A group of students taking French lessons on a Tuesday morning has been following the French news this term: strikes ( les grèves) about retirement age ( la retraite), the new expensive plane ( l'avion privé) for Nicolas Sarkozy, the Woerth/ Bettencourt story ( l'affaire Woerth/ Bettencourt) involving a lot of money and, plenty more. Le père Noël has not been spared!!! Read below what happened to him....
LA CRISE DE NOEL
Père Noël : Bonjour, Monsieur le Facteur.
Le Facteur : Salut Père Noël ! Comment ça va ? Pourquoi faites vous triste mine ?
PN : Je suis à bout de patience. C’est une véritable catastrophe, en effet j’ai peur que ce Noël n’arrive pas ! J’anticipe une longue crise.
LF : Ce n’est pas possible, chef ; Alan nous a dit qu’une crise doit être toujours courte.
PN : Ne plaisantez plus ! C’est une situation très grave. Je dois résoudre cette crise et vous devez m’aider.
LF : Pardon chef, je me mets à votre disposition. Quel est le problème exactement ?
PN : Il y en a plusieurs. Mes elfes manquent de motivation, mes rennes sont en grève, mon comptable est devenu escroc et, cerise sur le gâteau, on apprend de WikiLeaks que j’ai annulé Noël !!
LF : Oh la la ! Quel désastre ! Mais il ne faut pas perdre espoir mon vieux. Vous avez beaucoup d’amis. Par exemple, le Groupe du Mardi Matin. Ils n’ont pas besoin de cadeaux de Noël et ils sont des gens intelligents et capables qui peuvent vous aider.
PN : Merci mon ami. Où va-t-on commencer ?
LF : Ecoutez. Pourquoi, les elfes, ont-ils changé comme ça ?
PN : C’est la faute de Sarkozy. Il est un bas du cul comme les elfes et son succès à l’élection leur a fait penser aux ambitions oubliées.
LF : Ah, je comprends. Si une demi-portion comme Sarko peut devenir Président pourquoi pas un elfe ?
PN : Exactement. Et puis ils sont devenus déprimés. Dans l’atelier ils fainéantent et quand je leur demande de travailler ils disent « A quoi bon ? »
LF : Aha ! Je connais un philosophe qui est expert en aquoibonisme. C’est le Jean-Paul Sartre du Mardi Matin, il s’appelle Geoffrey. Il a des mots pour toutes occasions. Il va conseiller ces pauvres elfes.
PN : Bonne idée. Mais ça ne suffit pas ; il faut remonter le moral à ces petites gens. Nous avons besoin de quelqu’un qui puisse établir des rapports avec eux. Quelqu’un de chaleureux et de compréhensif.
LF : C’est le travail exact pour Sarah, elle est assistante sociale. C’est la princesse Di du Mardi Matin. Elle peut mener une campagne, un programme de sensibilisation pour le public. Quelque chose comme « Un elfe n’est pas seulement pour Noël ».
PN : Et les familles pourraient adopter un elfe, peut être ?
JF : Ça jette un max PN !
PN : Superbe M le Facteur. Bravo ! Mais il y a une montagne de travail qu’ils n’ont pas encore faite.
LF : Oui, c’est entendu. Peut être qu’Helen pourrait nous aider. Elle voyage beaucoup, c’est le Marco Polo du Mardi Matin. Helen peut aller en Inde, elle la connait bien, pour trouver un atelier moins cher pour aider les elfes.
PN : Très bien. Il est possible que ça puisse débrouiller les elfes mais qu’est-ce qu’on va faire de ces rennes pénibles. Ils se sont déclarés trop vieux pour tirer le traineau.
LF : C’est peut être un problème de nutrition. Sue est scientifique, c’est le David Attenborough du Mardi Matin. Sue peut sans doute trouver un lichen ou quelque chose de spécial pour revigorer ces vieux rennes.
PN : Mais ils ont vu à la télé des travailleurs en grève à Paris. Ils ont formé un syndicat et leur délégué est un renne gallois, odieux qui s’appelle Trwyngoch.
LF : Ah oui, ça veut dire « Nez Rouge » en gallois. Mmmm…attendez. Molly, qui est la Delia Smith du Mardi Matin, peut faire cuire pour lui des gâteaux délicieux. En outre, Molly peut employer son charme gallois pour le rendre, ce Trwyngoch, plus coopératif et plus grammatical.
PN : Bien sûr et j’espère que ce renne embêtant va s’étrangler avec ses gâteaux!
LF : Ça colle, patron. Mais pour réduire la charge de travail des rennes, je n’ai qu’une idée. Il faut demander à Sarkozy de nous prêter son nouvel avion privé. Il aime les belles femmes donc il faut envoyer Beverly, la Carla Bruni du Mardi Matin, pour lui demander cette faveur. Elle peut laisser sa bicyclette de course contre le mur de l’Elysée au cas où elle doit s’échapper vite.
PN : Excellent mon brave ! Mais ces ennuis avec mon comptable continuent. Depuis le scandale des dépenses des députés il est devenu cynique et ses frais sont maintenant énormes. La perte d’argent est épouvantable ! Il maquille ses comptes, j’en suis sûr, mais je ne peux pas le prouver.
LF : Pas de problème chef, je connais exactement l’homme dont vous avez besoin. Alan a un grand cerveau très logique, c’est le Mr Spock du Mardi Matin, et il est célèbre pour son talent pour trouver le maquillage.
PN : Merveilleux ! Il ne reste que le problème avec WikiLeaks.
LF : C’est simplement une question de relations publiques. Max Clifford coûte trop cher mais nous n’avons pas besoin de lui parce que nous avons Ginny. C’est la Fiona Bruce du Mardi Matin, elle est confiante et elle parle bien. Ginny peut passer à la télé pour rassurer tout le monde que WikiLeaks a tort et que, malgré des ennuis, Noël va arriver après tout.
PN : Grâce à Dieu pour ces bonnes gens du Mardi Matin ! Puis-je vraiment compter sur eux ?
LF : Ils sont très accommodants mais ils ont besoin de direction. Donc, il est indispensable de demander de l’aide à Martine, leur prof, le petit caporal du Mardi Matin. Avec son charme et son humour elle peut les organiser parfaitement.
PN : Je commence à entendre le tintement des cloches.
LF : Puis-je voir un sourire qui commence, chef ?
PN : Oui, vous avez raison.
LF : N’oubliez pas les cadeaux pour les banquiers !
PN : Vous voulez rire ! Joyeux Noël M le Facteur.
LF : Au plaisir, chef. T’énerve pas !!
If you want to have fun with Alliance Française de Bristol, why not register on one of our French courses:
Thursday 23 December 2010
Tuesday 7 December 2010
Have you heard of the film: Des hommes et des dieux ( Of gods and men)?
Des hommes et des dieux is on show at the Watershed in Bristol until the middle of next week. The film was made by Xavier Beauvois last year in France and has had more than 2 million spectators ( un véritable tabac!) as many as Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis ( a French comedy) or Avatar!
The film tells the story of French monks ( des moines )who used to live in the monastery ( le monastère) of Tébéhirine, 90 kms South of Algers in the Atlas mountains. They lived peacefully off their land and helped the local population with medical problems.
On the night of 26th March 1996, seven of them were kidnapped. Some negotiations took place with the French authorities but they did not seem to lead anywhere. Two months later the hijackers slit the monks' throats open, their funeral took place in Algers and they were buried at the monastery.
If you are a student currently taking French tuition at Alliance Française de Bristol or Bath, you can get a discount to see the film: ask your French tutor for details.
To find out about French events in Bristol, go to Alliance Française de Bristol on Facebook:
Or look on Alliance Française de Bristol website at Events, for more info:
When you have seen the film, why not share your comments with us?
The film tells the story of French monks ( des moines )who used to live in the monastery ( le monastère) of Tébéhirine, 90 kms South of Algers in the Atlas mountains. They lived peacefully off their land and helped the local population with medical problems.
On the night of 26th March 1996, seven of them were kidnapped. Some negotiations took place with the French authorities but they did not seem to lead anywhere. Two months later the hijackers slit the monks' throats open, their funeral took place in Algers and they were buried at the monastery.
If you are a student currently taking French tuition at Alliance Française de Bristol or Bath, you can get a discount to see the film: ask your French tutor for details.
To find out about French events in Bristol, go to Alliance Française de Bristol on Facebook:
Or look on Alliance Française de Bristol website at Events, for more info:
When you have seen the film, why not share your comments with us?
Wednesday 1 December 2010
did you know why the clémentine is called a clémentine?
The clémentine was called after Father Clément who lived in Algeria, near Oran at the end of the 19th century.
The French clémentine only grows in Corsica ( en Corse) also called l' Ile de Beauté, it is picked and ready to eat in December. You can find it now on the French markets ( les marchés).
You can eat la clémentine as a piece of fruit at the end of a meal or for le goûter ( light snack given to children when they come home from school) but its juice can be incorporated with butter to make a delicious sauce to serve with fish. Try la clémentine also with shellfish ( crustacés), it is particularly good with lobster ( homard)!!
Bon appétit!!
To find out more about our French courses and French events, go to:
The French clémentine only grows in Corsica ( en Corse) also called l' Ile de Beauté, it is picked and ready to eat in December. You can find it now on the French markets ( les marchés).
You can eat la clémentine as a piece of fruit at the end of a meal or for le goûter ( light snack given to children when they come home from school) but its juice can be incorporated with butter to make a delicious sauce to serve with fish. Try la clémentine also with shellfish ( crustacés), it is particularly good with lobster ( homard)!!
Bon appétit!!
To find out more about our French courses and French events, go to:
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Did you know that 182 French pilotes were called "un As" in the first world war?
A pilot had to have 5 victories over the enemy to be called " Un As". Of course we also use the word "as " in card games, if you are keen on playing " la belote" or " le bridge" you'll know that you have:
L' as de pique, l'as de cœur, l'as de carreau et l'as de trèfle.
If you missed the talk on Les aviateurs et les aviatrices, why not go to the website of : Le musée de l'air et de l'espace, you'll see wonderful photos or to the Bristol museum where there is an exhibition on the history of aviation until the end of January 2011.
If you want to share your interest either on card games or planes, why not write a comment?
If you want to find out more about our French classes or our French private lessons, go to our website.
For more info:
L' as de pique, l'as de cœur, l'as de carreau et l'as de trèfle.
If you missed the talk on Les aviateurs et les aviatrices, why not go to the website of : Le musée de l'air et de l'espace, you'll see wonderful photos or to the Bristol museum where there is an exhibition on the history of aviation until the end of January 2011.
If you want to share your interest either on card games or planes, why not write a comment?
If you want to find out more about our French classes or our French private lessons, go to our website.
For more info:
Wednesday 10 November 2010
Did you know that the French engineer Clément Ader invented the word avion?
Did you know that the first flight in France was made in 1890 by the engineer Clément ADER who also invented the word "avion" and influenced the Wright brothers in America ? French aviation history offers a lot of very famous names like Saint -Exupery, Closterman, Nungesser . But names like Mermoz or Hélène Boucher , the French Amy Johnson , are not so well known and a lot of people think that Roland Garros was a " joueur de tennis" rather than a pilot.
Elisabeth who is a French tutor with Alliance Française will give a talk which will present pilots male and female, the "as des as" of the First World War as well as French pilots who joined the RAF during the Second World War, and many, many others as dedicated and enthusiastic," héros et pionniers des temps modernes". The whole presentation is done with the aid of Powerpoint and has attracted a huge range of interest parties.
This talk is for students taking French tuition with Alliance Française de Bristol but is also open to anyone interested and is suitable for people with a GCSE level in French.
The talk will take place on Friday, 19th November at 7.30pm; For more info:
Elisabeth who is a French tutor with Alliance Française will give a talk which will present pilots male and female, the "as des as" of the First World War as well as French pilots who joined the RAF during the Second World War, and many, many others as dedicated and enthusiastic," héros et pionniers des temps modernes". The whole presentation is done with the aid of Powerpoint and has attracted a huge range of interest parties.
This talk is for students taking French tuition with Alliance Française de Bristol but is also open to anyone interested and is suitable for people with a GCSE level in French.
The talk will take place on Friday, 19th November at 7.30pm; For more info:
Saturday 23 October 2010
Drama Course Starting Soon!
You like speaking French? Why not improve your communication skills with our theatre workshop? Learning in context improves memory, while being involved physically and emotionally will boost your confidence.
Join us! All you need is a willingness to participate and a good GCSE level.
We start a new series of 10 sessions on Tuesday November 2nd at 8 p.m. in Southville (each lasting 1.30-Tuesday nights @ Comedy Box, BS3 1JF). We still have a few spaces. To enrol or simply find out more, please send an email to info@theatre-vo.com, visit our Alliance Française de Bristol website or call Audrey on 0781 659 0609. The price is £160.
We start a new series of 10 sessions on Tuesday November 2nd at 8 p.m. in Southville (each lasting 1.30-Tuesday nights @ Comedy Box, BS3 1JF). We still have a few spaces. To enrol or simply find out more, please send an email to info@theatre-vo.com, visit our Alliance Française de Bristol website or call Audrey on 0781 659 0609. The price is £160.
"Theatre VO is a completely different way of learning French; it's amazing how much you take in without even realising it. Acting was never really my thing- but acting in French is completely different!! It's great fun and I'd recommend the course to anyone who wants to improve their ability to speak French." - Rosie
You'd like to see more?
You can even follow us on Facebook or on Twitter (@afbristol) so you get to know about French events.
Theatre VO also offers tailored workshops for schools and businesses. For more info, visit www.theatre-vo.com
Did you go to see the Misanthrope? What did you think? Tell us about your favourite French theatre quote!
Saturday 16 October 2010
Did you know that the Autumn fruit la mirabelle comes from Lorraine?
La mirabelle is a tiny plum slightly bigger than a cherry, it has a nice reddish golden colour and is sweet and juicy. It was first planted in Lorraine, the orchards now produce mirabelles from mid-August to early October.
Its name comes from the Latin and means: belle à voir ( nice to look at).
It is lovely to eat as a piece of fruit or cooked to accompany venison or veal.
Try some next time you go to France. Buy them on a market so that you can choose some nice juicy ones.
Bon appétit!
If you are interested in food and cooking, why not try our next French cookery course? It is run by one of our French tutors who is also a French chef.
For more info:
Its name comes from the Latin and means: belle à voir ( nice to look at).
It is lovely to eat as a piece of fruit or cooked to accompany venison or veal.
Try some next time you go to France. Buy them on a market so that you can choose some nice juicy ones.
Bon appétit!
If you are interested in food and cooking, why not try our next French cookery course? It is run by one of our French tutors who is also a French chef.
For more info:
Friday 8 October 2010
Some short poems written by a student taking French tuition with Alliance française de Bristol
Michael started to take French lessons last March, he had very little French then. Here are a couple of poems he wrote after 15 hours of French tuition:
Ton image dans le miroir
Ton parfum flotte dans l'air
Au point du jour je pleure
Parce que tu n'es pas là.
Les livres sur la table
Mon stylo dans ma main
J'écoute chaque mot que tu parles
Je vais être chagrin quand je vais partir.
We had looked at the beginning of the poem by Jacques Prévert, Alicante:
Une orange sur la table
Ta robe sur le tapis
Et toi dans mon lit
I had asked my students to imagine a poem in the same vein.
What about having a go yourselves and adding your own poems in the Comments?
More info about our courses:
Ton image dans le miroir
Ton parfum flotte dans l'air
Au point du jour je pleure
Parce que tu n'es pas là.
Les livres sur la table
Mon stylo dans ma main
J'écoute chaque mot que tu parles
Je vais être chagrin quand je vais partir.
We had looked at the beginning of the poem by Jacques Prévert, Alicante:
Une orange sur la table
Ta robe sur le tapis
Et toi dans mon lit
I had asked my students to imagine a poem in the same vein.
What about having a go yourselves and adding your own poems in the Comments?
More info about our courses:
Sunday 26 September 2010
French classes in Bristol and Bath: Did you know?
Did you know that our French classes are starting again either the last week of September or the first week of October?
We still have a few places left so hurry up and contact us to be assessed and then join!
A complete beginner's class will start in Bristol on 22nd November.
To find out more:
We still have a few places left so hurry up and contact us to be assessed and then join!
A complete beginner's class will start in Bristol on 22nd November.
To find out more:
Sunday 29 August 2010
Going back to school: did you know?
Did you know that going back to school was called: la rentrée? You have probably noticed the big signs in supermarkets for la rentrée des classes. Young children are very excited as they choose their new pencil cases ( la trousse), their satchel ( le cartable), exercise book covers ( le protège cahier) and their homework books ( le cahier de textes). All this school material is called les fournitures scolaires. Textbooks also have to be purchased as they are not provided by schools. September is a very expensive month for families! The state provides some subsidies ( une allocation rentrée) to struggling families of around 100 euros.
If you would like to find out more about French culture and French lessons now is the time to contact us:
If you would like to find out more about French culture and French lessons now is the time to contact us:
Friday 6 August 2010
French holidays: Did you know?
Did you know that the majority of French people take their holiday in July (les juilletistes ) or in August (les aoûtiens). The busiest weekend of the year is the last weekend of July when there is: le chassé croisé des juilletistes et des aoûtiens, it means that the July holiday makers are going home towards the North whereas the August holiday makers are heading towards the South and the sun.That particular weekend is well known for its traffic jams ( bouchons or embouteillages). Motorists are given advice for alternative routes ( les itinéraires bis), on the radio, on TV, on the Internet or on signs on motorways by Bison Futé ( clever buffalo). Bison Futé is symbolized by a sign with a small native American and was created by Le Centre d'information routière , equivalent of the AA.
Advice: Avoid travelling through France on that weekend but also on the first weekend of July, around the 14th July and the 15th August when traffic is very heavy too.
Why not think about joining one of our classes on your return from a lovely holiday in France?
For more info,
Advice: Avoid travelling through France on that weekend but also on the first weekend of July, around the 14th July and the 15th August when traffic is very heavy too.
Why not think about joining one of our classes on your return from a lovely holiday in France?
For more info,
Friday 25 June 2010
Wednesday 16 June 2010
Football World Cup: did you know?
We have keen football supporters among students taking French lessons with us. Some of our French tutors are more knowledgeable about football than others!!!
Did you know that:
The world cup is La coupe du monde
A team is une équipe
A player is un joueur
The goal keeper is le gardien de but
The referee is l'arbitre
The football is le ballon de foot
The first half is la première mi-temps
The second half is la deuxième mi-temps
A goal is un but
To score a goal is marquer un but
More next week even if France is out of the Cup........
Find out about us, more info
Did you know that:
The world cup is La coupe du monde
A team is une équipe
A player is un joueur
The goal keeper is le gardien de but
The referee is l'arbitre
The football is le ballon de foot
The first half is la première mi-temps
The second half is la deuxième mi-temps
A goal is un but
To score a goal is marquer un but
More next week even if France is out of the Cup........
Find out about us, more info
Saturday 5 June 2010
Les dix commandements de la maîtresse: written by a student taking French lessons with Alliance Française de Bath
Les instructions de la maîtresse au Petit Nicolas et à ses camarades de classe
La maîtresse est drôlement gentille mais souvent Nicolas et ses camarades font les guignols,
alors elle doit donner des punitions.
Voici les instructions de la maîtresse au Petit Nicolas et à ses camarades de classe:
Vous ne bavarderez pas ou ne chuchoterez pas en classe
Vous ne donnerez pas de coups de poing à vos camarades
Alceste, tu ne mangeras pas dans la classe
Vous ne vous vanterez pas
vous ne tricherez jamais pendant les compositions
Vous ne taquinerez pas Monsieur Dubon le surveillant
Vous ne direz pas de gros mots
Il faudra que vous appreniez vos leçons tous les soirs
Vous serez gentils avec les nouveaux élèves
Vous écouterez et vous obéirez à mes instructions
Have fun and read some of the stories of Le Petit Nicolas.
Have you read some? Would you like to share your impressions with us ? Write them in the comments.
Or come and read some stories with us, more info
La maîtresse est drôlement gentille mais souvent Nicolas et ses camarades font les guignols,
alors elle doit donner des punitions.
Voici les instructions de la maîtresse au Petit Nicolas et à ses camarades de classe:
Vous ne bavarderez pas ou ne chuchoterez pas en classe
Vous ne donnerez pas de coups de poing à vos camarades
Alceste, tu ne mangeras pas dans la classe
Vous ne vous vanterez pas
vous ne tricherez jamais pendant les compositions
Vous ne taquinerez pas Monsieur Dubon le surveillant
Vous ne direz pas de gros mots
Il faudra que vous appreniez vos leçons tous les soirs
Vous serez gentils avec les nouveaux élèves
Vous écouterez et vous obéirez à mes instructions
Have fun and read some of the stories of Le Petit Nicolas.
Have you read some? Would you like to share your impressions with us ? Write them in the comments.
Or come and read some stories with us, more info
Thursday 20 May 2010
Students at Alliance Française de Bristol have been learning French through theatre
Come and share with us an evening of games and drama in accessible French!
Tuesday 1st June, 2010
8.30 pm
Comedy Box, above the Hen and Chicken
210 North Street
Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1JF
£2 at the door
Tuesday 1st June will be the end of a ten-week course, and the evening will give the brave actors/French students a chance to show us what they can do! There'll be a few games with the audience and some short scenes created especially for the occasion.
Simon Fry of Venue commented after last year's event: "Their efforts culminated in the performance of some innovative and amusing role plays before a 50-strong audience, enjoyed immensely by participant and observer alike." There will be time after the show to socialise with the actors. As Simon says, "you may not end up at Cannes, but you'll no doubt be clicking glasses in the bar after a stellar showing."
Why not learn French with us? We offer a variety of French courses. For more info,
Tuesday 1st June, 2010
8.30 pm
Comedy Box, above the Hen and Chicken
210 North Street
Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1JF
£2 at the door
Tuesday 1st June will be the end of a ten-week course, and the evening will give the brave actors/French students a chance to show us what they can do! There'll be a few games with the audience and some short scenes created especially for the occasion.
Simon Fry of Venue commented after last year's event: "Their efforts culminated in the performance of some innovative and amusing role plays before a 50-strong audience, enjoyed immensely by participant and observer alike." There will be time after the show to socialise with the actors. As Simon says, "you may not end up at Cannes, but you'll no doubt be clicking glasses in the bar after a stellar showing."
Why not learn French with us? We offer a variety of French courses. For more info,
Thursday 13 May 2010
A poem written by a tudent taking French lessons at Alliance Française in Bristol
Suzanne had some difficulty coming back to England because of the ash cloud ( le nuage de cendres) from the Islandic volcano ( le volcan islandais), here is what she wrote:
Piegee en Paradis>
je me trouve sur une plage
Au pays du Mexique
Il fait tres beau
La mer est fantastique
Il est impossible de rentrer
En Angleterre
Donc je dois rester
A la station Balneaire
Pourquoi est ce que je suis piegee
On me demande..?
A cause d'un volcan
Tres loin d'ici ,en Islande..
J'espere qu'un jour je puisse
Dormir dans mon propre lit
Mais pour le temps qui passe..
C'est un sejour au Paradis!...
Par Suzanne , arrivee hier, pour la lecon du Jeudi.
If you have been stuck somewhere because of the ash cloud , please tell us in the comments.... in French......
If you think your French could improve, why not contact us to join our intensive course running in June/ July, more info
Piegee en Paradis>
je me trouve sur une plage
Au pays du Mexique
Il fait tres beau
La mer est fantastique
Il est impossible de rentrer
En Angleterre
Donc je dois rester
A la station Balneaire
Pourquoi est ce que je suis piegee
On me demande..?
A cause d'un volcan
Tres loin d'ici ,en Islande..
J'espere qu'un jour je puisse
Dormir dans mon propre lit
Mais pour le temps qui passe..
C'est un sejour au Paradis!...
Par Suzanne , arrivee hier, pour la lecon du Jeudi.
If you have been stuck somewhere because of the ash cloud , please tell us in the comments.... in French......
If you think your French could improve, why not contact us to join our intensive course running in June/ July, more info
Saturday 1 May 2010
Learn French in the kitchen with a French tutor and chef at Alliance Française de Bristol
A fantastic way to communicate in French:
Broaden your knowledge of French cuisine
Develop your vocabulary around food
Improve your communication skills in a small group of like-minded students
Take home a delicious dish
One of our students taking French tuition with us who did a cookery workshop with our French tutor wrote afterwards:
This was such an enjoyable experience! We learned a number of tricks of the trade, increased our culinary vocabulary and shared ideas in French, for new and alternative flavours.
To find out more about our French cookery courses, click here...
Broaden your knowledge of French cuisine
Develop your vocabulary around food
Improve your communication skills in a small group of like-minded students
Take home a delicious dish
One of our students taking French tuition with us who did a cookery workshop with our French tutor wrote afterwards:
This was such an enjoyable experience! We learned a number of tricks of the trade, increased our culinary vocabulary and shared ideas in French, for new and alternative flavours.
To find out more about our French cookery courses, click here...
Monday 19 April 2010
Le rugby encore et toujours le rugby!!
An ex-student of Alliance Française de Bristol who used to take French tuition a few years ago is a very keen rugby supporter. He goes to nearly all the 6 nations games ( le tournoi des six nations) and loves going to Paris to Le Parc des Princes. He had an unfortunate experience last March! Not only did England lose but he had some trouble at the stadium: read about it in the comments!
Look out for our intensive courses starting soon, for more info:
Look out for our intensive courses starting soon, for more info:
Saturday 10 April 2010
French Easter: did you know?
Good Friday ( le vendredi saint) is not a bank holiday in France. On Easter Sunday ( le dimanche de Pâques) Easter eggs ( les œufs de Pâques) get dropped in the gardens or on balconies by the bells ( les cloches) on their way to Rome where they will ring for the Easter mass! No Easter bunny!
After the Easter weekend children go back to school. They will be on holiday for les vacances de printemps from next week onwards.
Information given by one of the tutors giving French lessons with Alliance Française de Bristol.
For information on our French courses, click here.
After the Easter weekend children go back to school. They will be on holiday for les vacances de printemps from next week onwards.
Information given by one of the tutors giving French lessons with Alliance Française de Bristol.
For information on our French courses, click here.
Saturday 27 March 2010
A poem written in French by a student taking French tuition with Alliance Française de Bristol
Although Spring has officially arrived, it was announced on the French radio on March 20th, sleet and snow are forecast for next week so a poem about Winter and snow is still appropriate!
Renee who started her French class with us last September and who was then almost a beginner wrote the following poem:
Il neige
Tout le monde est blanc
Tout le monde est silencieux
Les petits oiseaux dans les arbres, l'arrêt de leur chant
La souris qui dort dans son nid
Mon chat regarde par la fenêtre
Mon chien dort près du feu
Il neige
Tout le monde est blanc
Tout le monde est silencieux
What about writing your own poem about Spring or Easter? We look forward to seeing it on the blog!
Why not join one of our French classes for our semi-intensive courses in June? For more info click here.
Renee who started her French class with us last September and who was then almost a beginner wrote the following poem:
Il neige
Tout le monde est blanc
Tout le monde est silencieux
Les petits oiseaux dans les arbres, l'arrêt de leur chant
La souris qui dort dans son nid
Mon chat regarde par la fenêtre
Mon chien dort près du feu
Il neige
Tout le monde est blanc
Tout le monde est silencieux
What about writing your own poem about Spring or Easter? We look forward to seeing it on the blog!
Why not join one of our French classes for our semi-intensive courses in June? For more info click here.
Sunday 7 March 2010
A photo exhibition in Bath by students having French lessons with Alliance Française
Come to our photo exhibition on the 13th March 2010, 19h30, at St Lukes’Church Hall-Wellsway in Bath.
The theme is “Tableau d’enfance”. Do you have a fond souvenir of your childhood? Share it with us with the help of a photo and a short text in French (maximum 800 characters).
Either submit a photo or come and help us select the best contributions. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Share supper with students who have French tuition with Alliance Française, bring your friends and bring food and wine too!
Tickets: £6.00 (apéritif included)
Click here to contact us.
The theme is “Tableau d’enfance”. Do you have a fond souvenir of your childhood? Share it with us with the help of a photo and a short text in French (maximum 800 characters).
Either submit a photo or come and help us select the best contributions. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Share supper with students who have French tuition with Alliance Française, bring your friends and bring food and wine too!
Tickets: £6.00 (apéritif included)
Click here to contact us.
Monday 1 March 2010
A talk on French gardens presented by a French tutor and guide for students taking French lessons with Alliance Française de Bristol
Florence, French tutor and guide will talk and show photos on modern gardens in Paris that you may know nothing about. She'll also present some unusual and quaint ones in the Loire Valley: plenty of new ideas for visits!
French students taking tuition with Alliance Française are warmly encouraged to come as well as anyone with a GCSE French who likes gardens.
Just click here for information about the event.
French students taking tuition with Alliance Française are warmly encouraged to come as well as anyone with a GCSE French who likes gardens.
Just click here for information about the event.
Saturday 20 February 2010
We also celebrate Valentine's day in France: La St Valentin
French people like sending their Valentine messages via the national press: one of our French tutors has looked at
some of these messages with her students in one of the French lessons as well as some of the more famous quotes on love. Here are a couple:
"Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît pas." Pascal
"La courbe de tes yeux fait le tour de mon cœur." Paul Eluard
For a lot of students who learn French, verbs and tenses are difficult, for French people too, here is what Jean Cocteau wrote about the verb aimer:
"Le verbe aimer est difficile à conjuguer: son passé n'est pas simple, son présent n'est qu'indicatif et son futur est toujours conditionnel."
Ask your French teacher to explain these quotes to you if you are not sure.
some of these messages with her students in one of the French lessons as well as some of the more famous quotes on love. Here are a couple:
"Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît pas." Pascal
"La courbe de tes yeux fait le tour de mon cœur." Paul Eluard
For a lot of students who learn French, verbs and tenses are difficult, for French people too, here is what Jean Cocteau wrote about the verb aimer:
"Le verbe aimer est difficile à conjuguer: son passé n'est pas simple, son présent n'est qu'indicatif et son futur est toujours conditionnel."
Ask your French teacher to explain these quotes to you if you are not sure.
Monday 8 February 2010
A French tutor of Alliance Française in Bath explains an old French tradition
Here is a little poem for Candlemas, la Chandeleur. In the old days in France, women lit candles, des chandelles so the word Chandeleur , to protect the house from fire and lightning.
Do you know that in France we eat pancakes, des crêpes on that day? And you must toss them in the air!
Le Perce-Neige
Violette de la Chandeleur,
Perce, perce, perce-neige,
Annonces-tu la Chandeleur,
Le soleil et son cortège
De chansons, de fruits, de fleurs ?
Perce, perce, perce-neige
À la Chandeleur.
Robert Desnos
http://bath.afbristol.org.uk/courses/
Do you know that in France we eat pancakes, des crêpes on that day? And you must toss them in the air!
Le Perce-Neige
Violette de la Chandeleur,
Perce, perce, perce-neige,
Annonces-tu la Chandeleur,
Le soleil et son cortège
De chansons, de fruits, de fleurs ?
Perce, perce, perce-neige
À la Chandeleur.
Robert Desnos
http://bath.afbristol.org.uk/courses/
Saturday 30 January 2010
With Les Bleus hosting Les Blancs in Paris on the 20th March, the posting below is rather timely
Doing some revision on the future tense, one student taking French lessons with Alliance Française de Bristol decided to write the 10 commandments of the rugby player in French , using the future tense.
Les 10 commandements du joueur de rugby
Tu ne tricheras jamais.
Il faudra que tu fasses un régime strict : Tu ne boiras jamais trop d’alcool et tu mangeras beaucoup de légumes et des protéines.
Tu t’entraîneras tous les jours 3 heures, soit au gymnase, soit au club de l’équipe.
Tu ne fumeras jamais.
Tu représenteras toujours ton club comme un ambassadeur de sport.
Tu aideras les enfants à l’école locale.
Tu mettras le rugby avant ton plaisir mais il faudra que tu considères le rugby comme ton plaisir.
Tu devras avoir l’esprit d’équipe et tes co-équipiers te respecteront.
Tu essaieras de gagner chaque match.
Mais surtout il faudra que tu donnes à ton père des billets gratuits pour les matchs.
Le père d’un joueur de Gloucester.
Et vous, pouvez-vous nous envoyer les 10 commandements d’une autre profession ?
Write your Ten Commandments in the future tense or why not practise your subjunctive:
il faut que tu fasses un régime très strict etc....
Put your version in the comments on the blog or send them to: Alliance Française de Bristol through our site
Les 10 commandements du joueur de rugby
Tu ne tricheras jamais.
Il faudra que tu fasses un régime strict : Tu ne boiras jamais trop d’alcool et tu mangeras beaucoup de légumes et des protéines.
Tu t’entraîneras tous les jours 3 heures, soit au gymnase, soit au club de l’équipe.
Tu ne fumeras jamais.
Tu représenteras toujours ton club comme un ambassadeur de sport.
Tu aideras les enfants à l’école locale.
Tu mettras le rugby avant ton plaisir mais il faudra que tu considères le rugby comme ton plaisir.
Tu devras avoir l’esprit d’équipe et tes co-équipiers te respecteront.
Tu essaieras de gagner chaque match.
Mais surtout il faudra que tu donnes à ton père des billets gratuits pour les matchs.
Le père d’un joueur de Gloucester.
Et vous, pouvez-vous nous envoyer les 10 commandements d’une autre profession ?
Write your Ten Commandments in the future tense or why not practise your subjunctive:
il faut que tu fasses un régime très strict etc....
Put your version in the comments on the blog or send them to: Alliance Française de Bristol through our site
Saturday 23 January 2010
A nice easy French recipe for these cold evenings!
Chouquettes salées au fromage de chèvre et fines herbes
Ingredients:
* 40 g of butter, cut in small pieces
* 125 ml of water
* 75 g of sifted flour
* 1 to 2 eggs ( beat one egg only)
* 40 g goat’s cheese
* Some finely chopped chives
* Salt/ pepper
Preheat the oven to 225C/ Gas 8
Heat the water and butter in a saucepan. When the butter has melted and the liquid is boiling remove from the heat, add the flour at once and stir it energetically with a wooden spoon. The mixture must come off the sides of the saucepan and form a dough.
Add the whole egg and beat the mixture. Add some more egg and evaluate if the dough needs more egg; the mixture must form a ‘point’ on the finger and must be homogeneous.
Add the goats’ cheese, the chives and season; mix just enough to incorporate these ingredients.
Line a tray with baking parchment and form choux buns either with a spoon or a piping bag. Brush each bun with egg wash (whole egg+ water well whisked). With a wet fork, push down the point of each bun - this will allow each bun to rise evenly.
Lower the oven temperature to 200C and bake the buns for 15 minutes.
Tip: At the end of the cooking time, leave the oven on and open the oven door for 3 to 4 minutes - this will allow the choux to dry and avoid them collapsing.
Recipe provided by Isabelle, French tutor with Alliance française de Bristol and chef at La Cuizine
Ingredients:
* 40 g of butter, cut in small pieces
* 125 ml of water
* 75 g of sifted flour
* 1 to 2 eggs ( beat one egg only)
* 40 g goat’s cheese
* Some finely chopped chives
* Salt/ pepper
Preheat the oven to 225C/ Gas 8
Heat the water and butter in a saucepan. When the butter has melted and the liquid is boiling remove from the heat, add the flour at once and stir it energetically with a wooden spoon. The mixture must come off the sides of the saucepan and form a dough.
Add the whole egg and beat the mixture. Add some more egg and evaluate if the dough needs more egg; the mixture must form a ‘point’ on the finger and must be homogeneous.
Add the goats’ cheese, the chives and season; mix just enough to incorporate these ingredients.
Line a tray with baking parchment and form choux buns either with a spoon or a piping bag. Brush each bun with egg wash (whole egg+ water well whisked). With a wet fork, push down the point of each bun - this will allow each bun to rise evenly.
Lower the oven temperature to 200C and bake the buns for 15 minutes.
Tip: At the end of the cooking time, leave the oven on and open the oven door for 3 to 4 minutes - this will allow the choux to dry and avoid them collapsing.
Recipe provided by Isabelle, French tutor with Alliance française de Bristol and chef at La Cuizine
Sunday 3 January 2010
Make French Fun Through Theatre
Come and share with us an evening of games and drama in accessible French!
Tuesday 19th January, 2010
8.30 pm
Comedy Box, above the Hen and Chicken
210 North Street
Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1JF
£2 at the door
Tuesday 19th will be the end of a ten-week course, and the evening will give the brave actors/French students a chance to show us what they can do! There'll be a few games with the audience and some short scenes created especially for the occasion.
Simon Fry of Venue commented after last year's event: "Their efforts culminated in the performance of some innovative and amusing role plays before a 50-strong audience, enjoyed immensely by participant and observer alike." There will be time after the show to socialise with the actors. As Simon says, "you may not end up at Cannes, but you'll no doubt be clicking glasses in the bar after a stellar showing."
A new 'French through Theatre' course will start up in March if you are interested in joining us: all you need is a good GCSE level, no previous acting experience is required! It's a fun way to learn French in context.
Past student feedback has been incredibly positive: "it's a completely different way of learning French. It's amazing how much you take in without even realising it. Acting was never really my thing, but acting in French is completely different! It's great fun and I'd recommend the course to everyone."
More info on the course on www.theatre-vo.com
A bientôt!
Tuesday 19th January, 2010
8.30 pm
Comedy Box, above the Hen and Chicken
210 North Street
Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1JF
£2 at the door
Tuesday 19th will be the end of a ten-week course, and the evening will give the brave actors/French students a chance to show us what they can do! There'll be a few games with the audience and some short scenes created especially for the occasion.
Simon Fry of Venue commented after last year's event: "Their efforts culminated in the performance of some innovative and amusing role plays before a 50-strong audience, enjoyed immensely by participant and observer alike." There will be time after the show to socialise with the actors. As Simon says, "you may not end up at Cannes, but you'll no doubt be clicking glasses in the bar after a stellar showing."
A new 'French through Theatre' course will start up in March if you are interested in joining us: all you need is a good GCSE level, no previous acting experience is required! It's a fun way to learn French in context.
Past student feedback has been incredibly positive: "it's a completely different way of learning French. It's amazing how much you take in without even realising it. Acting was never really my thing, but acting in French is completely different! It's great fun and I'd recommend the course to everyone."
More info on the course on www.theatre-vo.com
A bientôt!
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