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Writer on French language and life in France
Alysa Salzberg is an American writer and cookie enthusiast who has lived in Paris, France for over a decade. She's the author of Hearts at Dawn, a Historical Novel Society Editors' Choice book that retells Beauty and the Beast during the 1870 Siege of Paris. She brings a unique perspective to French language and culture from her years living in France.
Avoir is the French verb that means “to have”. But it has so much more than that going for it! For one thing, as you probably know already, avoir is the most common au…
Cc c Alysa, sa va? Don’t worry if you didn’t understand this message. As you’ve probably guessed, it’s not in standard French, but a sub-language: French internet and…
If you want to learn the French alphabet because that’s what many French teachers and courses teach first, stop and ask yourself the following question: What for? Th…
The Black Lives Matter movement has been changing the world, and also reminding us of our history. The history of Black people in France is very different from that of…
“French breakfast”: The phrase might conjure up an Instagram-worthy image of a croissant on a pristine white plate, an espresso in an equally pristine mug beside it.…
When you think of iconic French things to eat, what comes to mind? Maybe you’d say croissants, baguettes, cheese, wine, pastries, coq au vin …. But did you think “but…
As French verbs go, mettre isn’t the most exciting. It’s got practical definitions, it isn’t living a double life, and it doesn’t immediately evoke big, thrilling feel…
What sound does a hen make in France? It depends on who you ask. A French person would say cot cot, but an Anglophone would answer “cluck”. Both are correct. Onomatop…
From medieval innovators to avant-garde modern artists, France has a long history of talented painters. Some have risen to worldwide fame and even single-name recognit…
French accents are sneaky creatures. They wait in the dark, looking for an innocent letter to jump onto and transform. But what do they want exactly? I mean, sure, the…
