Learning French at the Alliance Française in Rouen, France

I spent three weeks during June 2017 studying French at the Alliance Française in Rouen, the capital of Normandy. I wish it could have been longer! 

I’ve been learning French through evening classes and weekend classes, when they have been available, over a long period. Progress has been slow. I spent a month at the Alliance Française in Lyon in 2015 and that was a real boost. (See the post: ‘French classes at Alliance Française in Lyon’)

I felt that it was time to do another intensive course in French. I wanted to learn a lot and also get a better idea of my level. I chose Rouen because I had visited before and really liked it. 

Registering online with Alliance Française de Rouen was very easy and efficient. I did a test of my level online before arriving at the school, which was established in 1986 and holds the coveted FLE Qualité label.

View of the school from the street.

The Alliance Française in Rouen is a relatively small school, compared for example, to its counterpart in Lyon. Centrally-located (about a five minute walk from the train station) and housed in a stylish three-floor building with a small resource centre, I found the school to be just right for me.

I had chosen 25 hours of classes per week, but that option was not available, so I ended up doing 20 hours a week. On reflection I’m glad of the fewer hours, as it left more time for homework – which was assigned every day – to take part in school activities, to look around Rouen and Normandy, and to do my own revision.

The 20 hours per week was broken down into general French (three hours a day) and ateliers (workshops) of one hour a day. The general French classes run in six-week sessions. For post-beginners, it’s possible to join classes every Monday, while for absolute beginners, there are set starting dates throughout the year. 

The cool staircase.

My class had no more than nine people at any one time and often fewer students. I found the grammar classes to be very instructive and helped me to build on my existing knowledge, as well as consolidate the basics. A test at the end of the session gave me a good sense of my level. We also discussed the DELF exams. 

I really liked the ateliers – led by a variety of teachers -- because they were varied, interesting and challenging. The hour just seemed to fly by. Topics included a debate, a quiz on the history of France, preparation for a movie excursion, analysis of a short film, understanding a music video and creative writing. 

A free concert at the school.

The school offered additional activities, some of them free. These included a classical music concert, a degustation (French food tasting), a weekly film (with French subtitles) and a very informative guided tour of Rouen. 

I stayed with a host family, which was an enriching experience, with daily opportunities to practice French, learn about French culture, society and history, and, not least, get a firsthand experience of what French people eat when they are at home. My host family was very welcoming and I felt just like one of the family. The house was on the bus route and about a 30 minute walk to school.   

The resource centre, with books, internet-equipped computers and wifi.

Rouen itself is a great place with friendly people. As a city it is neither too big nor too small, with plenty of museums, cultural activities, shopping opportunities and open-air markets. Rouen is also well-placed for visits to other parts of Normandy, and to nearby Picardy and Paris, the latter being just 1 hour and 15 minutes away by train.

In summary, I found Alliance Française de Rouen to be a very welcoming school, with friendly, enthusiastic and knowledgeable teaching and administration staff. I learned a lot – including extending my understanding of imparfait and passé composé -- and I enjoyed the extra-curricular activities and the experience of living with a host family.

I thoroughly recommend this school and, for myself, I hope to attend again soon.

Find out more about Alliance Française de Rouen-Normandie at their website and connect with them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Learning French with the "Extra French" sitcom

If you are learning French and are on the look-out for some engaging video to watch, then “Extra French” could be a good option to check out.

The 13 part series -- produced in the early 2000s by UK-based Channel 4 Learning – is set in an apartment in France. French women Annie and Sacha share the apartment and are visited frequently by their neighbor Nico.

One day Sacha receives a postcard from her American pen pal, Sam, who announces that he will be coming to stay. Sam does his best to communicate with his basic French, leading to a certain amount of frustration among his French friends and some amusing situations.

Sam gets to know his new French flatmates.

“Extra French” is very much in the style of the US sitcom “Friends” and as such is quite engaging on several levels. While the acting is a little over-the-top, this is actually helpful for language learners as it serves to dramatize and emphasize the spoken communication.

Topics covered in the episodes include shopping, looking for work, holidays and sport.

According to the Channel 4 Learning website, the series is aimed primarily at 14-16 year olds, but is also of interest to older students. Adult learners, up to and including A2 level, may also find it a useful resource.

“Extra French” is readily available on the Internet, including YouTube, and sometimes features French sub-titles. Another option is the Wisconsin Media Lab website, part of the Wisconsin’s public broadcasting system, where all of the episodes are in one place.

Interestingly, the series is also available in German, Spanish and English, with each language series following a similar story line and shot on the same apartment set. The different language series feature different actors, with the exception being the actor who plays Sam, who appears in the French, German and Spanish episodes.

Teachers’ notes, including transcripts, are available on the Channel 4 Learning website for the French, German and Spanish programmes.

Happy viewing!

Mobile library-classroom brings unique approach to children’s French learning

After 19 years of full-time teaching, French teacher Nathalie Paris decided to set up her own French language enterprise in 2014. At the centre of her business is a mobile library-cum-classroom, called “le Bibliobook”, which features 2,000 French children’s books, a puppet theatre and a range of French toys and games. Nathalie takes her unique brand of French teaching to schools in England’s north-east.

I spoke to Nathalie about how she got into this work, what is her motivation and how the children respond.

Nathalie with her mobile library-classroom, le Bibliobook.

Tell me about your mobile library-classroom?

It’s a 7 ½ ton mobile library bus that originally served with a council in Wales. I fitted it out so that it would be an attractive space for children. There are cushions for the floor and natural light comes in through large skylight windows. It is big enough to host a class of up to 30 pupils.   

I drive le Bibliobook bus to kindergartens, primary schools and sometimes secondary schools in the north-east of England.

The bus also holds around 2,000 children’s books, the majority in French, although there are a few in German and Spanish. I read stories to the children and deliver associated learning activities. The bus is equipped with things significant in French culture including toys, games, craft activities and clothing. For example, a child can dress up as Asterix, the famous French cartoon character. A puppet theatre provides the opportunity for children to practice their French through performance art.

Le Bibliobook bus is home to 2,000 children's book, most of them in French.

How do children respond?

The children are so happy to see me. We have classes once a week, so it is a novelty for them to be in French class. Children love books and stories – it makes them happy. Many children have never seen a mobile library before, so when they visit my library bus, there is always at least one child that wants to live there! That’s my favourite part.  

One of my teaching tools is a cute cuddly toy called Mini Miss Paris. Whenever I return to France I take Mini Miss Paris with me, snapping photos of her doing cultural activities and visiting tourist sites. I use the photos in my classes together with reading activities. The children get so excited and want to know all about her adventures in France. They completely forget that I was there with Mini Miss Paris.

Nathalie leads a story-telling session with children on le Bibliobook bus.

What led you to set up your business?

I was a secondary school French teacher for 19 years. I also did primary school teaching for 12 of those years, which I liked a lot. I got tired of the exam culture at secondary school, where the focus was on preparing pupils for exams rather than on teaching French. When in 2014, languages became a compulsory part of the primary school curriculum, I saw an opportunity to combine my passion for primary teaching with my own business. The business involves not only teaching French to children, but also advising teachers on how best to use story books in their classroom.

How did you come up with the idea of a mobile library-classroom?

I love books and reading stories. I had lots of French children’s books at home, many of them bought by my French parents for my children. I still had my old books, which my mum had stored away. I really love books and I wanted to share them with others. When I told a friend about this mad idea I had of setting up a library, she suggested that I open a mobile library. That’s when I started looking for a bus. I stocked it with additional books I bought at markets and car boot sales in France.  

How do you find running your own business?

There’s a lot of support for businesses in my area, so I have never felt like I was by myself.

What do you like most about your job?

There are several things. I enjoy not having the pressures associated with full-time teaching at a school. It’s good to have a commute that’s out of the ordinary and I like having some flexibility in my schedule. This work also brings variety. I still teach part-time in three schools and I love the sense of community that this provides.

You are originally from France. What brought you to England?

I studied English as a teenager and came to England as a French language assistant. After a year, my contract was extended and following that I did my teacher training studies here.

What are your upcoming plans?

I’m looking at cataloguing all of the books and making the information available online. I’m also testing the waters by teaching in communities outside the school environment.

Read more on Nathalie’s website: http://nattalingo.co.uk/

Having trouble pronouncing French? Help is to hand!

November 2016

Have you ever had the problem of not knowing how to pronounce a French word?

If you are not in a French-speaking country and don’t have any native or otherwise experienced French speakers to hand, then it’s possible to get stuck and feel shy in case your pronunciation is completely ridiculous.

Sure there are written pronunciation guides, but they are not the whole picture.

My approach has been to keep a note of particularly problematic words and bring them up in French class so that I can hear the teacher’s pronunciation. I also try to write these troublesome words in phonetics. Keeping them in mind and trying to say them wherever possible is also of help.

Thankfully, further assistance is to hand. I recently stumbled across the website www.forvo.com which describes itself as “the largest pronunciation guide in the world”. It works by a community of people (typically native speakers) from around the world recording their own pronunciations of individual words and phrases, and then uploading them to the site.

Apart from French, other languages include English, Italian and Spanish, along with more than 300 more languages. French is well represented, with more than 138,000 pronounced French words available on the site.  

If you want to know how to pronounce a word, select the language and enter your word in the search box. Typically there will be multiple examples of how the word is pronounced. For example, when I searched “dehors”, I found four pronunciations. There were also a number of phrases that feature dehors.

And joy of joy, the site includes place names. For example, there are three pronunciations for “Rouen” and also one example of how to pronounce “Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Rouen”, a major tourist attraction in Rouen.

Before my next visit to France I would definitely visit this site to practice how to say the names of the places I planned to visit. This would save some anxiety and potential embarrassment for example at the train station and when asking directions!  

While on the subject of pronunciation, I’d like to recommend the Twitter feed @CarofromF. This highly interesting Twitter account includes multiple animated series which feature native French pronunciation.

One recent series from @CarofromF focuses on the top three most populated cities in Normandy, giving handy pronunciations for the city and the names for the people who live there, along with population details and a location map.

Another series covers 10 common French words with different meanings in masculine and feminine forms, such as la chèvre (goat) and le chèvre (goat cheese). It makes a real difference to be able to hear an authentic French voice and on top of that, @CarofromF creates really quirky and charming content.  

So if you are learning French and you are not on Twitter, it’s definitely time to create your own account. One of the first people you should follow is @CarofromF.

Review: Concert en Bretagne by Cécile Talguen

When learning French, perhaps especially at the earlier levels, reading regular French text such as in newspapers or on news websites may seem out of reach. It’s frustrating because regular reading is one of the keys to improving reading comprehension and expanding your vocabulary.

This is where graded French readers come in. They are available at different levels, such as A1, A2, B1, and have a limited number of words. Readers may be simplified versions of classic works or written especially for language learners.

Although readers are relatively simple, they can still be very challenging depending on your level of French. They are much more welcoming than texts aimed at native speakers. You can also return to them later and get an idea of how your French has progressed. 

 Cover image: CLE International

I recently revisited a reader titled “Concert en Bretagne” by Cécile Talguen. Published by CLE International in (2006) as part of its Collection Découverte series, this title is pegged at Niveau 1, suitable for beginning students. The series has seven levels, starting at ‘intro’ and working upwards from level 1 through 6.

Concert en Bretagne is about a girl named Gwen from Paris who goes to stay with her grandmother in Carhaix, Brittany for the holidays. Gwen has various adventures which revolve around a jewellry heist and a music concert, part of the Vieilles Charrues festival. The story is engaging and interesting.

The 48 page reader includes helpful illustrations to explain the story and bring it alive. It starts with preliminary exercises, such as looking at the cover and describing what you see. Each chapter concludes with exercises that test your comprehension of the foregoing chapter.

When I first looked at this reader, at an earlier stage of French, I found it difficult and didn’t finish reading it. At the second attempt and with the passage of time, however, I found the reader much easier. There was still new vocabulary and some unfamiliar expressions, but I was able to comprehend the story quite clearly and I finished it in good time.

Revisiting the book was a good exercise: I got some reading practice; learned new vocabulary and expressions; and practiced my comprehension. I also got a helpful insight into how my French reading ability had progressed over time, which is definitely good for morale!

Look for a copy of this book at your local French cultural centre or public library. Alternatively, buy your own copy from the publisher.

In summary: I recommend this reader for beginning (A1) French students. For more advanced students it will be a relatively light read.

Find out more about “Concert en Bretagne” on the CLE International website

Interview: Studying French in Montpellier

My colleague, Wessel, took three weeks off work earlier this year to polish up his French in the southern French city of Montpellier. He also took part in school activities and experienced the local area. In this interview, Wessel shares his experiences.
 
David: What school did you attend?
Wessel: LSF Montpellier, which is situated in the centre of Montpellier, surrounded by cultural heritage and vibrant nightlife.
 
David: Why did you select this school?
Wessel: Because the website was well-designed and provided a lot of information. If the website of an organization is well-designed, it shows that the organization has a professional approach. On top of that, the school has been accredited by several language institutions.
 
David: What level were you in?
Wessel: I started at A2 level and moved from there to B1.
 
David: What was the nature of your course?
Wessel: I took the intensive course, consisting of 20 group classes (of 45 minutes each) in the morning, combined with an additional 10 group lessons on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.

                                   LSF students enjoy a tour of historic Montpellier.

David: How did you find the classes?
Wessel: Engaging and fun. On the other hand, sometimes I felt that having more “dry” exercises focusing on grammar etc. would have been good too. 
 
David: Does the school have a library and cultural programme?
Wessel: It has a library with books, study books and DVDs. In addition, the school organized excursions on a nearly daily basis, such as wine tastings or visiting Marseille. The downside of taking the most intensive programme was that I didn’t have the time to take part in many of the activities.

David: How about your living arrangements while studying French?
Wessel: I organized my accommodation through the school. The school offers a range of accommodation options such as staying with a French host family, or living in a student residence or hotel. I stayed with a friendly host-family, but had a separate studio in their apartment.

                           The historic garden, Le Jardin des Plantes, in Montpellier.
 
David: How do you rate your accommodation?
Wessel: The accommodation was nice, the family was friendly and it was pleasant to live in a normal neighborhood. Since I was living in a separate studio in the host family’s apartment, I did not have breakfast and dinner together with them. In hindsight I would have preferred to eat with my host family, since it is more fun and allows you to improve your French quicker.
 
David: How do you rate the school and would you recommend it to others?
Wessel: I would give the school a 9 out of 10 and I would definitely recommend it.
 
David: What are highlights of the area?
Wessel: The beach is great. You can rent a bike and cycle to the beach in 1.5 hrs. Apart from that, there are many lively bars and restaurants all over the place. I also visited Arles, a nearby historic town where Vincent van Gogh created many of his paintings.
 
David: Anything else you’d like to add?
Wessel: The investment to learn French was definitely worth it! Meeting people from all over the world was an added bonus. 

Read more about LSF Montpellier 
Read more about Montpellier

Dictionary Review: Collins Easy Learning French Dictionary

If you are learning French, then a dictionary will be one of your must-have learning materials. The dictionary will help decode unknown words, advise you on word usage and even help with conjugation. 

Increasingly, dictionaries are moving online, often as applications for a smartphone or electronic note pad. Despite this, I’d like to make a stand for the paper dictionary.

You can take the non-electronic dictionary anywhere, it’s easily accessible, doesn’t rely on internet access and never runs out of power. It also looks good on the bookshelf with your other French books.

The Collins Easy Learning French Dictionary (2009) is a classic English-French dictionary that is a good choice for beginners comfortable in English.

Coming in at a little over 600 pages, this softback dictionary is small enough to carry to class, yet big enough to hold sufficient vocabulary for early learners.

The bulk of the book is divided into French and English sections. Look in the French section if you have a French word you need to know the meaning of. Alternatively, look in the English section if you want to translate an English word into French.

The pages have an easy-to-read format. Target words are in bold blue in the French section and bold black in the English section. The explanatory text is in black in the French section and blue in the English section.

Apart from direct translations, the dictionary also gives information about gender and the type of word (noun adjective, etc.) and provides expressions and examples of how to use a word or expression in a sentence. For example, « remarquer » is defined as « to notice ». The accompanying sample sentence is: « J’ai remarqué qu’elle avait l’air triste, » meaning « I noticed she was looking sad. »

There is also a guide to grammar with useful conjugation tables. Another section includes handy snippets including a map of France, and subject-oriented French-English translations such as relationships and feelings, describing someone, time, numbers and writing letters and emails.

This is a great dictionary for beginning learners of French. A word of caution however: Try not to overuse the dictionary. When reading a French text, try to guess what a word means from the context. Alternatively, just try to pick up the sense of a sentence or paragraph – initially it’s not necessary to know what every word means.

Summary advice: Use the dictionary as one of your language comprehension tools, but don’t overuse it.