As you ride in the Métro there are a whole series of these "improve your English" posters.
This particular one urges one to "treat your English" and to "stop the massacre" of English.... avec une jolie infirmière, bien sûr!
So, like a tourist I had a big grin and snapped a photo! Well, at least I was not talking loudly and wearing white tennis shoes! This post is for Virginia who is studying her French!
22 comments:
This post certainly gave me a giggle! What clever advertising..
Ha, that's a good one. I remember the expression, '...parler francais comme une vache espagnole."
Brittany -- I found so many great advertising posters in the Métro. This one and others for the same language services were particularly entertaining.
Bibi -- Yes, the French seem to have several idiomatic expressions around "les vaches," n'est-ce pas? The one that sticks with me concerns a large quantity of rain!
I remember that one, and the "Wall Street English" one with the guy with the painted tongue too. Funny it never crossed my mind until just now....wonder if I could move to Paris and TEACH the english class! Hummmmmm.....
I get first dibs!
Holly -- I forgot about the tongue-guy and wish I had a photo of him! Yes, you definitely could!
Passe un bon weekend avec sa famille et beaucoup de bises pour mes bébés!
YY
Too cute, great graphic! That is hilarious about the white tennis shoes! Mr. Deer wore white tennis shoes one day during our honeymoon (not in Paris), and I was secretly irritated the whole day! Oh, and he had a windbreaker on, too! Yikes! ;)
Maybe we need to start advertising to prevent the massacre of the French language -- (oh, but that would be me being guilty of languagecide). I remember one with a tongue bearing the British flag and another with the US -- Totally loved their ads and their window displays. French marketing is terrifically creative. Profitez de la longue fin de semaine!!
Shari -- En juin all over Europe you can spot the tourists with combinations of white tennis shoes, black socks (quelle horreur!), sports teams t-shirts, and fanny-packs (Gawd!)
M -- Yes, the ads in the trains are interesting as well as all of the station posters. They are much more compelling and creative than we have here. Merci!
J'adore the "Learn Wall Street English" ads in the Metro.
We've had some chuckles over what kind of language that could be. I'm still massacring the French language as we speak, mais je suis en train d'apprendre!
What a funny ad! :-) Great find, Genie!
The poor French. If only they could speak English when they study it, they wouldn't have so much trouble with it.
Hola desde Barcelona.
I know these posters all too well, especially as I work at a different (and better, bien sûr!) school.
@Bibi: I learned the original expression was "parler français comme un Basque l'espagnol" in reference to the way people from the Basque country spoke Spanish. This evolved into "parler français comme un Basque espagnol" and then into the current expression, "parler français comme une vache espagnol". Sorry, you know me and my trivia!
je pense qu'il y a encore du boulot
Speaking of the French and their expressions de vache—these ads are vachement marrants! Personally, I think most French folks speak our language a whole lot better than most of us speak theirs. I know why this is, but it's darn shame all the same.
Funny. A great poster.
So wearing white tennis shoes is a no-no? And I thought the French were all "keep your Anglais to yourself" so this is pretty interesting. Pretty funny all the way around.
Virginia -- If you have ever tried to have a (choose one) political discussion, a technical discussion, or a literary discussion you will understand about Wall Street English. I think that it covers a specialized area that is likely not in French textbooks. Paul?
JM -- Merci! They are almost everywhere and the humor is a bit childish (or Monty Python?).
Starman -- I love the way the French speak English and feel certain that English-speakers do not sound nearly as darling as they do (with our American accents).
Paul -- I love the origin of the idiomatic expression. So how did the "rain"/"cow? one get started?
Bergson -- Je suis d'accord avec vous.
Alexa -- I am in total agreement. We (Americans) need to try harder to speak more than one language. I think that for many years the school systems did not emphasize (require) proficiency in another language which is so sad.
Loree -- I need to go back to scout out some more!
Paula -- White running shoes or Keds smack of "tourist" with capital letters! However, that is better than the fanny-pack!
Paris Paul -- love the Basque history lesson -- being of Basque heritage, I appreciate the quality of the spanish. Never thought of myself as a vache, though ... I can definitely see how it came about.
This is a fun post! Have a wonderful day!
Hi Genie. I remember seeing improve your english posters but not this one. I also remember the learn "wall street english" posters.
After looking for a little while I'm seeing a nice reflection in this poster. :)
Have a great weekend!
M -- Paul has a wealth of knowledge and I am always amazed.
Randy -- Photo quality not "fine" but the humor in the Métro caught my eye!
James -- As yes, the reflections, as noted by the "king of reflections" -- Merci! I really would have preferred less reflection in this one but it was all about the "cheesy" humor!
Have a great holiday weekend, James!
I wish they would advertize learning foreign languages in the US – it’s hard to find someone speaking another language around here. Although I heard that in some towns in Florida where all the Canadians go in winter they try to say some French words, like “menu” "restaurant" “café” or “omelette.”
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