Do you like to watch films? Do you want to improve your French? Well, you can do both watching French films in French!
If you don’t know where to start here is a list of French films for you: comedy, drama, adventure, documentary, animation… We’ve watched them all and (almost) loved them all!
Click on the image below to find out more about our selection of French movies.
Let us know if it helped you and which movie you enjoyed the most! 🙂
Because in France everything or almost everything has a connection with gastronomy, we had to tell you about this special day the whole country love: Candlemas (La Chandeleur in French).
Of course, French people, who are huge gourmands at heart, do not hesitate to eat crêpes all year long but this one day gives them a good excuse to eat some (more)!
Originally a pagan festival dating back to Roman times, Candlemas was celebrated in honor of the God Pan. This feast consisted of walking through the streets with torches or candles.
At the beginning of February, the days gradually begin to lengthen. The consumption of crêpes would thus be a tribute to the cycle of the seasons and the arrival of spring announcing better days. Round and golden, crêpes symbolized the sun and the return to light.
Christianized later in the 5th century, it is celebrated 40 days after Christmas, always on February 2nd.
As a result, La Chandeleur is a mix of both of these traditions Pagan & Christian.
Big fans of crêpes since our youngest age, we share with you 3 illustrated crêpes recipes easy to make.
Bon appétit!
All your questions answered in the following list. If we forgot one, do not hesitate to contact us to ask! We will be happy to give you the answer you are looking for. 🙂
You can book directly through our website, by phone or directly at school.
Deposit is payable by bank transfer only. For outstanding balance, we accept payment by bank transfer, credit card (at school) or cash.
Students must be 18 to enroll.
It depends on your nationality. For a stay of less than 3 months, a tourist visa is usually sufficient. Please contact the French consulate or embassy in your country for more detailed information on this subject.
Yes! Our Qualité FLE accreditation gives the chance to our students to be able to get a student visa. As soon as we receive full payment for your stay, we will send you a stamped and signed booking confirmation as well as your host family information. These documents shall be presented with the invoice to the French Embassy. If your visa is refused, your money will be returned less the non-refundable process fee (50 euros).
Your first day at SOFI 64 will start at 9.00.
Please bring with you a pen and a notebook. If you registered to our « French & Surf » program, you should also bring some sunscreen, a beach towel and a bathing-suit.
French, English, Spanish, German and Basque.
We have 5 spacious and bright classrooms. Our school has a beautiful private terrace with tables, chairs and umbrellas. In our kitchen, there is a coffee machine and a kettle for your organic coffee and tea available at school. To practice your French skills after class, French books and French language DVDs are available in our small library.
Yes. You will have access to the Internet through our WIFI.
French and French!
Each class is limited to 8 students. Minimum number of students in a group is 2.
We welcome students of almost all ages (18 and +). However, the average age of our students is between 25-35.
You can start on any Monday. Full beginners must start on specific dates (one Monday per month).
Yes, subject to availability ! For instance, it is possible to book one week of “French & Surf” and another week of “French & Yoga“.
If you change your program during your stay, there will be a 25 euro-fee applied.
We are very often fortunate to welcome inspiring and inspired students in our school. Some of them sometimes want to share the remarkable time they had in Biarritz.
Last year, Emma gave us this wonderful gift after her visit to our school.
This year 2019, it is Mikko and Martin who decided to film the experience Martin had while with us. Martin comes from Germany. He is a professional sommelier whose family have been working in the wine industry for more than 130 years.
If you want to improve your French for professional or personal reasons, we are here to support you and help you achieve your goals!
You may know that in French some verbs are used with other verbs without any preposition between them such as “aimer, adorer, préférer, détester, pouvoir, vouloir, devoir, aller…”.
In those cases, the second verb is never conjugated:
“Il peut PARLER français sans aucun accent.”
“Nous voulons RÉVISER ensemble.”
“J’aime de FAIRE du surf toute l’année.”
“Nous allons à DÎNER au restaurant ce soir.”
That’s the easy part! 🙂
For other verbs, you may have to choose between “de” and “à”. They are usually followed by another verb which is ALWAYS in the infinitive form.
Below are two posters we made with the most common French verbs used either with “de” or “à”.
—–> First one is a list with verbs.
—–> Second one is to practice those verbs.
To summarize, when two verbs are used together the second one is always at the infinitive form! When it is followed by a preposition, you just need to pick the right one. 🙂
See you next week to check your answers for the exercise above!
Bonne semaine à tous! 🙂
Your French classes are over and it is time for your daily surf lessons? You are ready to hit the beach, put your wetsuit / sunscreen on and enjoy a good surf session.
A glance at the weekly schedule and you realize that your surf lesson starts at 5pm?
Why wait another 4 hours? Why does your surf lessons’ schedule change every day?
Like almost all our students, you have done little or no surfing in your life and the best conditions, the safest conditions are at low tide. The ocean rises and falls +/- 6 hours apart. This variation (due to the moon, the sun and the Earth’s revolution…) determines the schedule of your surf lessons.
At low tide, surfing is more practicable for beginners for 2 reasons:
—> you won’t surf in deep water
—> waves and whitewater offer a longer distance to slide on
Surfing is almost all about fun! There are a few rules to follow when you go out:
Do not surf between flags reserved for swimmers –>
Respect priority rules –>
Now, let’s work on your vocabulary by associating the words in the right column with the left column:
| 1. Ramer | a. Surfboard |
| 2. Faire le canard | b. To pop up |
| 3. Une dérive | c. Foam / Whitewater |
| 4. Tomber | d. To duck dive |
| 5. Une planche (de surf) | e. Fin |
| 6. Se lever | f. Wave |
| 7. Un leash | g. Current |
| 8. Une vague | h. To fall |
| 9. La mousse | i. Paddle |
| 10. Le courant | j. Leg rope |
Surfing is also a commitment to the environment. Respect the ocean, collect your garbage, leave only your footsteps in the sand.
Aloha!
Today, we have made a short list for you with 5 mistakes made very often, the ones we can hear most often in class and in everyday life.
DEMANDER UNE QUESTION × —> POSER UNE QUESTION ✓
In French we don’t use the verb “demander” for a question. We’d rather use:
Poser une question ✓. In French, we say “Est-ce que je peux (vous) poser une question?”.
You can also ask for something (demander quelque chose) but NOT demander une question.
For instance: demander un renseignement (ask for information), demander un café (ask for a coffee), demander des explications (ask for explanations)… ✓
REVENIR & RETOURNER
These two verbs have a similar meaning but are not used in the same situation!
The two verbs oppose each other in space:
revenir ICI↓ mais retourner LÀ-BAS →.
For instance:
. “Je suis allée au Pérou pour les vacances. C’était magique. C’est sûr, j’y retournerai bientôt!” (Je retournerai là-bas →→→ au Pérou.) ✓
. “Où vas-tu? Je vais à la boulangerie. Je reviens dans 5 minutes.” (Je reviens ici↓) ✓
DANS LE MATIN ou DANS LE SOIR × —> LE MATIN ou LE SOIR ✓
We often hear “Dans le matin, j’aime faire du sport avant d’aller travailler“.
To talk about your daily habits you should say “Le matin, j’aime faire du sport ✓” or “Le soir, je me couche tôt pour être en pleine forme le lendemain ✓“. For once, it’s quick and easy! Forget them dans / au / à le ! 😉
APRÈS J’AI FAIT… × —> APRÈS QUE J’AI FAIT… ✓
To talk about your day, you must say “Après que j’ai fait mes devoirs, nous sommes allés à la plage ✓” ou “Après que j’ai fait du surf, j’ai pris une douche et j’ai rejoint mes amis au restaurant ✓“. Don’t forget the “QUE”!
MERCI POUR M’AIDER × —> MERCI DE M’AIDER ✓
To thank someone who has helped you, sent flowers, offered a dinner or accompanied you to the airport, just say “Merci de m’avoir aidé / Merci de m’avoir envoyé ces jolies fleurs / Merci de m’avoir invité / Merci de m’accompagner à l’aéroport, c’est très gentil de ta part.” ✓
Last year we created a special playlist for you with French songs and French artists to help you stay in touch with French language.
During the past few weeks, we looked for more (good) songs for you to listen in order to practice your French.
On the bus, at the beach, under the shower, listen to these songs and keep practising your understanding. Click on the picture below to have access to our special playlist available on Spotify.
Let us know which song you like the most! 🙂
You want to join us and yet wonder what is left to do after your great French lessons in the morning?
You may already know that Biarritz and Anglet are two great cities for surfing and sunbathing. There are many other things to do around here. Just follow us!
To See and To Do
+++ Golf, Rafting, Kayaking, Basque sports, Baby golf…
Going Out
Eating
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