Vital Phrases for Conversation (text lesson) 

Bonjour and welcome back for Day 6 of Rocket French's 6-Day course! 

This is the 6th and final lesson in the series . I know, how sad! Our objective in this lesson is to examine each of the pieces of the conversation you heard in the previous lesson. It is a real important one that will enable you to express your beginner status as a French speaker and slow the conversation down whenever necessary. Not only will it help you understand some more elements of French grammar, you'll be getting a whole mouthful of French vocabulary words for food and drink  that you'll be able to use now that you know how to order! (Note: you can always revisit the previous lessons by using the link at the very bottom of this page!) So let's dig into it...

Here’s the conversation that you learned in the last lesson:

» Here’s the English Translation

In the previous audio lesson, you learned that if you hear the words Est-ce que, it means a question is being asked. 

So, Est-ce que vous parlez francais means "Do you speak French?"

and Est-ce que vous parlez anglais means "Do you speak English?"

Not feeling too  confident? Say,  Oui, un peu, "Yes, a little." 

If you want to make things a little more conversational you could answer, Oui, je parle francais . "Yes, I speak French." 

Let's move along. Now let's see what the next step of that conversation might look like:

Let’s look at it step by step to make it easier.

As you can see, the word order is slightly unusual, and it literally translates as “Can you me understand?” Est-ce que vous means “Can, or do you,” me means “me” and comprenez means “understand.” If in the audio track Claire had wanted to say “Can you understand him, instead of me, she would have said Est-ce que vous le comprenez. Le means “him” in this context. If I tell you that the word la means “her,” can you guess how to say “Can you understand her?” ...

Try: Est-ce que vous la comprenez?

Now, let's see what a reply might look like:
 
Oui, mais pouvez-vous parler un peu plus lentement ?

Let's break it down:

Yes, but… Can you speak a little more slowly?

Pronouncing a Menu

After all that conversation, I imagine you've gotten awfully hungry and thirsty. With the following lists of words and phrases, you will learn how to recognize and pronounce a whole menu of interesting and delicious expressions.  

You can also begin to practice some of the trickier spellings in the following list as well. Many people find that the ultimate challenge in French pronunciation is the sound of the French “r.”  As in any new vocal exercise, it’s about using parts of our vocal apparatus not commonly used and then practicing a lot.

It’s worth remembering that the reverse challenge also applies to non- English speakers when they learn to speak English. For them, dropping their “r”s is almost always very difficult! Don’t be shy about really making the most of the French “r” – you’ll sound a lot more convincing and people will admire your efforts to tackle the language on its own terms!

Some of the vowel combinations you’ll come across, like “ieu,” “eau,” or “oeu,” also need to be recognized and practiced. If you can make yourself understood when you’re talking about food, you’ll be welcomed into the French culture with open arms!

Menu du Jour

Some More Culinary Expressions

Que désirez-vous aujourd’hui?  What would you like today?

That should be more than a healthy serving of food-related vocabulary. What's that, you'd like something to wash it all down with?? Well, we're more than happy to oblige. Here is your crash course on one of the gems of French culture: WINE!

A Window on Wine

“La dégustation” has nothing to do with being disgusted or disgusting!  “La dégustation des vins” is all about wine tasting. If names like Côtes du Rhône, Beaune, Chablis, and Alsace bring a fond smile to your face, then you're in the right place!

It could be said that France traditionally held a monopoly on wine production and appreciation until the second half of the 20 th century.  Currently, the French wine industry has to work very hard to compete with other leading edge technologies and successful award winning wine growers from all over the world.

As international wine mentors, all French wine producers are known by a distinct feature: their wines are labeled by their regions, not the type of grape. A Château Margaux, to take a world class wine, is from south-west France and comes straight from a château in the Bordeaux region by the same name. St Emilion is a village near Bordeaux, and is also the home of another “Grand Cru,” “great vintage,” Château Latour.  “Guides gastronomiques,” “culinary guides ,” are enjoyed by “dégustateurs” ( wine tasters) from all over the world, every one of them written by fans of France’s rich legacy in wine.

Traditionally, expertise in “ the soil” (“le terroir”) and “ grapes” (“les raisins”) has always been the key to making good wines. However, it’s the name of the wine that underpins the unique philosophy of wine appreciation in France, and it is something that was in place way before branding came into vogue. 

The label continues to evoke and elevate a great wine’s status by specifying whether the wine is château produced and bottled “ mis en bouteille.” It gives the name of the producer’s property,  mentions the vintage year, and whether it has come from a strictly defined growing area, “ appellation contrôlée.”

So, without further adieu, here's your first taste of French words for wine: 

La Dégustation des Vins!  

Well, that concludes the sixth and final lesson in Rocket French's 6-Day course . Thanks for spending your time with us, and all the best with your French-speaking ways. And remember, you're only one click away from continuing on with the most awesome French language learning package on the market today, Rocket French.

Bonne Chance (Best of Luck)!

Marie-Claire

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