9.00 la culture

Le Minitel

Before computers and the internet became so popular around the world, the French had their own version called the Minitel. It was a computer-type that many French homes have back in the 1980s.

The machine information, similar to how the internet works today. You could access bus, plane and train , movie listings and schedules and other similar kinds of information- all right at your fingertips.

The computer: Today, French homes generally have access to the internet, as many American homes do, French teenagers can also use the internet at “cybercafes” that are located in cities of most any size all throughout France.

At cybercafes, people can the use of a computer or other equipment, such as a scanner, for a certain period of time. They usually pay by the hour to use these machines. While they are surfing the net or answering e-mails, people might also have a snack, as most of these cyber cafes do also serve food.

Some vocabulary that you might find interesting:

Surfer le net

Chatter

Envoyer un mail

Telecharger (download)

Etre en ligne

Les jeux d’ordinateur

Les cybernautes

Are you able to recognize most of those expressions?

Les Asiatiques en France

People of different ethnic origins have been welcome in France for many years.

Throughout its history, France, sometimes referred to as l’Hexagone because of its shape, maintains its status as one of the world’s most influential centers. History shows external influences entering its borders, as well as influences extending from its borders, earn and maintain this distinction.

Indochine (French Indochina) serves as an example of influences. The inception of French control in this portion of Asia began in 1867 by Napoleon III. In the late 1880s, Viet Nam and the Kingdoms of Cambodia formed Indochine (French Indochina) with Viet Nam joining after the France-Siamese War. In the 1950s, the Geneva Conference resulted in the Geneva Agreement which granted independence of Indochine (Indochina) from France.

Christina Influence

Indochina became one of the many areas of the world proclaiming French as its language. The official language could be seen in currency, governmental documents, and official papers.

Along with the French language came a strong influence to the predominantly Buddhist, Confucianist, and Taoist part of the world. The traditional architecture of this cathedral in Viet Nam as compared to traditional Indochinese architecture shows a contrast of cultures coexisting. Similarly, in France, one can visit the Temple du Souvenir Indochinois built in 1907. The temple currently stands in the Jardin Tropical de Paris.

Indochinese Migrate to France.

The liberation of Indochina from French control was celebrated with many traditions. Also the influx of immigrants from Indochina that has begun in France in the early 1900s continued. Unlike in other countries where the Indochinese settled in close-knit communities, the Indochinese immigrants in France are primarily throughout large urban areas such as Paris, Marseille, and Lyon,

Although second-generation immigrants quickly into the French culture, first-generation immigrants maintain close cultural connections to the and its traditions

Air France from Cambodia to France.

Following the shared tumultuous history, the former Indochina and France again connect as Air France began the first service to Cambodia in 37 years.

Indochinese Memorial

Under the unfurled French flag stands a to those fallen in the Indochinese wars. However, relationships continue to rebuild.

Traveling Dance Troupe

A traveling dance troupe of l Cambodian dancers, Dance, Spirit of Cambodia, include France as a stop on its tour.

Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres

In 2010, the King of Cambodia is admitted as a member of the Academie des Inscriptions et Belles-Letters in Paris, France.

Diversity of French Culture

France continues to celebrate its rich, diverse history and , and its language, French, still serves as the language in many countries and entities. And, after European and African immigration, immigrants from Indochina comprise the largest group of immigrants and continue to share in the richness of France’s culture.

9.01 La France

Ou se trouve la France?

Un avion

Une Agence de voyage

Au lycée, le prof et ses eleves regardent une carte de l’Europe.

Le prof : Guy, ou se trouve la Suisse?

Guy : La Suisse se trouve a l’est de la France.

Le prof : Comment est-ce qu’on va d’Angleterre en France?

Guy : Il faut traverser la Manche.

Le prof : Comment est-ce qu’on va du Canada aux États-Unis?

Guy : Il faut traverser la frontière. (the border)

Une Employe de l’agence de voyage.

Le Canada.

Quel pays se trouve au nord des États-Unis?

Le Canada se trouve au nord des États-Unis.

Tous les étés John passe ses vacances en Europe. Cette année il va passer une semaine en France. De là, il part pour l’est de l’Europe.

Mme Rey sort

Mme Rey va partir à l’étranger cet été. Elle va dans une agence de voyage pour demander des renseignements à l’employé.

Dans l’agence de voyages…

Travel agent : Quand est-ce que vous partez?

Customer : Pendant le première semaine de juin.

Travel Agent : Et pour combien de temps?

Customer : Trois semaines.

Travel Agent : Vous aimez mieux aller en train ou en avion?

Customer : Je ne sais pas. Peut-etre an avion. C’est plus rapide.

Travel Agent : Oui, et on mange bien dans l’avion. On sert de bons repas,

Mme Rey sort de l’agence. Elle est heureuse.

Did you notice?

Use « a+definite article…de » to say » to the… of » when giving directions or telling where things are located.

Remember that “a” + definite article “le” contract to from “au”

L’Angleterre se trouve au nord de la France.

Le Canada se trouve au nord des États-Unis (des because it is plural)

9.02 Dormir

Les verbes en –ir comme Dormir

Ir verbs that change differently than the ones we have already learned.

Dormir (to sleep)

Singular Plural

Je dors Nour dormons

Tu dors Vous dormez

Il/elle/on dort Ils/elles dorment

Partir (to leave)

Singular Plural

Je pars Nous partons

Tu pars Vous partez

Il/elle/on part Ils/elles partent

Imperative form of dormer and partir

Dormir Partir

Dors! Pars!

Dormez! Partez!

Dormons! Partons!

Notes about these verbs:

For the plural forms, drop the _ir of the infinitive and add the plural endings _ons, -ez, -ent to the stem (dorm-)

For the singular forms, drop the last consonant of the plural stem (‘dorm” becomes “dor”) and add the endings –s, -s, -t. Pronounce these forms alike.

When mentioning a place.

Use of “partir” and “sortir”

With a place Without a place

Je pars de la vile ce soir Je pars ce soir

Il sort du théâtre maintenant Il sort maintenant.

Elle part pour l’Allemagne Elle part demain.

Other verbs following the same pattern as « dormir »

Partir (de, pour) (to leave)

Servir (to serve)

Sortir (de) (to get out of/exit)

The present tense of “Servir”

Singular Plural

Je sers Nous servons

T users Vous servez

Il/elle/on sert Ils/elles servent

The present tense of ‘sortir”

Singular Plural

Je sors Nous sortons

Tu sors Vous sortez

Il/elle/on sort Ils/elles sortent

Imperative forms of ‘servir’ and “sortir”

Servir Sortir

Sers! Sors!

Servez! Sortez!

Servons! Sortons!

Prononciation

Pronounce these letters or combinations of letters like the [ay] sound in “say”

É, er, ez, ai, et, ; aller, chez, le café, le cahier, regarder

Pronounce these letters or combination of letters like the [e] in ‘let”

E, è, ê, ai(m): j’aime, quel, ferme, le sud-est, étrangère

Pronounce these combinations of letters like the [an] in “ant”.

In, ain, im, ym, en: cinq, le voisin, demain, impermeable, sympa,

9.03 les villes

Les Villes et les Pays

Je vais à Paris.

J’habite à Chicago.

Use of a, au, en, de, du, des and d’ in locations

Villes Pays feminins Pays masculins

Je vais à Paris Je vais en France Je vais au Canada

J’habite à Chicago J’habite en Amérique J’habite aux États-Unis

Je rentre de Paris Je rentre de France

Je rentre d’Amérique

Je rentre du Canada

Je rentre des États-Unis

Things to note :

To talk about going to or being in a country with a feminine name, use en. If the name of the country is masculine, use au or aux.

To talk about coming back from a country with a feminine name, use de or d’ (when a word begins with a vowel) without the article. If the name is masculine, use du or des.

Most country names are feminine. All that end in –e are feminine except le Mexique, le Mozamique, le Cambodge, Le Zimbabwe.

9.04 Les Adverbes Interrogatifs.

You know how to form yes/no (oui/non) questions in French by using intonation, est-ce que and n’est ce pas.

A conversation does not last very long with oui/non questions. To ask for specific information, you can use words like those in the chart below. They are called interrogatives ( I call them question stems). Now in addition to asking yes/no questions, we can ask information questions using these interrogative adverbs:

Question word What it means Example

Où Where? Où habitez-vous?

D’où From where? D’où arrives-tu?

Pourquoi Why? (always answer Parce que) Pourquoi Paul applaudit-il?

Comment How? Comment Marie chante-t-elle?

Quand When? Quand sors-tu?

Combien How many/How much Combien de frères a-t-elle?

Qui Who? Qui a perdu le match?

Quelle Which? Quelle équipe a gagné?

Pour qui? For who? Pour qui sont les fleurs?

Quoi? What? A quoi ressemble-t-il?

Note : to ask someone to repeat themselves we do not use « quoi? »: It is more polite to say “pardon?”

In spoken French, you will often hear the interrogative adverbs in questions without “est-ce que”.

Vous habitez où?

Tu arrives d’où?

Pourquoi Paul applaudit?

Marie chante comment?

Tu sors quand?

Elle a combien de frères?

A note about word order:

Word order may vary. You can use the inversion but until you’re comfortable with the language, it’s best to include “est-ce que.”

“Combien de” becomes “combien d’” in front of a vowel sound. Combien d’amis est-ce que tu as?

9.05Les Nationalités

When you are traveling and meeting new people from other areas, you will begin conversations with them and you will want to ask a variety of things. One wonderful question to be able to ask is “Do you speak..” whatever language.

Let’s learn to recognize and say the different languages that are in the presentation below. You will want to pay close attention to the slideshow because it will present new vocabulary that will be key in this area of the unit.

Les langues et les nationalites

C’est le drapeau français.

La personne qui habite en France est française.

On parle français en France

C’est le drapeau espagnol.

La personne qui habite en Espagne est espagnole.

On parle espagnol en Espagne

.

C’est le drapeau italien.

La personne qui habite en Italie est italienne.

On parle italien en Italie.

C’est le drapeau anglais.

La personne qui habite en Angleterre est anglaise.

On parle anglais en Angleterre

C’est le drapeau américain.

La personne qui habite aux États-Unis est américaine.

On parle anglais aux États-Unis.

. C’est le drapeau belge.

La personne qui habite en Belgique est belge.

On parle français et flamand en Belgique.

C’est le drapeau allemand.

La personne qui habite en Allemagne est allemande.

On parle allemand en Allemagne.

C’est le drapeau mexicain.

La personne qui habite au Mexique est mexicaine.

On parle espagnol au Mexique.

C’est le drapeau canadien.

La personne qui habite au Canada est canadienne.

On parle anglais et français au Canada.

C’est le drapeau québécois.

La personne qui habite au Québec est québécoise.

On parle français et anglais au Québec.

Did you notice? After the verb « parler » there is usually not a definite article before the name of the language.

Compare: J’étudie l’allemand; Elle parle français.

When « si » means « if , » it becomes « s » in front of « il » or « ils ».

S’il chante bien, applaudissons!

When “si” means “yes,” it doesn’t change:

Il ne chante pas bien? Si, il chante tres bien.

The adjectives for nationalities (known as proper adjectives in English) as well as languages are not capitalized in French.

9.06 Les verbes en –re

Vendre (to sell)

Répondre (to answer)

Attendre (to wait)

Entendre (to listen)

Rendre visite a (to go visit)

Perdre (to lose)

The –re group is the third group of regular verbs in French. You have studied the –er verbs and the –ir verbs, and now you are studying the –re verbs.

Perdre: drop the –re then add the endings for each subject pronoun just like you did for the other verbs;

Singular Plural

Je perds Nous perdons

Tu perds Vous perdez

Il/elle perd Ils/elles perdent

The imperative: Perds! Perdez! Perdons!

Ils attendant

Il n’entend pas

Elle rend visite au malade.

Elle ne perd pas.

Ici, on vend du café

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Il répond bien en classe