For the past three weeks our French 4 class has had two French students. It was so cool to hear their sound. They have the real French "r" that everybody envies. Just hearing them talk was so wonderful, and I could definitely say some words much better because of them. We heard many stories and difference between school in the states and in France. Of course they liked it here much better, but we'd like it in France better, this is being human.
it's always so cool to communicate with someone of a different culture, language, lifestyle. It's so interesting and wonderful. If anything, they made me want to be in France that much more. One down side of only being here for three weeks is that they couldn't get fully immersed in the "American Life". But hopefully they learned a lot, and enjoyed their time here.
Friday, February 27, 2015
The future tense
Bonjour! / Hello!
The future tense in French is just like in English. You will do something. I "will" go to the movies tonight. I "will" go to school tomorrow. I "will" buy a car today. If you haven't already figured this out "will" is your key word in English. This is what you translate the French into. This is a very important tense, and allows you to say a lot more.
The formula for using future tense is simply your subject pronoun, infinitive of the verb, and the avoir ending. Here is a recap of the avoir endings.
Je: -ai Nous: -avons
Tu: -as Vous: -avez
Il/Elle/On: -a Ils/Elles: -ont
So now we know how to form the future tense, now let's try to use it in context. Let's say "I will eat". So let's think about the formula. The subject pronoun is "I", in French this is "Je". Remember that you don't actually directly have say "will" in French, this is just the definition in English. So after you have the subect "je" you need to figure out what verb to use, in this case "to eat", or "manger". Do you remember what you do with this verb? It's very simple, take the infinitive "manger" and add the avoir ending that corresponds with the subject. As you know or see about the avoir ending for je is -ai. So manger + -ai becomes mangerai. So all together it becomes "Je mangerai", or "I will eat".
Merci/ Thank you!
The future tense in French is just like in English. You will do something. I "will" go to the movies tonight. I "will" go to school tomorrow. I "will" buy a car today. If you haven't already figured this out "will" is your key word in English. This is what you translate the French into. This is a very important tense, and allows you to say a lot more.
The formula for using future tense is simply your subject pronoun, infinitive of the verb, and the avoir ending. Here is a recap of the avoir endings.
Je: -ai Nous: -avons
Tu: -as Vous: -avez
Il/Elle/On: -a Ils/Elles: -ont
So now we know how to form the future tense, now let's try to use it in context. Let's say "I will eat". So let's think about the formula. The subject pronoun is "I", in French this is "Je". Remember that you don't actually directly have say "will" in French, this is just the definition in English. So after you have the subect "je" you need to figure out what verb to use, in this case "to eat", or "manger". Do you remember what you do with this verb? It's very simple, take the infinitive "manger" and add the avoir ending that corresponds with the subject. As you know or see about the avoir ending for je is -ai. So manger + -ai becomes mangerai. So all together it becomes "Je mangerai", or "I will eat".
Merci/ Thank you!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
l'imparfait et le passé composé
L'imparfait and le passé composé are two common past tenses in French. To say something that is completely over and done with, you would use the passé composé. So say an on going activity in the past you would use the imparfait. L'impfarfait is also used for description and repeated actions. It's important to decide which tense to use, and sometimes this can be confusing. You can easily tell which tense to use, if you learn key phrases that start sentence (every morning, frequently, this Monday). For exapmple "Chaque matin" or "each morning" would be l'imparfait because it happened every morning, more then one. Keep working on the differences and soon it'll be easy. Don't worry, I'm still even working on it.
Here is how you form the passeé composé. First, the subject pronoun second, the conjugation of avoir or être thrid, the past participle of your verb. "j'ai mangé"
Here is how you form l'imparfait. It's just the subject pronoun along with your imperfect ending. Remeber to take the nous form of the verb, then take off the -ons and add the correct ending.
Je: ais Nous: ions
Tu: ais Vous: iez
Il/Elle/On: ait Ils/Elles: aient
Here is how you form the passeé composé. First, the subject pronoun second, the conjugation of avoir or être thrid, the past participle of your verb. "j'ai mangé"
Here is how you form l'imparfait. It's just the subject pronoun along with your imperfect ending. Remeber to take the nous form of the verb, then take off the -ons and add the correct ending.
Je: ais Nous: ions
Tu: ais Vous: iez
Il/Elle/On: ait Ils/Elles: aient
Monday, February 23, 2015
Lesson de français #5 ER, RE, and IR Verbs
Bonjour!/ Hello!
French verbs are such an important part in learning a language. If you know the formula and ending of verbs it's simple to form them. ER, RE, and IR verbs all have specific endings that don't change, except for irregular verbs. Once you know the endings of all three verbs you can say thousands of verbs, and start to write in French.
These are the endings for ER verbs:
Je: e Nous: ons
Tu: es Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: e Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for RE verbs:
Je: s Nous: ons
Tu: s Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: nothing Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for the IR verbs:
Je: is Nous: issons
Tu: is Vous: issez
Il/Elle/On: it Ils/Elles: issent
Now after you memorize the endings that correspond with each kind of verb it's easy to form the verb. All you have to do is drop the ER, RE, or IR from the end of the infinitive (dictionary form), and add the appropriate endings.
Example of an ER verb:
Parler: To speak
Je: Parle Nous: Parlons
Tu: Parles Vous: Parlez
Il/Elle/On: Parle Ils/Elles: Parlent
Example of an RE verb:
Descendre: To go down
Je: Descends Nous: Descendons
Tu: Descends Vous: Descendez
Il/Elle/On: Descend Ils/Elles: Descendent
Example of an IR verb:
Choisir: To choose
Je: Choisis Nous: Choisissons
Tu: Choisis Vous: Choisissez
Il/Elle/On: Choisit Ils/Elles: Choisissent
I've given you an example verb for each of the "regular" French verbs. There are irregular versb as well, and they have special endings (like avoir and être). But if you know these three regula verbs you already know about 75% of the French verbs, congrats!
Merci!/ Thank you!
French verbs are such an important part in learning a language. If you know the formula and ending of verbs it's simple to form them. ER, RE, and IR verbs all have specific endings that don't change, except for irregular verbs. Once you know the endings of all three verbs you can say thousands of verbs, and start to write in French.
These are the endings for ER verbs:
Je: e Nous: ons
Tu: es Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: e Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for RE verbs:
Je: s Nous: ons
Tu: s Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: nothing Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for the IR verbs:
Je: is Nous: issons
Tu: is Vous: issez
Il/Elle/On: it Ils/Elles: issent
Now after you memorize the endings that correspond with each kind of verb it's easy to form the verb. All you have to do is drop the ER, RE, or IR from the end of the infinitive (dictionary form), and add the appropriate endings.
Example of an ER verb:
Parler: To speak
Je: Parle Nous: Parlons
Tu: Parles Vous: Parlez
Il/Elle/On: Parle Ils/Elles: Parlent
Example of an RE verb:
Descendre: To go down
Je: Descends Nous: Descendons
Tu: Descends Vous: Descendez
Il/Elle/On: Descend Ils/Elles: Descendent
Example of an IR verb:
Choisir: To choose
Je: Choisis Nous: Choisissons
Tu: Choisis Vous: Choisissez
Il/Elle/On: Choisit Ils/Elles: Choisissent
I've given you an example verb for each of the "regular" French verbs. There are irregular versb as well, and they have special endings (like avoir and être). But if you know these three regula verbs you already know about 75% of the French verbs, congrats!
Merci!/ Thank you!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Leçon de Français #3 Être et Avoir
Bonjour!/ Hello!
One of the most important parts of learning a foreign language are the verbs. Once you know the pronouns verbs are the next step. You can't say very much if you don't know verbs. The two most crucial and most used verbs in French are "Être" and "Avoir"
Avoir in English is to have, and être in English is to be. These verbs are not only important because they are frequently used, but because they are also auxiliary. An auxiliary verb is used to form the passé composé (J'ai mangé). In J'ai mangé, the "ai" is avoir. In Enlgish we would say "I have eaten, I did eat, or I ate". You would use être in the same fashion, but it is not as commonly used.
The conjugations for the verb avoir:
Je: J'ai Nous: avons
Tu: as Vous: avez
Il/Elle/on: a Ils/Elles: ont
The conjugations for the verb être:
Je: suis Nous: sommes
Tu: es Vous: êtes
Il/Elle/On: est Ils/Elles: sont
It's important to notice that these verbs are irregular. In French there are many common or regular verbs that all have the same endings (this will be another lesson). I wanted to teach you these two verbs first, because they are vital to learn the language of love.
I will create a video soon reintroducing these verbs to you guys. There, you will be able to hear and repeat the verbs along with the pronouns.
Thank you for watching, and make sure to comment if you have any concerns or questions.
Merci!/ Thank you!
One of the most important parts of learning a foreign language are the verbs. Once you know the pronouns verbs are the next step. You can't say very much if you don't know verbs. The two most crucial and most used verbs in French are "Être" and "Avoir"
Avoir in English is to have, and être in English is to be. These verbs are not only important because they are frequently used, but because they are also auxiliary. An auxiliary verb is used to form the passé composé (J'ai mangé). In J'ai mangé, the "ai" is avoir. In Enlgish we would say "I have eaten, I did eat, or I ate". You would use être in the same fashion, but it is not as commonly used.
The conjugations for the verb avoir:
Je: J'ai Nous: avons
Tu: as Vous: avez
Il/Elle/on: a Ils/Elles: ont
Je: suis Nous: sommes
Tu: es Vous: êtes
Il/Elle/On: est Ils/Elles: sont
It's important to notice that these verbs are irregular. In French there are many common or regular verbs that all have the same endings (this will be another lesson). I wanted to teach you these two verbs first, because they are vital to learn the language of love.
I will create a video soon reintroducing these verbs to you guys. There, you will be able to hear and repeat the verbs along with the pronouns.
Thank you for watching, and make sure to comment if you have any concerns or questions.
Merci!/ Thank you!
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
French Cooking Video
Bonjour!/ Hello!
Luke, Lauren, and Myself created this little cooking instruction video. In the video you will hear some French cooking terms. I hope you Enjoy!
With uploading this video I got thinking.
I'm doing French tutorial posts about learning the basics of French. The question that kept coming to my head was "how are my readers going to be able to speak this"? So with some thinking I've decided to do a French vlog as well as this blog. I will upload all of my French lessons onto my blog as well. This way you can hear me say the French, and hopefully you'll be able to speak it! I challenge you to give it a shot!
Merci!/ Thank you
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Redaction #2
Il y a deux semaines je suis parti en vacances à Hogwarts. Je suis parti en vacances avec mes soeurs. Nous aimons Harry Potter. Il faisait toujours froid et pluvieux, mais formidable. Hogwarts est un lycée pour les élèves de la magique. Il y a 7 ans des etudes à Hogwarts.
Le matin nous mangions a la grande salle. Il y a beaucoup les nourriture. Chaque midi je regardais un match de Quidditch. Quidditch était sympa regarer. Ensuite j’ai marché à chez Hagrid. Une fois nous sommes partis à Hogsmeade. D’abord nous avons acheté des Butterbeers. Ils étaient délicieux, et souvent, je buvais plus. Après, nous sommes partis à Diagon Alley.Alors, j’ai acheté une baguette magique pour moi. J’ai préféré le Diagon Alley plus que Hogsmeade.
Une nuit nous avons marché dans la forêt de defend. Elle est terrifian, mais palpitant. Fréqeumment je sautais parce que les bruits. Un jour j’ai visté chez Gryffindor, parce qu’il est mon préféré maison à Hogwarts. La toute salle était couvert dans le rouge et l’or. Le château de Hogwarts est très beau et mystérieux, je l’aime. Avant-hier nous sommes rentrés notre maison.
Ces vacances étaient très sympa. J’ai amusé les experience. J’ai eu beaucoup les aventures avec mes soeurs. Je souhaite je n’étais pas un muggle, parce que je veux faire la magique. J’ai aimé mes vacances, et je rentrerai bientôt!
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Leçon de Français #2 Passé Recent et Passé Composé
Bonjour!/ Hello!
This is my second education post. Sorry for being a little advanced to the complete beginers, becuase we haven't gone over French basics. I'm sharing with you French verb tenses, because this is a great tool for you, and a great way for me to practice and review.
Before I go completely over your head with new information, lets go over the French pronouns.
Je- I
Tu- You
Il/Elle/On- He, She, People in general
Nous- We
Vous: You (formal), or You guys
Ils/Elles- They (mixed gender group), They (completely girls, not a single boy)
The most basic past tense is the recent past. This is saying "I cam from" and then whatever your verb is. The verb to come is "venir". There is a very basic formula to from the "passé recent", it is simply "venir" (conjugated to the pronoun) + "de" + "l'infinitive" (of the verb you just did). For example I could say "Je chante" or "I sing", in the passé recent this become "Je viens de chanter" or "I came from singing". This is the recent past so it's used for things you have just done, not something that happened last week.
Venir: to come
Je: viens Nous: venons
Tu: viens Vous: venez
Il/Elle/On: vient Ils/Elles: viennent
The next most simple, and commonly used past tense is called the "passé composé". This is to tell someone what you have done. This is different from the recent past, because it's something that's completely done, and finished. Also, passé composé can be from a long time ago, as well as more recent. The formula for the passé composé is simple as well. "subject/pronoun" + "helping verb" + "past participial". The two most used helping verbs that we have in French are "avoir" et "être". I wont get into much detail on which verb goes with which helping verb, because this can be confusing. Let's stick with the verb "chanter" or "to sing". Chanter's helping verb is avoir (most verbs use avoir). After deciding on which helping verb to use you will use the formula to form your sentence. So lets plug it in. "J'ai chanté", or "I have sung". So lets review, I used the pronoun "Je", which is "I" in French. Next, I conjugated "avoir" for Je, (which is "ai, or J'ai). Finally, we add the past participle of "chanter" which is "chanté" to the end of the phrase. This is how you form the passé compossé. For more advanced French linguistics, remember to watch out for your "vandertramps", or être verbs", and whether or not they're transitive, or intransitive.
French verbs and conjugating can be the most frustrating part of learning French, or any language. It's important to keep repeating and practicing, as well as never giving up. Once you are able to conjugate verbs, and once you know these simple French verb tenses, you can start speaking, reading, writing, and thinking in French!
À Bientôt!/ See you soon!
This is my second education post. Sorry for being a little advanced to the complete beginers, becuase we haven't gone over French basics. I'm sharing with you French verb tenses, because this is a great tool for you, and a great way for me to practice and review.
Before I go completely over your head with new information, lets go over the French pronouns.
Je- I
Tu- You
Il/Elle/On- He, She, People in general
Nous- We
Vous: You (formal), or You guys
Ils/Elles- They (mixed gender group), They (completely girls, not a single boy)
The most basic past tense is the recent past. This is saying "I cam from" and then whatever your verb is. The verb to come is "venir". There is a very basic formula to from the "passé recent", it is simply "venir" (conjugated to the pronoun) + "de" + "l'infinitive" (of the verb you just did). For example I could say "Je chante" or "I sing", in the passé recent this become "Je viens de chanter" or "I came from singing". This is the recent past so it's used for things you have just done, not something that happened last week.
Venir: to come
Je: viens Nous: venons
Tu: viens Vous: venez
Il/Elle/On: vient Ils/Elles: viennent
Avoir: to have
Je: ai Nous: avons
Tu: as Vous: avez
Il/Elle/On: a Ils/Elles: ont
The next most simple, and commonly used past tense is called the "passé composé". This is to tell someone what you have done. This is different from the recent past, because it's something that's completely done, and finished. Also, passé composé can be from a long time ago, as well as more recent. The formula for the passé composé is simple as well. "subject/pronoun" + "helping verb" + "past participial". The two most used helping verbs that we have in French are "avoir" et "être". I wont get into much detail on which verb goes with which helping verb, because this can be confusing. Let's stick with the verb "chanter" or "to sing". Chanter's helping verb is avoir (most verbs use avoir). After deciding on which helping verb to use you will use the formula to form your sentence. So lets plug it in. "J'ai chanté", or "I have sung". So lets review, I used the pronoun "Je", which is "I" in French. Next, I conjugated "avoir" for Je, (which is "ai, or J'ai). Finally, we add the past participle of "chanter" which is "chanté" to the end of the phrase. This is how you form the passé compossé. For more advanced French linguistics, remember to watch out for your "vandertramps", or être verbs", and whether or not they're transitive, or intransitive.
French verbs and conjugating can be the most frustrating part of learning French, or any language. It's important to keep repeating and practicing, as well as never giving up. Once you are able to conjugate verbs, and once you know these simple French verb tenses, you can start speaking, reading, writing, and thinking in French!
À Bientôt!/ See you soon!
Monday, February 2, 2015
French School System Comparison
There are many similarities and differences between the French and American school systems. I will explain from early education to college. One major difference between the schooling in America and France is that all of France's schools are run by the state or government. Unlike France, some schools in America are ran by the state (University of Minnesota, Owatonna Public School District), while some schools are ran privately (St. Olaf College, St. Mary's School).
Early education through kindergarten are extremely different in France then it is at home. In America we have day care, pre-school, and kindergarten. In France they have "pré-élémentaire". This is schooling for "les enfants" (children) age 2-6. This is much different because in America kids don't start actual "school" tell at least age 4, but in France it can start as early as 2. Another difference between us and France is that all their education is free, while childcare in the states is extremely expensive. This weighs out because of France's high taxes.
After "Pré-élémentaire" students go to "l'enseignement élémentaire" (elementary education). This is very similar to our elementary schools. Same age group, same subjects being taught. One major difference to be aware of is that the French students are figuring out what kind of high school track they will pick, and by the end of "Collège" (junior high) they have to decide on a career. In America we all go to the same type of high school, and it's not tell college that we have a personal track. In France however its different, during high school they chose a type of degree path to work for, and during their senior year (terminale) they have to pass the "BAC" test. This is a very difficult test that each kid has to pass in order to receive their degree. If you don't pass the "BAC" you have to retake your terminale year. There are different "BAC's" that you take dependent on what career path you are going towards.
During the senior year of high school American students apply and get accepted to a college of choice. This could be close to home or across the world. In France you generally go to the school closest to home. One of the biggest differences in secondary education is in France, there are schools called "Grandes Écoles". If you don't want to go to trade, community, or technical school you will most likely need to get into a "Grandes Écoles". This is still a public school ran by France, but it is extremely competitive and hard to get into. These hard universities are for "Les Personnes" (people) going into medicine, sciences, education etc.
A major theme about education and academics are very different in the two societies. In America, our schools are not only academic, but social and athletic as well. In France it is strictly academic. Education is more serious in France, and by the end of junior high they are excepted to pick a career. But in America we are more concerned about general knowledge, and all around skill, and not expected to pick a major till college or later.
Comparing things like school is very interesting to me. Stuff like this, normal things that every person has to go through, and figuring out whats different, and what's similar. It's important to understand different societies way of life, because that way we can be respectful and understand them better. This world and culture is becoming so universal and international, that we need to learn from each other and grow as a world.
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