Module 1: Why Study French PDF

Lesson 1: Why Study French? Core Content: French The Most Practical Foreign Language While any language will be useful for some jobs or for some regions, French is the only foreign language that can be useful throughout the world as we...

Lesson 1: Why Study French? Core Content: French The Most Practical Foreign Language While any language will be useful for some jobs or for some regions, French is the only foreign language that can be useful throughout the world as well as in the United States. French as a foreign language is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English. The International Organization of Francophonie has 56 member states and governments. Of these, 28 countries have French as an official language. French is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. French and English are the only two global languages. When deciding on a foreign language for work or school, consider that French is the language that will give you the most choices later on in your studies or your career. French, along with English, is the official working language of the United Nations UNESCO NATO Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) the International Labor Bureau the International Olympic Committee the 31-member Council of Europe the European Community the Universal Postal Union the International Red Cross Union of International Associations (UIA) French is the dominant working language at the European Court of Justice the European Tribunal of First Instance the Press Room at the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium One example of the importance of French can be seen in a recent listing of international jobs (12/1/09) distributed by the US State Department: 92 required or preferred French, 36 Spanish, 11 a UN language (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish), 7 Arabic, 5 Russian, 1 Japanese, 1 Hindi, 1 German, and 1 Chinese. Of the various types of professional positions for which international organizations recruit, four required French, two Spanish, and one Arabic, according to the fact sheet released by the Bureau of International Organization Affairs of the U.S. Department of State (October 2011). The Economics of French and France French is the foreign language spoken by our largest trading partner (Canada). The province of Quebec alone is the sixth-largest trading partner of the United States with approximately $72 billion in trade in 2006. In 2006, the United States exported and imported more to countries having French as a national language than to countries having any other foreign language. Exports to Canada alone in that year were greater than the combined exports to all countries south of the United States. From 2003 to 2008 trade between France and the United States increased by 59% with one billion dollars of transactions taking place every day. The U.S. and France share many trade similarities, particularly their global standing as the world's top 2 exporters in 3 very important sectors: defense products, agricultural goods, and services. Franco-American trade is also remarkable for its symmetry, as 6 of the top 10 exports are the same each way. France has the fifth largest economy in the world after the U.S., Japan, China, Germany (2008). In 2006, the French GDP was $2.231 trillion and China's was $2.668 trillion. France is the second-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world after the U.S. In recent years, the U.S. has been the largest direct investor in France. France is nearly tied with Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands as the second-largest foreign investor in the U.S. In 2010, the United States was the leading destination for French investments abroad. The world invests in France: in 2006, France was the third-largest destination of foreign investment in the world. 2,800 French companies in the US employ approximately 550,000 Americans. US companies employ nearly 650,000 people in France. Among foreign countries doing business in the US, France employs the third-largest number of Americans. among the world's 200 largest companies, 35 are French, 34 are German and 30 are British. France is the third most productive nation in the world per hour work behind Norway and the US.  French is one of the languages spoken in the US: 1.8 million Americans speak French at their home. (2010 US Census) Overall, the French export more per capita than the Japanese and more than twice as much as the Americans. France is the world's leader in the production of luxury goods. More tourists visit France than any other country in the world. France gives more foreign aid per capita to developing nations than does the US. Science and Technology France will be the site of the world's first nuclear fusion reactor, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Seven of France's top ten exports to the U.S. are industrial or high technology products. France is the fourth-largest producer of automobiles in the world (Renault, Peugeot, Citroën) and the third-largest exporter. France is fourth in research among countries of the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation (after Japan, Germany, and the US). France is a major world research center in the field of high energy physics. The French are a world leader in medical research: the AIDS virus was first isolated by French doctors. The French are the world's third manufacturers of electronics equipment. European leader in aerospace (Aérospatiale, Arianespace, Airbus...). Most commercial satellites are put into space on French Ariane rockets. France is a leader in the development of high-speed trains such as the TGV. The smart card was used on a large-scale basis in France. The ocean liner Queen Mary II was built in France. France is one of the world's leading military powers and has the world's second-largest defense industry (i.e. Exocet missiles, radar technology.) The French have nearly 15,000 troops on peace-keeping duties in 15 countries including Afghanistan, the Balkans, and the Ivory Coast. France is the world's second-largest builder and exporter of civilian and military aircraft and helicopters (Airbus is the world's second-largest fleet of commercial airliners, and many of the US Coast Guard helicopters are made by Aérospatiale in Toulouse.) France has one of the most advanced systems of telecommunications in the world. Importance of French in school and work Historically France and the French language have had an enormous influence over American society. France was the United States' first ally. French thought played a dominant role among the founders of the United States in the 18th century, and it continues to shape America today through the influence of such intellectual currents as post-structuralism and post-modernism. In the humanities and the social sciences, many of the most important writings have come from France. Students and researchers who know French have access to these works for several years before they are translated into English. Many significant works are never translated and remain accessible only to those who know the language. In addition, most graduate schools require knowledge of at least one foreign language, and French remains the most commonly used language after English. When employers and universities look at applicants, they do not start looking at the bottom of the list to see who has done only the minimal amount of requirements necessary or taken the easiest route available, they start at the top of the list and look for those students who have risen above the rest. High school students should consider studying at least four years of a foreign language. College students should seek to earn a minor in French or have French as a primary or secondary major. With French, they have access to the most widely spoken foreign language in the world after English and they become familiar with a culture that significantly influences our own. The French economy is one of the strongest in the world and is increasingly a leader in technological innovation. In sum, French is the language of the future. Classroom Expressions and Questions Levez-vous Stand up Asseyez-vous Sit down Montrez Show Sortez Get out/Take out Ouvrez Open Silence Silence Écoutez Listen Levez la main Raise your hand Fermez Close Ne parlez pas Don’t talk Écrivez Write Éffacez Erase Comment dit-on.. en français? How do you say.. In French? Comment ça s'écrit? How is it spelled (written)? Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire? Wat does it mean? En anglais, s'il vous plaît? In English, please? Répétez, s'il vous plaît? Repeat, please. J'ai une question. I have a question. Je ne comprends pas. I don't understand. Puis-je aller aux toilettes? May I go to the bathroom. Puis-je boire de l'eau? May I get a drink of water? Puis-je tailler mon crayon? May I sharpen my pen? Puis-je écrire (la date) au May I write (the date) on the tableau? board? Puis-je aller à mon casier? May I go to my locker? Puis-je aller au bureau? May I go to the office? Puis-je chercher un May I get a tissue? mouchoir? Puis-je chercher un dictionannaire?May I get a dictionary? Puis-je ouvrir/fermer la fênetre? May I open/close the window? Puis-je entrer a la classe? May I enter the classe? "The DEFINITE ARTICLE" The definite article is… the Le Masculine La Feminine Les Plural L' vowel, h les tables the tables les the chaires chaises les the cars voitures l'arbre the tree l'hôpital the hospital la tomate the tomato la table the table la chaise the chair la voiture the car la cassette the cassette la carotte the carrot le cinéma the cinema le sac the bag le bateau the boat le stylo the pen le chocolat The chocolate l'école - the school la salle de class e - the classroom le professeur /ll'enseignant - the teacher l'èléve - the pupil les cours- the lesson la leçon - the lesson les cours/leçons de français - the French lessons le bureau the desk le tableau- the board tableau blanc/noir- whiteboard/blackboard le sac à dos- the backpack le livre- the book le cahier- the exercise book la feuille de papier- te sheet of paper le classeur- the folder les casiers- the lockers l'uniforme- the uniform Basic French Vocabulary Part II Things in your Pencil Case la trousse the pencil case le stylo the pen le crayon the pencil the pencil le taille-crayon sharpener la gomme the rubber the colouring les crayons de couleur pencils le marqeur the marker pen le pinceau the paint brush la règle the ruler la colle the glue les ciseaux the scissors la calculatrice the calculator Build your confidence up by starting with some basic words and phrases to start building your French word bank: Bonjour = Hello, Good morning Au revoir = Goodbye Oui = Yes Non = No Merci = Thank you Merci beaucoup = Thank you very much Fille = Girl Garçon = Boy Femme = Woman Homme = Man Amour = Love Français = French S’il vous plaît = Please Bonsoir = Good evening Bonne Nuit = Good night Excusez-moi = Excuse me De Rien = You’re welcome (casual, informal way) Je vous en prie = You’re welcome (formal)  Temps = Time Jour = Day Monde = World Monsieur = Mister, gentleman Raison = Reason Mademoiselle = Miss, unmarried woman Madame = Married woman, older woman Beau = Handsome Belle = Beautiful Chat = Cat Chien = Dog Fort = Strong More French Phrases & Common Things You May Say in French Je suis désolé(e)= I’m sorry Comment vous appelez-vous?= What is your name? Parlez-vous anglais?= Do you speak English? Je m’appelle= My name is Comment allez-vous?= How are you doing? Quelle heure est-il?= What time is it? Pouvez-vous m’aider?= Can you help me? Combien ça coûte?= How much is this? Je t’aime= I love you 1. Bonjour! (Good morning, hello) 2. Bienvenue. (Welcome.) 3. Madame/Monsieur/Mademoiselle (Mrs. /Mr. /Miss) 4. Pardon, excusez-moi. (Pardon, excuse me.) 5. Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?) 6. Je ne parle pas français. (I do not speak French.) 7. À tout à l’heure! (See you later!) 8. Merci/Merci beaucoup. (Thank you/Thank you very much.) 9. Au revoir! (Goodbye!) 10. De rien. (You’re welcome.) 11. Pourriez-vous m’aider? (Can you help me?) 12. Je ne comprends pas. (I do not understand.) 13. Parlez lentement, s’il vous plaît. (Speak slowly, please.) 14. Répétez, s’il vous plait. (Repeat, please.) 15. Où sont des toilettes? (Where are the toilets?) 16. Où est un bon restaurant/un bon café? (Where is a good restaurant/a good café?) 17. Où est la plage/le centre-ville? (Where is the beach/city center?) 18. Je cherche le métro/le gare/l’aéroport. (I am searching for the metro/train station/airport.) 19. Je cherche l’hôtel/l’hôpital/la banque. (I am searching for the hotel/hospital/bank.) 20. Pourriez-vous prendre ma photo/notre photo? (Are you able to take my photo/our photo?) 26. Où est le guichet? (Where is the ticket window?) 27. Je voudrais regarder l’horaire. (I would like to look at the schedule.) 28. Je voudrais réserver un billet. (I would like to reserve a ticket.) 29. Je voudrais acheter un billet aller simple/aller-retour pour Paris. (I would like to purchase a one-way ticket/a round-trip ticket.) 30. À quelle heure faut-il arriver? (What time should it arrive?) 31. Quelles chambres avez-vous de disponible? (What rooms do you have available?) 32. Est-ce qu’il y a de climatisation? (Is there air conditioning?) 33. Je voudrais une chambre pour deux. (I would like a double room.) 34. Je voudrais annuler ma réservation. (I would like to cancel my reservation.) 35. À quelle heure est-ce qu’il faut régler la note? (At what time should we check out?) 36. Où sont les magasins? (Where are the shops?) 37. Où est le centre-commercial? (Where is the mall?) 38. Est-ce que je peux payer avec une carte de crédit? (Can I pay with a credit card?) 39. À quelle heure est-ce que s’est ouvert? (At what time is it open?) 40. À quelle heure est-ce que s’est fermé? (At what time is it closed?) 41. Je cherche un sac/une carte postale/un livre. (I am searching for a bag/a postcard/a book.) 42. Combien ça coûte? (How much does it cost?) 43. C’est trop cher! (It’s too expensive!) 44. C’est bon marché! (It’s a great deal!) 45. C’est bon/mal/terrible. (It’s good/bad/terrible.) 46. La carte/le menu, s’il vous plaît. (The menu/fixed-price menu, please.) 47. Je voudrais un café. (I would like a coffee.) 48. Je voudrais un verre. (I would like a glass*.) *usually refers to a glass of beer 49. Je voudrais de l’eau. (I would like some water.) 50. L’addition, s’il vous plaît. (The bill, please.) I am ------ Je suis You are ------Tu es He/she is ------ Il est/ Elle est We are ------ Nous sommes You are ----- Vous etes (plural, formal) They are ------ Ils/ Elles sont Je suis intelligent. ---- I am intelligent Tu es Philippin? -------You are Filipino? Il est la. ------- He is here Elles est belle. --- She is beautiful. Nous sommes bruyantes. --- We are noisy. Vous etes un professor.--- You are a teacher. Ils sont bons. ----They are good. ETRE Je suis ----- I am Tu es ------ You are Il/elle est ------He/She is. Nous sommes ------ We are Vous etes ----- You are Ils/Elles sont -----They are