Category Archives: Uncategorized

Political blackout so 3 Franglais freebies

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Susan

A campaign blackout covers France today – no news of tomorrow’s elections in the media. I could write my friends info from here but that wouldn’t be kosher (catholique en français).  Plus, I hope CNN and the web are still … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglicisms Invade, French versus English, French-American politics, News from France, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Will the French Vote for a Trump Equivalent? One week to the answer.

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Susan

The tension is growing in pre-election France.  Stephen “Etienne” Roop, a political scientist, expert in polling, tries to enlighten us here. Subject: One week out, is the French first round turning into a photo finish? The French media are breathless … Continue reading →

Posted in French-American politics, News from France, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Explaining the intricacies of France’s coming presidential election

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Susan

Here is the latest on the French elections from our French politics expert, Stephen “Etienne” Roop. Les présidentielles 2017                    posted: April 2, 2017 The first round of France’s two-round presidential election takes … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, French culture, Reasons to learn French?, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Liberty and my French friends grieve for us !

Posted on November 10, 2016 by Susan

My French friends seem almost as upset as we are at the idea that Trump could – will! – be the President of the United States. That somehow calms me, knowing we have their support. Here are some of them: … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, French-American politics, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Chapeau! = Bravo, Mark!

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Susan

Michel says: October 2, 2016 at 10:32 am On a besoin de chapeaux chics. Susan réagit: Michel demande des chapeaux chics. Alors, Mark voyage à Paris pour nous les acheter. Et nous voilà !   Chapeau !

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

A new French trendy adjective

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Susan

A new word is trending in France: ‘bisounours.’ The first few times I heard it, I couldn’t imagine what it could mean and wasn’t sure I’d heard correctly. Eventually, I looked it up under a spelling I imagined and found it as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

They caught the last terrorist!

Posted on March 21, 2016 by Susan

Ils l’ont eu  vivant – finally! We won’t have to wait any longer for that shoe to drop. Some tension will be lessened. But there are so many other shoes around the world! (This refers to Salah Abdeslam, the final … Continue reading →

Posted in French culture, News from France, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Spelling Changes – Helping or Harming?

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Susan

The French are arguing again, 26 years later, over recommended spelling changes to their language. I remember agonizing over them when I was working on French textbooks at a publishing company back then. We ended up not changing our spelling, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Perspectives, French culture, French versus English, Language Tips, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Fête de Noël honors the French spirit

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Susan

A bunch of devoted and talented francophiles gathered last night for Susan’s annual Fête de Noël. Current and former students, nous avons bavardé en français, grignoté des mets délicieux, et fini par chanter des chansons de Noël en français. En … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston French classes, Cultural Perspectives, French culture, Reasons to learn French, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Comment 2 on les élections régionales

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Susan

Michèle Lacoste also comments from Paris on Etienne’s text. Tomorrow is the election! “Le texte de Stephen Roop sur les élections régionales françaises m’a étonnée par le sérieux de l’information dont il fait preuve et par sa finesse d’interprétation. Il saisit bien … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment