French Cursive

Sacre bleu! No, no, silly. French handwriting. Visit Carol at Paris Breakfasts for her latest post on French handwriting & her (successful) efforts to incorporate it into her artwork. A fairly good search has not turned up a lot in the way of free online resources but here is one (you can translate it through Google). You can always buy a cahier d'écriture or some French ruled paper & practice.

Or maybe writing cursive is the least of your worries when it comes to French. Eh? Perhaps it is time to take a quick test & brush up.

ciao-bonjour-meow/GG's French teacher

(photograph via Writer's Bloc)

Gocce di pioggia sui vetri

Or...raindrops on glass in Paris by the talented (Italian) Mia.

It's a rainy & low-key day so far. Giulia is fast asleep, so it's also very quiet. Engage your brain by memorizing essential phrases in 40 languages on the BBC Language page. Or just work on your Italian (&/or French).

ciao-sleepy-meow/GGCM

Teach Yourself French

We had a lot of positive reactions to the Italian language lesson post earlier this week. As we're pressed for time today for a longer post, take a look at the BBC's French language page, too. It's very much worth checking out all the links. If you have slower internet, you can read transcripts rather than watch videos; you can also access these from outside the UK, so no excuses! If you can't be in Paris (or elsewhere in France) in April, you can at least refresh your French - or begin it for the first time.

ciao-chic-meow/GG's translator

(Dreamy Paris photograph by Jen Gotch)

La Bella Lingua Lessons

I have a theory that there is something in the Italian landscape which inclines even the most stolid nature to romance. --Miss Lavish, A Room with a View

It's not just the landscape; listen to that language. Do you want to learn Italian (or brush up on your skills)? You should sign up for a course. GG's editor went to Casa Italiana in Washington, DC. But if funds are low or you want to do something at home first, check out the BBC Italian Language page. Test yourself first (on the website) if you know any Italian. Then move through the page links; it's an excellent site.

For a wonderful book on what it's like to "become Italian," definitely read Dianne Hales La Bella Lingua. We won it in a giveaway via Bleeding Espresso, a favorite stop every week. Dianne's book is absolutely superb & renewed our dedication to all things Italian. Check out her blog, too.

ciao-meow-a-tutti!

(photographs via Period Films)