Experience Language: Experience Life!
Newsletter - March 2006

Bonjour and welcome to our March newsletter. Bonne lecture!

In this issue:

• Pourquoi manger "Dans le Noir"?
• Les examens approchent!
• Des expressions colorées
• Un jour férié en moins

Pourquoi manger "Dans le Noir"?

Why would one choose to eat in the dark? Well, it would seem that the lack of sight enhances our other senses such as smell, touch and taste. Does that mean that food tastes different if you can't see it? Bizarre!

With this very intriguing concept in mind, Parisian restaurant "Dans le Noir" opened its door in July 2004 near the Pompidou centre. As its name indicates, diners enter the dark restaurant and 'enjoy' a meal in complete darkness. Check out what diners had to say about their experience, definitely different from your usual meal out on the "Dans le Noir" website

If you get the opportunity to eat at "Dans le Noir", please drop us a line about your experience, en français biensûr.

Les examens approchent!

With the French A-level exams approaching, many students are having "des nuits blanches" practicing their French speaking in front of the mirror.

Why not practice in France with native speakers instead! The A-level revision courses we offer in Bordeaux and Montpellier are specifically designed to help A-level students prepare for their exams. As well as gaining confidence in their speaking ability, students get to consolidate all the knowledge they have gained over the years. By living with a host family they also have numerous opportunities to practice for their oral examination.

Fais travailler ta matière grise en France! Book now!

A-Level Revision Course in Bordeaux:
Starting dates: 27th March, 3rd April or 10th April 2006.
Price: 583 Euros for one week (incl. lessons, activities, half board in a host family).


A-Level Revision Course in Montpellier:
Starting dates: 3rd April or 10th April 2006.
Price: 556 Euros for one week (incl. lessons, activities, half board in a host family).


Des expressions colorées

As you will have seen in the section above, the French use colors in many of their expressions. Here are some more examples:

• J'étais dans le noir le plus complet - I didn't know anything about it.
• J'en ai vu de toutes les couleurs! - I went through the mill.
• J'ai passé une nuit blanche.- I stayed up all night.
• Il fait du travail au noir. - He doesn't declare his work.
• Sa mère est un vrai cordon bleu. - His mother is a fantastic cook.
• Il est sur la liste rouge. - He has an ex-directory telephone number.
• Il lui a donné le feu vert. - He gave him/her the go-ahead.
• Tu dois faire travailler ta matière grise. - You must use your brain.
• Elle voit la vie en rose. - She is really optimistic.

Click here for more colorful expressions.

Click here to test your knowledge.

Un jour férié en moins

As some of you may already know, the French recently lost one of their popular bank holidays. August 2003 was a very tragic month in Europe, especially in France. Thousands of old people passed away due to the heat wave. In an effort to prevent this happening again, the French government passed a new law in June 2004 introducing a "journée de solidarité pour les personnes agées" on Whitsun Monday. Companies pay a new tax to the government in return for having workers on this day, some proceeds of which are used for the elderly.

Note that not all the companies obey the rule. Some prefer to work a few minutes extra every day and keep the bank holiday, the tax however, is mandatory. As far as the language schools are concerned, they will be open on 5th June, Whitsun Monday (apologies for the error in the January newsletter).

Click here for further information about this new law.



We wish you a lovely month of March.

The Experience Language Team

Experience Language is not responsible for the content of any external Internet links from this newsletter.

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