French lessons, events & trips
FRENCH LESSONS EVENTS & GIFTS
As we approach the end of January, many of you would have made les bonnes résolutions pour le nouvel an* – and some of you may have even stuck to them ;) If you haven’t, it’s never too late to set some good intentions for the new year. And here is some inspiration from le nid*.
*new year’s resolutions | *the nest
Photo by Dayne Topkin on Unsplash
Travelling to France? Plan on packing an extra tote for your beauty haul as you're headed to skincare-lover paradise! With cosmetics sections that rival any department store, French pharmacies are veritable treasure troves of skincare wonders where beauty buffs flock for coveted products that promise radiant, flawless, French-girl peau*.
Renowned for their minimalist approach to makeup and unwavering dedication to skincare, the French prioritise healthy, glowing complexions above all else. So, do as they do next trip and stock up on these five cult French pharmacy finds to elevate your skincare routine to new heights.
NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Dry Oil: A multi-purpose dry oil beloved by beauty enthusiasts worldwide, NUXE Huile Prodigieuse is a luxurious elixir that nourishes, hydrates and illuminates the skin and hair. Infused with precious botanical oils, this cult favourite is suitable for all skin types, delivering a radiant glow and delicious fragrance with each application.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water: Seen backstage at catwalk shows, this holy grail skincare staple is a gentle yet effective cleanser that removes la maquillage*, impurities and excess oil without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier. Ideal for sensitive skin types, the dermatologist-recommended formula soothes and calms irritation, leaving the skin clean, refreshed and balanced.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré: Loved by makeup artists, models and celebs alike, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré is a luxurious moisturiser that doubles as a primer and makeup remover. Enriched with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and aloe vera, this iconic cream hydrates, softens and smooths the skin, creating the perfect canvas for makeup application while promoting long-term skin health.
A313 Vitamin A Cream: A cult classic in French skincare, A313 Vitamin A Cream is a potent retinoid treatment renowned for its transformative anti-ageing benefits. Formulated with retinyl palmitate, a gentle derivative of vitamin A, this powerhouse cream stimulates collagen production, reduces the appearance of fine lines and les rides* and refines skin texture for a youthful, radiant complexion.
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5: A soothing and reparative balm for the face and body, La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5 is a must-have for addressing a myriad of skin concerns, from dryness and irritation to minor wounds and burns. Enriched with panthenol, the rich, dermatologist-tested formula provides immediate relief, accelerates skin regeneration and restores comfort to even the most sensible* skin types.
Happy shopping!
*skin | * makeup | *wrinkles | *sensitive
‘Tis the season to watch cosy Christmas movies – and why not improve your French at the same time?
From the classic to the contemporary, and even an animated flick for les petits*, this list of ‘8 French Christmas Movies To Boost Your Holiday Cheer’ has quelque chose* for everyone. So, pop on the aircon, make some popcorn and a Kir Royal, and sink your teeth into these festive treats.
*the little ones | *something
We hope you’re surviving the silly season and gearing up for some quality time relaxing with family and friends over Christmas. Nous avons hâte de vous voir* back in le nid* next year, but in the meantime, here’s how vos profs* are planning to spend les vacances de noël*.
Je vais passer du temps avec mes proches, manger des crevettes sur la plage et lire.
I’m going to spend time with my loved ones, eat prawns on the beach and read.
Je fête Noël avec mes parents, beaux-parents et probablement mon beau-frère.
I’m celebrating Christmas with my parents, in-laws and probably my brother-in-law.
Pour Noël, je vais camper sur l’île de Straddie avec des amis.
For Christmas, I’m going to camp on Stradbroke Island with some friends.
Cette fin d'année sera un peu spécial car ma petite sœur va nous rendre visite. On va fêter Noël et son anniversaire (le 24 décembre!) ensemble. On va peut-être passer un week-end à la mer. Je vais pleinement profiter des vacances pour aussi passer plus de temps avec mes amis avant la reprise de mes études.
This end of year will be a little special because my little sister is going to visit us. We're going to celebrate Christmas and her birthday (December 24!) together. Maybe we'll spend a weekend at the seaside. I'm going to take full advantage of the vacation and also spend more time with my friends before I start my studies again.
Je vais profiter des fêtes avec mes amis à moins qu’un invité surprise ne décide de pointer le bout de son nez pour rencontrer le père noël cette année.
I'm going to enjoy the holidays with my friends unless a surprise guest decides to show up to meet Santa this year.
*We can’t wait to see you | *the nest | *your teachers | *the Christmas holidays
Photo credits from top to bottom: Alice Pasqual, Pen Ash, Nofi Sofyan Hadi, Bailey Mahon, Omar Lopez
Last month I mentioned one of my favourite French phrases for travel: c’est gentil*. It’s a phrase I heard a lot when I was living in France so decided to add it to my arsenal when thanking someone for a service. ‘Merci, c’est gentil’ means something like ‘Thank you, that’s kind of you’ and from my experience it goes down a treat. In fact, that’s not entirely true. It doesn’t provoke a huge reaction, and perhaps that’s why I like it so much. It’s more inclined to elicit a genuine smile and a nod from the person I’m speaking to, which in turn makes me feel like I fit in a bit more. I think we’re all striving for that to a degree when we’re travelling, non*?
So, sans plus tarder*, here are some other tried and true travel phrases that will take your French beyond ‘bonjour’, ‘merci’ and ‘je voudrais’. There’s nothing wrong with these phrases, by the way. Au contraire*, they’re extremely useful, but if you’re ready to up your skills, here are five that really pack a linguistic punch.
Literally meaning ‘that works’ this phrase is easy to say and can be used in a variety of situations. Concierge promises to contact you later in the day about a possible reservation? Ça marche. Even better: Merci beaucoup, ça marche. The next train is leaving in 10 minutes from voie* B? Merci, ça marche. A shop assistant tells you there are credits but no refunds for the item you’ve just purchased: ça marche. Even if you’ve been speaking English up to that point, it’s still a good idea to start to throw in these little French phrases where you can. It’s low risk and can work to increase your confidence.
Granted, this is a bit of a mouthful, but if you are able to master it (and it may take a few goes), I believe it will fundamentally change your French experience. It’s so polite: ‘I am sorry to disturb you’, and I find it really disarms French people for that reason. Of course you could use excusez-moi* (and if you’re just starting out this is a very helpful phrase indeed) but if you’ve mastered that and are ready to try something a little more sophisticated, this one’s for you.
To break it down, start with je suis*. Anyone who has done more than a term of French will know this phrase and will likely be able to use it confidently (je suis australienne*, je suis comptable*, je suis divorcée* etc). Now add the fact that you’re ‘desolate’ over having to interrupt your target person and you have je suis désolé(e). This is a useful phrase in itself (so I advise keeping that one sous le coude* for future use). I find the the final touch is fairly easy to remember as the word ‘déranger’ looks so much like ‘deranged’ and it’s a word that is very evocative to me. It brings to mind a person so bothered by the fact that a fellow human being is approaching them that their head starts to swivel around, their hair goes crazy and steam starts to shoot out of their ears. This image makes me laugh (I might be only one…) which takes some of the pressure off. ‘De vous déranger’, translates as ‘to you derange/disturb’ and sounds quite deranged in itself, but trust me when I say it really does lay the terrain for a calm and respectful exchange, so practise stringing it together and try it out. You can do it.
This is both interesting and contentious at once. It’s interesting as it is actually ‘je peux’ (I can) inverted and it’s the only verb in French that changes form when you reverse the order of the subject and verb.
Now for the contentious bit. As you may know, inverting the subject and the verb is the most formal way to ask a question in French. If you did French at school, it is likely you were taught to ask questions this way. Parlez-vous anglais?* is a classic example which many of us rote-learned all those years ago. The inversion technique, as it is known, is still a legitimate way to ask a question in French, however it is not used extensively anymore in everyday spoken French. It’s not wrong, in fact it’s very correct, almost too correct. Though it literally translates to ‘Can I’ because of the construction, in import it’s probably closer to ‘May I’ and while this is a lovely turn of phrase, it may not be appropriate for use in more casual situations.
That said, we discussed last month the idea of finding a phrase you like and using it over and over, so if you’re able to get this phrase out, use it! One of its benefits is that you can simply add a verb after it in its whole form and you’re away. For example:
Puis-je avoir - May I have
Puis-je voir - May I see
Puis-je demander - May I ask
Comme vous pouvez imaginer* the list goes on and on.
One of the first phrases you learn as a beginner is ‘j’aime’ (I like), quickly followed by its opposite ‘je n’aime pas’ (I don’t like).
While these phrases are certainly very handy, the negative version can come across as a little too direct, so adding the word ‘trop’ at the end can go a long way to softening your delivery.
’Je n’aime pas trop’ translates roughly to ‘I’m not a huge fan of’ of ‘I’m not fussed on’ and is particularly useful when you want to politely nix a suggestion. Imagine a waiter suggests you try the salmon. A simple ‘je n’aime pas trop le saumon’ is a gentle way of letting them know that you’d rather choose something else. Consider the difference in translations:
Je n’aime pas le saumon - I don’t like salmon
Je n’aime pas trop le saumon - I’m not a huge fan of salmon
Again, there is nothing wrong with a more direct approach but sometimes having the ability to soften your language can feel rather empowering.
If you’re a fan of le shopping*, add this one to your grab bag of favourite phrases tout de suite*.
If you’re keen to buy some time just browsing in a Parisian boutique, offer this phrase up when the shop assistant approaches you. Even if you’re not exactly sure of what he or she has said to you, it’s likely to be along the lines of ‘Can I help you?’ so replying that you’re just looking is a perfectly appropriate response that will enable you to carry on uninterrupted.
Alors, voilà*! I hope you find this mini-list helpful. I’d be very interested to hear of any phrases you rely on when you’re ‘on the ground’. Let us benefit from your experience by noting them in the comments. Merci et à bientôt.*
*That’s kind of you | *Aren’t we? | *without any further ado | *On the contrary | *platform | *Excuse me | *I am | *I’m Australian | *I’m an accountant | *I’m divorced | *I am sorry | *in your back pocket (literally ‘under your elbow’) | *Do you speak English | *As you can imagine | *shopping | *straight away | *So, there you go | *Thank you and see you soon.
Fancy practising your French with native speakers but not thrilled about a long-haul flight? Look no further than the tropical haven of Nouméa – just a short 2-hour flight from Brisbane in the heart of the South Pacific.
The capital city of New Caledonia, Nouméa offers warm temperatures, abundant sunshine, and pristine beaches with turquoise waters and coral reefs loved by snorkellers. Blending French sophistication with authentic island charm, it’s the perfect place to explore lively markets and historical museums, savour the fusion of French and Melanesian cuisine, relax, unwind and pratiquer un peu* with the friendly locals.
And we have some bonnes nouvelles* – we still have a few spots left on our April Nouméa trip. We’d love to see you there!
*practise a little | *good news
Photo credits (L to R)
Top line: joel-t, Mlenny, Stephanie Monot, Krittakorn Phongvijitsoph
Middle line: Franc-Comtois, Daniiielc, Caroline Hernandez, Julie Modeste
Bottom line: Sébastien Jermer, Julie Modeste, Bon Vivant, Nick Sarvari
From the exaggerated R to all the unpronounced letters, there’s no denying French pronunciation can be difficult for native English speakers. So, if you find yourself regularly tripping over ta langue*, rest assured you’re far from alone!
To help you gain confidence when reading aloud or conversing, here is a list of 10 everyday, notoriously tricky French mots* with helpful pronunciation tips.
You can also find many of the same words here, plus some new tongue twisters with pronunciation included.
With a little practice (and a dash of bravado), you'll soon be reciting this list les doigts dans le nez*!
*your tongue | *words |*very easily (with your fingers in your nose)
This month, Le Travel Planner Xavier Amouroux est de retour*, giving us his hot take on Cap Ferret in the South of France.
A hop, skip and a jump from Bordeaux, this laidback seaside resort is well worth a sun-soaked side trip on your next trip to France.
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 5 of the Intermediate Revision level.
*The Little Story | *The Prequel
Au final, on n’a pas parlé un seul mot de français ensemble. Après une promenade le long de la rivière, on s’est arrêté à un vrai pub anglais près de l’université.
Le soleil brillait, qui était assez rare, Simon m’a assuré, et nous avons profité du beau temps pour s’installer dans le jardin à une table en plein soleil.
“Tu n’as pas trop chaud, Leïla ?” Simon m’a demandé. “On peut changer de table si tu préfères.”
“Non, pas du tout, Simon, merci. J’ai l’habitude, après tout. Je vais chaque année au Maroc avec mon mari pour voir sa famille, donc la chaleur ne pose pas de problème chez moi. Mais c’est gentil de me demander, merci encore.”
“Alors, que fait ton mari aujourd’hui, Leïla, pendant que tu visites la bibliothèque ? Désolé, je ne connais pas son nom,” Simon a ajouté.
“C’est Jean-Louis,” j’ai répondu.
“Ah bon ?” Simon a dit. “Il n’a pas de nom arabe ?”
“Non, en fait, oui, désolée, il a un nom arabe, mais il a décidé de le changer quand il a immigré en France quand il était plus jeune.”
“Ah bon, je vois. Alors qu’est-ce qu’il fait aujourd’hui ? Il s’occupe des enfants ?”
“En fait je ne suis pas sûre, Simon. Il n’est pas avec moi ici en Angleterre. Il est resté à Paris car il doit travailler. Mais il s’occupe des jumelles, oui, c’est vrai.”
Simon avait l’air surpris de nouveau. “Alors j’imagine qu’il doit être bien occupé, non ? Deux jeunes enfants et un boulot, c’est pas donné, ça.”
Je ne pouvais pas supprimer mon prochain réflexe. “C’est plus facile que trois jeunes enfants, une maison, un mari et des études, je dois dire.” Le moment que les mots se sont échappés de ma bouche, je les regrettais.
Simon a réagi tout de suite. “Ah, pardon, Leïla. Bien sûr que tu travailles très dur toute l’année. je suis désolé. Même quand on est conscient, c’est vrai que le sexisme est difficile d’échapper.”
“Non, ça va, Simon. Moi, je suis désolée. Ma réaction est bien plus forte que nécessaire.”
“Du côté positif, Jean-Louis doit être assez moderne s’il te laisse venir ici en Angleterre, non ?”
“Me laisse venir ici, Simon ?” j’ai répondu, en colère pour de vrai maintenant. “Je ne suis pas son animal domestique. Il ne m’a pas laissé venir ici, il m’a encouragé, en fait, et je ne sais pas pourquoi ! Et en plus, il a dû demandé à sa mère de venir l’aider faire quelque chose que moi je fais toute seule tous les jours ! C’est exaspérant !” Et avec ça, j’ai éclaté en sanglots, là, au pub, au soleil avec un homme tellement gentil qui ne voulait pas me faire mal. Qui suis-je, effectivement !
In the end, we didn't speak a single word of French together. After a walk along the river, we stopped at a real English pub near the university.
The sun was shining, which was quite rare Simon assured me, and we took advantage of the beautiful weather to settle in the garden at a table in full sun.
"Do you feel too hot, Leïla?" Simon asked me. "We can change tables if you’d like."
"No, not at all, Simon, thank you. I'm used to it, after all. I go to Morocco every year with my husband to see his family, so the heat isn't an issue for me. But it's kind of you to ask, thank you again."
"So, what’s your husband doing today, Leïla, while you're visiting the library? Sorry, I don't know his name," Simon added.
"It's Jean-Louis," I replied.
"Oh really?" Simon said. "He doesn't have an Arabic name?"
"No, actually, yes, sorry, he has an Arabic name, but he decided to change it when he immigrated to France when he was younger."
"Oh, I see. So what’s he doing today? Taking care of the children?"
"In fact, I'm not sure, Simon. He's not with me here in England. He stayed in Paris because he has to work. But yes, he’s taking care of the twins, that's true."
Simon looked surprised again. "So I imagine he must be quite busy, then? Two young children and a job, that's a lot."
I couldn't suppress my next reflex. "It's easier than three young children, a house, a husband, and studies, I must say." The moment the words escaped my mouth, I regretted them.
Simon reacted immediately. "Oh, sorry, Leïla. Of course, you work very hard all year. I'm sorry. Even when you’re aware of it, sexism is still difficult to escape."
"No, it's okay, Simon. I'm sorry. My reaction was much stronger than necessary."
"On the positive side, Jean-Louis must be quite modern if he lets you come here to England, right?"
"Let me come here, Simon?" I replied, genuinely angry now. "I'm not his pet. He didn't let me come here; in fact, he encouraged me and I don’t know why. And furthermore, he had to ask his mother to come help him do something that I do all by myself every day! It's exasperating!" And with that, I burst into tears, there, in the pub, in the sun, with such a kind man who didn't mean to hurt me. Who am I, indeed?
Bonjour!
Well, the dust has finally settled on our trips to Paris and Bordeaux a couple of months ago and we’re all (somewhat sadly) back into our normal routines here in Australia.
Of course there are plans to go back, but I thought it worth breaking our usual transmission of top tips (last month we were up to numéro 5 sur 10*) to share with you some of the fresh perspectives we gleaned from our time sur le terrain*.
Over the years, I’ve shared these tips with our students, but there’s nothing like being mis sur la sellette* to reinforce best practices. This is why immersion trips are so valuable. They give you the chance to really test out your French and make adjustments along the way as you see what works and what doesn’t.
So, here are a few breakthrough tips that’ll not only help you next time you're navigating your way in a French-speaking world, but in your regular classes as well.
We encourage our students right from the very first lesson to open any interaction with a French person by way of a simple “Bonjour, madame*” or “Bonsoir, monsieur*”. Even an absolute beginner can achieve this (with un peu de courage*), it shows respect and it fundamentally improves the quality of the conversation that ensues.
Where our more advanced students report coming unstuck, though, is when the response to the first question or request is volleyed straight back in rapid-fire French and they’re left open-mouthed and reeling with no idea of how to respond.
Our cobayes* tell us this is often where the French person will break into English. Our students generally know better than to take it personally (the French person is almost always trying to reciprocate the respect you paid in speaking their language to them), but what they found difficult was finding a way to continue in French.
We suggested something like: “Je suis désolé(e), je n’ai pas compris, mais je veux pratiquer mon français. Pourriez-vous répéter plus lentement, s’il vous plaît*?”
If that seems like a mouthful, perhaps go for something simpler, such as:
“Mon français n’est pas très bon, répétez en français, s’il vous plaît*.
“Désolé(e), je voudrais pratiquer mon français. Ça va*?”
“On peut parler en français?”
Said gently and with a little smile, you’re almost guaranteed to get your own way.
Often when we try to speak French in a ‘real’ situation, our nerves get the better of us, causing us to speak more softly that we normally would. If what comes back is “Pardon*?” it’s easy to assume the person you’re speaking to hasn’t understood you, when in fact they simply haven’t heard what you said.
So before you take the leap, take a breath, redressez les épaules* and speak with confidence. You may be happily surprised by the result.
A well-rehearsed phrase that you can get out regularly and with ease is une chance unique* for bolstering your confidence. In the next post, we’ll take a look of some of the favorites our Chouchous* relied on during the trip, but for now I’ll give you one of mine.
I like to add “C’est gentil” just after I’ve said “Merci.” It’s something I picked up when living in France and decided to add it to my repertoire. It means the equivalent of “That’s kind of you” and it’s always met with a positive response. It’s easy to say and makes me feel a bit less like a tourist and more like a local (every little bit helps!).
At the beginning of each morning’s lesson during the Summer School, I’d ask the students to report back on their experiences of the previous day when they’d been out and about practising their French.
As the week wore on, they were more and more willing to take risks, which led not only to some very funny histoires* but some very valuable insights as well.
Time and time again, they reported being told that their little erreurs* were not only unimportant but actually charming. Although at first hard to believe, it does make sense if you were to reverse the situation. Imagine you’re in your home country and you’re speaking to someone for whom English is not their first language. Do you think poorly of them if they make the odd little slip up here and there? Probablement pas*. Well, it’s the same with your French. Even if a French person corrects your mistake, take it as a compliment. In most cases, they’re just highly impressed you’ve taken the time to learn their language and are trying to help you along the way. So don’t let the fear of making une gaffe* prevent you from striking out. You never know what you’ll miss out on.
When I’m tired or under stress (and isn’t that pretty much the definition of travelling, as great as it is?) my accent tends to slip and I can hear a slight Aussie twang come through. This always horrifies me and yet the reaction from French people is almost always a little smile.
After a big week in Paris, compounded by a very long delay at Gare Montparnasse, I arrived in Bordeaux dragging my feet. As much as I was excited to be there, I was absolutely épuisée* so jumped in the first cab I could find, eager to get to my new home. The chauffeur de taxi* was friendly, so we chatted for a couple of minutes about this and that. I was snapped out of my weariness, though, when he said: “J’adore votre petit accent.” The ‘petit’ was what gave it away. He meant he could discern an English accent of some description and my knee-jerk reaction was one of annoyance. To be fair it wouldn’t have taken much to annoy me at that point, but this felt like a low blow. I swear I wasn’t being spiteful but my next question was “Parlez-vous anglais*?”, to which he responded “Yes, a leetle” and went on to tell me he loved speaking English with tourists but was embarrassed by his accent. I, on the the hand, was utterly charmed by it and told him so. The circular nature of our exchange was not lost on me so I settled back and vowed just to enjoy the moment and to stop being so hung up on being perfect. We do learn a lot about ourselves when we travel, ça c’est sûr*.
*number 5 out of 10 | *on the ground | *put on the spot | *Hello, madam | *Good evening, sir | *a bit of courage | *guinea pigs | *I’m sorry, I didn’t understand but I want to practise my French. Could you repeat that slowly, please? | *My French isn’t very good, could you repeat that in French, please? | *I’m sorry, I’d like to practise my French. Is that okay? | *Can we speak in French? | *I’m sorry? | *put your shoulders back | *a golden ticket | *Teacher’s Pets | *really | *stories | *mistakes | *Probably not | *a boo-boo | *exhausted | *taxi driver | *I love your little accent | *that’s for sure
We recently received a tip from one of our chouchous* about one of his favourite ways to learn French – along with everyone’s favourite gentleman-cambrioleur*, Arsène Lupin!
Learn French with Arsène Lupin Gentleman-Thief is the original version of Maurice Leblanc’s famous novel (now adapted into the Netflix series many of our students love) with a word-for-word interlinear translation of the French text.
If you find yourself frustrated at having to look up every fifth word when attempting to read en francais*, this might be the book for you.
Learn how it can help improve your French vocab and purchase a copy here.
*teacher’s pets | *thief | *in French
If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next trip to France, Le Travel Planner, is back with the latest instalment of his travel tips series. This time, Xavier's turning his attention to the beautiful beachside resort of Biarritz with some fabulous advice for getting the most from the region.
Hear what Xavier has to say about exploring this glamorous destination and the Basque Country in the short video below. And n’oubliez pas* to check out his tips for Bordeaux aussi*!
*don’t forget | *as well
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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?
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.
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.
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
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
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