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Le flamenco à la mode perse

My latest article in The Source- La Source Forum de diversité.

Read about this weekend’s 9th Annual Jando Flamenco Festival, and ZYRYAB, the concert of Persian and Flamenco fusion that kicks it off!

http://thelasource.com/fr/?p=8120

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Regards croisés sur la nouvelle Afrique du Sud

My latest article in The Source- La Source Forum de diversité.

Read about this weekend's Vancouver South African Film Festival and the documentary "Me, You, Mankosi".

http://thelasource.com/fr/2013/04/08/regards-croises-sur-la-nouvelle-afrique-du-sud/

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[mmeleahchang]

How to Type Accents as Fast as a Francophone

Mais oui, there are many ways to type accents on your MAC or PC keyboard: short cut keys (alt+125), insert special character, or type without and then spell check. Few of these ways are actually used by francophones typing on a French keyboard in Canada. Why? Because they are slow, frustrating and not universal to all interfaces.

So how do French Canadians (or any francophone in North America) type on a QWERTY keyboard? 

Easy. They change the keyboard settings to the French Canadian Multilingual Standard keyboard (FCML). A few quick settings adjustment on any computer will get you typing an accent with one simple touch of a button, or at most, a combination of two buttons. Not only will you save time and frustration, but you'll be able to type accents as fast as any francophone!

The French Canadian Multilingual (NOT LEGACY) keyboard: QWERTY

Those who use the French keyboard and not the French Canadian one will quickly learn that it isn't QWERTY and will quite simply mess you up. Seriously. 

French (from France) keyboard: AZERTY

I guarantee that if you spend a few days trying this method, you will quickly memorize the FCML keyboard and your life will be so much simpler.

I made a document for my Immersion students to help them navigate their own settings at home, no matter which platform or interface they used, as well as the school, library or friends' computers.

You can find a copy here: 

http://fralchang.wikispaces.com/Taper+les+accents+Fran%C3%A7ais

[mmeleahchang]

AMENER vs EMMENER vs APPORTER vs PORTER

When to use AMENER and when to use APPORTER? How to avoid the common mistake: "I'm carrying my grandfather to the show" vs. "J'emmène mon grand-père au spectacle".

Check out these sites to avoid using the wrong verb!

http://lagrottedelasquaw.over-blog.com/article-amener-ou-apporter-45636545.html

http://french.about.com/library/weekly/aa071500.htm

http://www.wordreference.com/fren/amener

photo: still from Pina

source: http://thefineartdiner.blogspot.ca/2012/04/pina-dance-philosophy.html

[mmeleahchang]

Il y a une raison pour laquelle Le Monde de Nemo ne débute pas avec la disparition de Nemo!

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Majuscule ou pas majuscule? When to capitalize in French.

When to use or not use capital letters in French? It's a tricky question for us English speakers who feel rather uncomfortable seeing titles, bullet lists and chapter headings without capitalisation.

The main rule in French: only capitalize the first word of a title, or all the words until the first noun or proper noun. All the rest should be in small letters. 

Here are the official rules in French. Ce site dévoile qu'il y a en fait des règles bien précises, sans mystère!

http://j.poitou.free.fr/pro/html/typ/cap-emplois.html

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Sample of Myriam LeMay's activity book

http://english.correctionphonetique.com/materials.html

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Myriam LeMay's workshop changed my teaching. This is the most logical and approachable way to teach phonetics and French pronunciation, even to French Immersion students.

[mmeleahchang]

Bienvenue! Welcome!

I've taught French for over 11 years and I've picked up a few tricks along the way to better grasp the grammar of this complex and beautiful language.