Comme une Française: Basic French Conversation

Learning French can be fun and stimulating. But, I’m here to help make sure that you actually USE your French, not just learn it – and that starts with speaking! All you really need are a few simple phrases to start a French conversation with friends, shopkeepers, and strangers. In today’s lesson, we’ll explore some of the most basic phrases you can learn if you want to start having short conversations in French. You can use them to greet your neighbour, buy something from a French bakery, announce that you’re leaving a party, and more! Let’s dive in.
Take care and stay safe. 😘 from Grenoble, France

Géraldine

U.S. Imports Of French Wine And Spirits Soar

After French drinks export shipments to the U.S. dropped significantly in 2020 due to tariffs—whose five-year suspension was announced this past Tuesday—exports have been rebounding strongly in the first four months of 2021. In this calendar year through April, U.S. imports of wine and spirits from France leapt 25% and 13% in volume terms respectively, according to French government agency BusinessFrance. French beer and cider also registered gains during the period.

Provence is now the single-largest region among French wines exported to the U.S. and increased 15% through April in volume terms, driven by ongoing growth for rosé (+17.5%). But the fastest-growing wine region is the Languedoc, which soared 86% year-to-date. Gains were recorded nearly across all segments as vermouth exports to the U.S. rose 41% year-to-date while Champagne surged 48%. Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon together comprise over two-thirds of the Champagne market in the U.S.—according to Impact Databank—and bucked the trend last year by registering volume gains during the pandemic.

With the exception of vodka (-37% year-to-date), imports of French spirits also recorded impressive increases through April. French liqueurs soared 47% in volume terms, while the largest segment, Cognac, rose 49%. After crossing the 5-million-case mark last year, Hennessy Cognac became one of the 10 largest-selling spirits overall in the U.S. market for the first time. Hennessy and Rémy Martin, which is also growing strongly, comprise well over three-quarters of the Cognac market in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.—Juan Banaag

Source: Shanken News Daily: Exclusive news and research on the wine, spirits and beer business

The U.S. may be ready to see cicadas gone, but this French village has a statue, a song and ceramics in their honor

In France, the insects are associated with summer and sun.

By Rick Noack

LE BEAUSSET, France — The five-foot blue iron cicada dangles upside-down from a metal branch, bulging eyes staring at the sky. It appears ready to launch itself at any moment at cars moving through the traffic circle below.

The $34,000 statue was inaugurated last year as a proud defense of the seasonal insect, after complaints from tourists who had dared to ask if the din emanating from the trees could be stopped with an application of insecticide.

The chorus of cicadas, or “cigales,” as they are called here, is an annual and generally beloved phenomenon in southern France, especially in the region of Provence. And the village of Le Beausset, with a population of about 10,000 people and an unknown number of cicadas, is the self-proclaimed cicada capital.

Across the region, visitors can buy cicada postcards and cicada tablecloths and ceramic cicadas in more than three dozen colors. For the biggest fans, shops in Le Beausset’s neighboring town of Le Castellet sell versions that release their deafening sounds whenever anyone comes close.

And so as residents of Le Beausset and across France’s south await the annual chirping of the insects — expected later this month — many here have watched reaction to the U.S. “zombie cicada invasion” with a mix of bewilderment and surprise.

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They understand that the cicada species dominant in southern France emerge in lower density than the 17-year periodical cicadas that have roiled the East Coast this summer. But few here would think of the insect as an edible snack. Or something worthy of 911 noise complaints.

Continue reading “The U.S. may be ready to see cicadas gone, but this French village has a statue, a song and ceramics in their honor” →

Comme une Française: Quoi?

You probably already know that the French word “quoi” means “what”… but did you know that it has other meanings, too? Especially in modern spoken French! There are so many ways that you can use this simple French word. In today’s lesson, we’ll explore the different meanings and uses of the word “quoi”. I’ll also introduce you to some popular expressions you can use to sound more authentically French when speaking.
Take care and stay safe. 😘 from Grenoble, France

Géraldine

La talentueuse JEANNE CHERHAL (chanteuse, auteure / compositrice / interprète et pianiste française). Le programme est constitué d’une interview par Coralie Biolay, suivie du concert « féerique » (avec des surprises sonores) de Jeanne, accompagnée de Marc Chouarain au theremin, celesta et Cristal Baschet.