Posts from April 2009

French Language Games

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Apr 13 2009

I’ve written in other posts how much I love to play games…board games, card games, quiz-type games, etc.  Name the game and I’ll play!  Some of you may have noticed the links to the right of the blog articles and others, perhaps have not.  So, I thought I’d take the opportunity to bring them to your attention.  Well, I just finished playing a really fun one (International Cafe) all while figuring out that I would love to learn some more foreign languages…perhaps Russian, Greek or improve my German.  I also had fun working on my French grammar, vocabulary and syntax with Unscramble.  This game times you and gives you a score.  Try any of the games offered at the website as they really are great…both great fun and great learning tools.  You won’t even realize you’re learning.  There’s a Word Seek with various themed vocabulary puzzles.  It took me 8 minutes to find all the travel words.  Can you beat me?  Tell us how long it takes you!  Oh, and pay attention…they can be hidden backwards!

French Language – Body Slang

Posted by Transparent Language 1 Comment
Apr 9 2009

As I’ve written before, understanding and then being able to use expressions and slang in another language is a huge step forward in the language learning process.  So, I’ll let you in on some more French slang.  These expressions sound like they have something to do with the body, but in fact, do not.  Be careful when using them!

(être) à deux doigts de J’étais à deux doigts de parler quand il m’a interrompu.
to be on the verge
  		  

 
(ne pas) bouger d’un poil Assis-toi !  Ne bouge pas d’un poil! 
not to budge an inch
 		   

 
(se) bouffer le nez Ces deux se bouffent le nez sans arrêt !
to fight
 		   

 
ça saute aux yeux Quelle voiture ! Ça saute aux yeux qu’il n’est pas pauvre.
it’s obvious
 		   

 
(se) casser la gueule Attention à la descente! Tu vas te casser la gueule !
to break one’s neck
 		   

 
(se) casser la tête Je me suis cassé la tête pour trouver mes amis d’école.
to rack one’s brain over something
 		  
un casse-pieds Quel casse-pieds!  Il ne me laisse jamais tranquille!
a pain in the neck   

 
dégueuler J’ai dégueulé dans l’avion.
to vomit
 		  
faire la gueule Ne fais pas la gueule parce que tes parents t’ont dit non.
to pout
 		  
foutre un coup de main Est-ce que tu peux me foutre un coup de main avec ça ?
to give someone a hand
 		  
les bras m’en tombent On m’a volé le sac!  Les bras m’en tombent.
I’m stunned!
 		  
(s’en) mordre les doigts Je n’ai pas acheté la robe que j’ai vue hier.  Je m’en mords les doigts.
to regret something  

Make a Byki list of the expressions to learn them more easily with Byki Deluxe.

French Food – Entrecôte

Posted by Transparent Language No Comments
Apr 6 2009

I just finished eating a juicy entrecôte (rib steak) and am feeling thankful to the French for this delicious cut of meat…but, then again…is it really French?  And come to think of it, the French fries…I don’t think they are really very French either.  According to Wikipedia, ‘entrecôte‘ is a piece of meat (beef) cut out between two ribs.  And now, it turns out that what the grocery store sold to me as ‘entrecôte‘ is really a ‘contre-filet‘ or sirloin steak which is the portion of the sirloin on the side of the bone opposite the filet.  Oh well, it was so very tasty anyway, especially since it was smothered in sauce Roquefort!  Here’s my husband’s recipe for Roquefort sauce:

Ingredients
2 cups of softened French Roquefort cheese
2 cups of heavy cream
2 tsp black pepper

Pour the cream into a saucepan, throw in the pepper and boil until reduced by half.  Then, add the cheese and whisk until smooth.  Serve warm drizzled over a juicy, grilled steak.

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