French Francophone

Francophone Countries What are they? Countries where French is the official language. Countries that were once colonies of France. Well known countries include: Belgium, Canada, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Republic of the Congo, Morocco, etc. Francophone facts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIgy8APXFyI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6KniRMNS_A

Famous Francophone Writers Gabrielle Roy- Canadian, 1909-1938, The Tin Flute. Albert Camus- French Algeria, 1913-1960, L’Etranger. Aime Césaire- Basse-Point, Martinique, 1913- 2008, theatre and poetry, “Une Tempête. »

Albert Camus Existentialist (life is devoid of meaning and humans can choose their own paths) and absurdist (life is purposeless- existentialism enhanced by Camus). L’Etranger (The Stranger): -most influential absurdist text “Aujourd’hui, maman, est morte.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r85TpcuwBxY

FRANCOPHONE ARTISTS Paul Gauguin, 1891-1903, Paris, France, post- impressionist/primitivism, Tahiti, Marquesas Islands. Jacques Brel, 1929-1978, Brussels, Belgium, singer/songwriter: “Ne Me Quitte Pas” https://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=i2wmKcBm4Ik “When Will you Marry?”, 1892

Francophobie Francophobia: fear and hate of French culture, French speaking people, the French government and the French language. Causes: imperial power/colonial age, Gaullism post WWII, anti-Catholicism. Most prominent in: the UK (a long hate-love relationship), old colonies, Australia, New Zealand, and more recently, Ireland and America.

Some VOCABULARY VERBS: NOUNS: Voyager (to travel) Rester (to stay) Voir (to see) Réserver (to reserve) Annuler (to cancel) Arriver (to arrive) Partir (to leave) http://www.dummies.com/languages/french/fre nch-travel-related-words-and-phrases/ NOUNS: Aller-retour (round trip) Aller-simple (one way ticket) Siege (seat) Gare (train station) Train (train) Vol (flight) Aéroport (airport)