A2Z: Blogchatter

Bonjour: #BlogchatterA2Z is a creative way of starting something. AtoZ means filled. Here, during the A2Z, I was filled with mixed emotions. How is the audience going to view a language learning post.  Nevertheless, it was warmly welcomed. And today I write the Reflections Post.

Half the job is done as I know what alphabet the post must begin with. The second part was not very difficult. With vocabulary on my side, I did pretty well.

The A2Z brought about a pattern and it was very systematic. Keeping the linky open and attaching it from the back end helped on days that were filled with other activities. And with the March/April/May Lockdown, days were not all the same. Thoughts were different from what they were when one signed up.

The Facebook group was a great way apart from Twitter. The colourful posts below each poster of each alphabet made one feel part of a grand event.

This is my third association with Blogchatter. My Friend Alexa 2018 and 2019 being a wonderful learning experience. you can read the posts here on my Wordpress.com Website:

https://apprendre24.wordpress.com/my-friend-alexa/

#CauseAChatter is also a Blogchatter creation and it is underway this year, you can read the posts here:

https://apprendre24.wordpress.com/causeachatter/

This time however, I took it higher in terms of add-ons in the post by adding an image that I created and a small You Tube video. They are pretty simple but it took me  a while to get used to it. Hence I wrote less and tried to master these skills. Thanks to Blogchatter I came across various blogs that are doing an amazing job. Kudos to them.

Hoping to do more in the field of blogging and education.

Learn French 26: Zapper

Learning a new language is like switching channels in your head. Be sure you have good content.

Zapper means switching channels frequently.

It is a verb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrCZRsswrFg

Pierre zappe toujours.

Peter zaps channels always

La famille zappe, et enfin, decide de regarder le film "Angry Birds"

The familys switches channels and finally it decides to watch the film "Angry Birds"

Culture tip:

Le Zénith is the name given to a series of indoor arenas in France. 

The first arena, the "Zénith Paris" is a rejuvenation of the Pavillon de Paris. 

In French culture, the word "zénith" has become synonymous with "theater". 

A zénith is a theater that can accommodate concert tours, variety shows, plays, musicals and dance recitals. All zeniths carry a similar internal design of an indoor amphitheater that can seat at least 3,000 spectators.

The Zénith Paris—La Villette is an indoor arena in the 19th arrondissement in Paris. The arena was built in 1983 at the site of the former music hall, Pavillon de Paris, by architects Phillippe Chaix and Jean-Paul Morel. The construction of the arena was initiated by Minister of Culture, Jack Lang, to maintain the rock and roll scene to Paris.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Z%C3%A9nith

Learn French 25: Sympathique

Learning a new language is like visiting the spa. You come out refreshed.

Sympathetic

Sympathique is an adjective in French. It means nice, kind, friendly
Adjectives in french must agree with number and gender.
The word sympathique takes an s when used with a plural noun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQZtv552VZo

Les gens sont sympathiques.
The people are nice.

Mon amie est sympathique.
My friend is nice/friendly.


Culture tip:

Yves Saint-Laurent was a French fashion desingner who, in 1961, founded his famous fashion label.
Yves Saint-Laurent can be credited with both spurring the couture's rise from 1960s ashes and with finally rendering ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter).
Saint Laurent's imprint and importance on French culture was cemented when he was appointed Grand Officer of the Legion d'honnerur by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yves_Saint_Laurent_(designer)
https://www.biography.com/fashion-designer/yves-saint-laurent

Learn French 24: ManteauX

Learning a new language is like wearing a coat. It makes you feel different.You bring out a new person from the inside.

I picked the word des manteaux here as it is one of the words that stayed with me from my school days. I liked the way the word sounded. 

Also it is an important concept that is considered as basic French.

The real word in un manteau, the plural is des manteaux. It means a coat. 

The speciality of this word is that the plural form takes an x instead of the regular x.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPQOVNzLAwk

Similar words are:

1. gâteau                cake
2. bateau                boat
3. chapeau             hat
4. oiseau                bird
5. couteau              knife
6. rideau                curtain
7. château              castle
8. tableau               board
9. drapeau              flag
10. portemanteau     travelling case/pouch

All these words take an x in the plural form.

Culture tip:

The Flag of France is a tricolour flag featuring three vertical bands coloured blue (hoist side), white and red. Blue and red are the traditional colours of Paris, used on the city's coats of arms. The three colours have different symbolisms. The French government websites states that the white field was the colour of the King, while blue and red were the colours of Paris. The three colours are ocassionally taken to represnt the three elements of the revolutionary motto, Liberté (Freedom: Blue), égalité  (equality: white) Fraternité  (brotherhood: red).

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_France

Learn French 21:L' Université

Learning a new language is like going back to school. LSRW skills to be applied. Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.

L'Université

University

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dileyAh2D0

Je vais à l'université.

I go to the university.

Les professeurs d'université sont gentils.

The University professors are kind.

The word Université is the same as in English. 

A university that is an institution of higher education and research that awards academind degrees in various disciplines.

Type out which university you are or were in. 

Culture Tip:

One of the oldest and most famous Universities in France is Univeristy os Sorbonne. Sorbonne University is a public research University in Paris France. It was founded in 1257. With 32 Nobel Prize winners, Sorbonne University has a long tradition of academic excellence. The University now merged in 2018, with Pierre et Marie-Curie along with other institutions is a sought for valuable education.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbonne_University

Learn French 20: Théâtre

Learning a new language is like watching a play. Once you feel you are one of the characters, the play seems real.

Théâtre

French Theatre is called le théâtre. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUa0N5dbzds

J'adore le théâtre

I love watching plays.

On va regarder la piece au théâtre.

We go to watch plays at the the French Theatres.

Culture Tip:

The Comédie - Française or Théâtre  -Francais is one of th few state theatre in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. The Theatre has also been known as "La Maison de Molière". In the 18th Century, the Comédie - Française was often enjoyed by the French nobility, since the price to watch theatre was expensive.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Com%C3%A9die-Fran%C3%A7aise

Learn French 19: Sortir

Learning a new language is like setting out for a ride. It could be bumpy, it could be smooth sailing. Enjoy the ride and focus on the destination.

Sortir

To go out/ to leave

This is a verb and it is used very often.

It is commonly seen as SORTIE which means EXIT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvar5wHfnH0

Je sors avec mes amis.

I go out with my friends.

Le professeur dit "Sortez"    

The teacher says "Get out"/"Leave"

Culture Tip:

A fresh baked baguette, a chilled glass of wine, an elegant beret and a delicate slice of cheese, that is how you fill the perfect French stereotype. Cheese is truly a part of the French identity and you can’t leave Paris without trying a few different varieties! 

Cheese is actually so popular in France that it is a part of the meal. The French usually have some cheese in between the main course and the dessert. Along with salad or grape, it should be served at room temperature with a glass of wine or brandy. The “plateau de fromage“, the cheese board, should propose at least three variety with among them a cooked cheese, a veined cheese and a soft cheese with a rind.

https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/top-5-fun-facts-about-french-cheese/

Learn French 17: Quarante

Learning a new language is like a quirky question, you can answer only if you understand the question. Let's be quirky.

Quarante

The word quarante means the nunber forty (40).

Il y a quarante élèves dans la classe.
There are 40 students in a class.

Il faut rester chez vous pour quarante jours.
It is necessar to stay home for 40 days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWe1FkLLUSI

Conversation:

Marc: Il y a combien d'élèves dans la classe?

Annie: Il y a quarante élèves dans la classe.


      The words il y a and dans have been discussed in the earlier sessions.

https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-9-il-y-a.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-4-dans.html

Culture tip:

Quarante has a connect with the word quarantine. 

The word quarantine is defined as a strict isolation, originally of 40 days of detention or isolation imposed upon ships, persons, animals, or plants on arrival at a port or place, when suspected of carrying some infectious or contagious disease.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/quarantine

The words il y a and dans have been discussed in the earlier sessions.

https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-9-il-y-a.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-4-dans.html

Learn French 16: Piscine

Learning a new language is like learning a new sport. It is tough in the beginning but with practice, it gets perfect.

La piscine 

The swimming pool

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dpOMo0a9R0

Je vais à la piscine.

I go to the swimming pool.

La piscine est grande.

The swimming pool is big.

Il y a une piscine près de mon école.

There is a swimming pool near my school.

Swimming is an important exercise, leisure activity and sport in France. Snchronised swimming is practiced.

Culture Tip:

The film Life of Pi, adapted from the book with the same name written by Yann Martel has an interesting reference to the word Piscine.

Pi, the protagonist, whose full name is Piscine Molitor Patel, got his name from a champion swimmer, who named him after a swimming pool in France. At school, he was called “Pissing” because Piscine sounds like that word. He then began using the nickname Pi, which recalls the number beginning with 3.14 and having no end that is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. 

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/life-of-pi/life-of-pi-at-a-glance

Learn French 15: Ordinateur, Oui

Learning a new language is like an orange, it can be a fruit and a colour. It opens up an array of opportunities and at the same time allows you to blend with a new culture. Let's go for it.

Ordinateur

Computer

Oui

Yes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOA2GqVEvSo

J'ai un ordinateur dans ma chambre.

I have a computer in my room.

Je joue aux jeux videos sur mon ordianteur.

I play video games on my computer.

L'ordinateur est utile? Oui, l'ordinateur est très utile.

Is the computer useful? Yes, the computer is very useful.

The computer has become a very important place in our lives. It has become a neccessity.

One can use the word portable with it.

Portable - able to carry.

l'ordinateur portable - The laptop

The second word is OUI - it means Yes.

Obviously one knows when you use it. However I have used Oui in one of the sentences.

Culture tip:

In 1955, IBM brought a new computer to France. They needed a word for the device and  IBM decided to create something new instead.

François Girard,  (the head of the advertising department) at IBM France, thought that computer was too similar to calculatrice (calculator) and wanted to find a better name for the new electronic machine intended for information processing.

In an effort to find a good french name, François Girard asked his old humanities professor, Jacques Perret, for advice.

Monsieur Perret had a suggestion based on a rare word, ordonnateur: someone who puts things in order. The word comes from le verbe ordonner, meaning to put in order, to order, to arrange, which comes from le mot latin: ordinare.

Monsieur Perret’s idea was more cumbersome than the final word: ordinatrice

électronique.

Eventually, IBM settled on ordinateur as le mot for the new product. At firstz, IBM wanted to keep the word ordinateur as a trademark, but l’ordinateur became too popular and entered the french language as a normal word.

Ordinare → Ordonner → Ordonnateur → Ordinateur

https://blogs.transparent.com/french/the-origin-of-lordinateur-computers-in-french/

Learn French 14: Ne verb pas

Learning a new language is like travelling. The journey may be long but the beauty of the destination is worth the time spent. Half way through, we go ahead with the right kinda spirit.

Ne verb pas 

The phrase ne .... verb is used in a sentence and the ... is the verb.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCHKfgVat1U

Taking sentences earlier mentioned.

Il voyage pour son loisir.

Il ne voyage pas pour son loisir.

Je suis étudiant.

Je ne suis pas etudiant

J'habite dans un appartement.

Je n'habite pas dans un appartement.

NOTE: ne turns to n' in front of a vowel

The sentences have been taken from the following blogs.

https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-5-etudiant.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-3-cafe.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-11-les-loisirs.html


Culture tip:
We shall discuss some expressions that contain the negation vocabulaire

1. Il ne faut pas se fier aux apparences. 

Literal translation: “One should not trust appearances.”

Meaning: This saying is the English equivalent of “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” or “Looks can be deceiving.” It means that you should get to know someone before you make judgments about him/her. In short, “Don’t make assumptions.”

2.  Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard. 

Literal translation: “One should leave nothing to chance.”

Meaning: Here’s another no-fuss, no-frills saying. This one means “Plan ahead.”

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/french/common-french-sayings/

French Class 9: Il y a

Learning a new language is like waking up early and doing an extra task. Here is a new word is at your behest

Il y a - there is/there are
This phrase is used often.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjdUIYyw5e4

Il y a is a phrase.
It means there is or there are.
The words il, y, and a have individual meanings.
il - he/it
y - there
a - has
We collectively use it as a phrase here.

It also means it has been.
Here the examples discussed are w.r.t there is or there are.

Il y a un hôtel près d'ici.
There is a hotel near by/close by.

Il y a beaucoup d'étudiants dans la classe.
There are many students in the class.

Il y a un bon café au centre-ville.
There is a good café in the centre of the city.

Some words here have been discussed earlier.
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-8-hotel.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-5-etudiant.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-4-dans.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-3-cafe.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-2-bonjour.html

Next time you want to say there is, use this phrase.
The word Voilà is also used to say there is.


Culture tip:

The Louvre, located in Paris, France, is the largest art museum in the world with an area size of 782,910 square feet. This museum is considered a historic monument in Paris and is part of the Louvre Palace, which was built in the 12th century.Today, it is home to around 38,000 pieces of art. The Louvre is also the most visited museum in the world, receiving 7.4 million visitors every year.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-art-museums-in-the-world.html

French Class 7: Gâteau

Bonjour! Learning a new language is like having dessert after a meal. It completes the meal. So let's go ahead. Bon appétit.

Gâteau  is cake.

Un gâteau is a cake
le gâteau is the cake.

A touch of grammar with the vaocbulary adds value to the word.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j-46pCAoZY

The sentences with gâteau contain a phrase, je voudrais discussed earlier:

https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-3-cafe.html

Je voudrais un gâteau.

I would like a cake.

Je voudrais un gâteau au chocolat.

I would like a chocolate cake.

Je voudrais un gâteau aux fraises.

I would like a strawberry cake.

Conversation:

Marc: Bonjour Annie

Annie: Bonjour Marc.

Serveur: Vous choisissez? ( Have you chosen?/decided)

Marc: Je voudrais un café. Et vous Annie?

Annie: Je voudrais un gâteau au chocolate.

Serveur: D'accord Madame et Monsieur.

...

Serveur: Voilà votre café et votre gâteau au chocolat.

Marc et Annie: Merci. (Thank you)

Serveur: Bon appétit.

Now you can order coffee or cake at a café in France.

Type out your favourite cake in the comments. 

Culture tip:

Why Cake at Birthdays?

Well, Cakes represent our best culinary offering honouring our most loved people. In "olden times" when refined sugar, spices , nuts and dried fruit were expensive, it was a honour to be honoured with cake. Today cake isn't expensive and we have a variety to choose from. But the message remains constant. 

Cake says "you are important and we love you"

http://foodtimeline.org/foodcakes.html#cakesymbol

French Class 6: La fête

Learning a new language is like staying at home and exploring different corners of your house. Today's corner is the festive corner.

La fête - the festival, the celebration

La Fête Nationale - The National day
La Fête de la Musique - The festical of Music/ World Music day
La fête des mères - Mothers' day

The word fête is used to describe a grand festival or any kind of a simple celebration also.

La fête de la musique se passe le 21 juin chaque année.

World Music Day is celebrated/takes place on 21 Juin every year.

La fête Nationale (de la France) a lieu le 14 Juilet chaque année.

The National Day (of France) takes place on 14 July every year.

Celebrate a festival, a success or just life itself. Every day is a celebration. Each day comes with an opportunity, a new aura of enthusiasm. Life is a celebration. 

Type out your favourite festival in the comments. Easily login through Google.

Culture tip:

La Fête Nationale is the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille. 

First let us understand what is Bastille. Bastille was a fortress in Paris, formally known as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. 

Louis XIV used the Bastille as a prison for upper-class members of French society who had opposed or angered him.The Bastille held a large cache of ammunition and gunpowder. 

The Storming of the Bastille set off a series of events that led to the overthrow of King Louis XVI and the French Revolution. The success of the revolutionaries gave commoners throughout France the courage to rise up and fight against the nobles who had ruled them for so long.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storming_of_the_Bastille

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille

https://www.ducksters.com/history/french_revolution/storming_of_the_bastille.php

French Class 5: Étudiant

Bonjour! Learning is like lighting a lamp. It lights up not only itself but also the surrounding. Let's begin today.

Today's word is étudiant.
It means student.


Je suis étudiant.
Je suis étudiante.


The étudiant with an e stands for a student (feminine)
The e has an acute accent (l'accent aigu)

While pronouncing étudiante, there is a stress on the t, and the listener understands the student is feminine.

Je suis étudiant
I am a student.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI6UxJwyMrc

Je suis is an important phrase it means I am

Je suis professeur.  I am a teacher/professor
Je suis medecin.     I am a doctor.
je suis avocat.         I am a lawyer.
je suis journaliste.  I am a journalist.

Conversation:

Marc: Bonjour. Je m'appelle Marc. Et vous?
Annie: Bonjour. Je m'appelle Anne.
Marc: Je suis professeur. Et vous?
Annie: Je suis journaliste.
...
Marc: Bonne soirée
Annie: Bonne soirée.


Begin the sentence with je suis, google your profession and type it out in the comments section. Yes here is a word for blogger too!

https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-4-dans.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-3-cafe.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-2-bonjour.html
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/03/french-class-1-sappeler.html

Now you can introduce yourself in French, say what you do and you can order yourself a cup of coffee.

Culture tip:

The modern era of French Education began at the end of the 19th century. Jules Ferry, a minister of Public instruction in 1841, is  widely credited for creating the modern school by requiring all children between the ages of 6 and 12, both boys and girls to attend. He also made public instruction mandatory, free of charge, and secular.
Before Jules Ferry, it was Napoleon who began French University and Secondary education systems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_France

This post is written as a part of #BlogchatterA2Z

French Class 4: Dans

Bonjour! Learning a new language is like dancing. One step at at time, each one in sync with the other. Let's roll!

Dans means in. It is a preposition. It show the relation between 2 nouns.

J'habite is a phrase used here. J'habite means I stay.

J'habite dans un appartement.

J'habite dans une maison.

                                        

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqI87diVCfM

                                 

un appartement - an apartment

une maison - a house

J'habite dans un appartement - I stay in an apartment.

J'habite dans une maison - I stay in a house.

Conversation: 

Marc: Bonjour, je m'appelle Marc. Et vous?

Annie: Bonjour, je m'appelle Annie.

Marc: J'habite dans une maison. Et vous?

Annie: J'habite dans un appartement.

...

Marc: Bonne soirée Annie

Annie: Bonne soirée Marc.

Vocabulary is as important to a language as grammar. As children, we picked up new words that eventually led to sentences. Happy learning!

Culture tip:

The apartment culture which is an integral part of today's housing options came from Paris. 

Paris embraced the apartment in 1800's. It was initially called "Parisian flats" by the Americans who came to Paris for their cultural education.

Throughout the nineteenth century "the apartment house" dominated Parisian urban landscape.

Two reasons were primarily identified for its success:

1. Apartments provided spatially compact housing in a city with increasing population.

2. Apartments provided opportunity for investing in relatively inexpensive and profitable properties.

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/10/american-apartments-came-from-paris/381590/

This post is written as a part of #BlogchatterA2Z

French Class 3: Café

Hello! Learning a new language is like drinking coffee. Once done you want a refill. So here is today's refill.

Café is a universal word.
It is coffee, a beverage.
It also means a café, a small and informal establishment serving various refreshments.

Je voudrais un café.
I want/would like a coffee.

Il y a un café près d'ici.
There is a café nearby here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKHzkP5FgqI

This word is different from the word cafeteria in English.
Merriam-Webster. com defines it as a restaurant especially one for staff or workers, where people collect their meals themselves and carry them to their tables to eat.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cafeteria?utm_campaign=sd&utm_medium=serp&utm_source=jsonld

A conversation at a café:

Serveur: Bonjour Madame
Annie: Bonjour, je voudrais un café.
...
Serveur: Bonne soirée Madame.
Annie: Bonne soirée.

Je voudrais une tasse de café
I would like a cup of coffee

The vocabulary related to greetings and expressions in French can be viewed here:
https://srishtirajeev.blogspot.com/2020/04/french-class-2-bonjour.html

Now you can order your coffee at a café in France the right way. 


Culture Tip:
La Semaine du Goût
The Week of Taste or La Semaine du Goût, a registered trademark, is an event around taste and gastronomy, created by Jean-Luc-Petitrenaud in 1990, a culinary jounalist, that takes place for a week during October. It is  partnered by the Minister of Agriculture and Food.Throughout France it promotes culture and culinary heritage and eating well. One of its stated objectives is to educate consumers especially children about tastes.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Semaine_du_Go%C3%BBt

This post is written as a part of #BlogchatterA2Z

#A2Z Theme Reveal

Hello!

Finally here. Blogchatter nudges and here I am. The very coveted A2Z looks like child's play. Well it does bring out the child in you as you explore sub-topics on your theme and also read varied themes. Writing one blog post each day of the week except Sundays, and reading other participants posts is no child's play but interesting.

My Theme is what comes naturally to me, Teaching French. Yes, 26 sessions of French at Blogchatter A2Z. It will be as simple as it could get. Will include a culture tip. What's a language without knowing the culture. It is my first try, flood me in with your observations and comments.

Learning a new language allows your brain to absorb new patterns, it helps you think differently. I personally know many people who can speak 3 languages fluently. In India, 52% of the urban youth are bilingual and 18% trilingual.

https://m.timesofindia.com/india/52-of-indias-urban-youth-are-now-bilingual-18-speak-three-languages/amp_articleshow/66530958.cms

 Learning is a never-ending process. Gear up and be ready for the child's play... ahan... A2Z by Blogchatter.