'Jouer à' or 'Jouer de'

If you take or have taken French lessons you will have most likely done the topic of 'your hobbies' and been confused with the verb 'jouer'. When is it 'jouer à' and when is it 'jouer de'? Well the rule is actually quite simple for once. If followed by an instrument, it is 'jouer de', if followed by a sport, it is 'jouer à'.

Examples:

Je joue au foot, au basket, au tennis, à la marelle.

Je joue du piano, de la guitare, du violoncelle.

(Mais je fais du sport, je fais de la gymnastique).

Practice Your French Listening

As we all know, practice is really the key to learning and mastering a new language. Over the years thanks to the internet it is becoming increasingly easier to listen to French radios, French news, French songs, French movies, etc. If you have an ipod, you can even download podcasts onto your ipod and listen to them in the car, in the bath, when making dinner, etc.

Here are a few free podcasts which may be of interest:

Journal en Francais Facile: It is not that "facile" but the journalists do speak a little bit slower than they usually do.


France Info Junior: Every week children asks questions regarding a specific topic. Listening to the children ask questions is interesting as they tend to repeat what they hear as opposed to speaking a grammatically correct French. For instance they may say : "qui s on" for "qu'ils ont"

And more: Various other podcasts about current affairs, movies, gardening, etc.


Here are a few podcasts for a fee:

Daily French Podcast: this site offers podcasts of different levels as well as transcripts and exercises.


Learn by French Podcast: this site offers French lessons through podcasts.

La Bise - Une Vraie Enigme Française

When visiting France, especially when staying with a French family, you will most likely discover the "bise" tradition.

La "bise" is a kiss on the cheek. Traditionally when you meet a friend or a relative you kiss each other on the cheeks.

A qui fait-on la bise? (Who should you exchange kisses with?)

You would usually "faire la bise" with friends, acquaintances and relatives. You do not exchange kisses with your boss or teacher unless you also know them as friends!

Men do not usually exchange kisses with other men, they prefer to shake hands (much more manly!).

Combien de bises? (How many kisses should you exchange?)

It may be two, three or four depending on where you are in France. Check out the link below for a map showing the number of kisses in the different regions:

http://combiendebises.free.fr/

The map is pretty good but don't rely on it too much as there are no rules. Just let the other person lead you and remember that even French people get it wrong.


Et on commence par quelle joue? (Which cheek do you start with?)

Well once again no rules. Some people say that you start with the right cheek in the north of France and with the left cheek in the south but this is not always the case so again best not to rely on it.

Offres Speciales June 2009

Juniors in Antibes and Hyères

35 Euros discount per week on the summer camp in Antibes and the French and Sailing camp in Hyères for bookings made by June 15th 2009. This offer is available for stays from June 28th to August 22d 2009.

http://www.experiencelanguage.co.uk/french/frenchandsailinginhyeres.html
http://www.experiencelanguage.co.uk/french/frenchsummercampsinantibes.html

Adults in Bordeaux and Biarritz (16+)

Up to 20% discount on the standard course for courses taking place between 31st August and 18th December 2009 in Bordeaux and between 31st August and 30th October in Biarritz: 20% off on 4 and 8 week courses and 10% off on 12 week courses.

http://www.experiencelanguage.co.uk/french/standardcourseinbiarritz.html
http://www.experiencelanguage.co.uk/french/standardcourseinbordeaux.html