Bonjour !
« How can I improve my French easily? »
This is a question I hear A LOT. 🙂
And when I discovered Damon and Jo’s videos on YouTube, it was obvious:
I HAD to invite them on Comme une Française TV.
Today, they’ll share with you practical tips to speak better French, improve your comprehension of « real French » and offer clever ways to be understood in Paris.
And mostly… to be less seen as a tourist who learned French at school. More as an insider.
Ready?
.
Here is Damon and Jo’s blog: http://www.damonandjo.com/
And their videos about French language
Et toi?
Can you share with us your favorite French slang word, movie or singer?
Help the Community discover new words, movies and songs! 🙂
Next week, we’ll talk about Christmas in France!
Géraldine
Hi I am so happy I found your site, I really found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Google for something
else, Nonetheless I am here now and would
just like to say thanks for a marvelous post
and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t
have time to read it all at the moment but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so
when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up
the awesome work.
Renseignements excellents! Le premier fois j’ai écouté à Golden Moustache j’ai découvert… “meuf”.
My husband and I really enjoyed watching Bienvenue Chez Les Ch’tis. It was really funny and it was great for our French and to understand their sense of humour and the accent in Calais, where we spend a lot of time. http://www.imdb.com/title/t…
Je ne suis pas sûr que les conseils de ces vingtaines sont très utiles, sauf dans les circonstances les plus informelles. La difficulté que présente dans cette vidéo, c’est qu’on ne peut facilement faire une distinction entre les tendances générales et bêtises éphémère. Verlan peut sembler à la mode parmi les vintaines, mais je me demande sérieusement si un professionnel aurait référer à la femme d’un client comme un « meuf ». 😉 Ça sonnerait branché ou de la foutaise ? Et de remplacer « on » pour « nous » présente la même ambiguïté que nous avons en anglais entre « one » et « you ». « On y vas » pourrait avoir deux significations différentes, et, dans certains cas, l’utilisation de « nous » sert à clarifier. Serait-ce son si terrible aujourd’hui?
Pour résumer, en tant qu’expatrié en parlant sur la rue, cela pourrait fonctionner, mais pour utilité dans la plupart de ma journée, j’ai plusieurs des questions au sujet de ces conseils.
Merci bien, c’était très informative. On apprend toujours autour des autres. Pas faire ca trop souvent, il me plaît de te voir parler par les choses differentes.
Salut!
Merci, Geraldine, pour cet blog. Je suis d’accord. Jo et Damon sont des jeunes sympas et plein de la joie de vivre. J’ai bcp des DVDs francais – mes plus prefere sont “le Diner de Cons”, “la Cage aux Folles” (I et II), “Drole de Felix” et (plus dur a voir) “les Jours de Gloire”. A les achette sans sous-titres fixe en Anglais, je utilise Amazon.fr – c’est simple de l’Angleterre.
Oui, j’aime beaucoup le Dîner de Cons aussi, Andrew!
Thank you, wonderful !
Great fun too! very jealous , to be so young , full of life and to both share a wonderful open outlook and a desire to share with others the excitement and fears of stepping outside our comfort zones and growing into far more interesting personalities as a result. In particular , the big French lesson……..Work to live!! Vive le France!!
In Australia we are lucky to have a public broadcaster (SBS – the Special Broadcasting Service) that transmits a lot of foreign language shows, including Vingt Heures (the 8 pm news on France 2) and a lot of foreign language films. With TV series, I love Engrenages (police show) and I really liked the French version of Doc Martin with Thierry Lhermitte. Most French pop music doesn’t do a lot for me (although I like Phoenix and Daft Punk), but I like “Ta Doleur” by Camille and Fabienne Delsol’s more recent version of “Laissez Tomber Les Filles”.
Merci Megan d’avoir partagé tout ça !
My favorite French movie is “La Fee” by Dominique Abel
Je suis tout à fait d’accord avec vous.
J’aime la scene sous-marine.
Hi…this video is very interesting. I lived in Toronto, Ontario for two years and learned some French but very much enjoyed living in a different country. Geraldine, how is it possible to live in France? I have heard that there are many restrictions. But I think it would be amazing to live for a while in France. Your “About” section on your website has me curious.
Salut Géraldine,
Moi, j’ai trouve le vidéo très utile. D’autant plus avec les liens aux autres sites et aux autres films. Mes films les plus préférés (surtout pour l’apprentissage du Français) sont “Mes amies, mes amours”, “Mademoiselle Chambon”, “La tête en friche”, “L’hérisson” et “Le bonheur n’arrive jamais seul”. Regardez-les en Français avec les sous-titres en Français.
Merci JulieAnn ! J’aime beaucoup “Le Hérisson”, aussi. As-tu lu le livre ?
Mon film français préféré est <>. J’aime aussi <>. Je suis un vieillard, mais j’aime à dit tranquille (cool).
I like to listen to Natasha St-Pier. She has a wonderful voice and I can typically understand what she is singing and singing about. If I need help understanding I go to the Paroles.net site for the lyrics.
Oui Robert, Paroles.net est très pratique !
J’aime l’Engrenages beaucoup. J’attends le cinquieme saison sur Netflix.
J’aime Stromae, un chanteur Belgique. Et aussi Grand Corps malade.
Bonjour Susan, Génial ! Tu dois avoir un très bon niveau en français pour tout comprendre !
My favourite expression is “Je parle fancais comme une vache espagnole!”
Originally the phrase was thought to be « Je parle fancais comme une Basque espagnole! » ie a somewhat different dialect of French used by the Basque region of Spain – not “bad” french at all!
😀 it’s a funny version of “Je parle français comme une vache espagnole” !
I think it is funnier imagining a cow speaking french 8=)
Thank you Géraldine for the video. I
will suggest the french film ‘Hiroshima Mon Amour’, for the learners. It is 1959 film with Emmnuel
Riva & Eiji Okada. Very easy to understand. I liked it. Merci.
I teach French in Colorado and my students love the cartoon “Mouk” – https://www.youtube.com/cha…
And of course STROMAE. Also they love Christophe Mae (Ca Marche)!
Oh dear…how HIGHLY annoying are these two m’as tu vu?
Dreadful, dreadful ,dreadful….I don’t need to learn French from Americans, let alone preening Americans
Please never have them back. I didn’t make it past the fifth minute.
Sorry Géraldine….je n’aime pas ces casse-pieds
Thanks for trying, but this was not helpful at all.
Nice people, but you’re way off topic.
I didn’t make it to the end.
Bonjour Veronica,
Sorry it was not to your taste. 🙁
As we say “tous les goûts sont dans la nature” 🙂
Hi Mandy,
Sorry this video was not what you were looking for.
However, let’s be nice hosts and thank Damon and Jo for their time. 🙂
Jo and Damon’s segment, very charming! However, Damon is mixed up about the origins of le Verlan. It was not just the “young” who invented it, but the young Arabs who wished to shield their conversations from the public.
Hi Ilona,
If you’re into “slang” too, I think the Louchébem might interest you: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wik…
It was a language developed by butchers. And some words are still used everyday.
Enjoyed this video very much. Merci!
vachement hangar en
Vachement Hangar en France
Quitaine sp? en Quebec
Salut, Geraldine,
Sorry I hated this ! I could only watch a short part . Their English is not good . I try to teach my pupils not to say “like ” in the way they use it . It is banned in our school! Teenagers might enjoy this, I find it patronising . Yes , I want to speak informal French but if their French is of the same standard as their English I do not want to learn it from them !
Define “good” ! Their english is typical american english and as such is perfectly understandable, just perhaps not the way you would say it. Live and let live in my opinion, everyone has something to teach us.
Bonjour Lynne,
Sorry this video didn’t suit your taste. I understand you’d prefer to learn something else.
However, let’s be nice to our guests and thank them for their time. 🙂
Well, that is how English is actually spoken in the real world (other than UK and AUS vernacular)….so, tough.
The only problem is that people who use the english language in that way are perceived by some as uneducated – whether they are or not!
Not tough – just be aware of the effect your langauge has one others – whether you like it or not, communication is two way and not just composed of the words – there is lots contained in the way the words are used and delivered ….
Bonjour géraldine,
Damon et Jo sont très rigolo. Merci pour ça.
J’adore “Diva” aussi.
Une comédie j’ai vu en novembre, je propose: “Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait au bon dieu?” Très drôle et le français facile à comprendre.
Merci Géraldine.
Many years ago I was using the gentle, charming movies of Eric Rhomer to study the language – lots of dialogue at an easier pace than the usual frantic rate. Also, anything with Isabelle Hupert, Catherine Frot or Juliette Binoche. Best movie remains “Diva” from the 80’s with the wonderful soundtrack by Vladimir Cosma. (Showing my age here)
Looking forward to trying the programs suggested by your young guests.
Hi James,
You made me want to discover this movie! Thanks. 🙂
I have a degree in French, have taught French to elementary school kids etc …so I’m fluent in French (I’m Canadian) . I loved this video clip by Damon & Jo. Great suggestions and feedback. I best way to learn a language, like Jo said, is to live with a family in that language. I’ve done it 3 times now, most recently I did a homestay in Biarritz this summer (and I”m 47) I took my youngest daughter with me (she’s 9). Had the best time ever and we both improved our French so much! Also, excellent point about “on” instead of using “nous” -very valuable point! Thanks, Géraldine, for introducing me to Shut up & go. I’ve forwarded their website to my 19 yr old daughter who plans to live in Paris when we graduates from college. Awesome!
Bonjour Sandra,
Great! It’s wonderful you’re learning so much with your daughter. 🙂
And you’re right, living in a family to learn is the best!
Enjoyed the video, but not sure if all that slang and streetspeak would make any impression on the neighbours of my house in Josselin, a peaceful little Breton town. But then I’m giving my age away, because one of my favourite French movies is from the 1960s – Claude Lelouche’s ‘Un Homme et une Femme’ (great soundtrack too).
😉 Ahahah nicely said Richard, maybe your neighbours don’t use these words. But you’ll hear them on TV and in movies.
(No worries, I’ll keep your age a secret, Richard!)
Merci, Geraldine, pour cette video et pour le part age d’ une autre blog pour apprendre francais. Je suis enthusiaste pour ton prochain blog sur Noel. 🙂
I enjoyed this video. Thank you.
I think meuf is a wonderful word. It has a warm, fluffy, soft and yummy sound. Not bad for a synonyme de femme. 🙂
Hi Peter,
However, be careful when using it. 😉
(You are experienced enough, Peter, so I’m not worried)
Oh, I don´t intend to use it. Not out loud. 😉
Gosh, how are we to be careful – is it derogatory or what? We live in the countryside in France and I sure noticed the “On” but not this backwards language. Is it used among adults?
Carte d’identite! That’s my favorite word! I have been watching Friends (American TV show) in French because I know what is going on so I hope to absorb some of the French lingo.
I love the other suggestions that came up today. I need to get out and talk to the French, try it out with a French friend. Scary, but true.
I am living in France and stopped at a crosswalk for a jogger about a month and a half ago. I looked up as she passed and it was Geraldine!!! Small country! : )
I listen to French Radio on Serius XM while driving!
Ah, elle a fait le footing!
Hi Lisa,
Do you live in Grenoble too, then?
Next time, feel free to say hello!
A very useful exchange. French at normal speed is beyond me but I try to echo the spoken word with my silent lips. In Paris, I spoke French with my concierge who was Portugese. Apart from the cafés, all the outlets were run by ethnic groups. The only French woman I could talk to was a beggar. We had a good relationship.
J’aime bien écouter à Shy’m. Elle est très jolie. Aussi j’écoute à M Pokora et Jenifer. Aussi j’achète livres en français quand je peux. Et mon préféré film en français est “Merci pour le chocolat”
Interesting to hear from Americans that they have difficulty getting news from outside America – I have long believed that they are very insular and it is refreshing to hear how your guests overcame that.
The y also seem to be hampered by the departure of American English from English English! For instance we still use many words that are common to French – serviette is much more common in the UK than napkin which tends to be reserved for linen versions.
Whether or not it is “cool” to say something a particular way is not actually very important – the key surely is to be understood and to understand the reply! There are already phone apps that will translate spoken language with some accuracy, I wonder how long it will be before we have the equivalent of Douglas Adams “babel fish” (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) in the form of a hearing aid that will translate!
Hi Chris,
I’m sure this hearing aid will be here soon. 🙂
Oh dear. Not helpful at all, I didn’t even make it to the end of the video. I miss Géraldine…
I agree
Watching movies in French is great practice for comprehension. There are lots of gentle comedies I like (eg Neuilly, sa mere; the Agatha Christie Tommy and Tuppence movies starring Catherine Frot) and the Asterix movies. I would also recommend joining a club eg I belong to a classic car club and a botany club. Few people in either club speak English and I am the only anglo in the botany club.
Hi Susan,
Yes! Clubs are great! 🙂 Good tip!
Great video, loving the honesty and excellent tips