AF Port Moresby

MY QUORA ANSWER – FOR THE LANGUAGE BUFF …
Q. Are there people in France who speak zero English?
A. I have not been to France but to two French territories here in the Pacific - New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna.
If you think everybody there speaks English, you will be shocked - they speak their local dialects and French, the language of education and commerce. Very few people know English and even less would feel comfortable to use it to converse with an anglophone. They would prefer someone else who is more confident in using it to converse with a non-francophone.
See it another way, by asking the question: Are there people in England who speak zero French?
Let us not assume that our language of education and commerce is universally known. The fact is it is not. In Latin America you will have to speak a bit of Spanish to move around with ease. Failure to do so would mean “getting lost”.
The assumption that English is spoken everywhere and by almost everybody is a fallacy. I used to think so until I took French seriously and visited French territories and learned the truth. Knowledge of French opens up the world for you there. Failure to use it would mean your stay in those places/territories could be an embarrassing and frustrating experience. The beaches and parks would be awesome to visit but you will still be lost and lonely!
Let us be careful in that regard.

FRANCOPHONE SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS FOR 2015 PACIFIC GAMES … (Advertisement in newspaper, Feb 20) …
The Games Organising Committee is seeking French translators to assist as General Volunteers and Media Volunteers.
General Volunteers need to have basic level French, while Media Volunteers will need to be Native French speakers or certified with a minimum of Intermediate Level 2.
These volunteers will support the French speaking nations (New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia/Tahiti and Vanuatu) at the Games.
If you are interested and willing to give your time freely, send your application to [email protected] or call Isabelle Hurstel for more information on 3008700 or [email protected].
Please take note, these are Volunteer Positions and are unpaid positions.

Bonjour tout le monde. Comment allez-vous?
This is just to inform you that AF Port Moresby officially wound up last year and our last tutor left the country in November.
However, if you have any questions about Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and any French-related topics, you can always post them and we can see how we can help you.
This year for PNG will be interesting as the 2015 Pacific Games will be hosted here, in Port Moresby.
The 22 states of the Pacific, including the French territories of New Calédonia, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia (Tahiti), will also be participating.
For some of us, former students of AF Port Moresby, it will be an interesting time to speak with (or meet) other French-speaking neighbours.
Best wishes to everyone!

Next French movie night is this Friday 27 June ! Come to watch Py Piece Of The Pie at 6:30pm at the Ela Beach Hotel! Free entrance to everyone. Movie in French with English subtitles.

The French movie night is back ! On Friday 7 February, at 18:30, discover the French food served for presidents !
Come and watch "Haute Cuisine" at the Ela Beach Hotel. Free entrance to everyone. Movie in French with English subtitles.

Bonne année à tous (Happy New Year to all).

SAW A MOROCCAN SHORT FILM ... A few weeks ago I watched a short film that was produced by the Moroccan, Ali Benkirane.
The 17-minute long film tells the story of a 12-year-old schoolgirl named Amal. (Please note that there is another Canadian/Indian film with the same name.)

The Moroccan film tells the story about Amal’s hope to become a doctor and her parents’ decision to keep her back at home.
You can watch that on YouTube or Vimeo.
The film is in Darija (Moroccan Arabic) but the subtitles are in French.

For those learning French, it is a good learning experience to follow the film by noting the subtitles and getting help from a French dictionary.
It will be a rewarding exercise, since you only have less than 17 minutes of dialogues.
All the best.

And with the festive holidays around the corner, let me wish you all les amis de l’AF Port Moresby a Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année.

The French Film Festival 2013 is starting today !

During one week, discover four French movies enjoyed all over the world and representing the diversity of the French Cinéma.

Starting on Thursday 14 November, you will have one week to discover or rediscover :
•Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia
•The intouchables
•La Vie En Rose
•A Very Long Engagement

Come on Friday 8 November at the Grand Papua Hotel to discover a big hit of French Cinéma! Bienvenue chez les ch'tis. Starting at 6:30pm, it will be in French with English subtitles. Free entrance to everyone, don't hesitate to bring your friends!

I have been watching "Le Petit Nicholas" for the last few days. I showed it to a nephew and niece yesterday. And I kept telling them of the class of boys in that French school who were "interesting" in their own way. Should be a good movie for the young and old alike. For those who are non-French, it would be a nice movie to look into a French classroom. Despite the language, you would be reminded of the behaviour of your classmates when you were about the same age and were in school. I enjoyed it and I know you would to.

Come tonight at the Ela Beach Hotel at 18:30 to see the golden palm movie "entre les murs" ! Free emtrance to everyone! Movie in French with English subtitles.

Congratulations Nasser Tamei on your appointment as a foreign service officer.