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Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me and Nearly Broke...
There is an enjoyable style of light non-fiction where the reader shares in the author’s research and documentation via personal anecdotes and all aspects of the chosen topic are covered thoroughly but...
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3 games to test your French skills
Is learning things and having fun at the same time is possible ? I believe it is ! Just before Christmas, we decided to test 3 new games about the French language and tell you all about them. I have...
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Au Gui l’An Neuf ou Bonne et heureuse année à vous.
Mistletoe in Poplar trees Au Gui l’An Neuf ou Bonne et heureuse année à vous. La saison voulant que le gui abonde, on en cueillit dès le Moyen Âge pour l’offrir avec ce souhait : « Au gui l’an neuf »,...
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Hints and Hindsights: Traveling words
Of course, it’s not only people and their customs that cross borders. Some of the most stalwart and adventurous travelers are words! At times they sneak in slyly and subtly, at times burst through via...
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Speak Easy: Siamese Twins
Speak Easy: Siamese Twins All the English words in this Speak Easy puzzle are «Siamese Twins» or «Irreversible Binomials», in other words a pair or grouping of words used together and joined by either...
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Translating Franglais
Hints and Hindsights: Translating Franglais A French diplomat declares, in English, “Israel is going to eat Iran!” His remarks race around the globe in an epidemic of Internet virulence....
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A Bon Speak Easy is a good Speak Easy
A Bon Speak Easy Why make a bon Speak Easy? One of the most used words in French must be bon. It is used is wish everyone a good day, week, weekend, trip and more. It also has a negative meaning at...
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The rooster as symbol of France
Cocorico! says the rooster as symbol of France «Cocorico», the French onomatopoeia for the rooster crowing sound (cock-a-doodle-doo), is also used to express national pride but often with a touch of...
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Speak Easy – En avant la musique!
Speak Easy – En avant la musique! Le Speak Easy est un jeu pour apprendre l’anglais où il faut mettre ensemble les équivalents anglais et français du mot ou de l’expression. Le jeu a été publié tous...
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When the French are less French
When the French are less French This is the installment that our French hosts, cousins, counterparts, entourage have dreaded. (We offer it, however, with tender feelings, hoping that will matter.) For...
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Why is it called? Part 1: Pastries and desserts
Why is it called … Part 1: PASTRIES and DESSERTS Have you ever asked yourself why something is called by a particular name? Why are croissants, pain aux raisins and pains au chocolats called...
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Why is it called? Part 2: French place names or toponyms
Why is it called… Part 2: French place names or toponyms Have you ever asked yourself why something is called by a particular name? We’ve learned Paris was named for the Celtic tribe the Parisii who...
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Election speak explained: Left, right, blue, red, donkey, elephant
Election speak explained: Left, right, blue, red, donkey, elephant, Democrats, Republicans ? Why do we use the terms LEFT AND RIGHT to designate political ideas in France or associate the colors blue...
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Higher Education Fair by The American University of Paris
The American University of Paris is hosting a Higher Education Fair on campus so that students can meet with and learn about universities from all over the world. Our goal is to introduce to students...
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Two spelling traditions: the Spelling Bee and La Dictée
Two spelling traditions: the Spelling Bee and La Dictée It is quite ironic that the most often misspelled word in English is: « misspell »! But spelling, agreeing and conjugating in French is even...
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« That sounds great, but I hate it. » The case for diplomatic English
« That sounds great, but I hate it. » The case for diplomatic English. The increasing need for diplomatic English language skills in the European Union and across Europe. Guest post by Eric Frison «...
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Why is it called? Part 3: Foods
Why is it called? Part 3: Foods Have you ever asked yourself why something is called by a particular name? Why are mushrooms called champignons? How do foods get named? There is often a story. Here is...
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The French keys to the kingdom
Bonjour, madame. Excusez-moi de vous déranger. Then I went on to ask the lady in the press kiosk if she knew how to get to the street I was looking for. Wow! Talk about a miserable human being!...
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Hogtied in the Hexagon? part 1 of 3
Hogtied in the Hexagon? Part 1 Our choice of 15 Books to help you better understand France. First of all what is “hogtied“? To hogtie is an Americanism that goes back to about 1890 literally meaning to...
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Dictionary Culture Bicentennial Pierre Larousse
Dictionary Larousse definition of Pierre Larousse. Nothing like defining yourself! Who hasn’t consulted the illustrated and illustrious pages of a Dictionary Larousse; the ubiquitous reference book...
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