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01

e)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by stew72

I speak very little french - but my girlfriend runs a gourmet poutine stand at festivals called 'La Poutine Machine'. Everything made from scratch - her dad is even a potato farmer. Anyone who attends beerfest in TO might know it. For that reason, I consider myself a poutine master (at master assistant).

02

How French am I

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by keydive

Not very I used to be functional french at one point(good understanding and really poor speaking) however now I know very little and couldn't properly pronounce anything to save my life.

03

e) Poutine Master

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by AlexOfAnders

I hope that isn't like a highlander title though because if there can only be one, I don't think I'll be that one. There are more knowledgable poutine masters!

04

Poutine Master, for sure.

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PageAgainstTheMachine

I live win Windsor, ON which I'm starting to think is the LEAST french city in Canada.

Almost no one here is bilingual. I actually have friends that get angry when they go through non-quebec cities where the main language in french because "Canada is a bilingual country!" so they say... but they don't speak french.

I'm not fluent by any means but my mother insisted I take french immersion all through grade school and I find it pretty strange when I meet people that don't know anything beyond "Bonjour".

05

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots)

Most of the french i know comes from reading cereal boxes. Le frosted flocons

06

(d)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

I'd like to move up to a (b) at some point, but my procrastinating nature has prevented me from doing so yet.

I will share the small amount of how-to-learn-French wisdom I have (which I inflicted on the blog last week, too):

There exist fancy, expensive language-learning websites, which might be useful if you like learning from websites, but they're really expensive. But, your local public library might have a subscription to one, in which case you can use it for free using your library card.

Alternately, I once started using Livemocha (and then procrastinated and gave up), and their free stuff seemed decent.

07

@PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by AlexOfAnders

Gingembre! Pamplemousse! Raisin!

My francais comes from pop bottles...

08

d)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by burgandy

And it pretty much paid off when I went to France with a few other people from High School and I was the only one who could ask questions and they couldn't. It also helped alot when ever I got lost in France (at least twice a day)

Although I have three counsisn, and aunt and an uncle who are francophone (not married to each other, but their respective spouse understands enough french to get by).

09

sooooo

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Christine McAvoy

that was the nerdiest thing ever. :)

10

D+

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by tb3

I took French all the way up to and including 2 weeks of OAC (Grade 13) French because French girls are hot.

Then I started dating a girl named Danielle. She wasn't French but she was hot and her name sounded French, so I quit French.

I ended up marrying her. Not the language.

11

Oh, wait

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

Possibly (c), I guess. A couple generations of my family lived in Quebec, four or five generations back. But I don't actually know if they spoke French or if any of them married French people.

12

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by burgandy

Why does the picture for this lanarama show remind me of the BSS song "I slept with Bonhmme at the CBC"?

13

@PageAgainstTheMachine

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by tb3

Little do you know you're living in a city settled by French, and only an hour and a bit from Pain Court a French community near Chathamish.

While I know having spent time in Detroit Jr. (I know PhogTom will "love" that) I think I know just how un French Windsor is despite it's roots thereof.

14

@burgandy

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by tb3

Not sure.

But it might have something to do with the R3 tuque. And Bonhomme wearing it.

15

Le Windsor

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by tb3

Also go to the François Baby House.

16

Dear tb3,

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

But what does it mean that the R3 touque is backwards? Is that mirror universe Bonhomme?

17

Sullemont un puer.

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MichaelWilson

Oui.

I took french immersion when I was younger, but wasn't doing well so I went to english school, my siblings went from Kindergarten to 12 in French, but they don't remember much as they've been out of (high) school for 8, 11 years respectively.

I speak broken french sometimes, my friends certainly love it. But not.

18

How French

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MusicSoop

3 years in high school, but really Spanish would've made more sense since I ended up in Los Angeles. My French phrases are pretty much limited to Hi!, How ya doing?, Where is the library?, and my favorite which I impressed a young lady from Montreal with last week: What are you doing with the goat? I love French but it's just one of those things that I never get around to improving. Maybe planning a trip and needing it is a good idea. Always wanted to visit Aix.

19

(d)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by cathyort

Four years of high school French 30+ years ago=very little speaking ability, some listening ability and fairly capable reading ability.

C'est tout!

20

@tb3

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by burgandy

That may just be it as to why it reminds me of that BSS song.

21

A shakey D

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

I took classes just until I had to but that was more because I wasn'tfan of the high school French teacher.

BUT I went to Paris for my 30th last year and didn't find I was too bad off. You'd be surprised how much you pick up from signs and shampoo bottles. I went with a fluent French-speaking friend - she was super rusty for a day or two then got it back, but just in time to go home. So I say don't sweat it. Practice the basics. "Cafe au lait, s'il vous plait" I found if you attempt to speak French the next question was "Are you American?" with doubt which leads to "No. Canadian." then big smiles on their faces and genuine love for you.

22

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Math B

I am Acadian from South East NB, same as Radio Radio (I think). First time I heard these guys I had a huge grin, so Shiac it made me feel at home again. I've since moved to Calgary and sadly even after 30+ years of speaking french, I'm finding myself at a lost for words when talking to friends back home. But back to Shiac, its a very interesting local phenomenon where a conversation will totally mix french and english slang.It puts the theory that you think in a specific language on its head.

An interesting side note. My coworker thaught my name was not very canadian, I found that amusing since my family is now 18th generation canadian.

23

@AlexOfAnders

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots)

We would be fine in a french grocery store.

24

Dear MusicSoop (Aix)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

If it's any consolation, any rusty french you brush up on will be like (um) tits on a bull, as in Aix, the accent and vocabulary are quite meridional (southern -- not like Parisian). Le sigh.

25

@tb3

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PageAgainstTheMachine

Pain Court!

I was recently clued in to the existence of this place, but didn't know what it was called - thank you!

I love the baby house. We went there for field trips all the time in grade school. That's another thing that a lot of people don't seem to know exists. It's like Windsorites have completely ignored our french heritage. It's a bit disturbing how much we live up to the name "Detroit Jr.".

26

@Benoit from Ottawa

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MusicSoop

So hello would be "Bonjour Ya'll"? I think I can handle that.

27

…snaem tI [71 ºN]

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by tb3

That knightbefore 99 isn't a PhotoShop ninja just yet.

28

could you hear the cold in my voice?...

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Christine McAvoy

I'm no Hawksley Workman...that's for sure, but I hope I have a decent radio voice...it was SO cold outside.

Re: French (D)...I wish i could have taken it past Gr 9, but I took Business class instead. boo.

29

@Benoit from Ottawa

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MusicSoop

Or Y'all perhaps?

30

@PageAgainstTheMachine

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by tb3

My wife was a combined History / Crim. major at U of W and did a lot of stuff there (Baby House) for school. Only Windsorites know it's pronounced "Buh-bee" house!

She also worked a summer at The Park House in Amherstburg too.

There's tons of history people overlook in Windsor.

Like Assumption Church at U of W is the oldest Catholic Church in Canada, west of Montreal I believe.

31

I Live in the largest French community outside of PQ

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by TheRadioHead

In St. Boniface, Winnipeg

My neighbours speak French, the signs are all in French, my kids went to French schools, French is spoken in all the shops and restaurants, the French University is a client of mine, and I spend 4 hours a week working there.

I speak, nor understand a word.

Speaking of the French University, Radio Radio played there for frosh week in September. That show was the talk of the school for a week. Had something to do with the amount of alcohol the performers wanted...

32

@christine

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by AlexOfAnders

You sounds tres classy, c'est bon!

@PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots) - Exactly

33

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by keydive

34

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MackenzieC

Well I'm french-Canadian and I took 13 years of basic french in school and I can't speak a word of it. Why? Well apparently when you marry an english man (my grandpa) you stop speaking french. Basic french is horribly taught in school, and it doesn't help when you have a new teacher almost every year. Oh... and when I went into kindergarden my parents gave me the choice of a catholic private school or french immersion... who asks a five year old that?!?

All that being said I would love to learn more french and to make myself feel better I randomly insert french into my english speaking.

35

@tb3

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by keydive

I think I am going to have a heart attack looking at that picture.

36

"francophoner-than-thou"

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

Moi, probably.

Mother tongue: french; born and raised* in Ottawa.

My french is 'proper' french -- like school french, except not stilted and real -- because, unlike many in Ottawa a couple of generations back, both my parents had a fair bit of education. At the time the french in the Ottawa-Hull** area was very slangy. Times have changed.

My family name (Côté) goes back pretty far in North America; the first one, a farmer, stepped off the boat in 1634. Some 26 years after the founding of Quebec City.

*on prime grains and meats

** now called Ottawa-Gatineau

37

re: Hawksley

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Christine McAvoy

Lattes? Thats not what you drink when you are sick :(

38

Fully Bilingual

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by mel4get

Je suis franco-ontarienne et fiere de l'être!

39

@school french and other languages

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by AlexOfAnders

All through my schooling it felt like they taught us the same things in French classes every single year. It's like we'd spend 3/4 of the class retreading the same ground then 1/4 new, repeat next year!

I switched to Espanol in grade 8 though because I was sick of French and the French teacher was really bad. Although, my first spanish teacher didn't even know how to pronounce the double l, she told us it was just a long l sound ><

40

School French

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

I actually took it all through high school, so I guess that was more than the required French classes.

It was a lot of repitition in elementary school, but in high school we actually learned a fair bit of new grammar stuff each year.

41

@Christine McAvoy

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MusicSoop

You got robbed! Did you get to keep the blanket?

42

@tb3

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PageAgainstTheMachine

You might be right, I know it's the oldest in Ontario.

The Park House is excellent, I haven't been in so long.

You sir, may have inspired a french themed road trip.

43

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by megamulliny

I can read French freakishly well considering I haven't taken courses since grade school, but my brain cannot piece things together in order to speak it nor understand it spoken...

44

Oh

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by keydive

Reading Benoit last comment that reminds me I do have some French heritage as my great grandmother was a Demorte and they stepped off the boat from France in the 1600's then ended up in Ontario before emigrating out west. That is our earliest linage to Canada. Other than that I am Scandinavian and from American(that means not a clue other than Ohio). Family trees are always interesting.

45

The problem with language learning is...

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

...that, IMO, only one thing counts -- and is generally unavailable: conversations, real ones, with interest and motivation. Ain't nothing like being in a French situation willingly and being forced to listen and figure things out the same way kids do.

It's not for nothing that the anglo-saxon word for "language" is "tongue". It's the same in French: langue.

Grammar can go to hell: one learns enough from just speaking imitatively; it's always time later to get studious.

46

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

I just woke up.

I am a) Francophone, b) bilangue, c) have French heritage d) took required French classes in school (plus took them early in school as we had alot of French people in my school, like myself) e) Poutine master, remember: Poutine and Radio 3 were perfect together thanks to me ;)

I've lived in Quebec City for a few summers, my best friends are of French blood, my own girlfriend is from a Francophone community. I remember back in Grade 8, I used to go to my grandma's just to speak French and eat homemade cookies/crêpes! Best crêpes in the world.

I'm proud of being French. I blogged about it just the other day too!

http://codyrl.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-i-love-being-french-and-speaking.html

47

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

Yeesh, I thought someone would have mentioned me on the blog by now, since Poutine and Frenchness is up my alley

PS, Drink some Unibroue. do not EVER pronounce it Unibrow, it's Unibrew.

48

Dear Benoit,

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

Livemocha (which I linked above) has this thing where users give each other feedback. So in theory, if I'd stuck with it, I'd be giving feedback to people learning English and getting feedback from Francophone users. I didn't stick with it very long, so I didn't actually try it out, but it's a neat idea.

49

This French!

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by brainwash

Je suis plus tard m'es amis! Ou est mon salle des bains? Ici l'edifice du mon travalle?

50

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

I also have a Degree with a major in French.

51

@Math B

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by GRM

Hey, we're from the same corner of the world!I'm Acadian from Moncton, NB, so I'm francophone. Also bilingual I guess.However, my roots are from Quebec; that's where my parents originate from. I identify with the Acadian culture more though, because it's where I was born.I might even be tri-lingual if you consider Shiac a language ;)

52

Interesting how, until 50-60 years ago,...

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

...every immigrant to North America had to step off a boat.*

*Hokay, they might have walked all the way from South America.

53

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

Comment ca va les Francotobains and Fransaskois? If any exist here

54

Dear Silvorgold @ 54

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

See 32

55

@Benoit

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

I know.

56

b is for bilingual!

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by ikilledtheradio

a product of french immersion schooling and moving to Quebec I'd say Bilingual. And so does my resume, though recently I got called out on it.

Doing job interviews in French sucks.

Now at my new job I have a co-worker who refuses to speak or write to me in anything but French. It's been a huge help in terms of not living remotely near anywhere French for quite a while.

57

@MusicSoop

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Christine McAvoy

No I didn't keep it ...it was nice and warm, but FYI ...it is TOTALLY not a Hudson's Bay blanket. But I will be bringing mine down for them tomorrow. :)

58

Dance Party?!

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Christine McAvoy

I will dance in the basement with the disco balls just for you Lana.

59

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

I miss Quebec City, meeting Les Breastfeeders (see photo), Les Dales Hawerchuk, and trillions of other bands. I felt like I actually BELONGED there much more than I do in Manitoba. Every week I'd go to "Tim Orton" for Saturday morning coffee then go for crêpes at Crêpe Breton, take a walk in Vieux Québec and to the Plains of Abraham.. that's some of the most amazing times.. especially since I wasn't a TOURIST! I could tell who was a local and who was a tourist, the locals loved to admire every little element of the city and had big cameras wrapped around their neck, locals just walked around. But as a history buff, I admired the city myself, went to as many events as I could, including the Moulin des images. Which is a history of quebec slideshow against the grain elevator at the port

60

Aha! Jesse Matheson 'The French song'!

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Lana Gay

http://radio3.cbc.ca/play/band/Jesse-Matheson/The-French-Song

61

Dear Benoit [53],

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

They could have immigrated to the more southern part of North America, in which case it would be a pretty short walk.

Of course, anyone doing that probably wouldn't have labelled the land masses in question the same way as us, so they wouldn't have considered themselves to be immigrating to North America.

62

edit:

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

Tourists admired everything.

I talked to this one girl whos from Quebec City but goes to UCarleton in Ottawa, she said that very few people in the city cared about the 400th birthday celebrations in the city

63

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by SChappellaz

Je suis franco-manitobaine. When to french schools K through 12, and attended Western Canada's first university, Collège universitaire de Sait-Boniface. My great-grandparents are from France, and I still have some relatives (although something like 5th cousins) that live there.

I am currently studying at an anglophone institution and miss the French terribly. If I could find a bilingual place of work, that would be great! With less daily writing in French, my grammar is suffering a bit, but I'm still good.

64

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by rdickie

I went to la belle patate on davie street and got drunk off "la fin du monde".. ya.. we went to a poutine place because it happened to have the cheapest way to get drunk alongside the best beer and the best food! pi nous sommes tous francos :)

65

This is really funny but...

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

...sound comes on when you click. It's a pseudo doc on the Beatles made in the year 3000. From Cracked.

66

@Schappellaz

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

Vive les Francotobains!

One of my cousins was once on a childrens program on Radio-Canada back in the 90s where this bald guy who I think is some sort of alien (but is a bald man) and travelled to Francophone schools all over Canada. It was a weird show

Two years ago I was interviewed by Radio-Canada for some political news piece.. I may/may not have been hung over when it was taking place

One of the very coolest things about Quebec City: my job.. a coworker of mine named Suzanne has the stereotypical Quebecois family, her father in law was actually the right hand man in the Quebec National Assembly to Rene Levesque and Jacques Parizeau as Deputy Premier of Quebec.. pretty crazy!

67

French Education

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MackenzieC

My problem with french education is that it's just not taught well. Someone else mentioned how they felt like everything but 1/4 was repeated year after year. I think this has to do with how they like to teach vocab in the early years then try to teach you sentence structure. Why not both at the same time? I took one semester of Spanish and I could say almost everything I ever wanted to because we were taught vocabulary at the same time we learned conversations and grammar. Besides, isn't that how we all learn our first language anyways? All at once!

68

Funny story (well maybe just for me)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by SChappellaz

When my instructors learned I'm a francophone, they all, at first, asked me to translate random terms or questions in French. Only one instructor persists to ask me for answers in French. He speant alot of time learning French, and like many people, have lost quite a bit of it from lacking of practice.

Recently he asked me, jokingly, to write my mid term review in French. So I did. I like French and will practice with anyone, irregardless of skill. He laughed the next day and said that he managed to understand most of it. He appreciated the practice.

69

La fin du monde

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

here. (There is an English button upper right.)

70

@MackenzieC

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

I had decent French education, which is rare to see in this corner of Manitoba, but it's very well known that Manitoban French curriculum is AWEFUL. My uncle recently retired as a teacher of one of Manitoba's largest French immersion schools after well over 30 years. Back when his son was in Grade 8, he said that he would NEVER allow his children to be in French immersion schools, as the education is the english word for merde. He sent his children to take their education in St-B.

As for Spanish, I've found it to be less of a hair pulling language to learn, for myself, for my friends and for anyone in general, and NO, it's not "exactly like French"

71

@Benoit

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

I've been buying the Collection 2009 packs of Unibroue beers lately, has Maudite, La Fin, Blanche de Cham and éphémère pomme, lots of variety but I hate the pomme

72

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by SChappellaz

All curriculums are jam packed. The problem is you don't always have competent people teaching. For example, in elementary school, the teacher is an excellent english and social studies teacher, an OK math teacher, and poor in French and sciences. Or any combination. Teachers need more support and fewer crazy learning outcomes.

73

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by alexh

somewhere between B and C. I took French class from elementary to 12, even did the Explore program & lived in Jonquiere for a summer. I lost whatever French I had until I did Katimavik last year.

My grandpa grew up in Quebec & English is his second language, but he didn't bother to teach any of his 7 kids to speak it very well, so it's a solo journey, even with my Ottawa-Gatineau relatives.

French education available in schools is total shit. The only reason I learned most of what I know is from living with Francophones & teaching each other. And working in French. Being forced to work in your second language will totally kick your ass. I worked in a Fransaskois school & the kids in premat (preschool) knew more French than me.

74

@SChappellaz

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

One of my best friends took French Immersion at Kelvin High, when she graduated she thought it would be perfect to continue her education at College St-B, but she quickly realized her immersion education was aweful compared to what they're teaching at College St-B, ands he dropped out by November that year. Very unfortunate. Vive les Francotobains!

75

Ridiculousness abounds somedays at my work

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MackenzieC

So someone just complained that I'm making the files too tight on the shelf. EVEN THOUGH I didn't add any to the shelf, I took them off in their sections, barcoded them, and put them back in the same section. They are now straight and barcoded but there is no more or less of them then there were before. Even though this person kept trying to tell me there were. <shakes head and laughs>

76

Dear Silvorgold

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!

I've now got a powerful hankering to jump in my car and drive over to Hull (Gatineau) and buy some Unibroue beers. Lots.

(Incidentally, spelling police: awful, no e)

77

FIN DU BLOG

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Jason Neve

I love how this blog comes back to Fin Du Monde like, all the time!

I'm an Anglophone, but je parle francais.

I took late immersion in high school (grade six onwards), and I spent a lot of my youth roaming about Quebec- HULL (I'm from Ottawa), going skiing, cottages, Montreal, QC - it seems like every time we went out - we'd be in Quebec - so I absorbed the language and the culture.

I moved to Vancouver 18 years ago, and about the most important thing that I miss is French culture - when I go out to Ottawa and I hear french conversations happening - it makes me miss it even more.

One thing about Canada's bilingualism is that IT DOESN'T EXIST ON THE WEST COAST. In Ontario - everything is translated to two languages, and French is spoken everywhere, and most people can speak a bit of it at least. Out here, nobody speaks French, and people just don't get it.

Apparently, one of the complaints of the Games is that there is "too much French". Everyone is like "why does everything have to be in French AND English?".

There used to be a bar called Zinzani that served the Unibroue beers, and was a little piece of Quebec - Vancouver was better for it!

78

Dear MackenzieC

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

Someone doesn't like you -- or has got a burr somewhere sensitive.

79

@Benoit

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

If it makes you feel any better, the closest place that sells Unibroue beer is an hour away, oh wait, I have a bottle of Raftman in the fridge, oops! :)

But atleast you can just drive there in under 10 minutes..

I don't obey the spelling law. So I don't care.

80

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

d and g.

However,

I married a really hot french man (well he was pretty hot 25 years ago and we spent our honeymoon in Quebec.

My children were educated in french language school.

I have a daughter who teaches french.

My husband's ancestors once owned Peche Island in the Detroit River.

Another one of my husband's way back (probably 16 or 1700's)ancestors is Sister Marguerite D'Youville a nun who was made a saint.

I've been known to imbibe in french wine occasionally.

I eat "french" fries. :o)

81

@Benoit (46)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

I think you're right. Conversation - real, interesting ones - is a big part of keeping a language. That's why I left the lanuage. I had excellent teachers in junior and senior public school (ex. French-language-instructed cooking classes of things like crepes). But one year with my high school French teacher and I was annoyed and uninspired to keep with it.

82

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Jess_ik

Je constate que très peu de francos écoutent la cbc radio 3... j'essaie de faire en sorte que ça change (à fond la promo).

À tous ceux qui ont un intérêt pour le français... (et la musique) venez donc faire un tour au festival d'été de québec. C'est MALADE et vous pourrez pratiquer un peu ;)

D'ici là continuez d'écouter coeur de pirate ou les trois accords, ça peut pas nuire!

Peace out

83

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

84

Bonjour! Hello!

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by nadiableue

I'm A and B... Francophone from Quebec, close to "bilingual"! Thanks first to my Anglophone grand-pa, my anglophone Boyfriend and my employer, Parks Canada! :)

Oh... and i'm also a Poutine Master!!! I wonder if poutines are really as good outside of Quebec province... Gotta try that sometimes! :)

85

re: Jess_ik

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by nadiableue

Je suis d'accord avec toi! Il y a trop peu de gens qui connaissent CBC Radio 3! C'est dommage!!!

86

@Babs46

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

Imbibe in French wine. I love that.

Question, though - and for all French-school folks:

Did you find anything lacking in your kids' English skills? We were thinking of putting my 'nephew' in French school because his teacher thought he would do well (he is a great copy-cat and picks up things like language really well). But we heard that it can lead to lacking in other education skills. In the end, it doesn't work out for him to go in a logistics sort of way (far away, being raised by grandparents that can't help with homewaork, etc) but I was curious.

87

@Jess_ik

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

jai habité à Quebec en 2008 et jai visité le fest d'été.. mon dieu.. beaucoup des musiciens.. j'ai vu les concerts des Weakerthans, Creature, Feist, Tokyo Police Club et beaucoup des autres.. c'est le meilleur été pour la musique.. pour moi

88

Dear Silvorgold @ 80

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

"I don't obey the spelling law. So I don't care."

Ynn Kaybek ewe'd guett phyned bye thee langwedge pohleess.

89

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

only if you right in Anglich.

90

@Jess_ik

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by SChappellaz

Peut-être peu de francophones de souche. Chez nous (au Manitoba) il y a le Festival de Voyageur. C'est une excellente occasion de pratiquer son français et de s'amuser.

J'écoutais beaucoup Bande à part avant. Maintenant j'entend autant d'anglais, mais c'est correct; c'est Canadien.

91

Babs46 @ 81

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

So one of your husband's ancestors was sainte Marguerite d'Youville, huh?

I wonder if that's enough to get her decanonized? (Think about it a minute.)

92

@dawn.h

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by SChappellaz

Yes there are statistics showing that students enrolled in French immersion or 100% French are lacking in mathematics and sciences. I believe, having taught sciences a bit, that it will depend on the quality of the school and teachers. There are few GOOD math and science resources in French and that is a huge factor. However, I witness first hand how good teachers, dedicated teachers, can do a great deal with little. Also, parent enthusiasm, encouragement and participation has an enormous effect of the whole learning experience.

93

French festivals

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

Oh, that reminds me, in high school my French class went to a Francophone maple syrup festival/party thing that I can't remember the correct name of.

It was fun. I had no idea what anyone was saying, though, and this was in grade 11 or 12.

94

Dear Benoit,

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

According to the internet, she had kids first, then became a nun. But that was my first thought too.

95

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by defeatism

A, B, C and E) I'm bilingual, but my first language is French. Me, I'm from Montreal but I spent a lot of time overseas and in the States (where I am now!), so I just ended up speaking both fluently and that's that. Having an anglophone father and a francophone mother also probably helped.

Radio Radio is big down in New Orleans and Louisiana. Whenever I played their songs at a party or whatever, people would recognize some of the French slang/Chiac and go nuts. Love my Acadien friends.

96

@tb3

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by defeatism

I like your approach! Pour les filles!

97

@dawn

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

French language school is definitely preferable to french immersion because all subjects are taught in french and there is a bigger emphasis on french heritage and culture. Because my husband was french and I had high school and university french we were able to help with homework and all the other stuff parents need to be involved in. It didn't hurt that we seemed to have been blessed with 3 really bright kids.

Here in Windsor, I believe there are restrictions now on admission to french language schools in that the child must be of french heritage. I don't think that is the case with french immersion, and I don't think a french background is as critical for french immersion kids. I think anytime you have an opportunity to expose a child to a second language it's a plus.

The only negative I was ever really aware of was their grammar usage in english was sometimes lacking when they were younger but that seems to have corrected itself. My daughter continued through high school in french and took it as a minor in University but the boys did not pursue it after elementary school. I don't think any of them regret the path we set them on in school.

98

@SChappellaz

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

Re: Science/Math.. I can agree 100% on that. For me, that's where my weaknesses are, then again I've had learning problems for everything, especially English. My strongest courses were always French weirdly enough.

99

@SChappellaz

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

Thanks.

I think it is best for our particular situation to keep him in regular school.

But good to know. Especially from an educator.

100

@Silvorgold

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MusicSoop

I'd have a 5 minute drive to pick up some La fin du monde at BevMo but am home sick so that doesn't seem like a good idea, lol.

101

@MusicSoop

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Silvorgold

If only there was a poutinerie there, that'd fix you up real good! Also la fin would help that sickness a bit, clears the sinuses

102

Dear Absotively @ 95

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

Phew! (Seriously, thanks for the info!)

103

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by SChappellaz

I hope my comment isn't turning people off of French or French immersion.

Dawn.h: Young children will learn new languages faster. However only you know if it would be too much for your son. I would still encourage giving him occasions to experience French culture though.

104

Hah! Radio Radio shows up...

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

...in the French wiki article on chiac!

105

@ radio radio

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by K-fest

Godfather II is better than the 1st. Thank-you!!

106

@Benoit and Abso

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

Am I dim? Why should she be decanonized?

She was married very young and had 6 kids (I think 4 of them died in childhood) and had a wayward kind of drunken husband who died when I think she was still in her twenties and that led her to enter the convent. Oh and the two kids who survived became priests. :o)

107

@babs46

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PageAgainstTheMachine

It says on your profile that you're from Windsor and one of your kids is a musician. Who are they/what band are they in?

108

No, Babs, Abso informed me, at 95,...

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

...of the error of my presumption. That kids had followed.

109

@Babs46 (98)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

Right. Grammar. Sciences and grammar were the big negative things I heard about French immersion. I do think it would be good for him but I know he'd have little help with it as only my dad and I have any real knowledge of French (and that's not much) even though his family has a French Canadian background. He'll still get French in school and we teach him bits and pieces (he can count to 11 in French at 4 so I'm going to try colours next).

I love that the blog lends us all an opportunity to share like this.

Lana: Good topic.

110

@SChappellaz (93)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

I completely agree about the quality of the teachers and the resources available. I guess I was one of the lucky ones. All 3 of my kids majored in science/math areas after highschool and did very well. One in cartogography/indie musician, one in kinesiology/french and the youngest just completed a Master's of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

111

@PageAgainstTheMachine

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

That would be Casey from Elliott Brood. Thanks for asking. :o)

112

@dawn

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

I agree about the blog and all the interesting stuff that comes up. So sweet that you spend time with him and I'm sure that makes french fun for him. Colours and animals are always a big hit in french. :o)

113

@babs46

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PageAgainstTheMachine

That's MOST excellent!Definitely one of my favorite bands. You've got some pretty good genes, madame!

114

@Babs46

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by defeatism

Hi Casey's mom!

115

@Babs46

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

Oh. I just heard boders mention EB. I keep seeing these http://www.flickr.com/photos/smashsalvage/3877858113/ in a salvage store's blog I follow and think of the band. A bit too expensive for the concerts I guess.

116

A French immersion anecdote

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Absotively

I knew a kid who was in French immersion, whose parents didn't speak French, and who needed more help with his homework than they were able to give. His mom asked him if he'd like to change schools, so she could help him with his homework more. And he said, "but Mom, you don't speak French."

He didn't realise that non–French immersion schools existed.

But I do know people who did just fine in French immersion; I think it just depends on the school and the kid. Actually, I think that same kid did fine in a half-French program after his family moved to a city with more options.

117

Charlie's is an amazing song.

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

All the more so for having been "commissioned" for that contest.

Fabulous song. Sounds old.

118

Holy blog hog Babs

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

Thanks Page and sorry everyone for being so blabby.

119

Dear PageAgainstTheMachine

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

(Heh! for the handle, incidentally.)

For general pictures probably involving Babs46's Casey, click on Babs' thumbnail picture, which'll bring you to her page, then use the arrows bottom right of pix to see others.

120

Hi defeatism

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

Okay, seriously, I am really going to shut up now.

I love boders voice. I want to adopt him too along with dawn. :o)

121

@SChappellaz (104)

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

To clarify, it's not my son.

He's adorable and I can't tell you how much my heart swells talking to him, watching him learn from me, playing cars, youtubing trucks with him, thinking about him.

But it's my 'nephew' (my cousin's son but I have no siblings so this is as close as I get to a nephew).

122

Dear Babs46 @ sorry for blabbiness

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Benoit from Ottawa

Sorry? This place is here for you as well as the others.

Nobody displaces or uses up, people just add on. No sorry. Take it back. ;)

123

Damn

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by AlexOfAnders

Did I miss boders talking? I saw him walking towards R3 while I was grabbing some lunch and knew he was going to be on the air today.

124

@Benoit @Alex

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

Thanks Benoit. It's just that I saw 3 posts in a row from me and I thought I just needed to shut up for a bit. Obviously that didn't last long. :o)

Alex in Boders picture up there he has a R3 Scarf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

125

@Babs46

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by AlexOfAnders

Awesome, I'm glad he got one to replace his the one that was lost. Hold onto that scarf! I actually tie it around my neck in a crowd but I'm pretty protective of that scarf.

126

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by krib

when I lived in Montreal, I was more into Boreale and McAuslin's than Unibroue stuff. Boreale Rousse was a fave from the Depanneur

I was there this summer for a conference and my wife came along. The Montreal beer fest was happening, which we went to in its early days (back in 96, I think?). It was indoors and much more crowded, but I found some serious beer. There are tons of microbreweries.

There was one called Au Maitre Brasseur ('scuse the lack of circonflex, etc. too lazy to look up how to do special characters). They did a smoked red ale - that was something else.

I also found some interesting ones from Belle Gueule, but none of them are listed on their website. I'm pretty sure it was Belle Gueule...

127

@benoit

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by PageAgainstTheMachine

Thank you, sir. I thought it was quite clever!

I'm surprised no one else named Paige has thought of it.

128

@Alex

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

Truly yesterday when Grant asked about what makes you teary and Boders mentioned losing his scarf in the crowd I immediately had tears in my eyes cause I know how much you guys treasure that gear.

129

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MusicSoop

130

@Babs46, @Benoit

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

I do that too. Think I'm posting too much if I see my picture too many times. Ha.

But you are right Benoit - what sort of blog would it be without posts?

131

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by krib

I tend to speak French better than I understand it - especially Quebecois. My wife is fluent, so we speak French to each other when we don't want the kids to understand us. It helps so I don't completely forget it, but the conversation is usually about whether we want to go out for supper or not.

When we were living in Mtl, we went on vacation to the UK. We rode down on the train from Inverness to London with an old gent from Paris and spoke French the whole way. He spoke slowly and clearly and didn't use contractions - contractions is something they don't really tell you about in French class. In Mtl I had a terrible time understanding people.

non-francophones, guess what this is

ch'u pas (that's how I saw it spelled in the lyrics sheet of a Freres a Ch'val album I bought while living there).

yes, that's right, it's je ne suis pas.

I always heard "je pas" and thought "where's the verb?" "You're not what???"

132

No really...

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by MusicSoop

I had nothing to say.

But seriously, I'm so worried I'll lose my scarf and toque I rarely wear them. Last time I wore the scarf out was to Hannah Georgas and that was months ago. I need to do a new toque photo somewhere.

133

@MusicSoop

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by Babs46

The toque I won was stolen by a member of my own family. :o)

134

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by krib

I don't have a scarf to lose...

*sigh*

135

@MusicSoop

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by AlexOfAnders

Your warm weather must also make it hard to wear all the time.

But I do find I'm a little anxious about losing it so I make little steps to prevent it. If I am in a crowd that isn't too dance-y then the scarf is okay but my hand is often on it. Rowdy crowd and the scarf gets a knot. Out at bars and restaurants I usually don't fully take it off and if I do it's stuffed inside my bag or jacket sleeve.

My scarf has made it through everything I do from fall to spring since I got it, I'd be heartbroken to lose it.

136

@krib

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dawn.h

Me neither. I just win books from Vish. And once won CDs from Grant's show but he was on vacation so technically I won from Chris Alcher.

137

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by souvenirdarling

I am probably perfectly bilingual to the rest of the country, but here in Montreal, have what I'd call very reasonable French. I'm conversational fluent, can understand conversations on TV, Radio and on the telephone. French classes only go so far without immersion.

138

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Posted on Feb 17, 2010 by dualie

I can lick my eyebrows

CBC Radio 3

Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

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Comments

e)

How French am I

e) Poutine Master

Poutine Master, for sure.

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

(d)

@PKEW PKEW PKEW (gunshots)

d)

sooooo

D+

Oh, wait

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

@PageAgainstTheMachine

@burgandy

Le Windsor

Dear tb3,

Sullemont un puer.

How French

(d)

@tb3

A shakey D

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

@AlexOfAnders

Dear MusicSoop (Aix)

@tb3

@Benoit from Ottawa

…snaem tI [71 ºN]

could you hear the cold in my voice?...

@Benoit from Ottawa

@PageAgainstTheMachine

I Live in the largest French community outside of PQ

@christine

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

@tb3

"francophoner-than-thou"

re: Hawksley

Fully Bilingual

@school french and other languages

School French

@Christine McAvoy

@tb3

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Oh

The problem with language learning is...

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Dear Benoit,

This French!

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

@Math B

Interesting how, until 50-60 years ago,...

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Dear Silvorgold @ 54

@Benoit

b is for bilingual!

@MusicSoop

Dance Party?!

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

Aha! Jesse Matheson 'The French song'!

Dear Benoit [53],

edit:

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

re: Today on Lanarama: How French Are You?

This is really funny but...

@Schappellaz

French Education

Funny story (well maybe just for me)

La fin du monde

@MackenzieC

@Benoit