Another way of attuning your ears to the French language (or any other language for that matter) - is to watch French language films. Some are broadcast on French TV (see earlier posts on French TV and TV5 Monde.)
Some cinemas will show French language films - and Ciné lumière at the Institut français in South Kensington regularly puts on new and older films. Each year there is a French Film Festival UK involving cinemas across the country. Details of the 2017 festival will be available here.
DVDs are available in shops, especially HMV and language bookshops (see the post on bookshops and on learning French). They can also be ordered through online retailers such as Amazon.
The BFI Player also has some French classics.
Subtitles are very useful - both English (so you link the two languages - and the more you watch films, the more able you are to distinguish literal translations with those giving 'the gist' of what is being said. Reading French subtitles with a French film can be helpful in reinforcing the recognition of particular words.
Do have a look through your 'English' DVD collection - you may be able to listen to the French audio feed, and/or French subtitles.
Monday 13 March 2017
Thursday 9 March 2017
How to be a good citizen
Politics has been treated in recent years as if it was just another consumer choice. Political Parties use the same information, tactics and tricks as marketing people in any industry. "Special Deals" are the manifesto promises (and as often as unread as the terms and conditions in the small print). Image can seem less important than substance.
Yet in a democracy, we are not consumers - but citizens. We enjoy the privilege of choosing who is going to make the decisions which impact upon our lives (whether it be the Councillors making a planning decision which will change our neighbourhood; or the Prime Minister/President whose decisions could change the future of our country or the Planet). We can also exercise the right to "chuck the buggers out". And with privilege comes duty.
Yet how our institutions work - and how we can influence the decisions which affect us is known to a very few.
One of the issues that Educafé will be dealing with (and its 'sister' blog - Washminster) is how we as citizens can understand how our democracy functions. I will be posting occasionally on the key things citizens need to empower themselves.
Parliament is a mystery to many. It seems very complex - but there's material available which is both informative and uncomplicated.
A great place to start is http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/
I love this short video from Parliament's Education Service.
The House of Commons Library also provides information about some of the practices (and peculiarities) of Parliament. Have a skim through these resources
If you want to read more, I would thoroughly recommend "How Parliament Works. It is written by senior clerks who know their stuff - and how to explain it succinctly, in a way that is understandable.
If you want a copy of the "Bible" of parliamentary practice - then 'Erskine May' is available - at a price. I have bought two editions in my lifetime - but await a massive win on the premium bonds before I can buy the current edition.
Yet in a democracy, we are not consumers - but citizens. We enjoy the privilege of choosing who is going to make the decisions which impact upon our lives (whether it be the Councillors making a planning decision which will change our neighbourhood; or the Prime Minister/President whose decisions could change the future of our country or the Planet). We can also exercise the right to "chuck the buggers out". And with privilege comes duty.
Yet how our institutions work - and how we can influence the decisions which affect us is known to a very few.
One of the issues that Educafé will be dealing with (and its 'sister' blog - Washminster) is how we as citizens can understand how our democracy functions. I will be posting occasionally on the key things citizens need to empower themselves.
Parliament is a mystery to many. It seems very complex - but there's material available which is both informative and uncomplicated.
A great place to start is http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/
I love this short video from Parliament's Education Service.
The House of Commons Library also provides information about some of the practices (and peculiarities) of Parliament. Have a skim through these resources
If you want to read more, I would thoroughly recommend "How Parliament Works. It is written by senior clerks who know their stuff - and how to explain it succinctly, in a way that is understandable.
If you want a copy of the "Bible" of parliamentary practice - then 'Erskine May' is available - at a price. I have bought two editions in my lifetime - but await a massive win on the premium bonds before I can buy the current edition.
Monday 6 March 2017
French TV
I was asked, in response to last Monday's post, whether there were other French TV channels available? Certainly there are in France (and other French speaking nations). Outside those countries it gets more complex - but there are now a number of apps for tablets which allow you to watch live TV from the domestic channels.
I subscribe to Vision TV Net. [Which also provides packages of Portuguese, Polish, Greek and Arabic channels]. The French package includes
- France 24 [The French language version]
- Eurochannel [programmes including films and documentaries in various European languages dubbed or subtitled in French]
- France 2 [one of the main domestic channels]
- France 3 [another of the main domestic channels - but more regional content]
- France 5 [family programming]
- MCM Top [music channel]
- TV5 Monde
- The Museum Channel [lifestyle and culture]
- MyZen TV [the Well Being Channel]
All of these are available on my iPad. The subscription also covers my desktop - but fewer channels are available.
I subscribe to Vision TV Net. [Which also provides packages of Portuguese, Polish, Greek and Arabic channels]. The French package includes
- France 24 [The French language version]
- Eurochannel [programmes including films and documentaries in various European languages dubbed or subtitled in French]
- France 2 [one of the main domestic channels]
- France 3 [another of the main domestic channels - but more regional content]
- France 5 [family programming]
- MCM Top [music channel]
- TV5 Monde
- The Museum Channel [lifestyle and culture]
- MyZen TV [the Well Being Channel]
All of these are available on my iPad. The subscription also covers my desktop - but fewer channels are available.
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