Learn French with Cindy

La galette des rois (Kings' cake)
Kings’ day is traditionally celebrated in France on the Epiphany day, also called day of the Kings, on the 6th of January, when the 3 kings Gaspard, Balthazar and Melchior turned up to give gifts to baby Jesus. To celebrate, the French share the galette des rois which is usually made of a puff pastry confection with almond-flavoured frangipane cream but can also be made of a candied-fruit brioche in the south of France. Whatever region you’re in, the galette des rois always involves a fève and a crown. A fève, usually a small porcelain or plastic figurine, is hidden in the traditional pastry. After slicing the galette, to ensure random distribution of each slice, the youngest person in the room sits under the table and randomly designate who is getting the next slice as they are being served. The person who ends up with the fève in their slice becomes the king or queen for the day, gets to wear the crown and is also in charge of buying the next galette. Traditionally, the kings are selected only on the 6th of January, but today, this tradition lasts for the entire month of January giving you plenty of chances to become the king or the queen and enjoy some more cake 🤤

Public holiday: 11 of November in commemoration of the fighters and victims of the First World War.
November 11 1918, at 5:15am sharp, the Armistice was signed by the representatives of the Allies (France, Russian, United-Kingdom, the United-States), and by German representatives, including Maréchal Foch (French general, Marshal of France and Allied Supreme Commander in World War) along with Admiral Wemyss (British representative) and Matthias Erzberger (representing the German government). The armistice was signed in a train car set in the forest of Compiègne, in Oise.
To announce the victory of the Allies and the end of the 1914-1918 First World, bells started to ring at 11am. But it is only the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on the 28th of June 1919 that put a definite end to the war. WWI killed about 18 million people, including 9 million civilians.
In 1920, the body of an unknown soldier was buried under the Arc de Triomphe as a tribute to all the soldiers gone in the First World War. November 11th then becomes an official public holiday devoted to commemorations in France on October 24, 1922.
All along the commemorations, the French President and other officials wear a cornflower at their buttonholes, as the flower has become a national symbol for veterans and war casualties. In France, in WWI, the “Poilus” (the French Soldiers) used to nickname new soldiers “bleuet” – French for cornflower – because of their blue uniform.

Quick pronunciation tips for French words 😉

The French language can sometimes be cheeky as you might end up in a supermarket asking the seller if a certain item contains condoms instead of preservatives! Welcome to the world of faux amis (false friends), when 2 words look or sound similar but have a very different meaning. Have a look at the list below to avoid those embarrassing confusions 😊

The famous kiss “La bise” is a French way of greeting each other which started with the Romans who had 3 different types of kisses: romantic kisses, religious or friendly kisses and greeting kisses originally called “basium” which turned into “le baiser” shortened to “la bise”.
But did you know that La bise actually consists more of a light cheek against cheek touch while somehow kissing the air and that the number of kisses depends on the region of France that you’re visiting? That’s right, depending on your location in France, the number of kisses can go from 1 to 4, 2 being the most common choice. Have a look at the map below to check the number of kisses you can expect during your next trip to France.

Now that we’ve established how many kisses you should give during la bise, let’s make sure that you’re giving la bise to the right person. Air kissing is done mostly between women or between a man and a woman. You only do la bise between equals, which includes family, friends, sometimes friends of friends or even work colleagues, depending on how close you are. Sometimes men even do la bise with one another too, if they are close. If you are ever unsure, look around to see what others are doing! 😚

There are many benefits of learning a second language other than the ability to converse. The most rewarding benefits of knowing a second language is the ability to connect with others. By becoming bilingual you increase your opportunities to meet and connect with people from different cultures, build lifelong friendships and who knows, maybe even meet your soulmate ❤️ It can allow us to be part of new communities and explore new ways of life 🌏
Learning a second language is also beneficial to advance your career. Employers are seeking professionals who can communicate seamlessly with customers in new and expanding overseas markets, as well as serve and sell to a large foreign-born population here at home. Whatever your career aspiration, with language skills added to the mix, you’re ahead of the crowd! 🎓
Another great benefit of learning a second language is its effect on brain function: people who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. If that weren’t enough, as we age, being bilingual or multilingual also helps slowing down mental ageing and cognitive decline 🧠
Studies have shown that the younger you start learning a new language the easier it is, but it is never too late to learn foreign languages. As long as you have the will to learn and have good leaning resources, any time is a good time 😊

The Tour de France is a big event in France and the most important cycling event in the world. Over 180 cyclists split in 22 teams race 3500km throughout France for 23 days during the month of July. Le tour de France was originally held on the 1st of July 1903 where 60 cyclists joined the race for the very first time for a newspaper’s (Auto magazine) marketing. Since then, the Tour de France has happened annually during summer, with the exception of during the two World Wars. The route is broken down into 3 stages: the flat stages (étape de plaine), the time trial stages (les contres-la-montre) and the mountains stages (étape de montagne). The finish line is set up on the Champs Elysees in Paris and the winner of the race receives €500,000 and the famous yellow jersey, symbol of the Tour de France.

Hi everyone!

Do you want to speak French fluently? I am here to help you!

My name is Cindy. I am from the beautiful city of Toulouse located in southern France and have been living in Australia for over 4 years. I am passionate about languages and love teaching French and sharing my culture.

I have over 8 years of online teaching experience and tailor my classes to each student specific needs. From beginner to advanced, I can help you with grammar, conjugation, pronunciation, expressions, vocabulary… whether you want to prepare for an exam, for a trip, or if you just want to learn French for fun :)

Hit me up if you would like to book a class!
Online classes for $50/hour via skype or zoom
Payment via paypal or bank transfer
(Face to face classes available in Everton Park)