A “pinch” of linguistics

The French vocabulary is numerically more limited than the English one. There are different ways of overcoming this shortage of words. It is usually done through some grammatical artifice. One of these consists in adding a group of words to the noun to clarify its meaning, where the English language usually has just one word. For example we say “le bouton de la chemise” (button), “le bouton de rose” (rosebud), “le bouton de porte” (doorknob) and to cut quite a long list of “boutons” short “le bouton sur le nez” which is a pimple on the nose! There are many other words requiring a little supplement to be correctly understood.

Another way of getting more meaning from a word through a grammatical device: changing the gender of a given word. For example:

• “le” or “la” livre, one you read (book) the other you spend or weigh items with(pound)
• “le” or “la tour”, one on your bike around France the other may be called Eiffel!
• “le voile” which is worn over the head by a nun or a bride whereas “la voile” will enable you to sail your boat
• a bunch of flowers goes into “le vase”, but the slimy stuff at the bottom of the river is “la vase”

You also have “le mousse”, the youngest sailor onboard a ship or “la mousse”. You can also have yet more choices by adding the first grammatical artifice of adding words, with the second of a different gender:

• “la mousse au chocolat” (chocolate mousse)
• “la mousse de la bière”, the white stuff on your pint
• “la mousse” you create when you wash with a piece of soap

to name but a few.

 

As if that wasn’t confusing enough, there is more to using the masculine and feminine in French! Many masculine nouns also have also a feminine form. Some are pretty straightforward: “un coiffeur” becomes “une coiffeuse” in the feminine form, where both mean hairdresser (a man or woman). Unfortunately there are cases where the meaning varies a little and doesn’t sound very flattering to a woman’s ear. To name a couple: “un homme léger” is charming and witty man, “une femme légère” implies a fallen woman. “Un petit gars” is a cute young lad, whereas “une petite garce” is a husband’s nightmare. One might speculate that this could due to the fact that French grammar was originally devised by male scholars… Luckily we are here to help you sort out the subtleties of our intriguing language!

Eternal France

From quaint villages in the Cévennes or Brittany, to the dazzling white slopes of the Alps, or even the opal green seascapes of Normandy, it is true that France is a beautiful and varied country. Plentiful are the hidden parts of “la France profonde” which are real gems. Some have hardly changed through the ages. These images are magnified in our memories as being basked in glorious sunshine, yet only a small part of France enjoys blue skies all year round. If you are thinking to move to France, we would advise you visit your chosen area in all seasons. It is true that the climate of France is considered on the whole to be rather clement. There are however at least four major zones corresponding to a more specific sub-climate:

• “Oceanic” in Western France from Normandy to the Basque country via the Bordeaux area. From North to South there are variations. However Normandy and Brittany greatly resemble Devon and Cornwall in landscape, vegetation and weather.
• “Continental” in Eastern parts such as Champagne, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. Those regions enjoy the extremes, from scorching summers to violent storms and sub-zero temperatures in winter.
• “Mountain climate” in the Jura, the Alps, The Massif Central or the Pyrénées. Life and weather are similar to other European high altitude regions such as Switzerland or Austria.
• “Mediterranean” by far the smallest zone of all, along the Riviera and Southern Languedoc. Ironically, this is typically the image most people have of France as a whole. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security as while a city like Montpellier can enjoy on average over 250 days of annual sunshine, the average rainfall there is the same as in Cambridge.

These four climate zones along with approximately 600 micro-climates account for the rich and varied regional delicacies and wines. Remember, like most parts of the UK, France has varied weather depending on the time of year. If you love it in all seasons, rain or shine, then you are ready for the big move!

France today

Not one single week goes by without the French expressing their discontent through a protest march or a strike! Radio stations air comedian sketches that make fun of French politicians on a daily basis. This affects all walks of life, social status and sectors. On the whole, no matter how disruptive these protests might be, most of the French population support these actions. Naturally, if strikes tend to linger, this creates new debate and discontent, so a fine balance has to be struck. All in all, this is as integral to French life and culture as bread and cheese!

To illustrate the point here is a short list (!) of some of the varied topics that have hit the news this week:

Transport 

Paris public transports (RATP) one day strike Friday 12th March 2010Air France pilots on strike starting late February and continuing into March, affecting regional airports. This following on from the Air Controllers strikes earlier in February. National French Railway (SNCF) strike predicted for March 23rd 2010


Education
Strike and protest march on the 12th March 2010 in Paris and other cities in France for all educators from primary schools to university.

Healthcare
Protest march & strike of all nursing staff on the 11th March 2010. GP national strike on the same date, to get an extra euro per consultation. 

Media
Just in time for the local election results, French television channels are threatening blackouts during their broadcast this weekend!

Public Services
Refuse collections interrupted by strike action in Marseille since March 6th 2010.

Should you want to join the French in these types of debates, we can help you brush up your language skills quickly and effectively, so you can truly enjoy all aspects of French life!

Let's run to Paris ... and through Paris on April 11th! Interested?

A SPECIAL 'PARIS AUTREMENT': PARIS MARATHON 9-11 APRIL 2010 

How about being there and share all the excitement of Another Paris? By the way, you don't have to run, you can just watch...

Every year in April, 35,000 runners crowd the streets of Paris in the annual Marathon de Paris – or Paris International Marathon. The marathon runners get a good view of the magnificent city and some of its famous sights.

The course starts out right in front of the Triumphal Arch and continues down the broad Champs Elysées. The route passes through two Parisian woods and past landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral and Place de la Bastille.

A large part of the course runs along the banks of the calmly flowing Seine River providing pleasing scenery and ensuring flat streets at the same time.

Contact us to find out more
http://www.thewaytofrance.com/
info@thewaytofrance.com

Happy New Year | Bonne Année from The Way To France

As is customary in France throughout January, we present you with our very best wishes for the upcoming year. After the success of last year's activities, we have update the calendar on our website with lots of exciting new entries! Highlights include: 

• Du pain sur la planche "La cuisine du Nord de la France" on February 25th at Cook's Barn morning (9.30am-2.30pm) and evening (6-10pm) sessions
• Du pain sur la planche "The art of making a French baguette" on March 25th & May 20th at Cook's Barn morning (9.30am-2.30pm) and evening (6-10pm) sessions
  
• Paris autrement "Marathon de Paris" from the 9th - 11th April 
  
• Du pain sur la planche "La cuisine de printemps" on April 22nd at Cook's Barn morning (9.30am-2.30pm) and evening (6-10pm) sessions
  
• Paris autrement "Paris zéro euro" from the 14th - 16th May
  
• De la mer à la table "A weekend in Brittany" May 29th - June 2nd
  
• Paris autrement "Fête de la musique" from the June 18th - 20th
  

We will post further details of each of these activities, events and courses shortly. In the meantime, please contact us to register interest and book your place.

The ideal Christmas present for the person who has everything!

Can't think of what to get the person who has everything? Why not give them one of our gift certificates this Christmas! You can have any value starting from £10 and choose from a wide selection of cards.

Contact us now on info@thewaytofrance.com stating "Gift Certificate" in the subject line. Here is a sample of some of our latest designs.

French on your Plate ***BRAND NEW course in Cambridge this December***

“Provençal Christmas Dinner” Workshop

Thursdays 03rd, 10th and 17th December 2009

We are delighted to inform you of the start of our brand new set of workshops combining learning the French language while preparing French regional dishes.

These monthly workshops will comprise of 3 consecutive half day sessions held on Thursdays. You can choose daytime or evening sessions to suit your schedule. You will receive 9 to 12 hours of language tuition based on a different culinary theme each month. All workshops will take place in a spacious fully equipped Lacanche kitchen just outside Cambridge. Prior to preparing dishes, each recipe will be studied to learn any relevant vocabulary, all the while finding out about a region of France and its gastronomic traditions. Each session will be led by two French tutors doubling up as “chefs” for the occasion.



This month, discover the creation of a “Provençal Christmas Dinner” and marvel at the making of the popular “santons” (little saints) for traditional nativity scenes.

Email info@thewaytofrance.com or call 01223 461445 for an application form, timetable, prices*, directions to the venue and full programme details. Please be sure to apply early as the number of spaces for participants is limited.

Choose from the two sessions below and please mention which you prefer or if you are flexible when you contact us:

Daytime 10am-2pm  or  Evening 6.30-9.30pm

Prices include tuition, related documents and ingredients, as well as refreshments. In addition participants will take away a sample of the dishes and a copy of all recipes.