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:

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:

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:

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,

Videos from our Drama Workshops

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

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