Tag: French

How Unity Could Ruined a French Company

This article aims to shed light on the potential consequences of Unity’s recent pricing changes, using a concrete example. Unity is a prominent player in the video game industry, boasting a game engine used by millions worldwide. The world of video game creators was shaken on September 12t...

A French in America: Could We Laugh at the Same Jokes?

One of the biggest differences between the Americans and the French regarding love, is undoubtedly the way we approach this emotion that we all aspire to conquer. I met Markelle at a friend’s house in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He is 34, African American. He arrived in New York in 2017, after ...

A French in America

One could not talk about French clichés about Americans without mentioning what I call The Five Graces, to borrow from the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova and his famous sculpture The Three Graces. The sculpture depicts the three daughters of Zeus, according to Greek mythology, the goddesses ...

A French in America: You Are Invited

I will always remember my first outings in New York. It was a big change from my Parisian life and I learned a lot about people. I tried as best as I could to adapt to the life of the city, to understand its codes and to try and behave as little like a French as possible. Every Thursday, I met a ...

How Emily in Paris depicts a watered version of Paris and convey (wrong) cliches about French people

Like many girls, I was rocked by TV shows such as Sex & the City or Gossip Girls. So when Emily in Paris was out on Netflix, I could not help starting watching it. I mean, how can we say no to a chick show after a long of day of work, with the current pandemic situation and the grey weather outs...

A French in America

For a long time, I have refused to make comparisons between the United States and France, having lived in both countries. I often find these comparisons annoying and unproductive. Several months ago, when my friend Yuwei asked me if I had watched ‘Emily in Paris,’ I remember telling h...

What do French Paysans think of the Brits taking on ‘money pit’ renovations. A personal experience

These tales from France are inspired by 22 years restoring a sandstone Renaissance castle in the Aude department in South West France. It’s sister is Rennes le Château of Dan Brown and Holy Blood fame. Across a chequered valley, perched on a blazing red escarpment is Rennes le Chât...

The Calculated Advantage of French Engineers

During the 19th century, French engineers earned a reputation as innovators in the design and construction of large buildings using iron and steel. There is, of course, the example of the Eiffel Tower, the 300-meter iron structure in the center of Paris recognized throughout the world. When it was b...

JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

Modern democracy is a beloved topic in both national and international media. More often than not, one is referred to the realisation of that particular modern form of state and whether that concept has been used right by our peers. To understand the origins of the values of democracies, we need to ...

Relocating to Spain: French Toast!

There’s so much to tell, I don’t even know where to pick up. I guess I’ve said enough about my apartment. I’ll just add that, after more than a month of living here, I’m extremely happy with it. It suits me very well. I have my spot to sit on the couch with my legs out ...

How do French Muslims experience discrimination in employment and housing?

Muslims in France experience discrimination in employment and housing, hindering their ability to participate fully in society. Efforts towards integration have not been successful. French society must recognize this issue and promote diversity and equality for all. Employment Discrimination F...

The splendors and miseries of working in a French startup

Events, meetups, and initiatives dedicated to startups proliferate: La French Tech. France digital. Cap Digital. Startups are promoted, celebrated, and receive extensive media coverage. French startups operate in a variety of sectors. Fintech, foodtech, edtech, healthtech, biotech, you ...

French Feminists Legally Secure Irreversible Abortion Right from 2024

Ifyou missed the deadline to legally access an abortion, or sadly your right to access one was stripped from you, as we saw with Roe v. Wade in the USA, would you consider going abroad for a termination? This could be a real possibility for many women around the world. France could be t...

Response — “Harvard Undermined Itself on Affirmative Action” by David French

After mulling a little longer over this case since its ruling on June 29, I have no other way but to conclude that the three involved parties are all wrong: the plaintiff and SC are wrong in overthrowing AA, the defendant is wrong in its admission practice. To promote a version of so-called &lsqu...

The impartiality of some French judges undermined by machine learning

As part of its open data policy, the French State [1] has made available to all over 350,000 judicial decisions corresponding to the content of the Legifrance website [2]. Due to the quantity of texts, the existing research tools are sometimes inadequate. At the same time, the technological commu...

12 Popular French Skincare Brands — including brand introduction, feature and best-seller

URIAGE is a thermal spa town nestled under the Alpes. With more than 200-year history of being a thermal spa centre, the town has received international celebrities like Ms COCO CHANEL. The thermal spring water is well-known for its pH balance, improving and healing the wound and skin rash. Official...

The Illegal French Delicacy: Ortolan

If you saw a group of people with napkins on their head at the dinner table, what might you think? You’d be forgiven to think it was some strange Hollywood ritual. But the real reason is, they’re eating a french delicacy called Ortolan. Hannibal, Billions, Succession, American Dad &md...

French Skincare 101: The Absolute Best French Skincare Products

French skincare has become my personal obsession. I spent an entire year researching, testing products, and even reading a full book on French skincare. To save you from falling down the same rabbit hole I did…here’s a list of my tried-and-true favorites for every step of your...

How I Learned French in 12 Months

A bit over a year ago, I was a completely monolingual English speaker with zero experience with the French language. Twelve months later, I very comfortably passed the internationally recognized DELF B2 exam. If you don’t know what “B2” means, check out the CEFR scale. Furt...

Unveiling French Riviera Delights: Top 3 Luxury Activities for May 2024

In May 2024, the French Riviera is calling with its fancy charm. As spring blooms, the place gets even more exciting, offering visitors a taste of fancy living like no other. French Riviera From posh beachside hotels to yummy restaurants with big awards, the French...

Why French People Correct Your French and Dislike Speaking English

I get asked this question a lot : why are French people not happy when we speak to them in English ? Actually two questions — because often someone else will comment that French people aren’t happy if you talk to them in French either. It’s stereotypical, ...

A Seven Course French Meal

It starts off with le hors-d’&oelig;uvre also called l’entrée. These are appetizers at the beginning of the meal. The word ‘entrée ’ means entrance or beginning, hence justifying its place in the sequence of courses. Mostly the appetizers are ‘Canap&eac...

The French-Only rule: Because who needs clarity anyway?

After settling into Montreal for a couple of months and mustering the courage to step out of my comfort zone, I made the decision to enroll in French classes. Although the Quebec government offers free French courses, I decided to register with a private language school. There were more flexible ...

10 Most Influential French Doctors Throughout History

Ambroise Paré, born in 1510 in Bourg-Hersent, now part of Laval, France, emerged from a humble background. His early interest in medicine was nurtured by his brother, a barber-surgeon in Paris, leading Paré to apprentice and study at Hôtel-Dieu, France’s oldest hospital. Th...

French B1 Exam Preparation

The B1 level indicates proficiency in the French language at an intermediate level: Specifically, the person should be able to understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar everyday matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, travel and directions, shippi...

5 French Character Traits To Be Aware Of

When I first landed in San Francisco 4 years ago, I wish I had known more about the American culture. I was green and thrilled, bringing my truly transparent French culture to American soil. Unsurprisingly, nobody told me what to expect and maybe this was for the better. I learned on ...

Nuances of the French Accent

The primary difficulty that Francophones have with an English accent, or any English learner for that matter, are those sounds that are non-existent in their native language. Though as English speakers we agonize over the French rs, uires, oues, and more nasally sounds, the French hav...

My Journey of Self-Studying French from Scratch (A 2-Year Report)

Can we learn a foreign language entirely on our own ? Lately, I’ve been receiving some direct messages, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share my experience and process of learning French. I started learning French in April 2021 during the COVID period, without any prior...

French sounds like gibberish? Here’s how to change that

There is a reason why you don’t hear French well And it has to do with the way babies learn languages. That’s actually a fascinating process. It was discovered that babies actually learn language by doing statistics. Because the first obstacle in their way is actually discerni...

How to Get a French IP Address With a VPN [2024 Guide]

To acquire a French IP address through a VPN, you must select a reputable VPN provider, establish a connection to a server in France, and confirm your new French IP address. By following these steps, you can gain access to French-exclusive online content and services. However, there are crucia...

How to Hack Learning French

“Why isn’t our French better?” a high school classmate of mine incredulously complained at a recent reunion. And another friend finds it frustrating that, “I got high marks in French all through school. Nothing less an A minus. But when I got out in the workforce...

I studied the French language every day for 30 days. Here’s What happened: Language learning tips, progress, and surprising results.

If you have ever tried learning another language, you know that it is a time consuming process and something that you have to prioritize in order to make any real progress. It’s a big task and many put off learning a language for years because they feel they don’t have the time. There is...

RECIPE — What’s The Real Difference Between Vanilla And French Vanilla?

You call that an article on vanilla vs French vanilla? It’s as bland as plain vanilla ice cream! Let me show you how it’s done. First of all, let’s clear up the confusion. Vanilla is the classic flavor derived from the vanilla bean, while French vanilla takes it up a notch with ...

To Fall in the Trap! 10 French Idioms about Stupidity

Recently, I encountered a rude and incompetent sales clerk who refused to provide courteous assistance to a disabled relative of mine. When asked kindly for basic assistance, the sales clerk’s responses were nonchalant, defensive, and incorrect. This reminded me that as a whole on planet Ea...

How to learn French by yourself as a hobby in a year

During this year I met a lot of expats from different countries struggling to learn french. We shared our experiences and plenty of funny stories. At the time I bought the books, I couldn’t speak or understand french at all. When I had to go to the super market I needed google translator...

French Hip Hop vs. Hip Hop in the United States

As an avid hip hop fan, I was surprised to hear French hip hop for the first time while in Thailand. I noticed some key differences between French hip hop and hip hop in the United States: Language: French hip hop often incorporates both French and English lyrics, while hip hop in the United...

RECIPE — Where’s The Flawless French Buttercream Recipe?

Wine Pairing: Pair this luxurious French buttercream with a glass of sweet Moscato d’Asti from the renowned producer Vietti. The delicate effervescence and fruity notes of the wine will complement the rich and creamy texture of the buttercream, creating a heavenly dessert experience. The...

Passing the DELF B2 French Exam

Introduction On November 4th, 2021, I sat the DELF B2 exam in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Not only that, but I passed (if only by a small margin). The main challenge is that studying for the DELF requires a highly focused strategy due to the exam’s rigid structure, while learners tend to possess ...

The problem is not your A2 level of french, it’s the french mentality

Moved from New York to Paris a year and a half ago, and now I can finally “complain” about something I’ve been waiting for. So, here’s the deal: when foreigners, especially Americans, move to Paris, they often find French people to be pretty direct and abrasive. The number on...

Guess the Meaning of These 30 Bizarre French Idioms!

If these English idioms are merely expressions that cannot be understood from the meanings of their separate words, but must be learned as a whole, then what do idioms look like in other languages? What can we learn from them? To begin, here are 30 startlingly bizarre French idioms in no particul...

10 useful French idioms to express emotions

Hello everyone, emotions and feelings are part of our communication. In today’s episode you’ll learn how to translate your emotions into expressions in French. Below are 10 common French idioms with explanations and examples that you can use to sound more French and impress native spe...

A French in America

One of the biggest complaints from many Americans who have stayed in France is that they had a hard time making new friends. Some have often told me that they have made many efforts, but they have never managed to really make French friends. It is super difficult. The French keep to themselves. A...

French VS English: Rivalry Indeed? — Showing Cultural Exchanges Between the Two Languages

France and UK are very close to each other, and it has been known that these two countries have had some conflicts and differences in the past, characterizing the classic English and French rivalry. This occurred in history, since England was under Normand (French) domain for a long time, and h...

How many French words are there in English?

French and English are fundamentally different languages in term of grammar, structure and syntax. Despite this incompatibility, all English speakers understand some French. The average native speaker will automatically recognise around 1500 French words — without needing to consult a dicti...

The Lure of French Onion Soup

I once read a legend that onion soup was probably “invented” by Louis the XV and promptly spit up my morning coffee laughing. In this histoire, Louis was out hunting with the boys when they returned to the hunting lodge and found nothing but a couple onions and a bottle of Champagne in t...

French, but Fun — Part 27

In verb forms, specifically in the third person plural present indicative (e.g., “ils parlent,” “elles chantent”), the “-ent” ending is silent. This silent nature is a characteristic of French verb conjugation. Historically, these endings may have been pronounc...

The Not-Breaking News: The French Failures in West Africa

In 2013, France returned to Mali to help quash out rebellions from the northern parts of the country. However, in August 2020, the widespread protests about President Keita culminated into a violent coup. A second coup followed in the following year and cemented the Malian army’s control of th...

French superpowers

God has been biased in bestowing amazing superpowers on the French! Initially, I used to marvel at how they managed to do such complicated tasks with such ease until one day I learned that they were born with it! So without further ado, let’s find out what superpowers they have! As is customar...

The Beauty of French Car Design

French car design is renowned for its beauty and elegance. The design philosophy of French automakers has always been centered on combining style, comfort, and performance. Over the years, French car designers have made a significant contribution to the automotive industry with their innovative desi...

FRENCH STUDENT VISA

Hey! In this post I will try to present to you the most concise and comprehensive representation of the French Student VISA process. You can’t find a shorter version than this anywhere. STAGE 1: CAMPUS FRANCE So we discussed how to go about the Campus France stage of the VISA process in ...

Four things I wish I’d had when I was learning French

Autumn has finally come to Paris. In the Tuileries Gardens, I admire the flowers the gardeners have planted and savor the cool air on my skin. For a moment, I think, “What a time to be alive.” That feeling doesn’t end when I settle into a chair in the Gardens’ cool playgro...

How I actually learned French in 6 months

That being said, I fell in love with French in high school. It’s similar to both English and Spanish, but still unique enough to be neither. However, although I learned some vocabulary and could remember a couple of phrases; I didn’t understand the grammar, could not make my own sentence...

Using cue cards to build French vocabulary

Whenever I get a new student, one thing I always recommend is cue cards. Cue cards are an extremely useful tool when learning languages, and I use them myself all the time. They play an indispensable role in memorising new vocabulary. In my 3 Minute French courses, each lesson gives you a handful...

How to Conquer French Like a Pro: A DIY Guide to French Fluency

1. Master the Basics: Building Blocks for French Fluency Before diving into complex conversations and literary works, it’s important to lay a strong foundation in French grammar and vocabulary. Start by getting familiar with the alphabet, pronunciation rules, and basic sentence structure. O...

A French in America: Could We Laugh at the Same Jokes?

How to Commit to French This Summer

Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time to work on your French. Maybe you even have a trip planned to France soon, or maybe you just have more time for it. Or just, you feel more relaxed and more ready to handle some French right now. Either way, we have a few weeks in front of us to p...

French phrases used in British academia

Did you know that there’s an array of French terms that are still used in British academia. The following is a list of terms that I’ve collected throughout this semester’s university readings: Bête noire = “a person or thing strongly detested or avoided” F...

Why Do the French Strike So Much?

Along with cheese, wine, and the baguette, strikes or protests may also come to mind when thinking about France. For better or worse, the idea is not an over-generalization, and the longer you spend in France, the more likely your plans will be affected by a strike if not a protest in the bigger cit...

I tried to become Fluent in French in 1 month— Here’s what happened

I’ve always been interested in learning a new language — starting from the very first ‘Hello’ to the point of fluency. Language learning gives you the ability to communicate in a whole new set of ways, understand a completely different culture and for me to not rely on subtit...

How These French Content Creators Adapted During COVID And Afterward

Instead of focusing on the ravages and politics of COVID-19, instead I will introduce you to these hilarious French content creators. Many of us and including you went through a lot during the pandemic, lockdown and protests connected to the George Floyd. On top of that, people in the education p...

French Rapper MHD Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Murder

French Rapper MHD Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Murder MHD, a French rapper who committed a gang-related murder in 2018, received a 12-year jail term. According to the BBC, the 29-year-old singer, whose real name is Mohamed Sylla, was convicted of taking part in the 2018 murder of Loic K...

French Numbers And Counting: Easily Count From 1 To 100

Would you like to know more about French numbers and counting? Leaning the numbers in French can be challenging because of the variation and the different rules that have to be memorized. Fortunately, there is a pattern that can be followed with most numbers. Numbers are essential in daily life s...

Top 13 French Restaurant Etiquettes That No One Knows!

France is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and romantic countries in the world, famed for its enchanting Eiffel tower, remarkable museums, elegant boulevards, and, of course, its delicious cuisine. French restaurants are known worldwide for their impeccable service, exquisite food, and ...

5 bizarre things about French Theatres

Most movie theaters provide only one flavor of popcorn, which is usually slightly sweet. I was the type who liked salted, buttered popcorn and scanned the snacks area to find if it was available. However, because I couldn’t find one and there were others in line behind me, I bought the regular...

FRENCH PROFICIENCY — DETOUR (TEF instead of DELF)

Originally, when I had set out on this journey in January 2023, I thought I’d keep learning French, building my vocabulary, getting used to the fast pace of natural French speech, learning how to write, read, the whole shebang. My end goal at that time was to attain C1 proficiency by September...

French phrase of the day Day 1

I am a French native speaker and I have been teaching French online for years now. I learned while teaching French that literal translation is a powerful and essential tool for language learning. It’s a clear and simple way to teach grammar without dealing with unnecessary and complicated g...

30+ Easy French Vocabulary For Family That You Must Know

Are you curious to know the French vocabulary for family? It’s handy to know what French words are used for family members. For example, it is common that during a conversation, you or the other person have to explain how many brothers and sisters you have or describe your family. This arti...

The Role of French Cultural Policy in the Development and Impact of French Drama

French drama has a rich history that has influenced the development of theater in Europe and beyond. French cultural policy has played a significant role in supporting the development of French drama and ensuring its continued relevance and vitality. In this blog post, we will explore the history of...

8 Times That French Movie Translations Got Straight To The Point (but stayed in English)

As we all know, the French language has many merits and for centuries has been widely regarded as a beautiful language. But for some reason, when it comes to translating the title of a new English language movie, there is a strong tendency in the French film industry to stick to English; but not ...

Just starting to learn French? Here is what to begin with

That’s the most important thing to understand when it comes to learning French. It’s not about the textbook you’re choosing, or the app you are downloading, or the teacher you are hiring. Whatever choice you make, remember that you are the one who is going to have to do the wo...

Learning French in Quebec

Last year I was let go from my job due to factors I did not have control over. This event did not shock me. The company didn’t have enough work for me from the beginning and I was becoming frustrated by it, and I left with a specific goal to achieve. I want to improve my French. Then over t...

How To Say Funny In French — 7 Common Ways

Speaking French would be exciting once we know how to describe things in detail. Apart from the basic French knowledge beginners have to know including basic greetings, saying thank you, and French pronouns, knowing the common adjectives in a language is equally important too. Toda...

50+ Basic French Travel Phrases To Use While Abroad

Bienvenue en France! While traveling through this beautiful country, knowing basic French travel phrases is essential to help you get around. Many French people do not speak English, so it’s actually quite necessary to know a bit of French to help make your travels as smooth as possible. It...

Aux origines de la French Touch (podcast)

Plusieurs définitions de la French Touch 1. Déclinaison française de la house de Chicago, produite à la toute fin des années 90 par une poignée de producteurs parisiens et versaillais (Dimitri from Paris, Bob Sinclar, Daft Punk, I:Cube, Cassius, Motorbass...

The French Art of ‘Râler’

Such is France’s collective passion for the art of râler that had “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” not exemplified the spirit of the French Revolution, there is every chance Audiard’s mission statement would have swept in and claimed the title ...

Indian Languages and their Ancestors— It’s not just Sanskrit (part 1)

Languages can share their ancestors, making them related to each other. The easiest example would be Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese. All of them descended from Latin, and as a result share notable similarities in their grammar, but especially their vocabulary. This idea, though, can actual...

My Story, Pt. 1 — Learning Chinese, English, French, and Spanish

I just launched a language-focused Instagram (@eirene.polyglot) and as part of my introduction, I wanted to share some background about myself in these next few posts to show how I came to learn to speak 8 languages. I’m also curious to hear how you might have come to learn your first, second ...