Celebrating September!🎉

September for me is the start of the year. This is because it's when the school year started for 18 years of my life (and I never quite got out of that mode). 

Like most would celebrate the 'New Year' I have two reasons to celebrate in September.🎉

No, it is not to do with the fact that is the the start of Autumn and the bountiful crop of fruit and vegetables I have in my garden!

Firstly, September is when I started my health coaching business in 1993. It is still running, so there is plenty for me to celebrate, as many businesses do not make it to year 5.

Secondly because September has to do with languages. 

Language fascinates me for many reasons. 

I am puzzled by the nuances between different languages and how things might be expressed; such as 'I am hungry' in French is not 'je suis faim' but 'J'ai faim' which would be 'I have hungry' in English. 

There are also clues within each language as to the origins of words, sayings or expressions. 

Take the word 'douche' for example. It means shower in French and German. Yet in English it's only used as a medical term and in the US it means an unpleasant person. 

Another of my favorites is the fact that September, October,  November and December or septembre,  octobre, novembre et décembre in French  give us a clue to the fact that they were the seventh, eighth,  ninth  and tenth months of the year in Roman times. 

There are two events in September that celebrate languages.🎉

The European day of languages is on 26th Sept 2020

It has been celebrated every year since 2001.

There are activities, games, competitions and events going on around the world.

To find out more visit https://edl.ecml.at/

and/or https://www.twinkl.co.uk/event/european-day-of-languages-2020

The 30th Sept is International translation day 

I didn't realise there was such a thing, till I noticed an article about bilingual books. It is a tribute to the work of language professionals.

You can read a lot more about it on the following pages:

https://latestnews.fresherslive.com/about/international-translation-day

https://www.un.org/en/events/translationday/

What can you celebrate this September?

Let me know what it is and how you will celebrate, so we can share the joy.

Jean De La Fontaine

Though you might not know his name you probably do know, at least one of his fables, 'the hare and the tortoise' - 'le lievre et la tortue'.

La Fontaine celebrated!

Jean de la Fontaine died in Paris on the 13th April 1695.  2020 was to celebrate the 325 years since his death.  Any celebration of this writer and his work were completely eclipsed by the Corona virus so this is my contribution to celebrate him.


According to Wikipedia,  Jean de la Fontaine is one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. He is known above all for his Fables, which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France, as well as in French regional languages.

Other Fables include 'the ant and the cicada' - 'la cigale et la fourmi' and the 'oak and the reed' - 'le chene et le roseau'.

Discover his fables in English and French

There is a bilingual book where you can find 8 of his fables, including thee which I mention. “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” which means if you purchase from the link, you will not be charged any more, thought I will receive a small commission which helps keep these pages up to date. You can find other bilingual books on my books and reviews page

Here is 'The crow and the fox' - 'Le corbeau et le renard', which you can read or listen to (French version only by foolwing this link.
https://www.iletaitunehistoire.com/genres/fables-poesies/lire/le-corbeau-et-le-renard-biblidpoe_001#ecouter

cartoon with a lesson

I discovered this French cartoon today.

Despite the weirdness of this group of Zebras that walk on 2 legs, I think is is a well constructed story.

I love a cartoon that helps children understand that even if you are friends,  everyone is different and has their own reason for doing or not doing something.

Understanding rather than judging and keeping the doors of communication open are the way forward.

Enjoy Zou; here is the link for more Dessin animé  Français