Experience Language: Experience Life!
Newsletter - September 2005

Bonjour and welcome to our September newsletter. Bonne lecture!

In this issue:

The 'Pot de Chambre'
Fun Meanings of the French Word 'Pot'
Offres Spéciales pour la Rentrée!
French Courses in London

The 'Pot de Chambre'

How do you fancy your friends waking you up in the early hours of the morning on your first night as a married couple and asking you to drink some horrible concoction? While the 'pot de chambre' is a very old French tradition, many newlyweds are still at the mercy of it.

Mais quelle est l'origine de cette tradition étrange?

In old times, newlyweds would leave their wedding reception and retire to their secret location. The following day, early in the morning, some of the wedding guests would start searching for the newlyweds to bring them the 'pot de chambre'. The guests were split into two groups, one group helping the newlyweds to escape, the other group on a mission to find them. While the newlyweds had to be hidden well, the tradition was that they were always found. When found, they had to get out of bed and drink the contents of the 'pot de chambre'. The bride started, then her husband and then all the guests. The 'pot de chambre' was of great importance: it was to give strength to the newlyweds after their first night as a married couple.

Today the recipe for the 'pot de chambre' varies greatly from one region to the next. It usually includes chocolate, biscuits, cheese, banana, spices, various alcohols, and most of the time toilet paper! Hmm, bon appétit!

Click here for more information on the ‘pot de chambre’.

Fun Meanings of the French Word 'Pot'

The main meaning of 'le pot' is a jar or a pot (or even a potty). You will find 'pot' used in many colloquial expressions in which it has a different meaning.

Prendre un pot - to go for a drink. (pot d'adieu = leaving drinks).
Avoir du pot - to be lucky.
Tourner autour du pot - to beat around the bush.
Payer plein pot - to pay the full whack.
Quel pot de colle! - What a leech!

Click her for more fun French expressions.

Offres Spéciales pour la Rentrée!

Quel pot! (what luck!) We have a special discount available for our newsletter subscribers this autumn:

Book a two week (or longer) French course in France before the end of September 2005 and get 5% off the course fees.

This offer is valid on courses taken between September 2005 and March 2006.

Don’t wait any longer to learn French in France. Book now!

French Courses in London

We are now pleased to offer you French language courses in central London. This autumn we have the following courses available:

Academic Programme

Course: 11 week course
Starting: first week of October
Times: 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Level: beginner to advanced
Fee: £185 + £25 registration

Survival Programme

Course: 6 week course, 1 lesson per week
Starting: 26th September or 7th November
Times: 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Level: 1st time learners
Fee: £104

Course: 6 week course, 2 lessons per week
Starting: 7th November
Times: 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Level: 1st time learners
Fee: £199

For more information please contact a member of the Experience Language team on 0845 4580578.

We wish you all a happy month of September.

The Experience Language Team

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