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FRENCH LESSONS EVENTS & GIFTS

La Petite Histoire

December 23, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

If you've ever done a group lesson here at Lingua Franca, you've probably come into contact with La Petite Histoire*. A tale with the very humblest of beginnings, it winds up becoming a rollicking schlockbuster as you move up the levels and your French improves enough to handle the outrageous (some would say impossible) turns of events of the six young friends.

La Petite Histoire is currently only available to our students, however La Préquelle is for everyone’s enjoyment. Below, another instalment of this new series, Chapter 5 (of 6) of the Beginner Revision level.

*The Little Story | *The Prequel

“Tu ne parles pas beaucoup ce soir, ma chérie. Ça va?” a demandé mon mari, Jean-Louis.

”Oui, ça va merci, mon amour. Je suis un peu fatiguée,” j’ai répondu.

“Tu veux un thé à la menthe?”

“Volontiers!” j’ai répondu, surprise. Mon mari ne dit pas ça souvent.

Cinq minutes plus tard, il est entré dans le salon avec deux tasses de thé. “Voilà, Leïla.”

“Merci bien,” j’ai dit.

“Tu es sûre que tu n’es pas triste, ma chérie? Qu’est-ce qu’il y a?”

“Ah, ce n’est rien, Jean-Louis. Je pense à Roger.”

“Je vois,” a dit Jean-Louis et il a commencé à regarder la télévision. Il n’était pas content.

“Jean-Louis, Roger est mon tuteur, c’est tout.”

Il n’a pas répondu.

“Jean-Louis, je suis ta femme! Roger est mon tuteur, c’est tout, et il n’est pas très bon pour être honnête,” j’ai ajouté.

“Leïla, ça c’était évident du début. Il est français. Ce n’est pas possible! Tu ne peux pas continuer. C’est cher et il n’est pas bon. Tu dois trouver une autre solution!”

“Tu as raison, mon chéri, je sais. En fait, je pense que j’ai trouvé quelqu’un hier…”

“Un homme ou une femme?” Jean-Louis était difficile parfois.

“C’est une femme australienne, si tu dois savoir. Elle s’appelle Noëlle et elle est très sympathique. Je ne sais pas comment je vais dire à Roger que je ne veux pas continuer, mais je vais appeler Noëlle demain.”

“C’est une très bonne idée, ma chérie. Et pour Roger, il doit savoir qu’il n’est pas bon, donc il ne va pas être surpris, je crois.” Jean-Louis a souri et puis il a dit: “Tu veux aller danser demain soir, Leïla? On peut trouver une babysitter pour les enfants et on peut sortir. Ça te dit?”

“Avec plaisir, mon amour,” j’ai répondu. J’adore danser avec mon mari et ce n’est pas facile de sortir quand on a trois petits enfants, donc j’étais très heureuse.

J’ai regardé mon mari et il était heureux aussi pour la première fois depuis longtemps.

“You’re not speaking much this evening, my darling. Are you okay?” asked my husband, Jean-Louis.

“Yes, I’m fine thanks. I’m a bit tired,” I responded.

“Do you want a mint tea?”

“Yes, please!” I responded, surprised. My husband doesn’t say that very often.

Five minutes later, he came into the living room with two cups of tea. “There you go, Leïla.”

“Thanks a lot,” I said.

“Are you sure you’re not sad, my darling? What’s up?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, Jean-Louis. I’m thinking about Roger.”

“I see,” Jean-Louis said and he started to watch television. He wasn’t happy.

“Jean-Louis, Roger is my tutor, that’s all.”

He didn’t respond.

“Jean-Louis, I’m your wife! Roger is my tutor, that’s all, and he’s not very good to be honest,” I added.

“Leïla, that was obvious from the start. He’s French. It’s not possible! You can’t continue. It’s expensive and he’s not good. You have to find another solution!” “You’re right, my darling, I know. In fact, I think I met someone yesterday…”

“A man or a woman?” Jean-Louis was difficult at times.

“It’s an Australian woman, if you must know. She’s called Noëlle and she is very nice. I don’t know how I’m going to say to Roger that I don’t want to continue, but I am going to call Noëlle tomorrow.”

“That’s a very good idea, my darling. And for Roger, he must know that he’s not good, so he’s not going to be surprised, I think.” Jean-Louis smiled and then he said: “Do you want to go dancing tomorrow night, Leïla? We can find a babysitter pour the children and we can go out. What do you think?”

“With pleasure, my love,” I responded. I love to dance with my husband and it’s not easy to go out when one has three little children, so I was very happy. I looked at my husband and he was happy as well for the first time in a long time.

categories / Learn French
tags / La Petite Histoire | French story, Beginner French

La Bûche de Noël*

December 21, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

Source : marieclaire.fr

Savez-vous que*…

La Bûche de Noël is the traditional cake served at Christmas in France. If you’ve been interested in French language, culture or cuisine for a little while, you may very well already know this. However, do you know the origins of this most recognisable of desserts français*?

Tradition has it that on the longest night of the year (le solstice d’hiver*), French pagans would burn an enormous log to stave off the freezing temperatures, bien sûr*, but also as an offering to the gods to ensure a plentiful harvest in the coming year.

While it’s unlikely you’ll want to recreate the heat of a burning log in our sweltering southern climes, you may wish to set yourself the challenge of making this spécialité hivernale*. Voici la recette* (it’s in French but if you need some help, just click on any term for the English translation. Bon courage!*

*The Christmas Log | *Did you know that | *French desserts | *the winter solstice | *of course | *winter specialty | *Here’s the recipe | *Good luck!

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Christmas shoes

December 21, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

Savez-vous que*…

French children put out their chaussures* instead of their stockings in the hope that Père Noël* will fill them to the brim with cadeaux*?

Voici l’histoire*, thanks to French leather goods site Cirage et Compagnie*.

On raconte qu'un jour qu'il passait devant la maison de trois petites sœurs pauvres pour se réchauffer devant la cheminée, Saint Nicolas leur offrit quelques pièces de monnaie pour les aider.

Les piécettes glissèrent dans les chausses que les fillettes avaient mis à sécher devant le foyer de la cheminée. Ce n'est qu'après sa visite, qu'elles découvrirent la surprise en se réveillant.

Les bonnes choses se sachant vite, la rumeur s'est répandue et depuis, le soir du réveillon, chacun met ses chaussures ou ses chaussettes devant la cheminée ou bien au pied du sapin avec l'espoir d'y trouver quelque chose le lendemain matin.

It is said that once upon a time, as Saint Nicholas passed by the front of the house of three poor little sisters, he asked to warm himself in front of their fire and offered them a few coins to help them out.

He slipped the little coins in the pantaloons that the young girls had placed to dry in front of the chimney. It was only after his visit, when they woke up the next morning, that they discovered the surprise.

Good news travels fast so the rumour got around and ever since, on Christmas Eve, children put their shoes or slippers in front of the chimney or even at the foot of the Christmas tree in the hope of finding something the following morning.

Mignon, non*?

*Did you know that | *shoes | *Father Christmas | *presents | *Here’s the story | *Wax & Co. | *Cute, isn’t it?

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Père Fouettard

December 21, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

Les gens* often lament that things are just not like they used to be, and in many cases, it’s a fair complaint. The world seems to be changing at warp speed and it’s tempting to want to grasp on to the familiar.

However, there are certaines circonstances* when change is a positive thing and Père Fouettard is one of them!

No longer d’actualité* (you’ll see why soon), Père Fouettard (Father Whipper or Old Man Whipper) is a fictional (we hope!) character who accompanies Père Noël* on his rounds during Saint Nicholas’ Day on the 6th December. The story goes that while jolly Père Noël is busy handing out gifts aux enfants sages*, Père Fouettard dispenses lumps of coal to the naughty children. Fouetter is the verb ‘to whip’ in French and this is where this villain gets his name - he’s known to whip those rascals who have not been on their best behaviour all year.

As though that’s not disturbing enough, an alternative tale goes like this:

“An innkeeper (or a butcher in other versions) captures three boys who appear to be wealthy and on their way to enrol in a religious boarding school. Along with his wife, he kills the children in order to rob them….They drug the children, slit their throats, cut them into pieces, and stew them in a barrel. St. Nicholas discovers the crime and resurrects the children. After this, Père Fouettard repents and becomes St Nicholas' partner.”

Quelle horreur*!

Source: Wikipedia

*People | *certain circumstances | *in common usage | *Father Christmas | *to the good children | *What horror!

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A different type of crèche.

December 21, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

Savez-vous que*…

Though we use the word crèche in English to mean a nursery where babies and young children are cared for during the working day, there is another meaning related to Noël*.

Une crèche* is also the French word for a nativity scene, as it comes from the Old French cresche or ‘crib’.

Not up to speed on your French religious figures’ vocab? N’ayez crainte*, we’ve got you covered.

*Did you know that | *Christmas | *a nativity scene | *Never fear

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Le Réveillon de Noël*

December 21, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

Though today only about 15% percent of French citizens declare themselves practising Catholics, there was a time towards the end of the 19th century when that number was 98%.

This could explain the French tradition of celebrating Christmas on the 24th December with a very late dinner, usually eaten upon their return from Mass and often kicking off at about midnight.

Naturally, things have changed since then and many families celebrate with an earlier dîner* on Le Réveillon de Noël with some even waiting for the 25th to celebrate.

While in the most religious of families the Christmas meal was deliberately simple (for example une soupe aux légumes*) as a reminder that Jesus was born into poverty, today the meal is often a veritable festin de Balthazar* and can include foie gras*, huîtres*, queues de langoustines*, saumon fumé*, champagne* and the traditional bûche de Noël, of course.

Délicieux*!

*Christmas Eve | *dinner | *vegetable soup | *feast fit for a king | *foie gras | *oysters | *lobster tails | *smoked salmon | *champagne | *Christmas log | *Delicious!

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Cher Père Noël*

December 21, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

Savez vous que…*

Since 1962 it has been French law that every letter written to Père Noël* will be responded to in the form of a carte postale*? C’est vrai*!

La Poste (the French version of Australia Post) even has several versions of suggested texts to help les enfants* express their dearest wishes, as well as various addresses, all of which will ensure accurate delivery. C’est tellement mignon*. Here’s the full story.

*Dear Father Christmas | *Did you know that… | *Father Christmas | *postcard | *It’s true | *children | *It’s so cute

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Let’s get straight to the point.

November 30, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

Allez, allez*! Take 10 minutes to learn these evocative phrases which all use the verb aller*.

*Go, go! | *to go

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It’s all back to front.

November 30, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

As a child you may have dabbled in a bit of pig latin, but did you know the French have their own secret language called verlan?

The name verlan itself is in fact an illustration of how this very-commonly used langage* works. To create a word in verlan, we must first identify the sounds of the syllables. The next step is to reverse their order. Attention*, you’re not reversing the letters, you’re inverting the sounds of the syllables.

For example, ‘ver-lan’ is made up of the sounds ‘lan-ver’, and l’envers in French means ‘backwards’. Tu piges*?

If not, don’t worry, it’s not immediately obvious, c’est sûr*, so we’ve given you some more examples below.

Interested in this sort of thing? If you live in Brisbane, we’ll be talking more about this little French quirk at our upcoming P’tit Week-end Immersion (more details here).

If you’re busy or don’t live in the area, please enjoy this video instead, by French artist Stromae, whose very name is verlan for Maestro. Clever, non*?

*language | *Be careful | *Do you get it? | *that’s for sure | *isn’t it?

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La Petite Histoire

November 30, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

If you've ever done a group lesson here at Lingua Franca, you've probably come into contact with La Petite Histoire*. A tale with the very humblest of beginnings, it winds up becoming a rollicking schlockbuster as you move up the levels and your French improves enough to handle the outrageous (some would say impossible) turns of events of the six young friends.

La Petite Histoire is currently only available to our students, however La Préquelle is for everyone’s enjoyment. Below, another instalment of this new series, Chapter 4 (of 6) of the Beginner Revision level.

*The Little Story | *The Prequel

Hier matin, j’ai décidé de faire un plan.


La semaine dernière j’ai essayé de parler à mon tuteur, Roger, à propos de nos cours. Il est très gentil et drôle aussi, mais nos leçons de sont pas assez sérieuses pour moi.

J’ai besoin d’aide avec mon anglais et il préfère me donner des compliments et poser des questions sur ma vie privée. Donc, j’ai décidé de prendre le contrôle.


Je suis allée à la bibliothèque à l’université pour trouver un bon livre de grammaire pour l’anglais. Je veux un peu de structure pour nos leçons.


“Excusez-moi, monsieur. Je cherche un livre de grammaire anglaise,’ j’ai dit au bibliothécaire.


“Bien sûr, madame. Quel est votre niveau?”


“Ah, Leïla est très avancée, monsieur. Son anglais est fantastique.”


Surprise, je me suis retournée et j’ai vu la jeune femme qui connaît Roger - la rousse avec les yeux verts.


“Ah, salut!” j’ai dit et j’ai souri. “Je suis désolée mais comment t’appelles-tu?”


“Pas de problème, je suis Noëlle. Comment vont tes cours avec Roger?”


“Oui, très bien, merci. En fait, je suis ici pour chercher un livre de grammaire pour notre leçon cette semaine.”


“Ah bon? Mais j’ai pensé que Roger était ton tuteur. Il ne prépare pas des cours?” Noëlle a demandé.


“Pas vraiment,’ j’ai répondu. “Il préfère parler.”


“Parler ou flirter?” Elle était très directe.


J’ai rougi un peu. “Les deux, je suppose,” j’ai dit.


“Et voilà, ça c’est notre Roger!” Elle a souri.


“Mais son anglais est incroyable,” j’ai dit. “Il parle très bien.”


“Ah, bon?” elle a dit. Et puis elle a dit: “Leïla, si tu veux de l’aide dans le futur avec ton anglais, je suis australienne et donc je parle anglais couramment. C’est juste un idée.” Elle m’a donné son numéro et juste comme ça, elle est partie.

Yesterday morning, I decided to make a plan.


Last week I tried to talk to my tutor, Roger, about our lessons. He is very kind and funny as well, but our lessons aren't serious enough for me.

I need help with my English and he prefers to give me compliments and ask me about my private life. Therefore, I decided to take control.


I went to the library at the university to find a good grammar book for English. I want a bit of structure for our lessons.


"Excuse me, sir. I am looking for an English Grammar book," I said to the librarian.


"Of course, madam. What is your level?"


"Oh, Leïla is very advanced, sir. Her English is fantastic."


Surprised, I turned around and I saw the young woman who knows Roger - the redhead with the green eyes.


"Oh, hi!" I said and I smiled. "I'm sorry but what is your name?"


"No problem, I'm Noëlle. How are your lessons going with Roger?"


"Yes, very well, thanks. In fact, I'm here to look for a grammar book for our lesson this week."


"Oh, really? But I thought Roger was your tutor. He doesn't prepare lessons?" Noëlle asked.
"Not really," I responded. "He prefers to talk."


"Talk or flirt?" She was very direct.


"Both, I suppose," I said.


"And there you go. That's our Roger!" She smiled.


"But his English is incredible," I said. "He speaks very well."


"Oh, really? she said. And then she said: "Leïla, if you want some help in the future with your English, I am Australian and so I speak English fluently. It's just an idea." She gave me her number and then, just like that, she left.

categories / Learn French
tags / La Petite Histoire | French story, Beginner French

Recette : Gratin Dauphinois

October 24, 2021  /  Katrina Waugh

There's only one...well deux* words for this delicious French version of comfort food: miam, miam*. Cuisinez bien*!

*two | *yum, yum | *Happy cooking!

Picture and recipe source : www.delscookingtwist.com

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