French Facts
Around 7 million Canadians are native French speakers, 6 million of whom live in Quebec
Unlike Latin (but much like most other Romance languages), French has only two grammatical genders (masculine and feminine), and uses auxiliary verbs to form some tenses
France is one of few countries worldwide to boast an official linguistic governing body, the Académie Française, whose goal is the constant purification and preservation of the French language
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La période de Noël s’étend de l’Avent (le premier dimanche quatre semaines avant la veille de Noël) à l’Epiphanie (le 6 janvier). Le 25 décembre, jour de Noël, est en fait le jour de la célébration de la naissance du Christ. Célébration avant tout religieuse, Noël est progressivement devenu une date privilégiée pour les rassemblements en famille.
Les traditions et coutumes relatives à Noël diffèrent selon les pays. En France, la période de Noël s’accompagne de nombreuses coutumes.
Les rues sont ornées de traditionnels sapins, illuminés durant la nuit. Des guirlandes sont généralement suspendues aux fenêtres des maisons ainsi qu’aux arbres. Des marchés de Noël se tiennent sur les places principales des villes, où les gens peuvent trouver décorations de Noël, cadeaux, souvenirs, spécialités culinaires et l’incontournable vin chaud, toujours agréable à déguster en hiver.
La décoration intérieure des maisons passe par le traditionnel sapin, garni d’ornements comestibles (chocolats, bonbons, gâteaux) ou décoratifs (guirlandes, boules, étoiles).
Près du sapin se trouve la crèche, avec des petites figurines (représentant le Christ, Marie, Joseph et des animaux) dans une auberge mettant en scène la Nativité.
En France, le Père-Noël arrive sur son traîneau tiré par des rennes, et dépose des cadeaux dans les souliers des enfants dans la nuit du 24 au 25 décembre - si ces derniers ont été sages durant l’année pour ainsi mériter leurs présents. Noël est par conséquent une fête magique pour les enfants, qui voient leurs vœux les plus chers se réaliser, et ce pour le plus grand bonheur des parents.
Le repas traditionnel de Noël varie selon les régions, mais il comprend bien souvent fois gras, dinde aux marrons, et bûche glacée en dessert. De quoi régaler les plus gourmands!
Your colleagues and yourself can be trained by our native-speaking fully-qualified French tutors at a time and location to suit you. Classes can take place any day, even weekends, and can happen in the morning, afternoon or evening. If the case may be that your home or office is not convenient, there is always the option to take your classes at the office of your teacher. Study books for the course are provided.
Book now / EnquiryThese French courses are intended for people who really need to learn French to help make that difference in their work. For beginners, it will be useful to learn greetings and basic business etiquette, at higher levels reading and then writing become more important. Typical students include those involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where an additional language is required, and those working with international colleagues, academia and government. Even on our most basic course for Beginners, students should expect to end the course with basic Telephone French and e-mail French skills for communications as well as Survival French required for short visits to a country.
Book now / EnquiryThis set of French tutorials are less specific and more targeted at those who want to get a range of different things from learning French. Even though all novice students will cover survival French: enough French to make a visit to the country or make good contacts with the locals, but what do you do from there? It depends on your needs. Those who have benefitted from these courses have been those moving or investing overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people who love to travel all over the world, those interested in French culture, and those who just want to pass a specific examination in French.
Book now / EnquiryIf there are 2 or more of you with the same level of French, the same targets within the language, and be able to study at the same time and location, then you'll be happy to know that these French courses can also be made available for Two-to-One French Courses or Small Group In-Company French Courses. Listen & Learn do not generally recommend classes of more than 6-8 people, although Taster courses in French can run with up to 12 people. Bookings must be made for all participants at the same time.
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Hull
A large town in North Yorkshire, Harrogate forms a conurbation with Knaresborough, the population of the combined urban area being around 85,000. Historically Harrogate was primarily a hub for agriculture and the woollen industry. Nowadays the town is used as a commercial, conference and exhibition centre, owing mainly to the vast array of hotels built during the period before the First World War when Harrogate was a popular getaway for the English élite. Harrogate also acts as a dormitory town for commuters working in Leeds and Bradford, and is also the site of regionally renowned traditional eateries, Betty's Tea Rooms.
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"Our native speaker qualified French language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning."