Saturday, October 11, 2008

A Picnic With the French Language

If you love food and love going out with people you care about, then you are the person that will never miss a picnic.

Did you know that picnic is an event that started in France? Picnic or Pique-nique is a word coined by the French for their indoor food sharing in the early 17th century. The tradition spread to England and other countries. By the 19th century, picnic is a word adopted by languages all over the globe.

Picnic is even featured in some of the greatest paintings by famous artists. If you are into arts, then try to look-up Dejeuner sur l’herbe (Lunch on the Grass) by Edouard Manet. This painting which was created in 1863 inspired other works from renowned maestros like Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Paul Cezanne.

Le Pique-nique like you're in Paris

Any sunny, warm day is perfect for picnic. It will be nice to picnic like you’re in Paris and share the language with other people who have the same interest.

T he basket will not just over flow with food and drinks, but with exchanges of thoughts, experiences, and languages.

If you are going to have a picnic with friends who are also trying to learn the language, try to encourage everyone to use some of these phrases:

• Piqueniquer - to picnic
• Sur l'herbe - on the grass
• La pelouse -- lawn
• Le déjeuner -- lunch
• Faire un pique-nique - to have a picnic
• En plein air - in the open air
• Passez-moi - Pass me
• S'il vous plaît - Please
• Merci - Thank you
• De Rien/Pas de quoi - You're welcome
• Bon appétit - Enjoy your meal
• J'ai faim - I'm hungry
• J'ai soif - I'm thirsty
• Un panier - a basket
• Une nappe - tablecloth
• Une assiette - plate
• Une fourchette - fork
• Une cuillére - spoon
• Un couteau -- knife
• Un verre - glass < br>• Une tasse - cup

What will the picnic be without a very nice menu? Here's a list of some common food.

• Le jambon - ham
• Le gâteau - cake
• La tarte - pie
• Le chocolat -- chocolate
• Le vin - wine (sparkling juice for the kids)
• L'eau minérale - mineral water
• L'Orangina - an orange soda
• La baguette - French bread
• Le fromage - cheese
• Les fruits - fruits
• Les raisins - grapes
• La pomme - apple
• La quiche - quiche
• Le sandwich - sandwich

Learning the French Language

As you can see, learning the French language can go beyond than the usual classroom set up or the use of audio CD or flashcards. It can be fun time learning with friends during some picnic on the grass. An activity like this breaks the monotony that makes learning a bit boring.

It can be a daunting task to learn a language, but knowing how you can help your brain absorb the new words and phrases will hasten the process. Don’t forget to enjoy the food though when you go on a pique-nique.

Article Source : http://free-articles--website.blogspot.com/

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