This page is a collection of random, fun and/or useful stuff that I'd like to share with you. If you'd like to comment, it's also a chance to have a French-related conversation outside of class. Say what you want, as long as it's within the realm of Frenchiness.
Let's Talk Frenchy!
1. French Songs
Stumbled across a blog the other day all about using French songs as a way to learn the language. The writer has gathered (and even translated) a bunch of songs that might appeal to many of you. Check it out here.
<a href="http://www.greatfrenchsongs.com/" target="_blank">Chansons pour étudier le français!</a><br>
2. Music for learning French
Listening to French music is one of the best ways to improve your comprehension and pronunciation of the language. And when you hear the language in use, it also helps you understand the grammar you've been studying. So, here is a wonderful site for all you music lovers out there. It's well organized, includes lyrics, vocabulary and is designed with French language learners in mind.
3. Tac Tac Tac
Are you interested in French and Francophone music? Oui? Visit "TAC TAC TAC" to get to info and links about current (and not so current French music) put together by this year's 3rd and 4th year French class. Is it complete? Not at all, but it's a place to start exploring French music. Check it out: TAC TAC TAC
5. La Toussaint
Just in time for la Toussaint! Take a virtual visit of Père Lachaise, Paris' largest cemetery. You'll find the grave sites of many famous people, not all of them French.
6. Comptines
How do the French sing Yankee Doodle? They don't but they have a bunch of songs that generations of French children have learned and passed on to their kids. Here's a site that will allow you to learn many of these songs, just like a regular French kid. Well, maybe not JUST like a regular French kid, since you'll have to learn them from a computer and not a human, but you get the idea.
7. Chef-o-rama
Attention, all you aspiring chefs and future masters of French cuisine! Here's a very fun website where you can learn step-by-step how to prepare some classic and not so classic French dishes. This site is the brainchild of an 81 year old grandma (the cook) and her grandson (the filmmaker). With special appearances by granny's cat, Mistigri. Practice your French and your French cooking skills all at the same time!
8. Contes de Fées
Check out this site where you can follow along while a native French speaker reads a familiar children's tale. Shoot, you can even choose to see the English translation in case you get lost in the story. Kinda fun. Click here
9. Lascaux
This is cool! Take a virtual tour of the Cave of Lascaux!
In the 1940's a group of teens discovered this cave by accident, and came across some of the best prehistoric paintings ever found. The cave became a huge tourist attraction, but by 1963 the increased carbon dioxide levels from all those visitors was causing too much damage to the paintings. The cave was closed to the public, and now the only way to see the paintings is to be among the chosen few who are permitted entrance. Of course there's Lascaux II, an exact replica of the original site, or you can just click here.
11. la Joconde
'Vous me dégoûtez!" Not really, it just goes with this face. Let la Joconde (or Mona Lisa) help you remember a few adjectives. Or just go mess with her
13. Akinateur
This French "génie" knows what you're thinking! Pick a famous person and through a series of "oui" and "non" questions, the génie will guess who you're thinking about. He didn't get Danny Kaye (neither would most of you) but he got all the current famous people I could think of, and a number of dead ones. He can even get fictional characters, but that's a little trickier since some of our fictional characters are different. (We sometimes read different books and watch different TV shows.) Anyway, try it out, practice your French and stump the génie! Akinator, le génie du Web
14. One thing
Do you want to improve your French and also learn more about French culture? There's a terrific blog and podcast you should check out, called "One Thing in a French Day". The author, whose name is Laetitia, makes a weekly podcast about, you guessed it, one thing. She speaks and writes in French, but since it's aimed non-native speakers, she speaks reasonably slowly and clearly. You can visit her website to follow along and sign up to receive her podcast (also available on itunes). Very cool!
17. Free Rice
I'm sure many of you have heard of (or even visited) FreeRice, where you can help curb world hunger while simultaneously practicing English vocabulary skills. What, you haven't tried it? Well, for every correct answer, FreeRice makes a donation to the UN World Food Program, and I know you can get a lot of right answers. But why would I have a link to FreeRice in the "Let's Talk Frenchy" section Chez Sousbois? Well because now FreeRice includes other subjects, including French! So go learn more French and help the hungry at the same time. FreeRice FRENCH!
18. Hunchback
Love French (mais oui, bien sûr) and Disney movies? Did you know you can find clips of your favorite Disney movies in FRENCH floating around in cyberspace? Here's a link sent in by Catherine M-K of her favorite (the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Do you have one I should add here too? Catherine, je te remercie pour ce clip! Les Cloches de Notre Dame
19. Geobeats
Attention armchair travelers! Go to Geobeats and check out this video (and plenty of others while you're at it). I must be hungry, because I chose to link to this one about visiting a parisian boulangerie-pâtisserie. Gotta love the guide, Sophie, and her obvious love of good treats! See it here!Geobeats
20. Prénoms
Ever wonder how many French people actually have the same French name as the one you chose? Maybe you want to find out the favorite colors, supposed characteristics and average age of the people who share your name. If so, click on the link below and see what you can discover! Best of Prénoms
21. Cloclo
On March 11, 1978, the king of kitsch, Claude François (Cloclo to his gazillion fans) died in a bizarre accident involving broken lamp and a bath tub. I'm sure if he had given the matter some thought, Cloclo might have considered waiting to repair that lamp until AFTER exiting the tub, but being obsessively tidy, he apparently couldn't relax with that broken bulb staring him in the face. His death came as a complete shock to the nation, (I couldn't resist that one, sorry) and I've no doubt that Claude François memorials occurred all over France to commemorate his death and his many contributions to French popular music. Follow the links below for Cloclo mania!
22. À quoi ça sert l'amour?
A perfect song for Valentine's Day coupled with a clever animation.
Here are the lyrics: See if you can follow along!
À quoi ça sert l'amour ?
Paroles et Musique: Michel Emer 1962
note: duo: Edith Piaf et Théo Sarapo
Théo : A quoi ça sert l'amour ? On raconte toujours Des histoires insensées. A quoi ça sert d'aimer ?
Édith : L'amour ne s'explique pas ! C'est une chose comme ça, Qui vient on ne sait d'où Et vous prend tout à coup.
Théo : Moi, j'ai entendu dire Que l'amour fait souffrir, Que l'amour fait pleurer. A quoi ça sert d'aimer ?
Édith : L'amour ça sert à quoi ? A nous donner d' la joie Avec des larmes aux yeux... C'est triste et merveilleux !
Théo : Pourtant on dit souvent Que l'amour est décevant, Qu'il y en a un sur deux Qui n'est jamais heureux...
Édith : Même quand on l'a perdu, L'amour qu'on a connu Vous laisse un goût de miel L'amour est éternel!
Théo : Tout ça, c'est très joli, Mais quand tout est fini, Il ne vous reste rien Qu'un immense chagrin...
Édith : Tout ce qui maintenant Te semble déchirant, Demain, sera pour toi Un souvenir de joie !
Théo : En somme, si j'ai compris, Sans amour dans la vie, Sans ses joies, ses chagrins, On a vécu pour rien ?
Édith : Mais oui ! Regarde-moi ! A chaque fois j'y crois Et j'y croirai toujours... Ça sert à ça, l'amour ! Mais toi, t'es le dernier, Mais toi, t'es le premier ! Avant toi, 'y avait rien, Avec toi je suis bien ! C'est toi que je voulais, C'est toi qu'il me fallait ! Toi qui j'aimerai toujours... Ça sert à ça, l'amour !...
23. Foux da fa fa
Okay, so the Flight of the Conchords are not French, but they prove just how far you can get with a year of high school French and a few stereotypes. I'm totally Foux da fa fa, are you?
25. Princesse
Check out this mystery of la cimitière Père Lachaise and le Mausolée Strogonoff Demidoff. Was (Is?)this princess more than just a simple rich girl? Le mystère Strogonoff
