French Studies In Toronto

Les talons hauts

Verbs: revu - reviewed je m'y accrochais - I was hanging on contrairer - annoyed traduiser - to translate, to convey déposer la hache - drop the axe lâcher - to let go of --- example J'ai lâcher la main de Laurent percevoir - to perceive, to detect Nouns: la mise en terre - the planting tumultes - tumults, commotions ma grisaille - my greyness, dullness mes colères - my angers la hache - the axe le cercueil - the coffin une poignée de terre - a handful of earth la trêve - the truce son regard réprobateur - his disapproving look Les lys - lilies ╬

Enceinte - pregnant Expression: enceinte jusqu'aux oreilles - pregnant to the ears The Greek language has some very interesting expressions. Two Greek sayings that are funny/harsh : 1) Όποιος δεν έχει μυαλό έχει πόδια .  2) tha se rikso xilo. Expressions are something that have always interested me...Some are exclusive to a language. I digress and will return to translating those unknown verbs, nouns, and adjectives in this ironically titled short novel.  

This novel is wonderfully poetic yet sad. I cannot wait to find out what happens at the end. Verbs: S'amonceler - to pile or heap up "Les nuages gris s'amoncelaient dans le triste ciel d'automne." se faufiler - to edge ones way into évanouir - to faint, to vanish, to disappear prévenir - warn, prevent, avoid envahir - to invade, to come over repousser - to grow again, to repel, to repulse Nouns: un plafond - a ceiling le remord - the remorse une affinité funeste - a disastrous affinity la marque - the brand la mine déconfite - the crestfallen look crestfallen - sad and disappointed

Verbs: prendre de soin - to take care of dégouter - to disgust façoner - to shape, to fashion se construire - to build, to construct rechigner - to begrudge, to jib emmener - to take (with one) - example: to take someone to the coffee shop with you efforcer - to try hard to do "Je m'efforçais d'oublier" Nouns: Le deuil - bereavement

Verbs: délibérer - to deliberate orchestrer - to orchestrate entrecouper - to intersperse something with réaliser - to realize , to carry out briser - to break démontrer - to demonstrate broder - to embroider claironner - to trumpet, to shout from the roof tops reconnaître - to recognize , to acknowledge that gonfler - to blow up, to pump up, to swell trahir - to betray gâcher  - to spoil, to waste remercier - to thank Nouns: sa fuite - her flight puce - flea pommettes - cheekbones Adj: lisse - smoothe    

Verb: rassurer - to reassure Nouns: ancre - anchor la dérive - the drift

A good teacher knows when you don't know even when you don't know that you don't know.

Dans cet roman court, Raphael a parlé de ses parents. Ils étaient très différents: "Toute mon enfance, papa avait été mon phare." "Maman est partie sur la pointe de pieds." Reading this has lead me to compare my own parents and realize how different m y own parents are. My father would always say that he would do things slowly slowly as if he knew the secret to living for 1000 years. My mother on the other hand is impatient and wants things done yesterday. My response to all this is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3mJkSqZbX4

Verbs Soupirer - to sigh échapper - to escape repenser - to rethink aboutir à - to end up, to succeed appartenir à - to belong to repousser - to push back échouer - to fail naviguer - to navigate, to sail Nouns Le douanier - the customs officer le siège - the seat égarements - distractions phare - lighthouse trousseau - bunch of keys chevalet - easel couche - layer - exemple: couche de poussière peine - sorrow, sadness ADJ louche: shady, fishy, dubios

I studied French for more than 6 years. I was introduced to French at elementary school aka Wilkinson P.S. A few years ago when I was at Yonge Station on my way to the mall (doing what I do best lol) I came across a French teacher I had in elementary school. She remembered me. Not only did she recognize me, but she remembered the name I used to go by during those days (Toula). She was my teacher over 25 years ago!

Verbs: Prévoir - to forsee Repartir - to leave again Briser - to break Foncer - to go darker, aller vite Assaillir - to assail, to attack Nouns: le quotidien - the everyday le navire - the ship bribes - snatches of conversation les douanes - customs

Verb: Brouiller: to scramble to mix up to cloud to set at odds "ma vision encore brouillée"

Verbs: tracer - to draw enfiler - to slip on adourir - to make milder se relacher - to release, to loosen siffler - to whistle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99j0zLuNhi8

Verbs: découper - to cut essuyer - to wipe coincer - to jam, to pinch couler - to flow, to run, to leak Nouns: les souvenirs - the memories découpage - cut le ruban adhesif - adhesive tape pinceau - paintbrush immeuble - building toile - canvas térèbenthine - turpentine

"Il ne parlait presque pas français, mais on se comprenait quand même. C'est lui qui m'a appris qu'il y avait plusiers façons de se faire comprendre. Les formes et les couleurs en étaient une."

I dedicate this blog to: 1. All my Extended French classmates. 2. Sylvester who suggested to read one page a day. 3. My friend Alexandra who gave me the idea to start a blog a few years ago.

  page 118   Verbs: tricoter - to knit emmener - to take (with one), to take away entonner - to strike up (a song)  ---- par example - entonner Happy Birthday murmuré - murmurer - to murmer appeler - to call   Nouns: aquarelle - watercolour               

Words of Encouragement: "Rome was not built in a day."

Just a reminder of a legend that I am formulating Words highlighted in yellow: sounds the same and means the same thing in both languages Words highlighted in light purple: I believe it is a vital word to know Words highlighted in blue: a definition (or synonyms) of an ENGLISH word

page 117 Verbs: massacre - to massacre, to slaughter terrée - terrer - to hide away Nouns: Le célèbre - the celebrity un trou - a hole chalet - chalet Chalet synonyms: cottage, cabin, lodge