(Coming soon!)
Silly Simon stretches out on his beach towel, baking under the hot sun. He turns up the volume on his iPod. ‘“Why? Porquoi?” says the voice coming out of his earbuds. “You have to take care on the beach, because in France the tides are fast…” says the other. Yeah, yeah. Thinks Silvain. That Silvain, he’s a joker! Always exaggerating. Suddenly his iPod cuts out. He feels around for it. To his horror, he finds his precious 32G iPod Touch in a cold puddle next to him. Suddenly a wave splashes against his ankles. Then another comes up to his knees. The next comes up to his belly button, then his shoulders, and before Silly Simon can even get up, the North Atlantic current takes him out to sea, and sweeps him north. He eventually staggers ashore in southern Finland, shivering, suffering from hypothermia, and worst of all, his iPod is ruined.
Today’s Culture Class is all about French beaches. If you are actually on a French beach as you are listening, we recommend you keep an eye open for the tides. Silvain isn’t kidding when he says that they are fast. For more on French, including lessons on the French language, come to FrenchPod101.com!
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Culture Class. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
13 Responses to “Culture Class #3 - To Do or Not To Do on the Beach”
FrenchPod101.com says:
August 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Where ever you are can you go to a beach? How is it? What was the last beach you went to?
Angèle says:
August 21st, 2008 at 12:55 am
Yeah! Nice to have Sylvain back with his accent and French touch English!!! (does that make sense to you?)
Yes, there is a beach near where I live about 5 min by car from my house! There is even a surf competition every year!
careyxxx says:
August 21st, 2008 at 4:03 am
Thanks for this lesson. The PDF introduced a couple of new words that I would like to use, but I am not sure of what verbs to use. Please correct my grammar.
Il passe les vacances d’été en faisant le bronzage et le farniente.
Here there is a famous beach that I pass by every time when I go to work or go shopping. Not too far away from that beach is another beach that you have to go down a cliff to get to. Most people go there to surf. I have heard that there are some people who swim there nude, but they are probably unattractive. There is also a cruising area for guys who prefer guys. In recent years there have been policemen in jumpsuits riding big 3-wheeled motorcycles for rough terrain up on the road where everyone parks and all of the traffic passes.
Angèle says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:04 am
Ahh, l’Australie, une amie a passée 3 mois la-bas! avec son sac de randonnée une carte et de la bonne humeur!
Did anyone travel just with an air plane ticket, a guide and no plan?
Angèle says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 am
Wow as usual you nailed it - for the verb usage!
Just a small correction:
Il passe les vacances d’été en faisant du bronzage et du farniente.
We use always
=> faire + de l’/de la / du / des
1 - Il passe les vacances d’été en faisant du ski.
2 - Il passe les vacances d’été en faisant de la planche à voile.
3 - Il passe les vacances d’été en faisant des châteaux de sable.
4 - Il passe les vacances d’été en faisant de l’arithmétique.
Angèle says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:12 am
Hi! Nice to know all the insights of what happens on the beaches near you Careyxx!
Does anyone else leave near a beach? far form one ? or even in the mountain?
maxiewawa says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Yes, they have a terrible time. If you’re planning on doing that Angele, give me a call from the airport and I’ll show you a nice time. 
Angèle says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:54 am
Maxiwawa
Huh? not sure who the word “they” refer to in your 1st sentence!
If you’re talking about my friend, she actually did!
And yes, anywhere you go with an adventurous spirit, it’s always better to be guided by a local! You get to places where the main stream tourists don’t! Let’s party!
Who wants to come with? and where ?
Australia ? Japan ? France ? Well, maybe we should aim for a French speaking country! Let’s practice after all! Canada? Vuanatu (archipel East of Australia & north-east of New Caledonia - just learned about it!) ? Lebanon ? Vietnam ?
Angèle says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 1:56 am
Maxiwawa
Huh? not sure who the word “they” refer to in your 1st sentence! If you’re talking about my friend, she actually did!
And yes, anywhere you go with an adventurous spirit, it’s always better to be guided by a local! You get to places where the main stream tourists don’t!
Let’s travel! Who wants to come with? and where ?
Australia ?
Japan ?
France ?
Well, maybe we should aim for a French speaking country! Let’s practice after all!
Canada?
Lebanon ?
Vietnam ?
Vuanatu (group of islands East of Australia & north-east of New Caledonia - just learned about it!) ?
Which country would you like to visit?
careyxxx says:
August 23rd, 2008 at 4:40 am
There are many vocabulary words here with suntan and sunburn, but I still don’t know how to say a simple compliment: “Wow! You’ve got a nice tan!”
How do you say that? Does it start off with “Quel” or “Comme”?
Celine says:
August 25th, 2008 at 11:25 am
Angele !
I want to go to everywhere !
Careyxxx,
Comme tu as un beau bronzage !
Quel beau bronzage !
you can also just say: wouah ! tu as un beau bronzage !
Le bronzage te va bien ! (tanning suits you)
Hyunwoo says:
August 26th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Merci pour cette leçon! J’étais dans le métro qui étais plein de monde que j´ai écouté cette leçon, et ça m´a vraiment fait vouloir aller à la plage! Je suis un peu triste que je n´ai eu aucune occasion pour aller à la plage, mais quandmême j´ai fait du bronzage - uniquement en marchant dans la rue, ça a fait trop chaud ici à Séoul! 
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Category: Culture Class |
Topic: Beach, habits and customs, summer vacation | Politeness Level: standard
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