Raising my baby bilingual

Bonjour!
 J'ai été absent de mon blog, mais je vais essayer de revenir à elle. Je me suis enveloppé dans toutes mes activités de l'été.  I have been away for quite a while from my blog but I am going to try and get back to it.  I got wrapped up in all my summer activities.

Ma compréhension du français est de mieux en mieux et mon discours est long à venir, mais plus lentement. Je trouve que j'ai plus d'interactions avec Québécois maintenant c'est à cause de ma fille. Tout le monde veut parler le langage de bébé avec elle, je lui explique qu'ils peuvent parler en français avec elle, comme mon mari est français et nous élève son billingual.  My comprehension of french is getting better and my speech is coming along but slower.  I find that I have more interactions now with Quebecer's due to my daughter.  Everyone wants to talk baby talk with her, I explain that they can speak in french with her as my husband is french and we are raising her billingual.

 Voici un article au sujet de certaines recherches les plus récentes en matière de bilinguisme et les avantages de l'éducation de vos enfants avec deux ou plusieurs langues.  
Here is an article about some latest research in bilingualism and the benefits of raising your children with two or more languages.

Français- http://www.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/science/2013/09/03/002-langues-apprentissage-cerveau.shtml

English- http://www.mcgill.ca/channels/news/learning-new-language-alters-brain-development-230131


Pour moi, je serai de retour dans les classes françaises deux matinées par semaine.  For myself, I will be returning to french classes two mornings a week. 

La Saint-Jean-Baptiste

Saint Jean Baptist (Saint John Baptist)

Saint John Baptist is the patron saint of french Canadians since 1908, however he has been celebrated long before that.  The tradition came as early as the 1600's with the first french colonists.  In 1908, Pope Pius X designated Saint John the Baptist as the patron saint of french Canadians.  In Quebec since 1977,  June 24 has been a paid statutory Holiday.  It is traditionally celebrated with a display of fireworks.

Biblically, Saint John the Baptist is a christian day celebrating the coming of the birth of the Messiah (Jesus Christ). 

La Planche-Mon exercice favori

La Planche - the plank

Mon exercice favori- my favorite exercise

 

I try to incorporate french into my every day activities therefore I have chosen to show something I do on almost a daily basis.  The Plank ou(or) la planche en français. C'est un excellent exercice pour renforcer les muscles du tronc du corps (It is a great exercise to strengthen the core muscles of the body).  Important pour la posture et la santé! ( important for posture and health!).

 If you choose to exercise en français avec moi(with me) ensure that you have good alignment.  Pour un bon alignement, ayez vos pieds à la largeur des hanches, les fesses bas, les abdominaux contractés, les coudes sous les épaules, et ne laissez pas tomber votre tête!(For good alignment, have your feet hip width apart, your butt low, your abs contracted, your elbows under your shoulders, and do not drop your head!)

 

Renforce(Strengthens): mollets(calfs), cuisses(thighs), fessiers(butt), bas du dos(lower back), abdominaux( abdominals), pectoraux(pectorals), épaules(shoulders), biceps(biceps), et cou (and neck)

 

Planche sur le côté- side plank

Renforce(strengthen) bras(arms), ventre(stomach), et jambes(and legs)

Étire l'arrière des jambes (stretches the back of the legs)

Améliore l'equilibre (improves balance)

J'ai utilisé ces exercices pour aider à me remettre en forme après la grossesse. I used these excercises to help get back in shape after pregnancy.  

IMPORTANT:vérifier avec votre médecin avant d'essayer ces exercices si vous avez un problème de santé.- Check with your doctor before trying these exercises if you have any health issues. 

Going to the hairdresser (aller au salon de coiffure)

Aller au salon de coiffure

There are some locations women(and some men) scout out immediately upon moving to a new area.  One of these places is a hair salon.  I find french women in particular enjoy getting their hair done and you will no doubt find a salon at least every 1/2 km in a town (in my town even less).  At first I was a bit overwhelmed by it all, and just let my hair grow out.  Then I got pregnant and needed something to freshen me up.  I got my husband to call one of the salons I selected to make an appointment for me.  I got along alright...through hand signals and my mediocre attempts at french.

The next time I went to get my haircut the hairdresser picked up that I spoke english and immediately switched.  That was nice of her, however I do like to practice my french and find often people will automatically switch to english when they hear my accent as I try to speak french.  Sometimes I will say  'Je pratique mon français'(I am practicing my french) -or ' parlez moi en français s'il vous plaît,'(Speak to me in french please) to try and get them to continue in french.

Back to the hairdresser,  I was there again  yesterday.  I was proud of myself because I went in and made an appointment in french the day before.  Je voudrais un rendevous pour couper mes cheveux demain, (I would like an appointment to get my haircut tomorrow). When I arrived at the salon, I saw the hair dresser I thought I  made an appointment with coloring another ladies hair.  They were also heavy into a conversation(french salon talk) and I did not want to inturpt with my strong frenglish accent.

I got my break when one of the stylists went to the reception desk.  I said, ``J'ai pres un rendez-vous hier pour me faire couper les cheveux aujourd'hui à dix heure,`` (I made an appointment to have my hair cut yesterday for 10).  The stylist confirmed with me that she would be with me shortly, she was not the stylist I had thought I made an appointment with, but at least I would be getting my hair cut soon.

I got my haircut and was pleased with it, however I did not speak very much french during the cut.   La prochaine fois je pratiquerai mon français davantage (next time I will practice my french more).  I think a hair salon is a perfect place to practice and there is lots of salons to choose from here!

 A picture getting my hair done in the salon

J'ai eu un mal de tête hire soir

 J'ai eu un mal de tête hire soir! 

Meaning: I had a bad headache last night.  

In that sentence I used past tense (passé composé in french).  Also, when one says they are not feeling well at a specific location on the body the verb avoir is used. Otherwise, for just stating that one is sick the verb etre is used.

 If you are a beginner or have had little exposure to french the subjects for french verbs are; je-I, tu-you(in formal), il/elle- he/she, nous-we, vous-you(formal), ils/elles- they 

Example: 

Verb: Etre (to be)

Je suis - I am                nous sommes - We are       

tu es - You are              vous  êtes  - You are            

il/elle est - he/she is      ils/elles sont - They are

Ex. Je suis malade - I am sick
Ils sont malade - They are sick etc.

Verb: Avoir (to have) 

J'ai - I have                   nous avons  - We have        
tu as - You have            vous avez  - You have         
il/elle a  - he/she has     ils/elles ont - They have

Ex. J'ai mal aux genoux - I have sore knees
Vous avez mal au nez - You(formal) have a sore nose

Yes, in french it actually translates back to english that they have sickness in the leg(or whatever bodypart).  This verb is also used when giving your age. I always thought you would use the verb etre to tell your age because in english we say, I am 29 years old.  However, in french they use the verb avoir and it translates as I have 25 years -J'ai vingt-neuf ans.

Also, in the french statement J'ai eu un mal de tête hire soir, the  J'ai eu identifies it as something that has happened in the past.  There are different ways to say things have happened in the past.  However, I will just explain the way that I used it because it is a little advanced.  J'ai eu is passé composé(past tense) form and means I had/got.  For the other articles you tag the eu after the subject and avoir like so:

J'ai eu I had                      nous avons eu  We had
tu as eu You had               vous avez eu  You had
il/elle a eu he/she had      ils/elles ont eu  They had

Important sidenote!

One phrase that has a different meaning with the verb avoir and etre is...

J'ai chaud, and Je suis chaud.  Using the verb avoir in the first one statement it translates as, I have heat, meaning that you are hot from the temperature on a sunny day.  The second statement using the verb etre it means that you are either feeling drunk or feeling sexy.  Knowing this can save you some embarassment!

Anyhow, I honestly did have a headache last night.  I am not sure what it was from, although my husband said that he use to get headaches when he was learning english...so maybe it was that!

Avocados and Lawyers

Les Avocats

I love avocados (not lawyers as much).  I typically have an avacado with my dinner.  Anyhow, today when I was talking about avocados (en français) with my husband he reminded me to be careful, in french the same word is used for avocados and lawyers - les avocats.  I will have to pay attention with this one so people do not think I am squishing a lawyer with my fork!

Bonne fête des Pères!

 Bonne fête des Pères (Happy Father's Day)

C'est le première fête des Pères pour mon mari. - This is the first father's day for my husband. 

Il est un excellent mari et un père et j'espère qu'il jouit de cette journée.  - He is a great husband and father and I hope he enjoys this day.

J'aime les bananes!

 I have found one way to include french into everyday is to bake/cook and shop for groceries in french.  I will now share my yummy breakfast baking with you en français!

J'aime les bananes! Je les manges tous les jours (pour la plupart). 

 Voici une recette de muffins banane. Le mot muffin n'a pas l'air en bonne santé ... mais ceux-ci ne sont pas mal :). Vous pouvez remplacer les noix pour un autre genre mais je ne le recommanderais pas les omettant, car elles donnent le muffin une bonne saveur. Aussi, j'ai utilisé 1 cuillère à soupe de flaxmeal avec 3 cuillères à soupe d'eau au lieu d'un œuf.

INGREDIENTS
1 tasse de farine de blé entier
1/3 de tasse de sucre (vous pouvez utiliser substitut de sucre)
1/2 cuillère à thé de poudre à pâte
1/4 cuillère à thé de sel
2 bananes
1/4 tasse de lait (écrémé ou de soja plaine)
1 cuillère à table flaxmeal avec 3 cuillères à table d'eau
1/2 cuillère à thé de vanille
2/3 tasse peacans

 DIRECTIONS
Combiner la farine de blé, le sucre, la poudre à pâte et le sel. Dans un autre bol mettre dans les bananes et les couper en petits morceaux à la fourchette. Briser les bananes avec votre fourche pour qu'elle plupart purée mais avec quelques petits morceaux de bananes.

Ajouter à la flaxmeal (avec l'eau), la vanille et le lait au mélange de banane. Mélanger les ingrédients secs et humides ainsi que les noix. Mélanger brièvement puis versez dans un moule à muffins antiadhésifs. Cuire au four à 350 degrés F pendant 30 à 40 minutes. Donne 6 muffins de bonne taille.


Congeler immédiatement après refroidissement de sorte que vous ne mangez pas tous à la fois!

Bon Appétit :)

Mon bébé!

Mon beau bébé fille, Marianna!  Elle est trés intelligent. :)

Bonjour tout le monde!

  Je n'ai pas pratique beaucoup mais je suis essayer! J'ai surtout juste pratiquais avec mon mari et ma fille de 4 mois. 

In a book I am reading, I read about someone who learned a language by being completely immersed in it for one month and not allowing himself to speak english as a way out.  That seems easy to do.  Realistically it will not work for me.   So I have been trying one day on/one day off.  Meaning that I will immerse myself in french every second day (or try too!).

I have been trying this method out for a few days now.  I  have had some slips back into english or my husband will speak english to me forgetting that I am on my french day!...sometimes I will remind him to speak french.  However, I must say, I think my french is improving or my confidence. 

Anyhow, today is suppose to be a french day!

J'espère que la journée passe bien  :)

        

Slacking...

So...again I have been slacking.  Taking care of a now three month old baby is time consuming although I enjoy it!  Basically my french practice in the last little while has been through watching TV, occassionally practicing with my husband and speaking with his family.  I find that my french has improved since our move over a year and a half ago.  However, now with the baby it is hard to get consistent practice in.  Yes, that is an excuse but I will still try to get more practice in!

I have not blogged as often as I had originally planned or wanted too.  However I did add some links to my page! And they have been quite helpful.   I found two links of blogs on learning french in Quebec, which I find quite useful. One of the links, "OffQc Quebec French Guide," blogs on how to speak quebec french through examples seen in the public.  The other, "Namke Learn Quebec French," uses video clips, radio broadcastings, political recordings etc. to teach Quebec french.  I find both sights very interesting and helpful.  However, it does not seem as the Namke has updated in a couple years whereas the OffQc is still being updated on almost a daily basis. 

I have also been practicing my french by reading magazines, listening to the CBC french radio, and watching french TV.  Also, since my husband, Simon is a french Quebecois I practice with him and with our  two month old daughter Marianna.  I actually got out of the house the other week with Marianna and took her to the french class at the military base.  I also find being at the mall pushing around a baby in the middle of the day a useful way to learn french; as you get approached by many mostly elderly people wanting to see Marianna. 

Anyhow, I will continue to practice my french...and try to get a little more structure into my daily french exercises.

It won't hurt to try

I have wanted to start a blog for quite sometime now however I have not been able to come up with an interesting topic to blog about.  I thought maybe I am boring and shouldn't even bother...which is probably not far from the truth!  However,  this morning I spent my time researching  blog how-too's, blog providers,  blog topics, etc.  I also thought about my interests, health, exercise, food...so many blogs on those topics already. I don't really have any true skills that are worth blogging about either.

I considered doing a military wife blog(as to be clear, I am one) however after looking that up I realized that some wives already have some pretty decent blogs going and I don't really have a military wife identity yet.   Hmm...I still had to think about it.

Later on in the day while having lunch with my french husband I was discussing with him speaking mostly  in french as best as I possibly could(with google translator) how he learned English.  He said, he learned at 18-19 years of age.  He is now fluent and possibly better at it than me.  I then asked him how long it took  him to be fluent...he replied "two years"...and I wanted to know where he learned, who he talked to, what he did and he said,"it just happened." Sigh...learning french is not going to just happen for me!

So after living in Québec for a year and a half I have made some gains in french but nothing to brag about and certainly not enough to keep up in a conversation with a preschooler, let alone an intellectual conversation with my husbands family.  I have taken french courses (free from the military family resource centre), I have Rosetta Stone(that I am not using enough), I watch french TV,  I worked in Montreal for 6 months, I got married to the same man twice in bilingual ceremonies,  I had a baby in Quebec but alas none of these things have truly impacted my fluency in french.

Still, maybe with this blog it will help me learn french.  It won't hurt to try.