Experience Language: Experience Life!
Newsletter - November 2004

Bonjour and welcome to our November newsletter. Bonne lecture!

• Wine Celebrations in France this Month
• French Public Holidays in 2005
• Experience Language: Experience Work
• French Film Festival in the UK

If you are in France this month, you could be lucky enough to catch one of the wine celebrations taking place.

Wednesday 17th November - 'Le Beaujolais Nouveau' release at midnight. Great celebrations all evening in Beaujeu.

Saturday 20th November - Release of the new 'Côtes du Rhône' in Avignon. Free tasting of various varieties and many events.

Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th November - 'Chablis Wine Festival'
A competition among local wine growers on the first day followed by a street party on the second day.

One thing I love about the UK is that even if a Bank Holiday falls on a Sunday, you get the Monday off. In France, if a Bank Holiday is on a Sunday then that's just bad luck. During 2005, three Bank Holidays will be on Sundays (May 1st & 8th and Christmas Day). Pas de chance! Out of their usual eleven Bank Holidays, the French will only get eight actual days off.

• Saturday 1st January - Le Jour de l'An (New Year's Day).
• Monday 28th March - Le Lundi de Pâques (Easter Monday).
• Sunday 1st May - La Fête du Travail (Labour Day).
• Thursday 5th May - L'Ascension (Ascension Day).
• Sunday 8th May - L'Armistice 1945 (Victory Day).
• Monday 16th May - La Pentecôte (Whitsun).
• Thursday 14th July - La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day).
• Monday 15th August - L'Assomption (Assumption Day).
• Tuesday 1st November - La Toussaint (All Saints Day).
• Friday 11th November - L'Armistice 1918 (Armistice).
• Sunday 25th December - Noël (Christmas).

More and more students, especially students on their gap year, are not only interested in learning or improving their French but also in gaining some work experience. We are now pleased to offer work placement programmes in both Toulon and Montpellier. The types of work placement include administration work, social work, information technology, engineering, import/export, insurance, hotel work, marketing, research, media, advertising, secretarial, travel and tourism and agriculture. These programmes are aimed at students aged 18 and over and are for a minimum of one month.

Although not as well known as American movies, the French also make some great films. The French Film Festival will be taking place all over the UK from 15th November to 5th December. Don't miss out!

This year, you can look forward to a tribute to Alain Delon, films from the 'Nouvelle Vague', various documentaries, a focus on Quebec cinema and a lot more.

We wish you all a happy month of November.

The Experience Language Team

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