Student Quote of the Month

"My teacher is clear, helpful and fun.”

Dites-le parfaitement / Say it perfectly

Je suis très content(e) de vous/t’avoir rencontré(e)(s).
I’m happy I met you.

FIVE-DAY INTENSIVE COURSE
FROM AUGUST 22 to 26

Get $25 off by signing up before Tuesday, August, 16: $275.
Regular price: $300.

Not available 5 days is a row? Sign up per day for $65.

Please sign up early by calling us at 415.362.3666.

All levels are offered, separately of course, except Level 8. 

Not available 5 days is a row? Pay per day: $65.

Please register early by calling us at 415.362.3666.

Classes are offered in the morning (9:30 to 12), or in the afternoon (1 to 3:30), or in the evening (6:30 to 9:00).

Elementary Levels discover the new version of our series "Devour French" and focus on conversation. The intensive works best for students who want to review their previous elementary level and it leaves room for more conversation. It is also possible to take the intensive in order to get a taste of the next level up. Book(s): $29.95 tax included

Levels 6 and 7 will receive handouts for each topic: Vocabulary. Grammar: includes review of pronouns, prepositions and verb tenses. Conversation. 

The material is different every time, so you can repeat the intensive as often as you'd like. 

Restriction: No refunds or credits after Thursday, August 18. No exceptions.

French Lessons Online

You moved away?
Please keep in touch, keep speaking French!

• You can continue studying French with us on line with Skype. Learn more about it.
• You may still benefit from reading new quick tips every month. 

Listen for FREE

Qui a dit? Who said?

“Le pardon est un luxe. Ça devrait être un mode de vie.” 

Faites défiler le texte vers le bas pour voir la réponse.

Scroll down to see the answer.

Understanding French movies - 
it gets better with practice!

See our previous articles about slang in French movies in the back issues of The French Class Newsletter, available on our Facebook page (see Notes).

Counter investigation. Contre enquête. In French with English subtitles (sous-titres) on Netflix, with Jean Dujardin. Drama.

Here are a few expressions you will hear in this movie:
 

Bougez pas! Don’t move!

On prend le p’tit déj. We’re having breakfast.

On ira à l’étang. We’ll go to the pond.

N’oublie pas d’allumer ton portable. Don’t forget to turn on your cell phone.

Elle est bloquée. She is stuck (at work).

On va faire du VTT. We’re going to ride our mountain bikes.

C’est une tenue de sport. It’s sports clothes.

Que dalle! (Slang) Nothing at all!

Faut que j’y aille. I have to go.

J’en ai pas pour longtemps. It won’t take me long.

Une heure maxi. One hour at the most.

T’as qu’à te faire un DVD (slang). Just watch a DVD.

Si tu le dis. If you say so.

Je me grouille (slang). I’m hurrying.

Saisir le code parental. Enter the parental control code.

Je te paie un coup. I’m buying you a drink.

Un môme. A kid.

Elle s’est barrée. (slang). She left.

L’interpellation. The arrest.

Pronunciation Quick Fix...

$20 for a one-on-one 25-minute practice to improve your pronunciation. Schedule your pronunciation quick fix before or after your class. Call us now at (415) 362-3666 or just come to the front desk to make an appointment.

Un verbe à la fois!

One verb at a time!

See what you can say with a very simple verb…

Rent an apartment in Paris

Great locations, rates and management. The French Class students get a discount.
Contact: rothray@rothray.com

Trouvez la préposition correcte 

1. Je m’abstiens ______ tout commentaire.

2. Je me retiens ______ dire ce que je pense .

3. Je n’ai pas besoin ______ cette chaise.

4. Allez-y ______ moi, je vous rejoindrai plus tard.

5. Vous avez raison, ______ aucun doute.

6. Je n’ai pas reçu de réponse ______ l’instant.

7. Vous pouvez visiter ce site, ______ exemple.

8. Nous en reparlerons ______ la suite.

Voir les réponses plus bas. See answers below

Faites défiler le texte vers le bas ou cliquez sur la clé pour voir les réponses.
Scroll down or click the key to see the answers.

Learn French From Your Home Or Office

Learn French face to face with your teacher on SKYPE or FACETIME, just like in our classroom. Skype is FREE and VERY easy to install and use. 
Go to the Private Lessons page on our website for more details and rates, or call us at (415) 362-3666. 

Quelques phrases utiles /
A few useful sentences

A la semaine prochaine!
See you next week!

Même heure, même endroit.
Same time, same place.

A Simple Fact To Learn More French

If you learn one simple sentence in French every day, you will learn 365 French expressions in a year.  For example: 
Je vous rappelle(rai) dans une heure.
I’ll call you back in an hour. 

Read The French Class Newsletter and learn hundreds of expressions per year, for free! Keep reading! Keep learning!

Un petit peu de grammaire /
A little bit of grammar

Le subjonctif

Il faut que je sois de retour avant 5 heures.
I have to be back before 5.

C’est dommage qu’il ne puisse pas venir.
It’s too bad he can’t come.

C’est bête qu’il n’ait pas pu venir.
It’s too bad he couldn’t come.

Il y a trop de bruit pour que je puisse entendre ce qu’il dit.
There is too much noise to hear what he is saying.

C’est bizarre qu’il ne m’ait pas répondu.
It’s weird that he didn’t answer me.

If you would like to perfect your French and improve quickly, grammar is the way to go! 
Visit our website at www.frenchclass.com.

Your Victory of the Month

Keeping a positive attitude while learning will help you learn faster and will also make learning so much more pleasant! Save a few minutes every day to open your French book and review what you just learned. Set small goals. For example, learn how to say one sentence:
Bon anniversaire!
Happy birthday!

THE PURPOSE OF THE ACADEMIE FRANCAISE

The idea of forming an academy devoted to “eliminating the impurities of a language” came originally from Florence, Italy, in 1582. An informal literary group was formed in France in 1634, and was made official by the Cardinal Richelieu the following year. The French revolution put an end to l’Académie Française. It was restored by Louis XVIII in 1816.

Every year, a special commission of members of l’Académie Française introduces new words into the dictionary (un courriel - an email) and eliminates words rarely used (un abuseur - an abuser)! The Academy also works on the modernization of orthography and tries to slow down the introduction of foreign words in the French language, particularly English words. It has been criticized for refusing to introduce the feminine of certain words such as une ministre although many women are holding office in the government. Other French speaking countries such as Belgium, Switzerland and Canada were not as reluctant to use feminine words like une auteure (an author).

The 40 members are called les immortels (the immortals) because they hold office for life. They are elected by their peers. Each new member must apply for the specific seat of a former member and is required to eulogize his/her predecessor. As a result some people do not apply for a vacant seat if they didn’t like the académicien to be replaced.

Académiciens rarely get fired. The first dismissal was in 1638, when Auger de Moléon de Granier was expelled for theft. The most recent dismissals occurred at the end of World War II. Philippe Pétain, Abel Bonnard, Abel Hermant, and Charles Maurras were excluded due to their association with the Vichy regime. 

L’Académie includes politicians, lawyers, scientists, historians, philosophers, and clergymen. Famous Académiciens include: Voltaire, Montesquieu, Victor Hugo, et Louis Pasteur. Léopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal was the first African elected, in 1983.

Three years earlier, Marguerite Yourcenar was the first woman to enter L’Académie. The Academy used to have two restrooms, both labeled “Toilettes.” After Yourcenar, the designation was changed to: Messieurs and Marguerite Yourcenar. Later on, several women filled vacant seats: Jacqueline de Romilly, Hélène Carrère d'Encausse, Florence Delay, Assia Djebar, Simone Veil, Danièle Sallenave, Dominique Bona. 

All Académiciens wear a uniform known as l’habit vert (the green habit) worn at formal ceremonies. It includes a black-feathered bicorne, richly embroidered with green leafy motifs and a ceremonial sword. Members of the clergy do not receive a sword.

The Académie française awards more than 60 prizes in various fields such as literature, painting, poetry, theatre, cinema, history, and translation. One of the most important prizes is the grand prix de la francophonie, which was instituted in 1986, and is funded by the governments of France, Canada, Monaco, and Morocco. Other important prizes include the grand prix de littérature (for a literary work), the grand prix du roman (for a novel), the grand prix de poésie (poetry), the grand prix de philosophie (for a philosophical work), the grand prix du cinéma (film), and the grand prix Gobert (for a work on French history).

My French 2 Cents

Have your own French tutor for 2 cents per day!

Here is how it works in 4 easy steps:

• pay $7.30 for a one-year subscription to this amazing program
• receive a welcome email
• send your questions to the e-mail address you are given
• receive a prompt answer

It is that easy!

AN EVENING IN PARIS

On Thursday, July 21 at 7:30PM with the San Francisco Symphony and singer-song writer Madeleine Peyroux featuring Debussy, selections of Suite bergamasque and Gershwin, An American in Paris, including classic French songs such as J’ai deux amours and La vie en rose, and more.

Rent...

our large conference room for your professional events

Great rate. Up to 28 people. Very convenient downtown location. 

FORWARD, NO MATTER WHAT!

A seminar for stubborn women

Facilitated in English by Dominique Brémond,

Saturday, August 20
1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sliding scale $5 to $25

The French Class Meet Up

Learn more French everyday on our two Facebook pages

Qui a dit? Who said? La réponse

“Le pardon est un luxe. Ça devrait être un mode de vie.” 

Forgiveness is a luxury. It should be a way of life.

Gérard Depardieu. Before becoming one of the most famous French actors, Depardieu had a difficult start in life. He quit school when he was 13 and was involved in petty crimes. He was noticed by a talent spotter who sent him to drama school. Gérard conquered his shyness by acting in comedy theaters. He got his first break in Les Valseuses, a movie directed by Bertrand Blier. The rest is history.

Les réponses :

Trouvez la préposition correcte

1. Je m’abstiens de tout commentaire. I’m refraining from making any comment.

2. Je me retiens de dire ce que je pense. I keep from saying what I think.

3. Je n’ai pas besoin de cette chaise. I don’t need this chair.

4. Allez-y sans moi, je vous rejoindrai plus tard. Go without me, I’ll catch up with you later.

5. Vous avez raison, sans aucun doute. You are right, without any doubt.

6. Je n’ai pas reçu de réponse pour l’instant. I haven’t received any answer for the time being.

7. Vous pouvez visiter ce site, par exemple. You can visit this site, for example.

8. Nous en reparlerons par la suite. We’ll talk about it at a later time.

2016

8-week classes
 

The first and last days of class vary, depending on the class you attend.

Summer: Monday June 27 to Saturday August 20

Fall:           Monday August 29 to Saturday October 22 

Winter:    Monday October 24 to Saturday December 17 

Intensives

5-Day Intensive courses - August 22 to 26 - All levels offered (separately)

4-Day Intensive courses - December 19 to 22 - Conversation for all levels

Annual Holiday Party 

Friday, December 2, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Food, drinks, music, raffle and good company with all of The French Class students and friends. Children are welcome.