French lessons in Montauban

I didn't expect to be teaching French again so soon, however the opportunity came up last month. We give English lessosn to a Spanish man who lives in the next town, Albias. he asked me if I'd teach French to his younger brother who'd be visiting him for a month. Why not?

It's interesting for me, learning about the school system in Spain and also brushing up my skills teaching French up to about A-level. Fortunately the student has just spent a month in the UK, including 2 weeks studying English in Oxford, so we can ue English if necessary. My Spanish is not up to explaining grammar! The online dictionaries come in very handy too.

I found this game for grammar revision:

http://jeudeloie.free.fr/debutant/etreavoir/oie.html

Here you can test your level of French:

http://www.ciep.fr/tcf/structlang.php

When not learning French with me (3 hours a day) my student likes climbing rocks or practising at indoor climbing places. There's one right here in Montauban, near the railway station:

http://www.espacegrimpe.com/

Next week we'll do another 12 hours of French so I am off to find some lesson materials!

Bye!    Adios!       Salut!        Ciao!

Who still wants to learn languages?

This headline on The Guardian website caught my eye. The answer? Not the British apparently: or should that read "the English"? Here are the statistics:

Entries for French have fallen since languages were made optional at GCSE seven years ago. This year, they were down to just over 154,000 from around 170,000 last year, and compared with more than 300,000 in 2004.

French fell out of the top 10 most popular subjects last year, with more pupils choosing to study geography or art for GCSE. Religious studies has grown in popularity for the 13th year running, with nearly 222,000 entries, up from 188,704 last year.

About 650,000 children receive their GCSE results today in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a smaller group than in 2010. The number of 16-year-olds in the population has been declining since 2004.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/aug/25/gcse-results-one-in-four-get-a


The situation for adult learners may be that we're struggling to keep up with our own language or at least with new technologies

Here in France the problem in recent years has been for the French to come to terms with the fact that their language isn't universally spoken, but English is! Many students and a lot of parents aren't happy with the standard of language teaching in school, because they need to be able to speak English fluently for interviews, in business dealings and when they travel abroad.

Some parents here want their children to get a good start in English early in life:

At this stage there are 2 rules: have fun and have a teacher with a good accent. Young children who are still learning their own language are happy to imitate their teacher and they can soon learn to pronounce English sounds correctly. The good news is that this won't stop them from making progress in their mother tongue. 
"A study undertaken by York University in Canada suggests that bilingual children’s knowledge of a second language gives them an advantage in learning to read." See more here: 
http://www.early-advantage.com/articles/topten.aspx

I can't deny that the situation in France is a good source of income for me! It's interesting to see the range of ages of my students - 4 to 64 at the last count- and the variety of reasons for their need to learn English or brush up their existing skills.

Finally, if you're learning a language, even if it's how to text on that new Blackberry (other brands of complicated phones are available), keep practising and don't forget that the Internet has lots of useful sites where you can learn more.

Edinburgh in August

I spent a week in Scotland that coincided with the Edinburgh Festival and the Festival Fringe. For those who don't know it, yes, Edinburgh has a Festival in August......I'd tell you how many festivals, but it keeps changing and the dates change too, so have a look at this site for up to date information for 2011 and very soon I'm sure for 2012.

http://www.edinburghfestivals.co.uk/ 

 

This was my first impression of the High Street shennigans on Monday 15 August. David Hume seems to approve from on high!

 

This young Acapello group seen showcasing their songs on the High Street stage were really good. This was Tuesday afternoon, I can tell because it's sunny!

 

The Fringe isn't complete without it's street-performers. Their mix of witty repartee and amazing feats of strength or agility draws crowds, especially when the sun comes out.

The backdrop is the Signet Library in Parliament Square. This year the Signet Library is masquerading as the Pommery Champagne Bar. I popped in for a look, but I didn't stay for a glass of champagne because they wouldn't let me have a comfy seat; they were all reserved! Still maybe you'd like to go if you're in town...........

http://www.thesignetlibrary.co.uk/pommery-champagne-bar/

 On Tuesday my Dad joined me for lunch and then a stroll down the High Street.

Here's another link to the latest news and reviews from the festival.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/edinburgh-festival-2011

2 February Chandeleur

http://www.easy-french-food.com/crepe-celebration.html

Today or this weekend it is a traditional to make and eat lots of crêpes - pancakes- and the latest "Easy French Food " newsletter is devoted to this event. I hope you enjoy reading it! Happy cooking and pancake-flipping and Bon Appétit!

Views of Tarn et Garonne

Here are some photos I took 2 weeks ago, while I was out in the small town of Negrepelisse with the Cubs. First the Cubs and Leaders looking happy because they found the sword Excalibur (in the Boulangerie, why not?!)

 Reflections at the stream

 A typical "pigeonnier"

Back home, Jester Teddy takes a rest, wrapped in the Montauban Phoenix Cubs "necker"...looking very like the Saltire, I always think......but also with his UK Girlguiding Centenary one of course!

New year in Montauban Le Réveillon

Je suis allée au réveillon à la salle des fêtes de Fonneuve. Voici ce que l'Association "Vivre à Fonneuve" nous a proposé:
Ian and me enjoyed our 2nd Hogmanay at the local hall, where there was lots to eat and drink, as follows:
                                              MENU


Apéritif et ses gourmandises   ( Planters punch   Ricard   pizza   crudités & onion soup dip)
Assiette Gourmandine  (Foie gras  duck terrine  apple & chestnut verrine  onion compote)
Assiette de Fruits de mer             ( oysters  whelks  mussels   prawns)
Filet de brochet sauce aux écrivisses    ( pike in prawn sauce)
Trou Fonneuvois         ( a variation on "Trou Normand": sorbet plus pear brandy)

Tournedos de Boeuf  ( Tournedos    potato, cep & walnut gratin   green bean parcels)
Salade, plateau de 4 Fromages (green salad, cheese board)
Bûche glacée au craquant de praliné  (chocolate and caramel ice cream log)

Vin rouge, vin blanc, café et champagne ( red wine, white wine, coffee & champagne)

Happy New Year!   Bonne Année et une bonne santé!
 

Christmas Eve Bethlehem Light

Lighting the lights!

Along with some of the Cubs and a younger brother and sister, that's me. We were getting homemade candles ready in holders to give out to the members of the congregation at the Temple (church) at le Fau, near Montauban. Then Anne-Marie, Valérie, Benjamin and the Cubs told the story about the "Lumière de Bethléem" which we'd got from the Scouts et Guides de France on Sunday at Montech. And also about the flame of hope which refused to go out.....a lovely Christmas message.
Thanks to the other people who came out on a bitterly cold evening to join the young people and their parents, there was an audience, who all took a little light away home with them.