Difficulty:
Advanced
Canada, France
French Canada is a cultural mosaic that is still exploring its identity. Some French Canadians feel more American than French, while others feel more of an allegiance to their French roots. Somehow, a Quebecois nation is emerging out of all this, but not without some growing pains.
Difficulty:
Advanced
Canada, France
One might think that the push to remove anglicisms from the French language would be stronger in France, but the larger movement to "purify" French is actually happening in Quebec. Many Québécois worry that the French language is endangered in Canada, and the Quebec government has taken measures to preserve it by inventing new words instead of borrowing from English. That's why an email is still un email in France, but un courriel in Quebec.
Difficulty:
Advanced
Canada
The situation of the French language in Quebec is controversial and complex. Montreal was an English-speaking city until 1920, and it wasn't until the passage of Law 101 in 1977 that French became the official language of Quebec. According to some of the interviewees in this video, Québécois French is in a precarious position once again, with municipal signage and corporate names in Montreal reverting to English, as well as shopkeepers who refuse to speak French.
Difficulty:
Advanced
Canada
In the second episode of Le Québec parle aux Français, we learn more about the complex relationship between the French and the Quebecois throughout history. We also learn about the evolution of the French language in Quebec—according to a former Prime Minister of Quebec, the province even "spoke French before France"!
Difficulty:
Advanced
Canada
In the first episode of this documentary on Quebec, a young Frenchman shares his impressions on Canada. As the interviewees in the film demonstrate, the Quebecois have conflicting attitudes toward the French—some see them as "snobs," while others see them as just "polite."
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
This news report follows up on the squatters in Cachan, who receive good news from the mayor: after six weeks spent in a gymnasium, they're being relocated to a hostel with real accommodations.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
During the 2006 World Cup, and despite criticism from several right-wing politicians, footballers Lilian Thuram and Patrick Vieira invited eighty former squatters from Cachan to see the France-Italy match.
Difficulty:
Advanced
France, Morocco, West Africa
Our delightful young guide takes the opportunity to explain why she loves her neighborhood of Python-Duvernois. We meet some of the locals, including an aspiring Michael Schumacher and some young footballers.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Contrary to French folklore, girls do not come from roses, nor do boys come from cabbages, nor does any baby come from a stork. These French midwives, the true "storks" of France, are demonstrating for better pay and working conditions.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France, Morocco, West Africa
The locals interviewed at the Python-Duvernois neighborhood fair defend the reputation of their area and compete to win a roll of paper towels (or perhaps something a little more prize-worthy).
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France, Morocco, West Africa
The Python-Duvernois neighborhood, in Paris's 20th arrondissement, is having a block party filled with games, music, and food. There's even a stand on alcoholism prevention, complete with beer goggles!
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France, Tunisia
Young Tunisians take to the streets on May 1 to voice their discontent about Sarkozy's inflexible stance on refugee resettlement, which many see as racist.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France
The French Socialist Party held its second Fête de la rose (Rose Festival) in June 2011, thirty-three years after its first. The festival was filled with games and speeches (and cotton candy), in preparation for the French primary elections.
Difficulty:
Adv-Intermediate
France
Let's talk about love! People share their insights on what love really is. Is it infatuation, self-sacrifice, an adventure, or a journey?
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Interviewees on the streets of Paris protest the banning of the burqa in public places in France and offer their perspectives on this controversial issue.
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