Fall is in full swing in France. The temperature has gotten significantly cooler and we have already made our first tartiflette of the season. The new issue of Bien-dire (November-December 2011) has just been shipped, and it will start to get you into the Christmas spirit. One of France's best-known legacies - bread - is Sous les spots. Find out how something that was invented in Egypt made its way northwest into l'Hexagone. The best part? A recipe so you can bring a little France into your home. The only thing you need to know to try it yourself is that in French, the measure 'un verre et demi' of water is around 30cl or around 1 1/4 cups.

If you come to France, you'll definitely want to send postcards to all your friends back home. On pages 32-33 you'll learn key words and phrases for sending mail or packages in French. Very practical!

Savez-vous que ? is all about Christmas mealtime traditions, sayings and customs. But for me, the star of this issue is La nouvelle. The story is about a family who is waiting for a long-lost relative to arrive to share Christmas dinner. You'll definitely want to have the accompanying audio CD for this one! When I listened to it, I was amazed - it was like listening to a radio play! I felt transported right into the French living room to witness an actual family drama (of sorts) unfold. As for the writing itself, it was challenging enough that I had to stretch, but not so challenging that I didn't get the jokes.

Having the audio CD as a support also helps with comprehension through tone of voice and sentence intonation that you may miss by simply reading the story. Can you tell I'm excited? If you aren't subscribed to the magazine + CD already, click here for more information.

Until next time, 

Cheryl