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L’enseignement de l’oral préoccupe enseignants et apprenants. C’est une question complexe qui touche à la fois les problèmes de communication et d’acquisition, d’organisation et de mise en œuvre pédagogique mais aussi d’évaluation. Tentative de réponse avec Jing Guo, qui a codirigé L’enseignement de l’oral en classe de langue (Éditions des archives Contemporaines, 2020).

PROPOS RECUEILLIS PAR JACQUES PÉCHEUR

Quand on parle d’enseignement de l’oral en classe de langue, de quel oral parle-t-on ? C’est le point de départ de tous les problèmes qui apparaissent après ! Là il s’agit plutôt d’une question de registres ; entre registre familier, neutre, informel… quel registre enseigner ? Ici, tous les enseignants ne sont pas d’accord entre eux sur l’importance de montrer différentes variations de registres aux étudiants. En revanche, les étudiants trouvent qu’il est important, et ilssont demandeurs, de différencier les registres dès le début de l’apprentissage.

Mais cette demande de différenciation reste secondaire ; ils préfèrent quand même recevoir un enseignement dans un registre disons neutre. En même temps le CECR a tranché sur le sujet en n’in-troduisant les variétés langagières qu’à partir du niveau B2. Et c’est seulement à partir du C1 que l’on est censé commencer à ajuster les diffé-rents niveaux. Pourtant, d’un point de vue sociolinguistique, il serait préférable de prendre en compte ces différences de registres et d’y exposer plus tôt les étudiants. Cela étant, ce sont les objectifs d’appren-tissage qui vont orienter les choix en matière d’exposition ou non aux différents registres....

si vous voulez lire la suite...abonnez-vous à la revue Le français dans le monde...

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For Rose, “her family and society were everything for her.” DeCosse explains that even though Rose had a challenging time, to say the least, in East Hampton, she found people of different nationalities who were good to her, and this broadened her mind. A very kind teacher, who became a kind of mentor to her, encourages her to learn English for her societal survival in the U.S. This central message is what DeCosse wants us to take away from her latest book–this opening of the mind, this understanding of different cultural perspectives that Rose comes to achieve.
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LOST ILLUSIONS Opens June 10 in NY

Music Box Films is pleased to announce the US theatrical release of LOST ILLUSIONS, Xavier Giannoli’s sumptuous adaptation of Honoré de Balzac’s seminal 19th century Paris-set epic novel of ambition, lust, betrayal, and the birth of modern media.  LOST ILLUSIONS will open on Friday, June 10 in New York (Film Forum and Film at Lincoln Center) and Los Angeles (Laemmle's Royal, Pasadena’s Playhouse and Encino’s Town Center), followed by a national expansion.

Giannoli’s deft, au courant adaptation of Honoré de Balzac’s sprawling novel of social-climbing and artistic compromise reminds us that the thorny entanglements of art, commerce, and media are centuries-old. This decadent, satirical romp that “plays with all the brio and jeopardy of a modern-day gangster movie” (Variety) is replete with both the opulence and grittiness of 19th-century Paris. Fake news and “pay for play” are familiarly pervasive, though sexier and funnier than today’s version -- and not a little soul-pricking, since the culprits are lefty journalists and a doe-eyed, underdog poet-protagonist (Benjamin Voisin). Our hero’s journey begins with a quest for love and pure art, then ascends steeply to heights of notoriety, fortune, and debauchery, and then… What goes up must come down.

Adapting Balzac’s novel for the screen had been a life-long passion project for writer-director Xavier Giannoli, whose seven other features, regularly selected for the Cannes and Venice Film Festivals, include César Award winners In the Beginning,The Singer, and Marguerite, his tragi-comedy about the socialite soprano modeled after Florence Foster Jenkins. 

"Refreshing…With its stellar performances, dramatic orchestral score and rich costume and set design, LOST ILLUSIONS is a worthwhile, sweeping narrative of love, lust and literary ambition.” - Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter

“Director Xavier Giannoli accomplishes one of French literature's trickier feats – adapting Balzac – finding uncanny resonances with our time.” - Peter Debruge, Variety 

"Period-drama perfection. Acted with such terrific panache that not enjoying it is impossible.”- Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian 

 

 

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Valerie Sun is a former dual immersion teacher and the founder of EmpowerED Consulting, a nonprofit educational consulting company. She recently published her handbook Navigating Dual Immersion: A Teacher's Companion for the School Year and Beyond through TBR Books. This is the first of the series, Navigating Dual Immersion, which will later see a guide for parents and one for administrators.
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Vickie Frémont's new work from TBR Books is part memoir, part instructional guide, taking the Native American legend of the hummingbird and creating a deeply personal learning tool that Frémont uses to touch the lives of all around her, and her own.
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2022 Films on the Green Festival

This year’s edition of Films on the Green, with the theme "From Page to Screen," spotlights 12 diverse and world-class literary adaptations, coming to 9 different parks across Manhattan and Brooklyn from June 3 to Sept. 9.
 
#FilmsontheGreen | Follow Films on the Green on Facebook, TwitterInstagram, and TikTok!
 

 

FESTIVAL LINE-UP

Free and open to the public (no ticket needed). All films are shown with English subtitles. Screenings begin at sunset.
*In-person screenings will abide by all state and local regulations on large-scale outdoor events in regards to COVID-19 restrictions.

 

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Friday June 3 | Central Park

LES CHOSES DE LA VIE (The Things of Life) by Claude Sautet (Courtesy of Rialto Pictures)
With Romy Schneider, Michel Piccoli, Léa Massari 
Based on the acclaimed novel by Paul Guimard, Les Choses de la vie begins in the aftermath of a violent car crash along a rural motorway. As the man, Pierre, lies in a semi-conscious stupor, his life flashes before his eyes—specifically, his complex entanglement with two quite different women: his dutiful, long-suffering wife and his adoring, free-spirited lover. 

 

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 Friday June 10 | Washington Square Park

THE SUMMIT OF THE GODS (Le Sommet des dieux) by Patrick Imbert (Courtesy of Netflix) 
Were George Mallory and his companion Andrew Irvine the first men to scale Everest on June 8th, 1924? Only the little Kodak VPK camera they took with them might reveal the truth. In Kathmandu, 70 years later, a young Japanese reporter named Fukamachi recognizes the camera in the hands of the mysterious Habu Jôji, an outcast climber believed missing for years. Fukamachi enters a world of obsessive mountaineers hungry for impossible conquests on a journey that leads him, step by step, towards the summit of the gods. 

 

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Friday June 17 | Washington Square Park
BAND OF OUTSIDERS (Bande à part) by Jean-Luc Godard (Courtesy of Rialto Pictures)
With Anna Karina, Sami Frey, Claude Brasseur
Franz and Arthur don’t have money, jobs, or prospects, but they do have a black convertible and a shared romantic interest in Odile. When Odile lets slip that a stash of cash is ineptly hidden in the isolated villa where she lives, the men hatch a plan to take it for themselves. 

 

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Friday June 24 | Transmitter Park, Brooklyn
LE CAPITAN (Captain Blood) by André Hunebelle
With Jean Marais, Bourvil, Elsa Martinelli 
France, 1616. King Louis XIII is 15 and his mother, Marie of Medicis, regent of the kingdom since the death of Henri IV, entrusts power to Concino Concini, a deceitful and ambitious man. After the assassination of his friend by Concini, noble swordsman Francois de Capestan, known as “Le Capitan,” goes to the young sovereign to warn him of the multiple betrayals that threaten the King’s Court.  

 

 

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Friday July 1 | Tompkins Square Park
TOUCHEZ PAS AU GRISBI by Jacques Becker (Courtesy of Rialto Pictures)
With Jean Gabin, Jeanne Moreau, Lino Ventura 
After pulling off their "retirement job," 50 million in gold bars, aging criminals Max and Henri think they can give up the game. But when Henri's girlfriend tells the drug dealer Angelo about the loot, violence erupts. Angelo kidnaps the old crook and asks Max for the “grisbi” as ransom... 

 

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Friday July 8 | Seward Park
BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS (Balzac et la petite tailleuse chinoise) by Dai Sijie
With Zhou Xun, Liu Ye, Chen Kun
In 1971 China, in the lingering grip of the cultural revolution, two university students are sent to a remote mountain village for re-education to purge them of their classical western-oriented education. Amid the backbreaking work and stifling ignorance of the community, the two boys find that music, and the local tailor’s seamstress granddaughter are the only pleasant things in their miserable life. After discovering a secret cache of forbidden books, they set about teaching her things she had never imagined. 

 

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Wednesday, July 13 | J. Hood Wright Park
FEVER MOUNTS AT EL PAO (La Fièvre monte à El Pao) by Luis Buñuel (Courtesy of Oscar Arce and the Luis Buñuel Film Institute)
With Maria Félix, Gérard Philippe, Jean Servais 
When the governor of a prison on the remote Caribbean Island Ojeda is assassinated, his secretary, Ramón Vasquez, assumes the role of acting governor until a replacement can be appointed. Vasquez, an idealist, exploits this opportunity to improve the lot of the prisoners, and to start an affair with the former governor’s widow... 

 

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Friday July 15 | Seward Park
THE CLASS (Entre les murs) by Laurent Cantet
With François Bégaudeau, Louise Grinberg, Esmeralda Ouertani, Boubacar Touré 
François and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in Paris. Armed with the best intentions, they brace themselves to not let discouragement and difficulties in the classroom stop them from trying to give the best education to their students. Neither stuffy nor severe, François’ extravagant frankness often takes the students by surprise. But his classroom ethics and his resolve are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods... 

 

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Friday July 22 | Riverside Park, Pier I
MANDABI (The Money Order) by Ousmane Sembène
With Makhouredia Gueye, Isseu Niang, Ynousse N’Diaye 
After jobless Ibrahima Dieng receives a money order for 25,000 francs from a nephew who works in Paris, news of his windfall quickly spreads among his neighbors, who flock to him for loans while he finds his attempts to cash the order stymied in a maze of bureaucracy, and new troubles rain down on his head.

 

10466450886?profile=RESIZE_710xFriday July 29 | Riverside Park Pier I
DELICACY (La Délicatesse) by David and Stéphane Foenkinos 
With Audrey Tautou, François Damiens 
Nathalie is a beautiful, happy, and successful Parisian business executive who finds herself suddenly widowed after a three-year marriage to her soul mate. To cope with her loss, she buries herself and her emotions in her work to the dismay of her friends and family. One day, inexplicably, her zest for life and love is rekindled by a most unlikely source, her unexceptional, gauche, and average looking office subordinate, Markus.  

 

10466459683?profile=RESIZE_710xThursday, September 8 | Columbia University
THE VELVET QUEEN (La Panthère des neiges) by Marie Amiguet and Vincent Munier
In the heart of the Tibetan highlands, multi-award-winning nature photographer Vincent Munier guides writer Sylvain Tesson on his quest to document the infamously elusive snow leopard. Munier introduces Tesson to the subtle art of waiting from a blind spot, tracking animals, and finding the patience to catch sight of the beasts. Through their journey, the two men ponder humankind’s place amongst the magnificent creatures and glorious landscapes they encounter along the way. 

 

10466492294?profile=RESIZE_710xFriday September 9 | McGolrick Park, Brooklyn
ELEANOR’S SECRET (Kérity, la maison des contes) by Dominique Monféry (recommended for ages 4+)
Nat has fond memories of his eccentric Aunt Eleanor reading to him from her enormous collection of storybooks. But he is frustrated by his inability to read the books himself. He is less than thrilled when he learns that his aunt has left him the keys to her attic library as a gift. Yet, just as Nat’s parents are selling the collection to an antique dealer, he discovers that the library is magical, and all the famous characters come to life! 

 


 

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS

FILMS ON THE GREEN is a free French film festival in New York City parks produced by the Villa Albertine, The French Embassy , NYC Parks and FACE Foundation.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS: BNP Paribas, JCDecaux and TV5 Monde

FESTIVAL FRIENDS: agnès b.Maman NYC, The Mexican Cultural Institute in New York, The Columbia Maison Francaise, North Brooklyn Parks Alliance, The Washington Square Park Conservancy, Nora Coblence, and Frederic C. Weiss.

PARTNERS: Cinema Tropical, the African Film Festival, The Seward Park Conservancy, PS 110 The Monitor School, and Summer on the Hudson.

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When it comes to finding French films or TV shows for kids to watch, the number of programs available on streaming platforms in the US can be overwhelming. That's why, each month, CinéSchool program manager and all-around film expert Nathalie Charles puts together a list of the top French content for kids and teens that is available online. While some films or series are pure entertainment, others are designed to share useful educational concepts, and more still are great for the whole family to enjoy! So, what's on this month?

 

Image from short film Destino / Salvador Dali

Destino
Directed by Dominique Monféry, 2003, France-United States
6 min. / Rated PG

Over a half-century in the making, witness the stunning collaboration of two of the world's most renowned artists. Destino began in 1945 as a joint venture between Salvador Dalí and Walt Disney, but production was halted when the studio ran into financial difficulties. Finally completed by Walt's nephew Roy in 2003, Destino features the tragic love story of Chronos, the personification of time, and a mortal woman as they seek each other out across the surreal landscapes so often used in the paintings of Salvador Dalí.

Available on Disney+.

 

My Life as a Zucchini (Gkids)

My Life as a Zucchini (Ma Vie de courgette)
Directed by Claude Barras, 2017, 1h06, France-Switzerland / PG-13, recommended for ages 12+

After his mother’s sudden death, Zucchini is befriended by a police officer, Raymond, who accompanies him to his new foster home, filled with other orphans his age. At first, he struggles to find his place in this at times strange and hostile environment. But with Raymond’s help and his newfound friends, Zucchini eventually learns to trust and love as he searches for a new family of his own. This accomplished debut feature from director Claude Barras, based on a script from acclaimed writer/director Céline Sciamma (GirlhoodTomboy), has now been nominated for both an Academy Award® and Golden Globe Award® for Best Animated Feature. Brought to life through memorable character designs and expressive stop-motion animation, the story soars with laughter, sorrow, and joy, and stands as a testament to the resilience of the human heart.

Available on Vudu | RedBox | AmazonVideo | Microsoft | iTunes | GooglePlay

 

Zorro The Chronicles (Cyber Group Studios)

Zorro: The Chronicles (Les Chroniques de Zorro)
Animated TV Series, France-Canada-Italy / Recommended for ages 6+

Zorro: The Chronicles introduces a teenage Don Diego, who faces the greatest challenge of his life as he fights for justice against numerous unscrupulous–and well-armed–tyrants! It is the birth of the most famous masked hero. The Chronicles go back to basics as they focus on the original Zorro's qualities and take us through a whirlwind of entertainment. With villains plotting and Zorro's cunning tricks and jokes—not to mention spectacular fights—the adventure will be complete! But Zorro never kills; he simply ridicules his opponents to teach them a lesson, and signs his deeds with his trademark Z! Zorro will also have a clever and courageous leading lady by his side: Ines, his twin sister. With her and Bernardo, his faithful friend, Zorro returns to save us when we need him most.

Available on Youtube (in French and in English).

 

Gagarine

Gagarine
Directed by Villa Albertine residents Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh, 2022, 1h37 / recommended for ages 13+

Youri, 16, has lived all his life in Gagarine Cité, a vast red brick housing project on the outskirts of Paris. From the heights of his apartment, he dreams of becoming an astronaut. But when plans to demolish his community’s home are leaked, Youri joins the resistance. With his friends Diana and Houssam, he embarks on a mission to save Gagarine, transforming the estate into his own “starship”—before it disappears into space forever. The film was shot on the cusp of the actual demolition of the Cité Gagarine housing project in collaboration with its residents in Ivry-sur-Seine.

Available on KinoNow | GooglePlay | AmazonVideo | YouTube | Vudu | Spectrum | DirecTV (in French with English subtitles)

 

TV series Heidi (Netflix)

Heidi
Animated TV Series, France-Australia-Germany / Recommended for ages 6+

Heidi is a happy, talkative eight-year-old orphan who lives with her grandfather in the idyllic scenery of the Swiss Alps. Heidi makes friends quickly, and everyone knows they can always rely on her for help.

Available on Netflix (#tip: make sure to click on "Subtitles & Audio" and select audio in French!) | GooglePlay | iTunes

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How many times have you wished someone a bon voyage? What about bon appétit? Ever indulged in a fresh croissant or New Orleans-style beignets? Or even just a coffee from Pret À Manger? If you didn’t know it already, French is literally everywhere – in our history and values, in our families, and in our neighborhoods and communities. The United States’ relationship with the French language is as old as the United States itself, and even predates its creation. But have you ever wondered what French culture has given us, beyond the Statue of Liberty, the state of Louisiana, and à la carte menus?

 

Recorded on May 5, 2022 at the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie in New York.
As part of the « Spring Festival of La Francophonie » and on the occasion of the release of the 2022 Report on the French Langage Worldwide and of the book « French All Around Us », the International Organization of la Francophonie (OIF), the Center for the Advancement of Languages, Education, and Communities (CALEC) and French Morning invite you to :

“A conversation on the French Language in the United States : history, commitment and future” #language #education #french #unitedstates #francophonie

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In The Heart of an Artichoke: A Dialogue à Deux About French Language, Literature, and Life, Linda Phillips Ashour and Claire Lerognon help readers reawaken their love of French and the joy of learning. Lively exchanges between teacher (Lerognon) and student (Phillips Ashour) range from task-based methods to a piecemeal approach that provides an alternative to classroom instruction. Peeling back the leaves of the artichoke, the authors uncover the true heart of language learning: a lifelong activity grounded not in textbooks but in human interaction.
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Aux professeurs de ce réseau :

J'ai le plaisir de vous inviter à une formation pédagogique organisée par l'Ambassade de France aux États-Unis et le FIAF le 22 avril 2022 sur le thème : "Enseigner la Francophonie en classe de FLE / FLS". Elle sera assurée par Madame CHNANE-DAVIN Fatima, Professeure des universités à l'INSPE d'Aix-Marseille Université. Elle abordera notamment les compétences et les connaissances nécessaires pour faire découvrir l'espace, la culture et surtout la diversité de la Francophonie à des apprenants de FLE/FLS.

Cette formation est gratuite et se tiendra sur toute la journée du 22. RSVP nécessaire.

Vous pouvez déjà vous inscrire via ce lien : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexci0plxxmRmcao2dRWC7jnNdKsNTMejnJtnrD8fFi00g2ZQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

N'hésitez pas à me contacter directement par email pour plus de détails ou pour d'éventuelles questions à l'adresse suivante : nicolas.serra@frenchculture.org
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Finding Your "One Good Question"

When I asked her what it means to be a Francophone from Louisiana, within North America, she began by saying, "It's so complex." She weaves together an explanation of the first Broussards to settle in Lafayette, who were deported by the British from Canada in Le Grand Dérangement. She has three distinct lines of forebears–Acadians from Canada; indigenous Choctaw and Creek communities; and Haitians who migrated north.
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When it comes to finding French films or TV shows for kids to watch, the number of programs available on streaming platforms in the US can be overwhelming. That's why, each month, CinéSchool program manager and all-around film expert Nathalie Charles puts together a list of the top French content for kids and teens that is available online. While some films or series are pure entertainment, others are designed to share useful educational concepts, and more still are great for the whole family to enjoy! So, what's on this month as we celebrate Earth Day and our beautiful planet?
 
Girl jumping with a cat in Paris

April and the Extraordinary World (Avril et le monde truqué)
Directed by Franck Ekinci and Christian Desmares, 2015, 1h45, PG / recommended for ages 9+

Paris, 1941. A family of scientists is on the brink of discovering a powerful longevity serum when all of a sudden a mysterious force abducts them, leaving their young daughter April behind. Ten years later, April lives alone with her dear cat, Darwin, and carries on her family’s research in secret. But she soon finds herself at the center of a shadowy and far-reaching conspiracy, and on the run from government agents, bicycle-powered dirigibles and cyborg rat spies. Undaunted, she continues her quest to find her parents and discover the truth behind their disappearance. 

Available on iTunes | GooglePlay | AmazonPrime | Vudu | YouTube | Redbox | Microsoft

animals in classroom

Ozie Boo! Save The Planet (Ozie Boo ! Protège ta planète)
Preschool TV show | Recommended for ages 2+

A soft and entertaining introduction to Ecology for the preschoolers, with the Ozie Boo Team and their friends, with an optimistic touch and high quality real world images. The Ozie Boo Team goes to school like all children around of the world… but their school is the Nature School. The “Ozie School”, built completely out of ice and ice cubes, with frozen benches and pristine desks, is the North Pole school where Nelly, Ned, Fred, Ted, Ed, our energetic and curious little penguins, ask the same questions all children ask, with four major themes: pollution, natural resources and climate, species in danger, and protection of the Planet.

Available on AmazonPrime | Roku Channel | YouTube Channel | Tivi5 Monde

Becoming Cousteau

Becoming Cousteau
By Liz Garbus, Documentary, 2021, 1h34, PG-13 / Recommended for ages 14+ (brief strong language, some disturbing images)

Adventurer, filmmaker, inventor, author, unlikely celebrity and conservationist: For over four decades, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his explorations under the ocean became synonymous with a love of science and the natural world. As he learned to protect the environment, he brought the whole world with him, sounding alarms more than 50 years ago about the warming seas and our planet’s vulnerability.

Available on Disney+ 

reindeers in snow

A Reindeer’s Journey (Aïlo : Une odyssée en Laponie)
Directed by Guillaume Maidatchevsky, 2018, 1h20, PG / recommended for ages 8+

Meet Ailo, a newborn reindeer who embarks on an incredible odyssey with the help of his mother. Narrated by Donald Southerland and set against the frozen majesty of northern Finland, their journey is an uplifting story for the whole family.

Available on Vudu | Tubi | GooglePlay | AmazonPrime | iTunes | Microsoft | FuboTV | Crackle | Plex | Redbox

A red turtle in the sea closed to a man

The Red Turtle (La Tortue rouge)
Directed by Michael Dudok de Wit, 2016, 1h20, PG, Belgium-France-Japan | recommended for ages 9+

This masterfully animated fantasy film tells the story of a man shipwrecked at sea who becomes stranded on a beautiful but desolate island. He learns to live in isolation, seemingly tormented in his efforts to escape the island by a giant red turtle. Miraculously, he soon comes upon a young woman also lost at sea and they create a family together.

Available on Vudu | GooglePlay | AmazonPrime | YouTube | Microsoft | iTunes | Spectrum

a ladybug and black ant

Minuscule, Valley of the Lost Ants (Minuscule – La vallée des fourmis perdues)
Directed by Hélène Giraud and Thomas Szabo, 2013, 1h29, France-Belgium | Recommended for all ages

In a peaceful little valley, the remains of an abandoned picnic sparks warfare between two tribes of rival ants. At stake, a box of sugar. So when a bold young ladybug finds herself caught in the middle of the battle, she befriends one the black ants, Mandible, whom together must protect the anthill from the encroaching red ant warriors, led by the fearful Butor.

Available on iTunes | AmazonPrime | YouTube | Microsoft | Vudu | GooglePlay

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How many times have you wished someone a bon voyage? What about bon appétit? Ever indulged in a fresh croissant or New Orleans-style beignets? Or even just a coffee from Pret À Manger? If you didn’t know it already, French is literally everywhere – in our history and values, in our families, and in our neighborhoods and communities. The United States’ relationship with the French language is as old as the United States itself, and even predates its creation. But have you ever wondered what French culture has given us, beyond the Statue of Liberty, the state of Louisiana, and à la carte menus? If so, then French All Around Us is just the book for you.

French All Around Us—a new title from TBR Books—offers an inclusive, social historical examination of French language and Francophone culture in the United States. This book brings together 24 prominent authors from various fields to shed light on aspects of the French language and its culture in the US: general history and demographics, education policy and realities, linguistic landscape, media and popular culture, literature and literary themes, foodways and culinary heritage. Readers will come away with a greater understanding of Francophone American identity as well as global Francophonie. This is a great read for historians, educators, language specialists, and all those interested in the uniquely American experience of French language and Francophone culture.

This collection of profiles and essays shows readers a unique side of life in America, from food to fashion to higher education. All of these chapters are written by authors who have spent the time to listen carefully to their Franco communities. They include personal interviews as well as time spent listening to podcasts or studying relevant publications to give insight into what life is really like for Franco-Americans today. Further discussions include trajectories of Francophone diversity in the US (immigration), language policies in schools and universities, minority status issues, identity politics in the arts (music, film), literature and language planning. Innovative essays explore themes related to the notion that "French is everywhere" – but with deliberate attention to how it is lived out across space and place. The book covers many peoples and diasporas long associated with Francophone presence in the US, such as Louisiana, New England, and New York. But French All Around Us also delves into states that are not so well known for their connections.

French All Around US is a great resource for those who want to explore the French language, especially with an American twist! This one-of-a-kind volume is more than just a compendium of research and statistics. It provides a voice for Americans with French ancestry who have long been underrepresented and relegated to the fringes of the North American narrative. Get this book to learn more about the everyday life and heritage of American French speakers and for a better understanding of just one of the ingredients that makes up our country’s melting pot.

Emani Fung

French all around us – French language and Francophone Culture in the United States (TBR Books, March 20, 2022)
Edited by Kathleen Stein-Smith and Fabrice Jaumont
https://tbr-books.org/product/french-all-around-us

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Only 10 days to enjoy it !

Le français dans le monde, la revue de la Fédération internationale des professeurs de français. C’est toute l’actualité pédagogique et culturelle du français et de la francophonie !

Dans chaque numéro, des fiches pédagogiques, des comptes-rendus d’expériences pédagogiques du monde entier et bien d’autres rubriques autour du métier de professeurs de français langue étrangère (FLE).

 

Je profite de l'offre 35% de remise !

 

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www.fdlm.org

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THE ROSEMAKER Opens April 1

Music Box Films is proud to announce the Friday, April 1st release of the affecting and charming French comedy THE ROSE MAKER, starring Catherine Frot (Marguerite) as Eve Vernet, a highly regarded rose creator trying to save her family business in unorthodox ways. THE ROSE MAKER will open in New York (Angelika Film Center) and Los Angeles (Laemmle Royal) and Pasadena (Laemmle Playhouse)  followed by additional markets. 
 
Gifted and eccentric horticulturalist Eve Vernet (Catherine Frot) honors her father’s legacy by continuing the family business, breeding exquisite roses that compete in showcases all over France. But her stubbornly artisanal approach struggles to compete with the mass market production from her corporate rivals. Facing imminent bankruptcy, Eve’s trusted assistant Vera (Olivia Côte,) makes a last-ditch effort to turn things around by secretly hiring three new employees from a prison rehabilitation program. Fred (Melan Omerta,) Samir (Fatsah Bouyahmed,) and Nadège (Marie Petiot,) are misunderstood outcasts with fresh ideas, strong work ethics, and absolutely no gardening skills. After resisting the newcomers' presence, Eve warms up to their idiosyncrasies, and, banding together, the team comes up with a zany and risky plan to try and save the business ...
 
Beloved French actress Catherine Frot, known for her subtly comic delivery, has received 10 César nominations throughout her career, winning the award for Best Actress for her performance in Xavier Giannoli’s Marguerite as socialite soprano Marguerite Dumont, modeled after Florence Foster Jenkins, and the César for Best Supporting Actress for Cédric Klapisch’s Un Air de Famille. Other notable films include Francis Veber’s hit comedy The Dinner Game, Martin Provost’s The Midwife, Christian Vincent’s Haute Cuisine, and Catherine Corsini’s The New Eve.
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When it comes to finding French films or TV shows for kids to watch, the number of programs available on streaming platforms in the US can be overwhelming. That's why, each month, Villa Albertine's CinéSchool program manager and all-around film expert Nathalie Charles puts together a list of the top French content for kids and teens that is available online. While some films or series are pure entertainment, others are designed to share useful educational concepts, and more still are great for the whole family to enjoy! So, what's on this month?
 
sun waking up a blue character (cartoon)

La Fête de la Francophonie

To celebrate La Francophonie, IFcinéma à la carte offers a selection of French shorts films " En Sortant de l'école - Robert Desnos" available online and for free from March 1-31, 2022 :

Bonsoir tout le monde by Kathleen Ponsard ; Couchée by Debora Cheyenne Curchon ; Couplet de la rue de Bagnolet by Quentin Guichoux ; Dans un petit bateau by Charlotte Cambon ; Demi-rêve by Gabrielle Sibieude ; Il était une feuille by Anaïs Scheeck ; J’ai tant rêvé de toi by Emma Vakarelova ; La Grenouille aux souliers percés by Juliette Cuisinier ; Le Salsifis du Bengale by Raphaëlle Stolz ; Le Zèbre by Viviane Boyer-Araujo ;  Les Quatre sans cou by Alix Fizet ; Papier buvard by Marine Laclotte ; and Paris by Justine Vuyksteker.

a mouse on a red rain boot (animated image)

The New York International Children's Film Festival (March 4 - April 3, 2022)

Since 1997, New York Int’l Children’s Film Festival has become the largest and most prestigious festival for children’s film in North America. While the 2022 Festival will take place in New York City, all programming for younger audiences will be available online and nationwide from March 4 through April 3. 

- French short film Step by Step presented in SHORTS FOR TOTS program (redommended ages 3+)
- French short films Mido and the InstrumalsA Lynx in the TownAthleticus: Sled, and Athleticus: Guides presented in BONUS: SHORTS FOR TOTS 2021 program (redommended ages 3+)

a white dog and young boy in the mountains

Belle and Sebastian (Belle et Sébastien)

Directed by Nicolas Vanier, 2013, 1h44, France / recommended for ages 10+

Based on the beloved children's book, this exciting tale set in the picturesque French Alps follows the friendship of a 6-year-old boy and a stray dog who prove to be heroes when they help defend their occupied village from the Nazis.

Available on Hoopla | tubi | Kanopy | AmazonPrime | RedBox | iTunes | Plex | Film Movement Plus | GooglePlay | Roku Channel
 

If you like this film, you may like the entire series:

Belle and Sebastian: The Adventure Continues (Belle et Sébastien, l’aventure continue)
Directed by Christian Duguay, 2015, 1h37, PG / recommended for ages 9+

Available on Hoopla | Vudu | AmazonVideo | GooglePlay | iTunes | Microsoft

Belle and Sebastian 3: The Last Chapter (Belle et Sébastien 3 : Le dernier chapitre) 
Directed by Clovis Cornillac, 2017, 1h37 / recommended for ages 10+

Available on Hoopla | GooglePlay | iTunes

Animated mushrooms

Mush-Mush and the Mushables - Season 1 (Mush-Mush & les Champotes)
Created by Elfriede de Rooster and directed by Joeri Christiaen, 2020

Animated Preschool TV Series, France-Belgium-UK / recommended for ages 4+

Mush-Mush & the Mushables follows the comedy adventures of the Mushable community as together they put the fun back into fungi! As pocket-sized Guardians of the Forest, each Mushable has a special gift. While Mush-Mush can communicate with nature, Lilit shines bright like a light and Chep has an impressive memory. As they get to know their talents and their limits, the Mushables find there is still a lot to discover about growing up…

Available on Cartoon Network and HBO Max (in English)

Animated wolf in winter

White Fang (Croc-Blanc)

Directed by Alexandre Espigares, 2018, 1h27, France-Luxembourg / recommended for ages 10+

Based on the timeless novel by Jack London, White Fang is the story of a proud and courageous wolfdog, fighting for his survival among the Canadian wilderness, the cities suddenly became wealthy during the gold rush in the Klondike 1890s. Born in the forest of a sled dog mother who fled their masters, White Fang will overcome challenges imposed not by the hostility of nature itself, but by his encounter with the men who shaped these austere regions.

Available on Netflix (#tip: make sure to click on "Subtitles & Audio" and select audio in French!)

 

Read more…
When it comes to finding French films or TV shows for kids to watch, the number of programs available on streaming platforms in the US can be overwhelming. That's why, each month, Villa Albertine's CinéSchool program manager Nathalie Charles puts together a list of the top French content for kids and teens that is available online. While some films or series are pure entertainment, others are designed to share useful educational concepts, and more still are great for the whole family to enjoy! So, what's on this month?
 
 
A boy and a girl on a wagon

MyFrenchFilmFestival (until February 15, 2022)

MyFrenchFilmFestival.com is a worldwide French film festival presented by Unifrance, and whose goal is to shine a spotlight on new generation French-language filmmakers.

Don't miss their Kids section featuring animated movie Calamity (1.99€) and shorts TreasureMido and the InstrumalsEye for an Eye, and Astralium (all the shorts are available for free!)!

Available online here and also on several US platforms/channels.

 

Bears and little girl in a circus

Animation First Festival (Online & Nationwide: February 14-21, 2022)

Animation First Festival, presented by the French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF), celebrates the enduring legacy and trailblazing innovation of French animation. While presented in person in New York City, the Festival's fifth edition will be also available online for a nationwide audience.

Their young audience selection includes The Bears' Famous Invasion of SicilyThe TowerEx-Aequo!Fresh Out of School - Andrée ChedidThe Mysteries of Paris, and Wonderful Wacky Wolves.

Available online here.

 

a mouse and two owls on a branch in winter

The Short Story of a Fox and a Mouse
Directed by Camille Chaix, Kevin Roger, Hugo Jean, Marie Pillier, Juliette Jourdan, 2015, 6 min. / Rated G

A lonesome fox hunts a mouse and their relationship will evolve as two owls interfere with the hunt.

Available here.

 

Students in classroom

The 400 Blows (Les Quatre cent coups)
Directed by Francois Truffaut, 1959, 1h59, recommended for ages 12+

François Truffaut’s first feature is also his most personal. Told through the eyes of Truffaut’s cinematic counterpart, Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud), The 400 Blows sensitively re-creates the trials of Truffaut’s own childhood, unsentimentally portraying aloof parents, oppressive teachers, and petty crime.

Available on The Criterion Channel | Kanopy | HBOMax | Amazon Video | Vudu | YouTube | GooglePlay | iTunes

 

Snakes in the desert

Sahara
Directed by Pierre Coré, 2017, 1h25, France-Canada, recommended for ages 7+

When his new love is captured by an evil snake charmer, a young cobra and his scorpion best friend set out across the desert on a wild rescue mission.

Available on Netflix (#tip: make sure to click on "Subtitles & Audio" and select audio in French!)

 

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Concours d'histoires plurilingues

A ne pas manquer - Don't miss it!
1er concours de l'histoire plurilingue pour les enfants entre 10 et 12 ans. Multilingual Story contest for children aged 10-12.
Découvrez la vidéo de la marraine du concours Aurely Guetz. Watch the video announcement from Aurely Guetz, the 2022 contest's patron https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvAzOvfN8bs
 
 
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When it comes to finding French films or TV shows for kids to watch, the number of programs available on streaming platforms in the US can be overwhelming. That's why, each month, CinéSchool program manager and all-around film expert Nathalie Charles puts together a list of the top French content for kids and teens that is available online. While some films or series are pure entertainment, others are designed to share useful educational concepts, and more still are great for the whole family to enjoy! So, what's on this month?
 
Two persons in a store

© The Melies Mystery (HBO Max)

The Méliès Mystery (Le Mystère Méliès)
Directed by Serge Bromberg and Eric Lange
2021, 58 min., Rated TV-PG / Recommended for ages 11+

A documentary detailing the process of restoring 270 of the 520 lost films of pioneering director Georges Méliès. Hailed as the inventor of special effects, he shot more than 500 amazing films between 1896 and 1913. By 1923, he was bankrupt and burned his enrapturing works... Thanks to international archives and the negatives, discover his movies in their original beauty. 

Available on HBO Max.

Animated Dinosaurs

© Gigantosaurus (Cyber Group Studios)

Gigantosaurus
Animated TV series / Recommended for ages 5+

Four young dinosaurs explore a prehistoric world of adventure, where the most exciting mystery of all is Gigantosaurus, the biggest and fiercest dinosaur anyone has ever seen!

Available on Disney+ | Netflix (#tip: make sure to click on "Subtitles & Audio" and select audio in French!)

Singing bird

© Maestro (Collectif Illogic)

Maestro
By collectrif Illogic, 2019, 2min., France / Recommended for ages 3+

Maestro is a short film that features an animal orchestra interpreting a nocturnal opera.

Available on Vimeo
You can find a video of how they made the film here.

Two children on a horse in the mountains

© On the Way to School

On the Way to School (Sur le chemin de l’école)
Directed by Pascal Plisson, 2015, 1h17, PG / recommended for ages 8+

The story of four students from different parts of the world who travel long distances to attend school.

Available on Hoopla | Kanopy | SundanceNow | Amazon Video | YouTube | Google Play | Vudu | iTunes | Microsoft

 

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France starring Léa Seydoux Opens December 10

Kino Lorber is proud to announce the release of FRANCE, a satirical drama set in contemporary Paris, Léa Seydoux stars as France de Meurs, a seemingly unflappable superstar TV journalist whose career, homelife, and psychological stability are turned upside down after she carelessly drives into a young delivery man on a busy street. This unexpected eruption of reality triggers a series of self-reckonings as well as a strange romance that proves impossible to shake. As France attempts to slow down and retreat into a simpler, anonymous life, her fame continues to pursue her. Starting out as a tragicomic satire of the news media, writer-director Bruno Dumont’s provocative new film spirals out into something darker as it examines the difficulty of maintaining one’s sense of self in a corrosive culture. 
 
FRANCE will open in New York (Film at Lincoln Center) and Los Angeles (Nuart) on Friday, December 10th followed by a national rollout.

One of the most singular and admired French writer-directors of the last two decades, Bruno Dumont’s award-winning body of work includes The Life of Jesus (winner of the Caméra d’Or Special Mention at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival), Humanity (winner of Cannes’ Grand Prix and Acting Awards for its two non-professional leads); the road movie Twentynine Palms, shot in Joshua Tree National Park desert (2003 Venice Film Festival); Dumont won his second Cannes Grand Prix for Flanders, followed by Hadewijch and Outside Satan, two films dealing with religion and mysticism. He cast Juliette Binoche in the biopic Camille Claudel 1915 and the comedy Slack Bay, named by Cahiers du Cinéma one of the best 10 films of 2016. Dumont’s highly popular comic miniseries Lil’ Quinquin were followed by the musical Jeannette: The Chilhood of Joan of Arc (2017 Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight) and Joan of Arc (winner of Special Mention at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard). FRANCE is his 11th film.

One of 2021’s Best Films - Cahiers du Cinéma
 
“Dumont delivers wild twists at a hectic pace, creating a kaleidoscopic frenzy of unreality and turning the daily life of a celebrity into a hallucinatory, media-saturated distortion.” – Richard Brody, The New Yorker
 
“Bruno Dumont offers Léa Seydoux her most resplendent role to date, that of a woman destroyed by the media complex in which she is trapped." – Le Monde
 
"Bruno Dumont examines a France that has been hijacked by social media and 24/7 news. A violent satire, shot through with lightning bolts of melodrama, interpreted by Lea Seydoux gone full kamikaze." –  Premiere Magazine
 
 
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