French Chateau
Posted in Uncategorized on 07/16/2009 09:15 pm by adminFrench Chateau
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 1997 French Wooden WINE Plaque CHATEAU PONTET PAUILLAC  US $18.90
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 EXQUISITE FRENCH 19 C CHATEAU WOVEN SILK VALANCE 97 US $435.00
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 French Louis XV Brass Chateau Clock pair candelabras US $359.00
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 Exquisite French Antique Dark Walnut Louis XV Chateau Armoire US $4,800.00
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 Alvin Silver CHATEAU ROSE STERLING French Knife 4092205 US $40.99
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 FRENCH CHATEAU LOCK 2 KEYS C1700s IRON US $175.00
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 ANTIQUE FRENCH CHATEAU AUBUSSON STYLE TAPESTRY FOR PILLOWS US $14.90
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 1846 Sevres Chateau des Tuileries Porcelain Plate Artist signed Xlnt French US $59.00
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| The Antiques And More Blog |
Learn How To Speak French - Avoiding Some Faux Pas!
If you want to learn how to speak French there all kinds of ways - private lessons (best but expensive) local night classes, online French courses, French language software, take your pick. What none of them can prepare you for are the occasional - and mostly understandable mistakes - where we think we understand something and in fact we're just a bit short!
For example, a friend of mine was in search of a French property. He thought that the place in "rue du chateau d'eau" sounded very attractive. It must be close to a chateau, you would think. What better for your French home than to be near one of these magnificent historical buildings?
Well mostly he was right. "Rue de" does indeed mean "the street of". Unfortunately a "chateau d'eau" is a water tower. Now some people find them very attractive, and they're an iconic part of the French countryside, but they're not quite the fairy-tale castle he was hoping for!
It's an example of how, when you learn how to speak French, you have to take in the whole French phrase not just the individual words.
Of course the individual words can trip you up just as easily. Another friend (who I must say now speaks quite good French) was visiting France on holiday. She came down to breakfast in her hotel and looked at the menu, seeking something typically French. "Pampelmouse" sounded particularly exotic so she ordered that, only to be rather disappointed when half a grapefruit was served!
Any language will always trip you up occasionally - we just can't know it all at once. If you want to learn how to speak French I would suggest that in addition to any other lessons you always carry a small French to English dictionary with you, or one of the excellent pocket electronic versions now available. It will just give you the ability to check before making those little "faux pas" (that's mistakes, by the way). You need to look out most for the things you almost think you know but aren't quite sure of. You wouldn't, for example, want to put "petrole" in your car - in France you would get paraffin!
About the Author
For more info if you want to learn how to speak French and a light-hearted but informative view of all things French pop over to Frenchlife4real.com. It's written by an English-speaking ex-pat living and working in France full-time so whether you're coming on vacation, or thinking of moving to France permanently, it's well worth a read.
Women, would you make love to me at a picturesque château in the french countryside?
nope not this time
