Groovy English!

Issue 48 of English Now magazine hits the newsstands in France today. (Of course, it's also available from our website.) English Now is different from any other language learning magazine in that it its articles are written specifically for French-speakers learning English who are at beginner to intermediate level.

Each page has keywords translated into French. No need for a dictionary here - we've done it for you. Also, the feature articles are available in CD format with 60+ minutes of audio read by native English speakers from Britain, the US and Australia to help the learner tune their ear to different accents.

So what's in this issue?
- learn about greeting colleagues in an English-speaking office
- find out how Britons and Americans use social networking
- help the sheriff catch two bank robbers in our quiz
- learn how to make delicious Chicken tikka masala
- get key information for book shopping in English
- meet a florist preparing for Valentine’s Day
- learn expressions using the word ‘heart’
- practice apologising in English
- read about key events in the news
- get insider tips for the 10 items to buy in London (editor's choice!)

Find out more here, or join us on Facebook. Truly groovy.

In French, s’il vous plaît !

Hello et bienvenue to Pascale, our French blogger who will be contributing each week with language tips, news and updates straight from France. In this first post, she writes about Anglicisms in the French language. (Don't worry - it goes both ways!) For more, check out Bien-dire magazine on our website.

In French, s’il vous plaît !

Êtes-vous contre les anglicismes dans la langue française ? La commission générale de terminologie vient de proposer en décembre dernier des mots pour remplacer les mots anglais utilisés dans le domaine d’Internet et de l’informatique. Voici certains de ces mots :

Ne dites plus :

- Spamming mais « arrosage »
- Smartphone mais « ordiphone »
- Webcam mais « cybercaméra »
- Du toner mais « de l’encre en poudre »
- Le home cinema mais le « cinédom »

Ces mots iront rejoindre ceux qui avaient déjà été proposés par cette commission précédemment comme :

- « une frimousse » pour un smiley
- « un bloc notes » pour un blog
- « des mouchards » pour des cookies
- « un mouchard » pour un hacker
- « une causette » pour un chat
- « un minimessage » pour un SMS

Reste à savoir si ces propositions ne resteront que sur le papier ou si les gens finiront par les utiliser… À entendre parler les Français pour l’instant, il semble bien difficile de supprimer les mots anglais !

Et vous, qu’en pensez-vous ? Pensez-vous qu’il soit très utile de remplacer ces anglicismes ?

What will you be speaking Feb. 21st?

The eleventh International Mother Language Day, on 21 February 2010, serves to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

We're a month away from this global event, so now is a perfect time to start planning. You can be involved on many levels and in many ways, keeping in mind the goal of promoting linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. You could:

- host a dinner where each guest brings a dish from a different world region.

- learn about music from a region that interests you.

- get together with friends and each person read a poem in a different language. (It doesn't matter how well you speak it or understand it.)

- watch a film in another language or from another culture.

- learn how to greet someone in another language.

- research a language that is nearly extinct, then get involved in saving it. (The best way? Learn it!)

However you choose to celebrate it, have a great International Mother Language Day!

Learning French is easy!

I loved this clip the first time I watched it... and the second time, the fifth and the eleventh. There's a some truth to it though. As we begin learning a language, all we can do is mimic and we have a tendency to cling to the familiar. Then as the lessons sink in, we slowly adopt the phrases as our own, adding a little inflection or hand gesture as we get comfortable.

Guest of honor: the Catalan language

Designed to promote and celebrate languages, defend multilingualism and develop international communication, Expolangues is an unique event which has been reuniting all of the linguistic market participants for 27 years.

The Catalan language
This year, the guest of honor is The Catalan language: many activities, concerts and conferences are organized on the Catalonian theme. Other activities, dedicated to both professionals and public, will be offered by the 30 other countries represented.

Did you know?
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of the Balearic Islands, Catalonia and Valencian Community.

Expolangues is dedicated to any linguistic actor: professionals, students as well as any foreign culture enthusiast are welcomed. Click here for more information and to request your free invitation. The event will be held Wednesday 3rd February to Saturday 6th February at the Paris Expo.



Want to know more?

This year's program will feature more than 180 exhibitors, from different sectors, such as:

• Language schools and language training organisations
• Language study holiday organisers
• Multimedia companies
• Language laboratories
• Translation and interpreting companies
• Publishers of language learning methods
• Specialised bookstores
• Schools and universities
• Embassies, cultural centres and ministries from around the world
• Tourism Offices

A few figures…
22,618 visitors in 2009
10,855 visitors from within the profession and 11,763 members of the public
80 languages + 30 countries represented

We'll be there! Will you?