A Moment of Culture
Citation de la semaine / Quote of the Week
"La vie est une fleur dont l'amour est le miel."
"Life is a flower, and love is its honey." - Victor Hugo
"On n'aime que ce qu'on ne possède pas tout entier."
"We only love what we do not wholly possess." - Marcel Proust
Saint-Valentin/Valentine's Day
Ah, la Saint-Valentin, le jour où Cupidon prend des vacances et décoche des flèches d'amour partout ! C'est comme la fête des câlins, des bisous, et des "Je t'aime" à gogo. Mais pourquoi tout ce remue-ménage le 14 février ? Eh bien, ça remonte à des histoires anciennes de romantisme et de lettres d'amour en cachette. Les amoureux se donnaient des petits billets doux et, avec le temps, ça a évolué en une journée dédiée à célébrer l'amour. Donc, c'est le moment idéal pour déclarer ta flamme ou simplement réclamer une boîte de chocolats !
Ah, Valentine's Day, the day when Cupid takes a break and shoots love arrows everywhere! It's like a festival of hugs, kisses, and "I love you" overload. But why all the fuss on the 14th of February? Well, it goes back to ancient tales of romance and secret love letters. Sweethearts used to exchange little love notes, and over time, it evolved into a day dedicated to celebrating love. So, it's the perfect time to profess your feelings or just claim a box of chocolates!
Chanson du mois / Song of the Month
Master KG ft. Nomcebo - Jerusalema
"Jerusalema" is a song by South African DJ and record producer Master KG featuring South African vocalist Nomcebo. The song went viral at the beginning of the pandemic and countries all over the world learnt the dance and filmed their own versions. Here is a French version:
Film of the Month!
The Princess Bride
Princesse Bride est un film classique d'aventure fantastique réalisé par Rob Reiner, sorti en 1987.
Il raconte l'histoire de Buttercup et Westley, un jeune couple séparé par le destin mais déterminé à se retrouver.
Rempli d'humour, de romance et de combats d'épées audacieux, le film entraîne les spectateurs dans un voyage palpitant à travers un pays de pirates, de géants et de magie.
Le film est connu pour ses personnages emblématiques tels qu'Inigo Montoya et Vizzini, chacun apportant son charme et son esprit uniques à l'histoire.
Princesse Bride reste un film apprécié pour son récit intemporel, ses répliques mémorables et son histoire émouvante d'un amour vrai.
The Princess Bride is a classic fantasy adventure film directed by Rob Reiner, released in 1987.
It tells the story of Buttercup and Westley, a young couple separated by fate but determined to be reunited.
Filled with humor, romance, and daring sword fights, the movie takes viewers on a thrilling journey through a land of pirates, giants, and magic.
The film is known for its iconic characters such as Inigo Montoya and Vizzini, each bringing their unique charm and wit to the story.
The Princess Bride remains a beloved film for its timeless storytelling, memorable quotes, and heartwarming tale of true love.
Fête du Citron / French Lemon Festival
The Fête du Citron is a carnival event organised by the tourist office of the city of Menton, France, and held every year at the end of winter. It is also sometimes called Carnaval de Menton. The festival celebrates the annual production of specialty lemons and other citrus fruit in Menton. It is celebrated in February.
Celebrity Supply Teacher!
Vick Hope is a BBC Radio 1 presenter, a celebrity and was even on Strictly! Click here to watch her 10 minute French lesson!
What are her top 3 useful phrases for when she is on holiday?
What is her favourite French word?
How many languages does she speak?
Histoire du Mois / Story of the Month
IIl était une fois un riche chapelier. Il racontait beaucoup de mensonges. Mais il était si riche que ça ne dérangeait personne.
« Oh, il ne fait que plaisanter ! » riaient les gens.
Once upon a time there was a rich hat maker. He told a lot of lies. But he was so rich that this didn't bother anyone. "Oh, he's just joking!" people laughed.
Tapis Magique! / Armchair Travel
You don't need to leave the comfort of your armchair to visit France. This week we are visiting Mont Blanc. Mont Blanc lies on the border, separating France and Italy. From both languages (Mont Blanc and Monte Bianco) the name is translated as "the White Mountain".
Watch the interactive 3D video below and use your mouse to move around the screen.
Les dessins animés / Cartoons
The Adventures of Tintin is a series of 24 bande dessinée albums created by Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi, who wrote under the pen name Hergé. The series was one of the most popular European comics of the 20th century.
Click here to watch TinTin in French - there are 21 episodes
Once you have opened the video, to add subtitles click on the settings icon (the second icon from the left) and click 'Subtitles'. Or watch this video to help you.
Les Aventures de Tintin constituent une série de bandes dessinées créée par le dessinateur et scénariste belge Hergé. Le Sceptre d'Ottokar est le huitième album de bande dessinée des Aventures de Tintin, prépublié en noir et blanc du 4 août 1938 au 10 août 1939 dans les pages du Petit Vingtième, supplément du journal Le Vingtième Siècle. La version couleur de l'album est parue en 1947. Cet album marque l'arrivée de Bianca Castafiore dans la série.
Burundi
Burundi
Burundi, officially the Republic of Burundi, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge
Kirundi and French are the official languages of Burundi.
Célébrité de la semaine/Celebrity of the Week
Simone Lucie Ernestine Marie Bertrand de Beauvoir (1908 – 1986)
She was a French writer, intellectual, existentialist philosopher, political activist, feminist and social theorist.
"Simone de Beauvoir has inspired generations to think about what it means to be a woman, and about what possibilities are denied to women because those possibilities are not ‘feminine’. "
- Dr Kate Kirkpatrick, lecturer in Religion, Philosophy and Culture
French Quizzes
Lyrics Training
Cuisine française / French Cuisine
Tarte Flambée
The Alsace region of France is adjacent to Germany and Switzerland, and it’s the origin for a delectable pizza known as tarte flambée (or flammkuchen, in German). It’s a thin-crusted pizza topped with a creamy cheesy white sauce, sweet onions, and crisp bacon.
Clafoutis
A clafoutis is French upside-down cake. While it can be made with a variety of fruit, the most textbook version consists of fresh cherries. Cherry season is just around the corner, and if you love the sweet juicy fruit, we recommend you bookmark this recipe now!
Click here for "13 Classic French Dishes you Need to try today!"
Croque Monsieur
The French take the pairing of ham and cheese seriously, and this is no more apparent than in a croque-monsieur. It’s a toasted ham and cheese sandwich that’s baked until crisp and covered in a decadent béchamel sauce. Add an egg on top and its name is changed to croque-madame.
Les virelanges / Tongue Twisters
Seize chaises sèchent
- Sixteen chairs are drying -
Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches? Archi sèches!
- Are the archduchess socks dry? Extremely dry! -
