Travel French Course Outline Spring 2020 - Weebly€¦ · Lesson 5 Emergencies, medical and otherwise help! au secours! aidez-moi, SVP Emergency! Urgence (f) ! Fire! Au feu ! Thief!

Page of 1 41 French for Travelers Spring 2020

Lessons

1 - Class format; using the outline; etiquette p. 2

2 - “The Politesse Script” (for all interactions) p. 3

3 - Basic expressions p. 4

4 - Travel tips — habits to cultivate before you go p. 6

5 - Emergencies, medical and otherwise p. 8

6 - Asking for directions — and understanding answers p. 11 What do you want to see?

7 - Days, months, numbers p. 12

8 - Hotels p. 18

9 - Eating Out p. 19

10 - Shopping — markets (for food) and shops p. 21 What will you buy?

11 - Getting around A. Using the Paris Métro p. 24 B. Taking the train p. 26 C. Car rental and driving p. 28

Appendix I - Detailed pronunciation guide p. 29

Appendix II - Vocabulary for specific situations p. 32

Appendix III - Using the Paris Métro p. 35

Appendix IV - Helpful tips for train travel p. 38

Appendix V - Genders, grammar and using a French/English dictionary (or other translation assists) p. 40


Lesson 1

Class format and using this outline

Classes will start with pronunciation exercises, including the alphabet, and focusing on French vowel sounds and a few difficult consonants.

I will post the lesson number on the primetimersfrench.weebly.com website plus any other instructions before each class session. You may want to print off a copy of the lesson and use it to take notes in the class. If you need to look up something we’ve covered, you can do it by looking at the list of lessons. Sometimes I will ask you to bring specific travel information to class (such as, what are you planning to see?) so that we can work on proper pronunciation.

We’ll go over a pronunciation a lot — I’ve summarized some guidelines in Appendix 1.

Class input on what you want to learn is critical to making the most of this class. There’s a lot of leeway in the general lesson plan for specific concerns, so speak up!

La Politesse = Etiquette

The single most important thing to remember when you travel in France is that the French are very polite, and their politeness takes a very specific form. In Lesson 2, we’ll learn the “Politesse Script.” It is followed almost without variation in any interaction.

Even if you cannot remember the entire script, if you should always say please and thank you. No exceptions.

http://primetimersfrench.weebly.com


Lesson 2 “The Politesse Script” (for all interactions)

When you enter a shop, hotel, restaurant, or other similar establishment, you must exchange greetings with the people there. Always. The format of the greeting is invariable: 1. good day, good evening 2. madame (one woman), monsieur (one man), mesdames (multiple women), messieurs (multiple men)

Do not omit the second element!

You: Bonjour, Madame Bonjour, Monsieur Bonjour, Mesdames, Messieurs (when there are other customers in the shop too, or more than one server)

French Person: Bonjour, Madame (or Monsieur, as appropriate) French Person may also add Vous désirez? (“What would you like?”)

You: S’il vous plaît, Madame [insert your request — specifics to come later] Note: SVP is the abbreviation for “s’il vous plaît” — it means please

At the end of the interaction:

You: Merci, Madame. Au revoir. (Thank you, Madame. Good-bye.)

French Person: Au revoir, Madame. Bonne journée. (Good-bye, Madame. Have a good day.)


Lesson 3 Basic expressions

Hello (during the day) Bonjour, Madame (or Monsieur)

Hello, or good evening (after 6 pm) Bon soir, Madame (or Monsieur)

Goodbye Au revoir, Madame (or Monsieur)

Please S’il vous plaît

Thank you Merci, Madame (or Monsieur)

You’re welcome De rien or pas de quoi

How are you? Comment allez-vous?

I’m fine, thanks. And you? Je vais bien, merci. Et vous?

How’s it going? How are you? Ça va? - you can have a whole Is everything OK? conversation with these two words

Where are the restrooms? Où sont les toilettes?

How much will it cost? C'est combien ?

How do you say … Comment dit-on …

I don’t speak French Je ne parle pas français

Do you speak English? Parlez-vous anglais?

I would like … Je voudrais …

I need … J’ai besoin de …

I’m looking for … Je cherche …

Where is the police station? Où est le poste de police?


The check, please (in a restaurant) L’addition, s’il vous plaît

What’s the weather like? Quel temps fait-il?

It’s nice out Il fait beau

It’s cold Il fait froid

It’s hot Il fait chaud

It’s raining Il pleut

My name is … Je m’appelle …

What time is it? Quelle heure est-il?

I don’t understand Je ne comprends pas

Speak slowly, please Parlez lentement, s’il vous plaît

Please repeat that Répétez, s’il vous plaît

I’m sorry Je suis désolé(e)


Lesson 4 Travel Tips — habits to cultivate before you go

1. Saying please and thank you

2. Becoming familiar with metric system

3. Photocopy important documents: driver’s license, passport ID pages, credit cards, insurance cards. Leave a copy with a trusted friend or family member and carry a copy with you in a secure but separate place from where you carry the originals

4. Arrange your wallet/handbag so that 1. you do not have all credit cards in one location 2. your cash accessible to you but not easily seen when you remove it

from your purse 3. your ID is separate from your credit cards 4. you always put certain items in the same location — phone, keys,

change, medications, money, ID

5. Keep your purse secure when in public 1. Do not hang it from the back of your chair 2. Do not set it on an empty chair next to you, especially in an outside

seating arrangement 3. Carry it so that it is across your front, preferably over the shoulder

cross-wise 4. Always close it after use

6. Keep technology and credit cards secure from physical theft or electronic interference

7. Limit the amount of stuff you carry around with you 1. phones, iPods, iPads, chargers? 2. medications? 3. notepads, pens, pencils? 4. glasses, Rx and otherwise? 5. rain gear, scarves, extra layers? 6. extra keys? 7. cosmetics, grooming aids?


8. snacks, candy, gum? 9. reading materials, guidebooks, dictionary, maps?

8. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, especially on cobblestones

9. Even if you have a suitcase with rollers, pack lightly! You may have to hoist it onto a bus or train OR carry it up and down flights of stairs to access train station platforms, etc.

10. Check on medical insurance coverage, credit card charges for foreign transactions, and cell phone charges for overseas calls and data use


Lesson 5 Emergencies, medical and otherwise

help! au secours! aidez-moi, SVP

Emergency! Urgence (f) ! Fire! Au feu ! Thief! Au voleur ! Watch out! Attention ! accident un accident crash une collision explosion une explosion fire un feu, un incendie flood une inondation gunshot un coup de feu theft le vol police officer un policier (m) ; une policière (f) fireman un pompier pharmacist un pharmacien (m); une pharmacienne (f)

I need (a) ... J’ai besoin de/d’... the police la police doctor un médecin dentist un dentiste nurse un infirmier pharmacy une pharmacie

Pharmacists provide basic first aid services, and there is always one pharmacy open/on call 24/7 in each arrondissement in Paris. If additional medical care is required, they will send you to a hospital.

Be prepared to pay the bill before you leave the hospital. Before you go, check on your own medical insurance coverage.


Crime:

Visitors to congested and popular tourist areas (e.g., museums, monuments, train stations, airports, and subways) should be particularly attentive to their surroundings. Wearing a backpack is an invitation to theft in crowded places like Notre Dame.

Crimes of opportunity are more likely to involve violence on the street late at night or when the victim resists. Women should exercise extra caution when out alone at night and/or consider traveling out at night with trusted companions.

“Smash and grab” robberies more often occur in economically depressed areas or on highly traveled thoroughfares such as roads to and from the airport. Thieves on foot or motorcycle will approach a vehicle that is stopped in traffic, smash a window, reach into the vehicle to grab a purse or other valuable item, and then flee. Keep car doors locked and valuables out of sight.

Report crimes to the local police at 112 and contact the U.S. Embassy in Paris at +(33)(1) 43-12-22-22. In Monaco, dial 17 to connect to the Police. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.

See the Department of State and the FBI websites for information on scams.

Medical Issues

I have asthma je suis asthmatique I need an inhaler j’ai besoin d’un inhalateur I have diabetes je suis diabétique I need sugar now j’ai besoin de sucre immédiatement

She needs an injection of medicine Elle a besoin d’une piqûre de medicament (m) He is having a heart attack Il a une crise cardiaque He is having a stroke Il a une attaque cérébrale He is drowning Il se noie I broke my arm, leg Je me suis cassé le bras. la jambe.


I am allergic to je suis allergique à ... aspirin l’aspirine (f) penicillin la pénicilline

I have … J’ai … arthritis . de l’arthrite (f) diarrhea la diarrhée an earache mal à l’oreille (f) a fever de la fièvre the flu la grippe hay fever un rhume des foins a headache un mal à la tête heartburn des brûlures d’estomac motion sickness le mal des transports a runny nose le nez qui coule sinusitis de la sinusite a stomach ache mal à l’estomac (m) a toothache mal aux dents (f)

Carry a card that lists your medications and any medical conditions that might require specific responses. Write it in English and in French.


Lesson 6 Asking for directions — and understanding answers

What do you want to see?

Asking for Directions

where is Où est where are Où sont

where are the restrooms? Où sont les toilettes?

where is the métro station? Où est la station de métro?

Where is the Louvre? Où est le Louvre? Where is the market? Où est le marché?

Understanding the Answers

over there là bas here ici

to the left à gauche to the right à droite

straight ahead tout droit behind you derrière

near here près d’ici it’s far (from here) c’est loin


Lesson 7 Days, months, numbers

The French don’t capitalize days of the week or names of months. Also, their weekly calendar starts on Monday. Days and months are all masculine.

Monday lundi Tuesday mardi Wednesday mercredi Thursday jeudi Friday vendredi Saturday samedi Sunday dimanche

January janvier February février March mars April avril May mai June juin July juillet August août September septembre October octobre November novembre December décembre

France uses a 24-hour clock, so schedules for trains (for example) are posted with a departure time that looks like this: 15h22 This means 3:22 p.m.

The French use commas instead of decimal points, so a price will look like this: 5,45 €


0 zéro

1 un

2 deux

3 trois

4 quatre

5 cinq

6 six

7 sept

8 huit

9 neuf

10 dix

11 onze

12 douze

13 treize

14 quatorze

15 quinze

16 seize

17 dix-sept

18 dix-huit

19 dix-neuf

20 vingt

21 vingt et un

22 vingt-deux


23 vingt-trois

24 vingt-quatre

25 vingt-cinq

26 vingt-six

27 vingt-sept

28 vingt-huit

29 vingt-neuf

30 trente

31 trente et un

32 trente-deux

33 trente-trois

34 trente-quatre

35 trente-cinq

36 trente-six

37 trente-sept

38 trente-huit

39 trente-neuf

40 quarante

41 quarante et un

42 quarante-deux

43 quarante-trois

44 quarante-quatre

45 quarante-cinq


46 quarante-six

47 quarante-sept

48 quarante-huit

49 quarante-neuf

50 cinquante

51 cinquante et un

52 cinquante-deux

53 cinquante-trois

54 cinquante-quatre

55 cinquante-cinq

56 cinquante-six

57 cinquante-sept

58 cinquante-huit

59 cinquante-neuf

60 soixante

61 soixante et un

62 soixante-deux

63 soixante-trois

64 soixante-quatre

65 soixante-cinq

66 soixante-six

67 soixante-sept

68 soixante-huit


69 soixante-neuf

70 soixante-dix

71 soixante-et-onze

72 soixante-douze

73 soixante-treize

74 soixante-quatorze

75 soixante-quinze

76 soixante-seize

77 soixante-dix-sept

78 soixante-dix-huit

79 soixante-dix-neuf

80 quatre-vingts

81 quatre-vingt-un

82 quatre-vingt-deux

83 quatre-vingt-trois

84 quatre-vingt-quatre

85 quatre-vingt-cinq

86 quatre-vingt-six

87 quatre-vingt-sept

88 quatre-vingt-huit

89 quatre-vingt-neuf

90 quatre-vingt-dix

91 quatre-vingt-onze


Source: https://blogs.transparent.com/french/french-numbers-1-100/

The website has a video with pronunciation.

92 quatre-vingt-douze

93 quatre-vingt-treize

94 quatre-vingt-quatorze

95 quatre-vingt-quinze

96 quatre-vingt-seize

97 quatre-vingt-dix-sept

98 quatre-vingt-dix-huit

99 quatre-vingt-dix-neuf

100 cent

https://blogs.transparent.com/french/french-numbers-1-100/


Lesson 8 Hotels

an hotel un hôtel

the reception desk la réception (where you check in)

I have a reservation j’ai une réservation

one (bed)room une chambre

with 2 beds avec deux lits (m)

with a bathroom avec salle (f) de bains with a shower avec douche (f)

for 3 nights pour trois nuits (f)

for 2 people pour deux personnes (f)

the bill la facture, la note

How much does it cost? Ça coûte combien?

Is breakfast included? * Le petit-déjeuner, est-il compris?

Is there an elevator? Y a-t-il un ascenseur?

Which floor ? Quel étage ?

(Note that “first floor” in France is what Americans call “2nd floor”)

* Be aware that hotels, especially in Paris, will charge a lot for breakfast and there is usually an excellent and less expensive café (or 5) nearby.


Lesson 9 Eating Out

a table une table

for 4 people pour quatre personnes

dinner le dîner

lunch le déjeuner

the menu la carte

the fixed price menu le menu (usually 3 courses with a few choices per course, often a good deal)

a meal un repas

a dish (menu offering) un plat

a plate une assiette (flat surface food is served on)

a glass of wine un verre de vin (m)

a beer une bière a starter (appetizer) une entrée

a salad une salade

main course le plat principal

dessert le dessert

I am a vegetarian je suis végétarien (végétarienne)

the bill (check), please l’addition, s’il vous plaît


I would like … Je voudrais … some water de l’eau a glass of water un verre d’eau a glass of water with ice cubes un verre d’eau avec des glaçons chilled water (no ice cubes) de l’eau glacée a carafe of water une carafe d’eau (this will get you tap water) sparkling water de l’eau gazeuse still water (bottled) de l’eau minérale pleine still water (from the tap) de l’eau plate (plat/plate means flat)

Note that “mineral water” in France is not equivalent to sparkling or fizzy water, but rather comes in a bottle and is either “gazeuse” or “plate.”


Lesson 10 Shopping — markets (for food) and shops

What will you buy?

Everything will be marked in grams or kilos — learn the metric system!

a market un marché flea market un marché (m) aux puces (f) That costs how much? Ça coûte combien? € un euro money de l’argent (m) change, coins de la monnaie

cheese du fromage a piece of cheese un morceau de fromage (m) from the area de la région

vegetables des légumes (m)

meats des viandes (f) pork du porc beef du boeuf lamb de l’agneau (m) ham du jambon

sausage de la saucisse dry sausage du saucisson chicken du poulet turkey de la dinde

fish des poissons (m) shellfish des fruits de mer (m)

flowers des fleurs (f)

spices des épices (f)

herbs des herbes (f)


ATM DAB (un distributeur automatique de billets)

a bag un sac a handbag un sac à main a backpack un sac à dos some bread du pain a baguette une baguette bakery une boulangerie

some wine du vin a wine cellar une cave a wine merchant un marchand de vin (une marchande - f)

some grapes du raisin (m) (not plural in French)

some apples des pommes (f)

some tomatoes des tomates (f)

some pears des poires (f)

some pastries des pâtisseries (f) some tarts des tartes (f) some cakes des gâteaux (m)

some plates des assiettes (f) some forks des fourchettes (f) some knives des couteaux (m) some glasses des verres (m) a wine glass (glass for wine) un verre à vin glass of wine un verre de vin some napkins des serviettes (f) a bottle opener un ouvre-bouteilles

1/2 kilo (~ 1 lb) of strawberries un demi-kilo de fraises (f) 1 orange une orange some oranges des oranges 4 apricots quatre abricots (m)


ice cream de la glace what flavor? quel parfum? chocolate ice cream de la glace au chocolat coconut noix (f) de coco scoop une boule cup une coupelle cone un cone

My favorite Parisian ice cream Bertillon


Lesson 11 Getting around, A: Paris Métro

Buying Tickets and Asking Advice

one ticket, please un ticket, s'il vous plaît a pack of metro tickets, please un carnet, s'il vous plaît

How do I get to X station? Comment aller à la station X, SVP

Is this the right direction to go to X? Est-ce le bon sens pour aller à X?

Where's the exit, please? Où est la sortie, s'il vous plaît?

Métro Signs

Exit Sortie (f)

Connection (to transfer to another line) Correspondance (f)

Forbidden Passageway/Do Not Enter Passage (m) Interdit

Neighborhood map Plan (m) du Quartier (most stations have these near the exits)

Caution: danger of death Attention Danger de Mort (usually seen near high-voltage equipment)

Under construction/repair En Travaux

Line transfer not available due to work La correspondance n'est pas on the line or temporary shutdown assurée


In case of crowded conditions, do not "En cas d'affluence, ne pas utiliser use the fold-down seats les strapontins!” Reserved seats (designated for the Places prioritaires elderly, pregnant women, passengers with young children or disabled passengers — most often seen in Paris buses.)

Ticket verification (by Métro officials) Contrôle des tickets

— Batobus

An alternative to the metro for sightseeing: http://www.batobus.com/en.html.

The boats are a step on/step off shuttle service doing a circuit of stops on the Seine. You can buy passes for one day, 2 consecutive days or a year. Stops at: Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, St-Germain-des-Prés, Notre-Dame, Jardin des Plantes/Cité de la Mode et du Design, Hôtel-de-ville, Louvre and Champs-Élysées.

http://www.batobus.com/en.html


Lesson 11 Getting around, B: Taking the train

the train station la gare

a ticket un billet one way un aller simple round trip un aller-retour 2nd class la seconde classe 1st class la première classe refundable ticket un billet remboursable exchangeable ticket un billet échangeable

Do you have a less expensive ticket? Vous avez un billet moins cher ? Do I have to punch my ticket? Je dois composter mon billet ?

a ticket window (with a clerk) un guichet information display un panneau d’information information desk des renseignements (m)

a reservation une réservation a seat une place 2 seats next to each other une place duo 4 seats, in 2 rows facing each other un carré travel facing the front of the train voyager dans le sens du train

direct train un train direct transfer une correspondance transfer un changement

departure le départ arrivals l’arrivée waiting area une salle d’attente the platform le quai

the underground pass le passage souterrain the track le rail (pronounced like English "rye"), la voie


the train car la voiture, le wagon (pronounced “vagon”)

the snack car le bar

a ticket inspector un contrôleur That’s the train for Paris, right? C’est bien le train pour Paris ?

This is car number 20, right? C’est bien la voiture vingt ?

Is the train on time ? Le train, est-il à l’heure ? … late? … en retard?

How long is the trip? Le trajet dure combien de temps ?

Does this train stop at all the stations? Est-ce que ce train s’arrête à toutes les gares ?

Is there a food car in this train ? Y a-t-il une voiture-restaurant dans ce train ?

Even if you have a rail pass, for many trains you will still need to reserve seats (all TGV trains require this) to travel with your pass. See the booking website to do this.


Lesson 11 Getting around, C: Car rental and driving

rental la location I'd like to rent a car Je voudrais louer une voiture I reserved a car J'ai réservé une voiture a driver's license un permis de conduire automatic une voiture avec transmission automatique economy car une voiture économie compact car une voiture compacte mid-size car une voiture intermédiaire luxury car une voiture luxe convertible une voiture décapotable 4 x 4 un quatre quatre truck un camion a four-door une voiture à quatre portes (f) How much will it cost? C'est combien ? Is insurance included? L’assurance (f), est-elle comprise?

Does the car take gas La voiture prend de l’essence (f) ou du or diesel? gazole ? Fill it up (with fuel) Faites-le plein (this assumes you can find a service station; most are self-serve)

diesel le gasoil, gazole gas de l'essence (f) regular gas de l’essence ordinaire premium gas du super gas station une station-service

Useful links with pictures of road signs: http://www.pedaldancer.com/2010/06/understanding-road-signs-in-france.html http://www.france-pub.com/french/french_traffic.htm

http://www.pedaldancer.com/2010/06/understanding-road-signs-in-france.html



http://www.france-pub.com/french/french_traffic.htm


Appendix I - Detailed Pronunciation Guide

VOWELS Vowels are almost always a single sound (not a diphthong) and are clipped. A E I O U — we’ll practice this in class

Vowel sounds from paired vowels (like long-married couples, these combos are very predictable and stick together to make one sound)

AI = like the “ei" in lei AU = like the “o” in bone

EI = like the “ei" in lei EU = like the “oo” in book This sound is virtually identical to the sound created by OEU. It also sounds like the French E. (There is one exception to this rule and it has to do with a past participle of a verb, so don’t worry about it.)

OI = “wa” (as in water) OU = like the “o” English “move” (or, think St LOUis)

Flattening effect of double consonants on vowel sounds: bonne = feminine good femme = wife homme = man donner = to give

comme = like or as

ILL = almost always a “y” sound like the Y in “canyon” fille = girl, daughter famille = family juillet = July

The “Ls” are heard in words related to these three: “Milles villes tranquilles” (a thousand tranquil cities) — so “un village”

NASALS To create the nasal vowel sounds: finish the syllable with your tongue firmly parked behind your BOTTOM teeth. A “completed” N finishes with your tongue at the roof of your mouth.


“Un bon vin blanc” are the nasal sounds (and conveniently will get you a good white wine if you add please and thank you).

“IN” and “IM” are pronounced as the “IN” in vin or Rodin when they stand as a separate syllable. If syllabification breaks the word between the “I” and the “M” or “N” then there is no nasal, and the “I” sounds like ee as in “week.” Hence: IN or IM at the end of a word or followed by a consonant make nasals — im-po-ssi-ble in-ci-dent

but If they are followed by a vowel, not — i-nou-bli-able (unforgettable) —- ee - nou - blee - ah - ble dî-ner (dinner) — dee - nuhr

CONSONANTS can be tricky:

H is never pronounced.

Most consonants that end a word are not pronounced (the very last letter). Some exceptions apply, which can sometimes be recognized by using the mnemonic “CaReFuL” — when the consonants in the English word “careful” are the last letter of the word they are often pronounced. “lac” (lake) “hiver” (winter) “chef” (chef or leader) “mal” (bad)

But there are a lot of exceptions to the rule! le porc (pork) — no “C” sound all the “er” endings to verbs like chercher, aller, trouver (to search, to go, to find) le cerf (deer) — no “F” sound When the last consonant of a word is followed by an “e” you always say the consonant. So masculine “big” is “grand” (no “D” sound), but feminine “big” is “grande” — you say the D but the E is silent.


Pronunciation of “G”

Ga, Go, Gu = hard “G” as in GABLE Ge, Gi = soft “G” as in “GINGER” manger (to eat) — soft G un guide (a guide) — hard G un/une gendarme (a police officer) — soft G la gare (train station) — hard G un garage — starts with hard G, finishes with soft G

Pronunciation of “C” — similar rules as for “G”

Ca, Co, Cu = hard C as in “Canada” Ç — will make a hard C soft — as in “français” or “ça” Ce, Ci = soft “C” as in “center” (“centre” in French)

Pronouncing the French “R”

This requires the development of a muscle that we don’t use much in English speech (we use it at the very start of “K” or when we say “Agatha” or “agriculture”). To develop this muscle, say “Ag” 5 times in a row, 3 times a day. Within a few weeks, the muscle will be strong enough to say the French “R”.

The second half of pronouncing the French R is remembering to press your tongue against the back of your bottom teeth.


Appendix II - Vocabulary for specific situations

I am … Je suis … jet lagged fatigué au décalage horaire sick malade sunburnt brûlé par le soleil tired fatigué

Parts of the body, from the top down

body le corps

hair les cheveux head la tête face le visage eye un œil eyes les yeux

nose le nez cheek la joue mouth la bouche lip la lèvre tooth la dent ear une oreille

neck le cou chest la poitrine shoulder une épaule back le dos stomach un estomac

arm le bras elbow le coude wrist le poignet hand la main finger le doigt fingernail un ongle thumb le pouce


leg la jambe knee le genou ankle la cheville twisted ankle une entorse foot le pied toe un orteil

Rental Car

to the right à droite to the left à gauche straight ahead tout droit

stop light le feu rouge toll un péage road works — slow down travaux broken-down en panne flat tire un pneu crevé to park stationner NO PARKING défense de stationner

windshield un pare-brise windshield wipers les essuie-glaces headlights les phares high beams les feux de route brake lights les feux de stop

manual transmission, la boîte manuelle stick shift brakes les freins (m) steering wheel le volant gas pedal un accélérateur

car une auto, une voiture highway une autoroute toll highway le péage hitchhiking l'auto-stop (m) to hitchhike faire de l’auto-stop


to drive rouler street la rue on the way en route trip une excursion

to turn tourner to cross traverser to go, move (cars or traffic) circuler traffic jam (a bottleneck) un embouteillage turn signal le clignotant driver un conducteur to drive conduire to pass doubler

air conditioning la clime (short for “climatisation”) extra driver un conducteur supplémentaire damages les dommages


Appendix III - Using the Paris Métro

Metro Lines Explained

http://metromap.fr/en This site has a new map of the Paris Métro that is easier to follow than former ones. Check out the website.

The Paris metro has a total of 16 lines identifiable by number, color, and end-of-line names. For instance, line 4 is magenta, currently has 27 stations, and is called "Porte de Clignancourt/Mairie de Montrouge" because it runs from the Mairie de Montrouge station south of the city to Porte de Clignancourt in the north.

Accordingly, you should always first figure out which direction you need to go relative to the line's endpoints.

If you are at Châtelet and need to get to Odeon, you'd look at the map and see that Odeon is located south of Châtelet, toward Porte d'Orléans. This is important because once you take the metro in one direction, it's impossible to change directions without exiting the turnstile and going through again. This becomes a costly mistake if you have single tickets, rather than a weekly or monthly pass. In addition, certain lines (notably lines 7 and 13) fork in several different directions at key points, so make sure to check your destination carefully before getting on one of these trains, ensuring that the train you're boarding goes to your stop.

Hours

During normal operating times, the metro runs Mon.-Thurs. and Sun. from 5:30 a.m. to 1:15 a.m., and Fri.-Sat. from 5:30 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. The same late services also run the night before a public holiday.

To ensure you catch the last train, you should generally aim to arrive at the station approx. 30 minutes before closing, as final trains depart at different times depending on the station.

http://metromap.fr/en


Major Metro Lines

Line 1 ( La Défense/Château de Vincennes): Stops include Louvre, Champs-Elysées, Châtelet, Bastille Line 2 (Porte Dauphine/Nation): Stops include Anvers (Sacre Coeur), Gare du Nord, Champs-Elysées, Père-Lachaise Line 3 (Pont de Levallois – Bécon/Gallieni): Stops include St. Lazare, République, Père-Lachaise

Line 4 (Porte de Clignancourt/Mairie de Montrouge): Stops include Chatelet, St. Michel, Montparnasse. Line 5 (Bobigny – Pablo Picasso/Place d'Italie): Stops include Gare d'Austerlitz, Bastille, Place d'Italie Line 6 (Charles de Gaulle-Etoile/Nation): Stops include Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse, Champs-Élysées. Line 7 (La Courneuve – 8 Mai 1945/Mairie d'Ivry and Villejuif – Louis Aragon): Stops include Place d'Italie, Louvre, Opera. Make sure to check your destination along the southern axis as this line forks off in two.

Line 8 (Balard/Creteil): Central stops include Invalides, Opéra, Bastille Line 9 (Pont de Sèvres/Mairie de Montreuil): Stops include Republique and Grands Magasins Line 10 (Gare d'Austerlitz/Boulogne–Pont de Saint-Cloud): Stops include the Sorbonne and the Gare d'Austerlitz train station. Line 11 (Châtelet/Mairie des Lilas): Stops include Châtelet and République. Line 12 (Aubervillers-Front Populaire/Mairie d'Issy): Stops include Abbesses (Montmartre), Grands Magasins, Montparnasse


Line 13 (Saint-Denis – Université/ Asnières–Gennevilliers-Les Courtilles/Châtillon–Montrouge): Stops include Invalides, St. Lazare. Make sure to check your destination carefully as these trains fork off in several directions. Line 14 (Saint-Lazare/Olympiades): Stops include Châtelet, Gare de Lyon, Bibliothèque Nationale and the Saint-Lazare train station


Appendix IV — Helpful tips for train travel source: thoughtco.com

1 - Don't Forget to Punch Your Ticket or You'll Get Fined! (“Compostez Vos Billets”) Insert your ticket in the puncher and repeat until you hear a punching sound. The box (usually yellow or orange) will punch the date on your ticket. If you forget to do this, you'll get a fine when the controller gets to you.

If you have purchased a ticket at a station or received a paper ticket by mail, you absolutely need to punch it. If you got a ticket online and printed it yourself (e-billet), then you don't need to punch it. If for some reason you didn't punch it, get to the controller before he confronts you, and tell him/her. (“J’ai oublié de composter mon billet.”)

The punchers are located at the beginning of the platforms, and/or in the station.

2 - Where Is The Seat Number On a French Train? The seat number may be located on the back part of your seat, next to where your head would be, between the 2 seats. The number can also be on the side, still on the back part of the seat. Or it can be on the wall, next to your seat. There often are several numbers: two for one seat. The correct one for that train is lit up.

3 - When Are Platforms Announced For French Trains? Train platforms are announced only about 20 minutes before departure, which can be nerve wracking when you are in a big gare, and then a wave of people rushes to the platform, which can also be difficult to navigate. Look at the "tableau d'affichage" to find your platform.

4 - French Trains Can Be Quite Long, So Wear Your Best Walking Shoes TGV are often paired by 2, then the trains separated and each goes its own way after a certain station. So they can get VERY long. If you are running out of time, you may have to climb into the train just before it departs and continue walking to your car through the sitting passengers.


5 - How Far in Advance Can you Buy Your Ticket Usually, train tickets go on sale 3 months before departure. For special occasions, such as school vacations, tickets for major touristic destinations may be available sooner. Check out "Capitaine Train" to buy your tickets instead of SNCF.

6 - Don't be Alarmed If You See Soldiers At the Train Station. Even in normal times, when there is no particular threat, it is not unlikely to walk by heavily armed (machine guns) soldiers patrolling railway stations. Don't be alarmed, it is normal for France. The army often takes care of routine security in France, there is nothing unusual about it.

7 - Is Your Luggage Safe In The Luggage Compartment? You can place your luggage in a compartment at the entrance to the car, or in the overhead compartment (rather small), or on platforms located in the middle of the car. In First Class of TGVs, you can sometimes slide your suitcase under the triangle formed by the back part of 2 seats.

Luggage compartments are rather safe – there are, however, thieves that come in just before the departure of the train, go through a car, grab a bag (often a smaller one such as a laptop bag or purse) and get off the train just before it leaves the station. Don’t leave computer bags or purses unsupervised at any time; if you travel with very luxurious bags don’t leave them unattended.


Appendix V — Genders, grammar and using a French/English dictionary (or other translation assists)

All nouns have a gender, either “masculine” or “feminine.” Articles (“a” and “the” in English) are different for masculine and feminine nouns. a, an un, une the le, la or l’ if the next word begins with a vowel sound

Plural nouns need either “des” (some) or “les” (the).

Most of the time, French nouns need to have an article or possessive in front of them (the “No Naked Nouns” rule). There are some exceptions to this rule.

One trick to learning the gender of a noun is to make the article part of what you learn: LA table (the table), LE mur (the wall), UN hôtel (a hotel).

Does gender matter? Yes! LA tour = the tower LE tour = the turn, or the circuit (plus other meanings)

LA poste = the mail, the post office LE poste = the police station (plus many other similar usages)

Gender assignments don’t follow consistent rules — for example, lots of words end in “e” and are masculine, such as:

un problème (a problem) un musée (a museum) le Mexique (Mexico)

Virtually all nouns that end in -tion are feminine Virtually all nouns that end in -ment are masculine Virtually all nouns that end in -age are masculine

Countries have genders — most Western Hemisphere countries are masculine

France la France I am going to France Je vais en France

the United States les États-Unis (m)


I am going to the US Je vais aux États-Unis

Mexico le Mexique I am going to Mexico Je vais au Mexique

Canada le Canada I am going to Canada Je vais au Canada

Dictionaries Be careful when you look up words, and cross-check by looking up the translation to see if it brings you back to where you started. For example, if you want to say someone is “mean” (nasty) you would use “méchant.” But the dictionary also says it could translate as “avare.” That means cheap or miserly. Before you use “avare” to mean “nasty,” look up that word. Oops, no, it means miserly. That nasty kid is “méchant.”

A lot of what we will cover in class will provide you with basic structures of sentences or questions. You may have to look up words in an English/French dictionary to fill in the blanks to meet your specific needs. For example, if you want to say, “I would like a sandwich, please,” we’ll show you how to say “I would like” and “please.” You need to look up the noun — in this case “un sandwich.”

Notes on French prepositions Prepositions in any language aren’t translatable “content” words, they are grammatical connectors or labels. Two of the French prepositions have odd contractions when next to some definite articles.

TO: à + le = au à + les = aux FROM: de + le = du de + les = des OF: de FOR: à a glass of wine un verre DE vin a wine glass (a glass for wine) un verre À vin

a cup of tea une tasse DE thé a teacup une tasse À thé

Documents

Travel French Course Outline Spring 2020 - Weebly€¦ · Lesson 5 Emergencies, medical and otherwise help! au secours! aidez-moi, SVP Emergency! Urgence (f) ! Fire! Au feu ! Thief!