French Language Around the World !!!

Map of the Francophone world
Dark blue: French-speaking; blue: official language/widely used; Light blue: language of culture; green: minority




Knowledge of French in the European Union and candidate countries.

Sports in France !!!!

The French "national" sport, is football (soccer).

The most-watched sports in France are football (soccer), rugby union, basketball, cycling, sailing and tennis.

France is notable for holding the football World Cup in 1998, for holding the annual cycling race Tour de France, and the tennis Grand Slam tournament Roland Garros, or the French Open.

Football

It is the most popular sport in France with 2,146,752 licensed players (2005 statistics). The FIFA, french for Federation Internationale de Football Association, has also been founded in France. The Ligue 1, the top national club competition is the biggest sport league in the country with an average attendance of 21,576 spectators per game for 380 games in the 2005/2006 season. Football in France is governed by the national body French Football Federation (FFF). The FFF organizes both the men's and women's national teams. France hosted the 1998 FIFA World Cup, which the national football team won.

Handball

There are over 300,000 licensed handball players in France, and the handball national team is one of the most watched and supported along with the football and the rugby union ones.

Basketball

Basketball is also a popular team sport with 447,942 licensed players (2005 statistics).

Formula 1



The Renult Team

The Grand Prix Racing (Formula 1) was also invented in France in 1946

Olympic Games

The modern Olympics were invented in France, in 1894.

Rugby union

Rugby union was first introduced in the early 1870s by British residents. While football is definitely the most popular sport, rugby union is especially popular around Toulouse, the French Basque country, and Languedoc. Elite French clubs participate in the domestic club competition - the Top 14. Clubs also compete in the European knock-out competition, the Heineken Cup. It is the fifth french team sport in the terms of licensed players with 235,675 licensed players (2005).

The national side competes annually in the Six Nations Championship and are the current champions. France has been to every Rugby World Cup since its inception in 1987, and has been a runner-up on two occasions. France will be hosting the next World Cup, the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby league

Rugby league (rugby à 13 or jeu à 13) has been played in France since the 1930s. As with rugby union, the heartland of the game is the south of the country.

Tennis



Rafel Nadal 4 time winner of  Roland Garros. "The King of the Clay"

Tennis is the second french sport for the number of licensed players with 1,054,513 licensed tennis players in France (2005). France holds the tennis Grand Slam tournament Roland Garros.

Cycling



France holds the annual cycling race Tour de France, which takes place each July and lasts for three weeks. The overall leader of the race wears a yellow jersey called the maillot jaune.

Sailing

Professional sailing in France is centred on singlehanded/shorthanded ocean racing with the pinnacle of this branch of the sport being the Vendee Globe singlehanded around the world race which starts every 4 years from the French Atlantic coast. Other significant events include the Solitaire du Figaro, Mini Transat 6.50, Tour de France a Voile and Route de Rhum transatlantic race. France has been a regular competitor in the Americas Cup since the 1970s.

Pétanque

Pétanque is mostly played in the South of France. Pétanque is not considered as a sport by many northern Frenchmen though the international federation is recognized by the IOC. [1] [2]. Professional players play the very competitive form of Pétanque which is called Pétanque Sport, under precise rules. The competitive form is played by about 480,000 persons licenced with the Federation Française de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal (FFPJP). The FFPJP is the 4th largest sports féderation in France.

Parkour

Developed in France, parkour ("art du déplacement") is a physical activity that is difficult to categorize. It is definitely not an extreme sport, but an art that resembles self-defense on martial arts. According to the founder David Belle, the spirit of parkour is guided in part by the notions of "escape" and "reach," that is, the idea of using quick thinking with dexterity to get out of difficult situations.

An important characteristic of parkour is efficiency. The basic meaning of this is that a traceur must not merely move as fast as he can, but move in a way that is the least energy-consuming and simultaneously the most direct. In addition, since parkour's unofficial motto is être et durer (to be and to last), efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, short and long-term.

Table football

Table football (babyfoot) is a very popular pastime in bars and in homes in France, and the French are the predominant winners of worldwide table football competitions.

Les 15 sports les plus pratiqués en France

Plus de 15 millions de Français ont adhéré en 2005 à une association sportive. Les femmes représentent 35% de ces licenciés. Mais quelles disciplines sont les plus pratiquées ?

Il existe actuellement plus de 90 fédérations sportives. Football, voile, karaté, ski nautique ou même balle au tambourin, les activités ne manquent pas. Les Français n'ont donc que l'embarras du choix pour se défouler et entretenir leur forme !
15 millions d'entre eux ont choisi d'adhérer à un club et ce sont sur ces chiffres "licenciés" que nous nous sommes basés pour ce classement. Il ne prend en compte que les pratiquants réguliers. Si l'on devait se référer aux pratiques exceptionnelles, le vélo (18 millions d'amateurs), la natation (14 millions) et la marche (12 millions) arriveraient en tête.
Avec 25% de licenciés parmi la population, la France est l'un des pays les plus sportifs, la moyenne de l'Union européenne étant de 15%.

Un long dimanche de fiançailles

Hey Guys I just watched the french movie: A very long engagement (Un long dimanche de fiançailles) Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 20 nominations
Its excellent, a never to be missed one... its gone be again repeated in HBO... Make ur self free...

Fri, 28 Sep at 2:45AM
Sun, 30 Sep at 6:00AM
 in HBO


Five desperate French soldiers during The Battle of the Somme shoot themselves, either by accident or with purpose, in order to be invalidated back home. Having been "caught" a court-martial convenes and determines punishment to be banishment to No Man's Land with the objective of having the Germans finish them off. In the process of telling this tale each man's life is briefly explored along with their next of kin as Methilde, fiancée to one of the men, tries to determine the circumstances of her lover's death. This task is not made any easier for her due to a bout with polio as a child. Along the way she discovers the heights and depths of the human soul. From the commander who wantonly and secretly destroys the men's pardon, to the amazing lengths one condemned man's friend goes to in an effort to save at least some of them. This movie operates at many levels. A love story. A mystery. A testament to brutality of "The War to End All Wars" and most particularly the men, women, and children affected by this dark and disturbing time in world history. Technically the cinematography (by Bruno Delbonnel) is amazing. Many scenes will have you asking how that was shot. The use of color, the score, the authenticity of the costume, the portrayal by the actors, the effects, and the story itself all combined to make a delightful feast of sound and vision. Look for a long cameo of Jody Foster. Amazing! Jean-Peirre Jeunet is a master. Written by Liam McBain

This film is inspiring, to follow what you believe and find your loved ones! A very moving film but very true to life! A story of five soldiers being summoned to No Mans Land and left to die. The film shows how these soldiers fought for their lives and how one particular solider, Manech, and his soon to be wife, played by Audrey Tautou, uncovers the truth to find out about his whereabouts. Written by Gem

Five desperate men shoot themselves in order to be relieved from the horrifying frontline at the Somme, in WWI. A court-martial decides to punish them by leaving them alone in no-man's land, to be killed in the crossfire. Then all hell breaks loose and they all die. Or not? One of these men's fiancée, a young girl who can't walk since age 3, receives information that makes her suspect his boyfriend might have gotten away alive. So she embarks in a painful, long and often frustrating ordeal to find out the truth. Written by Erwin van Moll {max404@hotmail.com}

From the director and star of "Amelie" (Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Audrey Tautou) comes a very different love story, "A Very Long Engagement," based on the acclaimed novel by Sebastien Japrisot. The film is set in France near the end of World War I in the deadly trenches of the Somme, in the gilded Parisian halls of power, and in the modest home of an indomitable provincial girl. It tells the story of this young woman's relentless, moving and sometimes comic search for her fiancée, who has disappeared. He is one of five French soldiers believed to have been court-martialed under mysterious circumstances and pushed out of an allied trench into an almost-certain death in no-man's land. What follows is an investigation into the arbitrary nature of secrecy, the absurdity of war, and the enduring passion, intuition and tenacity of the human heart. Written by bondish

Abbrivations in French

Abbriavtions in French

Abbrivation/Full form/English meaning

1. bac             baccaluréat           GCE ‘A’ levels (or) school. Learning certificate.

2. bd               boulevard              boulevard

3. BD               bande dessinée     comic strip

4. BNP            Banque Nationale de Paris     French bank.

5. BU               Bibliothèque universitaire     Univerity library.

6. CD               Disque Compact    Compact disk.

7. CE                Communité européene           EC, Common market.

8. DCA             Défence contre avions             anti-aircarft defences

9. EDF             Electricité de France               Electricity Board of France.

10. EU             Etats-Unis                                European Union or USA.

11. ONU          Organisation des Nations Unies         UNO

12. RED           Rez-de-chauséé                     Ground floor.

13. RF              République française            French republic.

14. SDF           Sans domicile fixe                 No fixed abode.

15. SNCF        Societe nationale des chemins de fer français     French railway board.

16. TGV          Train à grande vitesse      High speed train.

17. RFA           République Fédérale Allemande              Federal Republic of Germany.

18. SOS           appealau secours (en morse: …/…/…)

19. URSS        Union des Républiques socialistes et soviétiques       USSR

Hi Frens!!! Our french class in OU Arts collage.

Interview (Beta 2)

Hi Friends!!!
I have prepared some text for tommarows interview. Hope u find useful.

First of all the Salutations parts

Comme entrée - Come in.

Applicant: Bonjour/Bonjour Monsieur, Madam, Mademoiselle.
If its after 4pm start with "Bonsoir"

Interviewer: Bonjour/Bonsoir.
Mettez-vous Ici, Sil vous plait - Please take your seat.
s'asseoir Sil vous plait – please sit down.

Applicant: Merci.

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Before going in to Questioning phase of interview, lets see some of the basic ways of possing a question.

Poser Les Questions - How to ask Questions.

Qui? Who?

Que? What?

Quel? What? Which?

Qu'est-ce qui? Who? (For persons only)

Quest-ce que? What? (For things only)

Où? Where?

Commet? How?

Pourquoi? Why?

Combeine de? How many?

Ya-t-il Is there?

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Now lets come question and answer phase of interview.

The following are various types of question that may be possed.

Presentez-vous? - Present yourself?

Vous presentez-vous? - Present yourself?

Qu'est-ce que tu fais? - What do you do?

Votre nom? - Your name (very informal)

Votre profession? - Your profession (very informal)

Quel est votre nom? - What is your name?

Qui est-ce? – Who is this?

Quell est passe-temps favori? – What are your hobbies?

Quelle est votre ambition dans la vie ? – What is your ambition in life?

Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui? - What time/season does it make today?

Il est quelle heure? - What is the time now?


So after this, now we will try to answer this question in different ways.

Je m'appelle vinod/----

Je suis étudiant(e) de doit(law), commerce, gestion(management), science

Je suis né à Vizag/----. - I am born in vizag.

J'habite Nallakunta à Hyderabad. - I live in nallkunta, Hyderabad.

Je parle hindi, telugu, anglais, francais un peu de allemand. - I speak Hindi, Telugu, English, French and little German.

Je travaille dans une companie de investissements/----. - I work with an investment company.

Je fais du cricket et du tennis. – I play some cricket and foot ball.

Je fais des arts marriaux arts. – I do some martial arts.

J’ecoutê la musiqe hip hop.

J’aime beaucoup les cources d’auto – I like very much car and bike racing.

Je voudrais vaster Paris – I wish to visit Paris.

Je voudrais être homme d’affaires/----- – I wish to become business man

Or

Mon ambition est d'aller bien à un homme d'affaires/-----. – My ambition is to become a business man.

Now let us see more informal or situational answers.

If you don’t understand something respond with.

Excuse-moi, M, Mme, Mlle.

Non, Je ne comprends pas -

Repetéz, Sil Vous Plait – Please repeat.

If you real understand well or want to continue the dialogue future, then respond with

Je comprends – I understand.
C’est bein – It is very good.

C’est très mal – This is very bad.

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So far the all the basic interview is done, now lets discuss about the question based on the work they are going to assign in the job.

Vous fait du sport? – Do you play sports?

Fait-vous du sport? – Do you play sports? (more imperative)

Où êtes-vous étudier français ? – Where are you studying french?

Combien de niveaux que vous avez accomplis ? – How many levels you have completed?

Combien d'années êtes-vous étude français ? – How many years you are learning french?

Pourquoi voulez-vous participer aux jeux ? - Why do you want to participate in games?

Here the basic way to give response to the above question on job?

Oui, Je fait du sport. – Yes, I play sports

J'étudie à l'université d'osmania. – I am studying in osmania university.

J'étudie le diplôme junior – I am studying junior diploma.

J'étudie de 6 mois. – I am studying from 6 months.



Je suis intéressé parce que c'est grand événement. Il me donne le sort d'exposition. J'aime également des sports beaucoup. Je les ai lus en journal de nouvelles. Je suis très intéressé, passionnant pour saisir cette occasion.

I am interested because it is big event. It gives me lot of exposure. I also like sports very much. I read them in news papers. I am very interested, excited to take this opportunity.
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Here are some situational questions that may come in any part of the interview.

Qu’est-ce que vous est dites? – What do you say?

que dites-vous ? – What do you say?

Vous connaissez? – You know?

Here are some situational answers

Je sais – I know

Je crois – I think

Je comprends – I understand

Dites-moi – tell me

Donnez moi – give me

Apportez moi – bring me

À mon insu – unknown to me

Quant à moi – as for me

Vous avez raison – you are right

Parlez plus haut – speak louder.

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Its not always good to be on receiving end in a interview, so post some nice questions to interviewer.

Combien de jours est le programme ? - How many days is the program?

Combien d'argent qu'ils payent le programme ? – How much money they pay for the program?

Combien d'argent que vous payez le programme ? – How much money you pay for the program?

le travail continuera-t-il dans la nuit également ? - Will the job continue in night also?

La nourriture sera-t-elle fournie pendant le travail ? - Will the food be provided during work?

Là s'exercera ? - Will there be training?

quels sont les timmings ? – what are the timmings?

quand devons-nous arriver ? – What time we have to arrive?

quand est-ce que je dois arriver ? - what time i have to arrive?

Ya-t-il de reprendre de la ville ?- Is there pick up from the city?


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Finally if you are selected. The questions may be as follows.

Vous êtes choisis. – You are selected.

Félicitations. - Congratulations.

On your side.

merci beaucoup – Thank you very much.