The casseroles and cast-iron pieces ]distribute and retain heat to perfection for unparalleled slow cooking and braising. And while the price tag might seem hefty at first, if you consider them not just kitchen tools but heirlooms to pass down, they become an irresistible proposition. 

Over the years, the product line has evolved to include stoneware, non-stick cookware and even wine accessories and Le Creuset remains beloved by professional chefs and home cooks worldwide. Whether you're simmering Coq au Vin or baking a mouth-watering soufflé, it remains your trusted culinary companion, bringing a touch of French charm to your kitchen.

Learn more about the Le Creuset story on the Australian website. Or explore the French website to test your vocab.

*kitchen | *around | *the brand | *casserole

Recette: Cannelés bordelais

A lucky few Chouchous* were able to get their hands on the genuine article recently at one of the Lingua Franca Summer Schools, so what’s so special about cannelés?

A speciality of the Bordeaux region, the cannelé is a delicious rum-and-vanilla flavoured sweet treat with a custardy centre and caramelised shell. Named for their pretty fluted cylinder shape (‘canelé’ or ‘cannelé’ is the French word for ‘fluted’), cannelés bordelais are a staple of pâtisseries from Paris to Perth.

The best part? With some common kitchen ingredients ­– and this simple *recette – they’re also *assez facile to make at home. Bonne chance (and don’t forget to bring some to your next class)!

Bon appétit*!

Merci au Journal des Femmes pour la recette*.

*Teacher’s Pets | *recipe | *quite easy | *Enjoy! | *Thank you to Women’s Journal for the recipe.

Funny French Series: Shambles

Searching for a new series and fancy something funny and low commitment? Then we have it on good authority that Shambles (Désordres) is worth a watch. Starring (and written, directed and produced by) celebrated French comedian Florence Foresti, the semi-autobiographical series follows the life of Florence – a comedian and single mother – dealing with les admirateurs*, family and the ups and downs of life.  

The best bit? With only eight episodes of just under 30 minutes, it’s a snack-sized offering perfect for your next binge.

Stream it on SBS on Demand. Or read this interview with the creator.

*fans

Swings and roundabouts

If you’ve veered off the French path and onto the chemin* of Russian literature at some point, you’re likely familiar with this quote from Leo Tolstoy:

”Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

Tolstoy wrote this in 1875, and yet is was not until nearly 125 years later that his observation was scientifically proven. Psychologists Paul Rozin and Edward Royzman published a study in 2001 showing that humans have a cognitive bias towards the negative. That is, as a race, we feel negative events more intensely and they tend to have a more significant impact on our psychological states than positive events.

When I first found out about this, it made so much sense. I’ve always thought of myself as a positive person in the main, yet my day-to-day thoughts often veer towards the negative. I was curieuse* - why do we do this?

According to the research, it’s a question of l’évolution*. Historically, the potential price to pay for under-reacting to a perceived risk or negative event is much greater than overacting to one that turns out to be benign. Though thankfully in daily life we’ve mostly rid ourselves of the need for a physical ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response, this negativity bias is still in our history as well as our DNA, it seems. Here are a couple of examples of where it’s in evidence even today:

1. The sensation of pain is more keenly felt than the absence of pain and we therefore have many more words to describe acute pain than we do extreme pleasure.
2. We’re more inclined to look for causes of negative events than positive ones. For example, analyses of wars are plentiful, but very few studies are done on periods of peace.
3. As those clever Russians (again) say: “A spoonful of tar can spoil a barrel of honey, but a spoonful of honey does nothing for a barrel of tar”.

So it seems it’s completely natural to view most of our life’s events, whether quotidiens* or très importants* through a slightly negative lens.
Despite all of this though, I can tell you with 100% certainty that a recent hit of tennis with my friend was just flat out awful. I mean, really bad.

Do you remember that in a previous post I mentioned the goal of a 100-point tennis rally? That day, my friend and I would have been lucky to have made it to three. The harder we tried, the worse it got, to the point where we ended up in fits of laughter because we were both just SO BAD. We’re also both pretty competitive, though, so although we were laughing, in our heart of hearts we just couldn’t give up the fight. Unfortunately, with each renewed effort, things just continued to go south.

To make matters worse, a couple of guys who’d booked the court after us turned up early for their slot. We’d seen them play before and they were absolute guns and (lucky us) that day, they had nothing better to do than to watch as we floundered, missed and shanked our way to the end of our allotted time. As we walked off the court, they asked pleasantly (and without a trace of sarcasm) “Good game, girls?”. You can imagine our reply. We launched into how bad we were, how hopeless, how it was almost a joke how bad we were, and on and on we went until one of them interrupted us with:

“Any day you’re out here is a good day, though.”

We smiled and agreed, but inwardly I was rolling my eyes and I know Tanya probably was, too. The comment seemed flippant and trite and I grumbled my way home vowing to never be that bad again.

It was only a few days later, when teaching a class, that it struck me just how true the statement really is. I’m not even talking from an “every day on earth spent above ground is a bonus” way, though I think can agree on that one as well. What I mean more precisely (and what I think our tennis sage was trying to remind us) is that every day you put a racket in your hand is of benefit to you. In the case of French, each time you pick up a pencil, pull out a verb table, crack the spine of a workbook, think of a word in the shower or turn up to class it is a win. No matter how you feel you perform on any given day, you simply come away with more experience and that in invaluable.

My sincere hope is that you don’t have the exaggerated negative bias I seem to have for my tennis. As a tutor, I have never once thought “Oh gee, so-and-so’s having a bad day today”. Yes, some days you may make more errors than usual, or draw a blank on a word I know you know, but I take it as read that by the end of the lesson, you’ve progressed, because you have! You’ve got more runs on the board, if you’ll allow me to mix my sporting metaphors.

Although most of us don’t revel in making mistakes, they are fantastic teachers. There are words in French I will never, ever forget and they stick because I associate them with embarrassing situations where I mucked them up. I remember when I was living in France there was a canicule* one summer and my little apartment was turning into a rôtissoire* with each passing heure*. I took myself off to my local Monoprix to buy a fan and asked the sales assistant “Où sont les aspirateurs*?” in my best French. It was only when she led me over to the vacuum cleaners that I realised my mistake. Naturellement, j’ai rougi* but I have never forgotten the word ventilateur* and likely never will.

This is one of the benefits of learning in a group setting, as well. You’re able to observe others stumble and stammer where you may not, or look on in awe as someone manages to utter a perfect sentence. And then five minutes later, the tables will likely turn, and turn again, and turn once more and the whole while, you’re learning, both from others’ mistakes and your own.

Whether your faux pas* is a simple slip up or a series of them, the trick is to not let it define your appreciation of what you’re achieving. With every renewed attempt, you’re moving your French along in the right direction. Et tu sais quoi*? The next time Tanya and I played we absolutely creamed it. Ce que l'on gagne d'un côté, on le perd de l’autre*, as the French say. So don’t give up. 

*path | *curious | *evolution | *daily | *very important | *heatwave | *rotisserie | *hour | *Where are the fans? | *Naturally, I blushed | *fan | *mistake (literally: false step) | *And you know what? | *The money that you lose on the swings, you gain on the roundabouts. (literally: what we win on one side, we lose on the other)

Le Travel Planner on Bordeaux

If you’ve been coming to le nid* for a while, you’ll no doubt have heard mention of un homme français* named Xavier. Un vrai ami* of Lingua Franca, Xavier is passionate about travel, having lived and worked in Paris, Bordeaux, Copenhagen and Brisbane.

With a bespoke travel consultancy, aptly named Le Travel Planner, Xavier is just the man to turn to for a curated itinerary for your next Euro adventure. To give you a taste of his talents, we’ve teamed up with Xavier to create a series of short videos covering five fabulous French destinations.

First on the list? Bordeaux – the location of this year’s Lingua Franca summer school (alongside Paris, bien sûr*). Enjoy!

*the nest | *a French man | *A true friend | *of course

The Cheesemonger Olympics exists (and, yes, we're drooling)

Paris 2024 might fast be approaching, but there’s another lesser-known (yet equally illustrious) event we were recently obsessed with – the Cheesemonger Olympics! Taking place from 10-12 September in Tours, France, Le Mondial du Fromage pitted 16 competitors against each other to determine who was the big cheese, so to speak, of cheesemongering.

Fromage* aficionados from near and far applied to take part in the competition, with Brisbane’s very own Stephanie Stevenson, from Le Fromage Yard in Morningside, making the cut. Félicitations*, Steph!

At the event, the world’s best cheesemongers completed a multiple-choice test, took part in a blind tasting, were judged on their cutting accuracy, prepared the ultimate cheese plate, and delivered a 5-minute presentation on a cheese of their choice – among other challenges.

Find out more about the Mondial du Fromage in the video below.

Malheureusement*, Steph didn’t make it onto the winners’ podium, with Frenchman Vincent PHILIPPE taking out the top prize. Mais nous sommes toujours très impressionnés*!

Here’s what Stephanie had to say when we caught up with her just before she jetted off… 

CONGRATS ON BEING CHOSEN TO COMPETE IN THE ‘CHEESEMONGER OLYMPICS’! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

I had to complete several tasks for the application process. Part of the criteria is to work a minimum number of years in the industry, create a 10-cheese plate with a detailed description on each, a one-page writeup of a cheese from Australia (mine was on Granny's Blue from Prom Country) and a few other bits and pieces. In all honesty, I didn't think I would get in, haha. 

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN OBSESSED WITH CHEESE?

For as long as I can remember, there was always a cheese and charcuterie plate at my family dinners, but it wasn't till I moved overseas that I really went a little crazy. This was often acknowledged by my husband and his family in France. 

HOW DID LE FROMAGE YARD COME ABOUT?

I had an idea of sharing my overseas experience and was lucky enough that my husband was keen to support a crazy hunch and be involved. Le Fromage Yard technically started before we even landed in Australia. We were still overseas and contacting distributors here until we thought, 'Why not just source the products ourselves?', and shifted our view to exporting in France.

Le Fromage Yard was established in 2015 (literally within 6 months of arriving back in Australia) and we attended markets around the Gold Coast and Brisbane. We now have a fromagerie in Morningside and still attend the Powerhouse Markets every 2nd and 4th Saturday and Manly on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC CHEESE-RELATED QUALIFICATIONS?

In all honesty, I started with no skills, qualifications, or any formal training. However, hard work can achieve great things. I read information online, I ate, I looked for changes in the cheeses and tried to make connections as to what was happening. It has only been in the last two years I have undertaken formal online study in the UK.

It appears that dedicated cheesemonger training has only just arrived in Australia through the same UK program. I hope that more support will be given, and it will turn into more serious qualifications and evolve into an apprenticeship. 

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF CHEESEMONGERING?

There are so many cheeses out there that you can never get bored! There is always something new and interesting to try. I would also have to say a huge part of enjoying the job is our customers (we are so lucky with how amazing they are) and being a part of so many significant milestones in their lives (birthdays, weddings, family get-togethers, anniversaries, proposals etc). It is pretty special to be trusted in helping them create a memorable day! 

PART OF THE COMPETITION INVOLVES CREATING A CHEESEBOARD. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR THE BUDDING HOST? 

My first tip for creating the ultimate cheese board is to chat with your local cheesemonger – they will question you and find what you are looking for. I cannot say how enjoyable it is when someone trusts you to help them create something delicious! When in doubt, keep it simple – a soft, hard, and blue option. Ask your cheesemonger what the popular options are. Feeling more adventurous? Ask what is eating well or ripe! 

WHAT CHEESE ARE YOU LOVING RIGHT NOW?  

A new goat's milk camembert! It is a lot more subtle than the traditional French chevre, but its gooey, supple texture is to die for, and it still has the incredible zesty, acidity many goat cheeses have. We visited the farm last trip to France, and I think I am just as obsessed with their agricultural ethos as I am with the cheese.

I'm also LOVING Ironbark from Long Paddock. We are proudly the first to stock their products in QLD and they have just started their raw milk production of Ironbark, which is just incredible! 

SO HOW ARE YOU FEELING IN THE LEAD-UP TO THE COMPETITION?

Extremely nervous and very out of my league! However, I believe sitting in your comfort zone does not develop your skills or knowledge, so I figure there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. 

WHAT DOES THE COMPETITION INVOLVE?

The competition runs over an entire day, and we will be expected to complete a number of tasks within a designated amount of time. I will complete a multiple-choice test, blind tasting where I need to identify the cheese, age, milk variety, manufacturing technique and age, a presentation on a cheese, accurately cutting 4 x 250g cuts of cheese, a single person platter, an appetizer, a cheese preparation, a large 1m X 1m cheese platter on a theme and cheese carving/artistic presentation. 

BONNE CHANCE*! WILL YOU BE EXTENDING YOUR STAY PAST THE COMPETITION?

I think I struck gold as Slow Food is in Italy the week after my competition! This was something I have been dying to attend, so it was a no-brainer to stay for another week. We will be staying near Alba in Piedmont and attending some cheese classes and the cheese festival and sampling some delicious wine from the region! 

*Cheese | *Congratulations |*Unfortunately | *But we are still very impressed! |*Good luck

Stephanie and her husband Pierre

Sneak Peek into le Nid | Nos Signes

Fancy yourself as a bit of an armchair astrologer? Then you’ll love this month’s sneak peek into le nid*. Voici les signes du zodiaque* of the Lingua Franca team – plus some of our (best and worst) characteristics.

IMAGES

*the nest | *Here are the star signs

La Petite Histoire

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 Intermediate Revision level.

*The Little Story | *The Prequel

“Bon, dis-moi tout, Hervé. Je te connais très bien et j’ai vu le regard entre vous deux. Tu as quelque chose à me dire ?” J’étais énervée, mais c’est vrai que j’avais un peu peur aussi à propos de ce que mon frère allait me dire.

“Ben, non c’est rien, Leïla,” il a dit, mais il rougissait un peu et était mal à l’aise. C’était clair.

“Rien ? Je l’ai vu, Hervé ! En fait, j’en ai vu deux ! Pourquoi vous vous regardiez comme ça ?” j’ai insisté.

“C’est juste que tu avais l’air un peu inquiet à propos de ta conversation avec Jean-Louis,” il a répondu.

“Et, alors ?” j’ai demandé.

“Alors, récemment, je ne sais pas comment dire ça, mais Amina et moi, nous avons l’impression que peut-être tu n’es pas complètement heureuse,” il a admis. Il avait une expression grave.

“Comment ça, pas heureuse ?” j’ai demandé. “Hervé, c’est normal ! J’ai trois petits enfants, je fais mes études et j’ai un mari qui…”

“Qui…” a répété Hervé. “Qui quoi, Leïla ?”

“Un mari qui…” j’ai commencé, mais je n’étais pas capable de terminer la phrase. Qui était la femme que j’avais entendu quand j’ai appelé ? Ou est-ce que je l’imaginais ? Perdue dans mes pensées, j’ai sursauté lorsque mon frère a pris ma main avec douceur.

“Leïla, écoute-moi. Comme je t’ai dit, tu me connais très bien. Ben, je te connais très bien aussi, tu sais. Je n’ai pas besoin de connaître les détails, mais je veux que tu saches que tu peux toujours me parler. Je suis là pour toi. Amina, aussi. On t’aime bien, Leïla, et on ne veut pas que tu sois malheureuse. C’est une des raisons pourquoi on t’a demandé de nous accompagner lors de ce voyage. On voyait que tu étais soucieuse, et on s’est dit que ça serait une bonne idée pour toi de venir avec nous pour changer tes idées un peu. Tu es ma petite sœur et mon rôle est de te protéger.”

“Me protéger de quoi exactement, Hervé ?” j’ai demandé, “Je ne suis plus une enfant.”

“Je connais ça bien, Leïla. Peut-être que ‘protéger’ n’était pas le bon mot. Je veux m’assurer que tu sois heureuse, c’est tout.”

“Merci, j’e l’apprécie bien, Hervé. Et tu n’as pas tort. Je ne suis pas totalement heureuse mais je ne sais pas pourquoi. Je vais réfléchir un peu. Peut-être que j’essaie de trop faire en ce moment, avec les enfants, mes études, tout ça. Ce n’est pas facile de tout jongler, tu sais,” j’ai admis. “C’est pour cette raison que je suis tellement connaissante d’être ici, avec vous. Je ne peux pas le croire !”

“Profite bien, alors, frangine !” Hervé a dit et il a souri chaleureusement. “Et n’oublie pas qu’on est toujours là pour toi.”

“Merci mon frangin,” je lui ai dit. “Je l’apprécie beaucoup.”

“Right, tell me everything, Hervé. I know you very well and I saw the look between you two. Do you have something to say to me?” I was annoyed, but it’s true I was also a little afraid about what my brother was going to say to me.

“Well, no it’s nothing, Leïla,” he said, but he was blushing a little and was ill at ease. It was obvious.

“Nothing? I saw it, Hervé. In fact, I saw two of them! Why were you looking at each other like that?” I insisted.

“It’s just that you seemed a bit worried about your conversation with Jean-Louis,” he responded.

“And, so?” I asked.

“So, recently, I don’t know how to say this, but Amina and I, we’ve got the impression that perhaps you’re not totally happy,” he admitted. He had a serious expression.

“What do you mean, not happy?” I asked. “Hervé, it’s normal! I have three little kids, my studies and I have a husband who…”

“Who…” repeated Hervé. “Who what, Leïla?”

“A husband who…” I started but I was incapable of finishing the sentence. Who was the woman I heard when I called? Or was I imagining it? Lost in my thoughts, I jumped when my brother took my hand kindly.

“Leïla, listen to me. You said you know me very well. Well, I know you very well, too, you know. I don’t need to know the details, but I want you to know you can always speak to me. I am here for you. Amina, too. We really love you, Leïla, and we don’t want you to be unhappy. It’s one of the reasons we asked you to come with us on this trip. We saw that you weren’t yourself, so we said to ourselves that it would be a good idea for you to come with us to get away from it all for a bit. You’re my little sister and my role is to protect you.”

“Protect me from what exactly, Hervé?” I asked. “I’m not a child anymore.”

“I know that, Leïla. Maybe ‘protect’ wasn’t the right word. I just want to be sure that you’re happy, that’s all.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate that, Hervé. And you’re not wrong. I’m not totally happy but I don’t know why. I’m going to think about it a bit. Maybe I’m trying to do too much at the moment, with the children, my studies, all that. It’s not easy to juggle it all, you know,” I admitted. “That’s why I am so grateful to be here, with you. I can’t believe it!”

“So make the most of it, sis!” Hervé said and he smiled warmly. “And don’t forget I’m always there for you.”

“Thanks bro,” I said. “I really appreciate it.”

Sent to the fence

If you’re anything like me, you’re probably in a bit of a hurry to learn French. By that, I don’t necessarily mean you have an upcoming trip or are about to take a new job in a French-speaking country. I just mean that you’re very keen to get better and dream of the day when French words will flow effortlessly out of your bouche*.

I remember when I first got serious about my French. I have a very clear vision of my bedroom floor being strewn with verb conjugations on lined foolscap pages with those little white circles around the holes to stop them from tearing out of the lever arch files (remember them?). We only graduated to those ever-awkward files in upper school if I recall. I also have no memory of my sister (with whom I shared a room) being mad about the mess for once, so she must have already left to go off to university in Perth. My best guess, therefore, would be Year 11, which means I’d been doing French for several years before I really knuckled down.

Our teachers must have been extremely patient with us as we fumbled our way through our verbs, mangling and mispronouncing the conjugations in our rush to achieve fluency. I imagine they didn’t have a lot of choice, mind you. This was coastal semi-rural Western Australia in the 80s. I suppose they were taking a ‘softly, softly’ approach in order to avoid losing us to the much stronger forces of the time: the beach and boys. I’ll be forever grateful to the language department at my local high school for opening our eyes to the world beyond our Puberty Blues-esque origins. They really were battling a pretty strong cultural current.

So, possibly motivated by a short exchange I did to l’Île de la Réunion* in Year 10, I must have decided it was time to get serious about my French. I did so by writing out reams and reams of verb conjugations. I did it because I loved French, but I must admit, too, that it satisfied the slightly obsessive part of me that dogs/helps me to this day. Yes, I had to brush them up a little many moons later when I started Lingua Franca, but the intellectual muscle memory was there, so the process was more agréable* than laborieux*.

I have no such muscle memory when it comes to tennis, as I must have only played it for a season or two as a child. This is an unfortunate fact for my tennis coach, though he wears it with patience and grace. One of the kindest and friendliest men I’ve ever met, he nevertheless lets me get away with absolument rien*.

At a recent lesson, before I even got a ball in my hand, Vince asked me to shadow his stroke with my racket in an attempt to get the fundamentals of the forehand swing down pat. We did this with our backs to the fence to the side of the court so as to shorten my swing and therefore reduce the margin for error. When he was satisfied I was close to mimicking his stroke, he allowed me onto the court, and started gently lobbing balls to my forehand side, reminding me that the technique was more important than the result.

Though my ears received the message, my body did not react as it was simultaneously receiving a message from my brain that screamed “imagine if I absolutely creamed this ball and hit a winner?”. Naturally, any technique I may have possessed just a minute or two before was instantly forgotten and as though to underscore my recalcitrance as a student, my ball went straight into the net. Vince let this go a couple of times (as I mentioned, he really is très patient*), but as more and more of my balls found the net, he suggested that we may need to return to the fence, sans ballon*, to go over the technique once again.

Naturellement*, I didn’t want to do this, so I tried harder and harder to whack the ball over the net, which caused me to tighten up and, well, you can probably imagine the rest. Being sent to the corner, like when we were in primary school is called aller au piquet* in French, and with my head slightly bowed and my sneakers dragging across the court to the sideline, Vince probably wondered if he wasn’t, in fact, dealing with une petite gamine*, rather than a fully-grown 51-year-old femme*.

In case you haven’t already gathered, being sent to the fence is the sportif* equivalent of being told to learn your verbs.

So many of you express the desire to just “speak, speak, speak!” and we, as your tutors, are here to facilitate that, of course, but it is also truly what we’d love for you to be able to do. There’s nothing better than looking at a student you’ve been teaching for months or perhaps years on end, and one day suddenly realising they actually speak French! It’s as rewarding for us as it is enriching for you. Sometimes, though, achieving that goal does mean we have to suggest that you spend some time back against the fence in order to come back to the playing field of speaking better prepared to claim your victory.

By the way, I’ve noticed over the years that there are periods where you can skate by without really mastering your verbs…and then there are times (often months later, when you’re least expecting it) when that fence will be looming. In my experience, and according to the Lingua Franca system) they are:

1. At the end of Absolute Beginner Revision: you really want to have mastered the verbs être, avoir, aller and faire in the present by then, simply so you can enjoy seeing just how much you can already say based on these crucial verbs. It’s a lot.

2. Intermediate 1: this is where we introduce the imparfait (imperfect tense). While the concept of the imparfait can be tricky, the conjugation is relatively simple. Simple, that is, if you learned the conjugations of the 20 slightly irregular verbs we taught you back in Beginner 1, such as dormir, sortir, mettre, boire, prendre et al. Ringing any bells? The reason' they’re crucial is that in order to find the stem for the imparfait you must go to the ‘nous’ form of the present tense, and if you find yourself guessing at that, put down the ball, slink over the fence and start limbering up.

3. Advanced 2: for a similar reason as above, in order to be able to conjugate the subjunctive tense, you need to know your present tense ‘ils/elles’ conjugations. We find that when students aren’t 100% confident with these, it really does add unnecessary stress to learning this rather abstruse concept.

La morale de cette histoire*? A little bit of effort goes a long way. Do your future self a kindness by committing your current one to learning a verb conjugation a day. Here’s the first one to get you started. It’s one people commonly get wrong when trying to take their first steps in speaking in the imparfait. Je t’en prie*.

BOIRE - to drink

je bois 
tu bois
il/elle/on boit
nous buvons
vous buvez
ils/elles boivent

Therefore, to say ‘I was drinking’, we take the ‘nous’ form of the present tense conjugation, remove the -ons and add the imperfect endings. So, je buvais = I was drinking. Voilà*!

Next month, in an effort to remain at all times contraire*, we’ll look at how every time you turn up to French is a win. Until then, maybe buy a pack of 500 loose leaf A4 sheets and see how much damage you can do. Bon courage*.

*mouth | *Reunion Island | *enjoyable | *laborious | *absolutely nothing | *very patient | *without the ball | *Naturally | *to be sent to the corner | *a little girl | *woman | *sporty | *The moral of the story? | *There you go | *contrary | *Good luck

Fun French expression: Raconter des salades

From chanter en yaourt*  to tomber dans les pommes*, the French language is awash with whimsical phrases. And, if you’re finding your chat a bit lacking, here’s another fun one to spice up your next conversation: raconter des salades*.  

Directly translated as ‘to tell salads’, this expression dating back to the 19th Century means to spin yarns, tell tall tales or, simply, mentir*.

Pourquoi des salades*? Because they’re made with a mix of colourful ingredients. And, if you racontes des salades*, so is your story. Cute, non*?

PS. Here are a few more handy expressions to have up your sleeve if you think someone is pulling your leg.

Tu racontes des bobards – you’re fibbing
Elle raconte des bêtises – she’s talking nonsense
Il raconte des conneries – he’s bullshitting
Tu racontes des craques – you’re lying

*fake singing/ fudging song lyrics | *fainting | *to spin yarns | *to lie | *Why salads? | *no

The problem with baguettes...

Ever find yourself stalling at la boulangerie* due to a mental blank over the gender of certain baked items? Well, here’s a simple workaround we love when it comes to ordering baguettes. Bon Appétit!

*the bakery | *Enjoy your meal!

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Go high or simplify

You probably know that English and French share many of the same words. There’s a very good reason for that, and if you’re at all interested in history, you may enjoy this article about the influence of French on the English language during the Norman Invasion in the time of Guillaume le Conquérant*.

To paraphrase, when William the Conqueror invaded England, he brought with him the French Norman language which was spoken at court. The masses, by contrast, continued to speak English. For this reason, words used by farmers, such as cow, pig and deer remained English, whereas when the flesh of those animals was prepared to be eaten at the lavish banquets of the court, the words ‘boeuf’ (beef), ‘porc’ (pork) and ‘venaison’ (venison) were used instead. Though the Normans sont partis* 300 years later, traces of the French language of course remained.

La bonne nouvelle* is that we can use this little history lesson to our advantage when speaking French.

If you find yourself stuck on a word, say for example ‘money’, try elevating your thinking to that of a king. Would he waste his time talking about grubby money? No, he’d be talking finance* of course.

Or perhaps you want to describe something that is ‘over the top’. Rather than search your brain for those three words, which are unlikely to translate directly as the phrase is somewhat idiomatic, try for a more formal way to explain the same sentiment. Extravagant is a word shared by both French and English, so apply your best French accent to it and you’re away! The fact that up to 45% of French and English words are the same or similar means it’s definitely worth a try. And the more soutenu* the word, the more likely you’ll be to pull it off.

As an example, in a recent class, one of our students, Tracey, was searching for the word ‘weather report’. She looked at me quizzically for help and I told to her to ‘go high’, hoping she’d choose the word meteorology (la météo is used in French for the weather bulletin). Instead, and almost as a joke, she said ‘la prédiction’? and guess what? She was right.

Conversely, if ever you’re getting yourself tied up in knots about how to say a word in French, try to bring yourself back to basics. Imagine the vocabulary of a young child. Do they know the word ‘novel’? Probablement pas*, but they do know the word ‘book’ and I bet you do, too, in French. 

Perhaps you want to talk about a politician addressing the nation. Could you instead say she was speaking to them? I know it can be uncomfortable to express yourself in such a rudimentary (simple?) way, but rather get your message across than stop, stumble and then give up. As I’ve said before, the aim of the game is to keep the conversation flowing.

So, if you find yourself stuck, remember, go high or simplify. It’s a skill that takes practice, but I promise you, your efforts will be well-rewarded.


*William the Conqueror | *left | *The good news | *finance | *formal/high level | *Probably not

La Petite Histoire

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, the first chapter of the Intermediate Revision level.

*The Little Story | *The Prequel

“C’est officiel. J’adore Londres !” Hervé a dit, en regardant autour de lui.

“Moi aussi,” Amina a répondu, en buvant son verre de vin blanc. Nous étions assis sur la terrasse d’un petit pub rue Neal avec les enfants. Il faisait beau, il y avait beaucoup de personnes dans les rues du quartier et l’ambience était fantastique.

“C’est tellement agréable d’être ici de nouveau” a continué Amina. “J’ai de très bons souvenirs de cette ville.”

“Et toi, Leïla, tu as passé une bonne journée ?” a demandé mon frère.

“Pardon ?” ai-je dit.

“Ça va, Leïla ? Tu as l’air distrait” a dit Amina, ma belle sœur. “Ou peut-être tu es fatiguée finalement ? Nous avons fait la sieste, mais pas toi. Tu veux rentrer ? On peut manger à l’hôtel si tu veux.”

“Non, c’est gentil, Amina, mais tout va bien. Alors, qu’est-ce qu’on va manger ?” ai-je demandé pour changer le sujet.

“Je peux avoir le poisson et les frites, maman ?” a demandé Anouk.

“Oui, bien sûr, ma chérie… si tu peux le dire en anglais.”

“Je voudrais….ze…feesh and ships, s’il te plaît.”

“Très bien, ma chérie. Je suis fière de toi. Peut-être qu’un jour tu feras un échange ici en Angleterre, comme ta tatie Amina.”

“Les autres enfants te manquent, Leïla ?” a demandé Amina.

“Oui, bien sûr. Elles me manquent beaucoup.”

“Tu leur as parlé aujourd’hui ?” Hervé a demandé.

“Oui, cet après-midi. Enfin, j’ai appelé pour dire coucou mais elles dormaient,” ai-je expliqué.

“Ah, quel dommage, Leïla,” a répondu Amina. “Jean-Louis va bien ? Il a tout sous contrôle ?”

J’ai regardé la carte avec attention et je n’ai rien dit.

“Qu’est-ce qu’il y a ?” a demandé Hervé, concerné.

“Ah, ce n’est rien. C’est juste que… ah non, ce n’est pas grave,” ai-je dit, hésitante.

J’ai levé la tête et j’ai vu un regard passer entre Hervé et Amina.

“Quoi ?” ai-je dit. “Pourquoi vous vous regardez comme ça ?”

“On ne se regardait pas, Leïla. De quoi tu parles ? Continue, tu disais quelque chose,” a dit Hervé.

“Ce n’est rien, c’est juste que j’avais l’impression que Jean-Louis ne voulait pas trop me parler,” ai-je admis. J’avais trop peur de leur réaction en disant que j’ai cru entendre la voix d’une femme inconnue quand j’ai appelé.

Hervé et Amina se sont regardés une deuxième fois.

“Et voilà ! Vous venez de vous regarder encore ! Qu’est-ce qu’il y a ?” Je devenais un peu agitée.

Amina a rougi, et elle s’est tournée vers les enfants. “Alors qu’est-ce qu’on va manger, les filles ?”

Hervé n’a rien dit.

“Et, alors ?” J’ai regardé Hervé. Tu veux dire quelque chose ? Dis-le, Hervé ! J’ai vu le regard entre vous deux. Qu’est-ce qu’il y a ? Dis-moi !”

“Excusez-moi,” a dit Amina timidement. “Je vais aux toilettes avec les enfants avant que nous mangions.”

“Très bien,” a dit Hervé, et Amina s’est levée et s’est dépêchée d’aller vers les toilettes avec les filles.

“Bon, elle est partie. Dis-moi tout, Hervé.”

“It’s official. I love London!” Hervé said, looking around him.

“Me too,” Amina responded, drinking her glass of white wine. We were seated on the terrace of a pub on Neal Street with the kids. It was nice weather, there were lots of people in the streets of the area and the atmosphere was fantastic. “It’s so nice to be back here again,” continued Amina. “I have very good memories of this city.”

“And you, Leïla, did you have a good day?” asked my brother.

“Sorry?” I said.

“Are you okay, Leïla? You seem distracted,” said Amina, my sister-in-law. “Or maybe you’re tired finally? We had a nap, but not you. Do you want to go back? We can eat at the hotel if you want.”

“No, that’s kind, Amina, but everything’s fine. So, what are we going to eat?” I asked in order to change the subject.

“Can I have the fish and chips, Mum?” asked Anouk.

“Yes, of course, my darling…if you can say it in English.”

“I would like….ze…feesh and ships, please.”

“Very good, my darling. I am proud of you. Maybe one day you’ll do an exchange here in England like your Aunty Amina.”

“Are you missing the other children, Leïla?” asked Amina.

“Yes, of course, I’m missing them a lot.”

“Did you speak to them today?” Hervé asked.

“Yes, this afternoon. Well, I called to say hi but they were sleeping,” I explained.

“Oh, what a shame, Leïla,” responded Amina. “Is Jean-Louis going well? Does he have everything under control?”

I looked at the menu attentively and didn’t say anything.

“What’s wrong?” asked Hervé, concerned.

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just that…oh no, it’s not serious,” I said, hesitantly.

I lifted my head and saw a look pass between Hervé and Amina.

“What?” I said. “Why are you looking at each other like that?”

“We weren’t looking at each other, Leïla. What are you talking about? Continue, you were saying something,” Hervé said.

“It’s nothing, it’s just that I had the impression that he didn’t want to talk to me too much,” I admitted. I was too scared of their reaction to say that I thought I heard an unknown woman’s voice when I called.

Hervé and Amina looked at each other a second time.

“And there you go! You’ve just looked at each other again! What is it?” I was becoming a bit agitated.

Amina blushed and she turned towards the children. “So, what are we going to eat, girls?”

Hervé didn’t say anything.

“And, so?” I looked at Hervé. “Do you want to say something? Say it, Hervé! I saw the look between you two. What’s up? Tell me!”

“Excuse me,” said Amina timidly. “I’m going to the toilets with the girls before we eat.”

“Very well”, said Hervé, and Anna got up and hurried towards the toilets with the girls.

“Right, she’s gone. Tell me everything, Hervé.”