Monday, June 3, 2013

Qui veut jouer cet été?

Week of June 3 - 9:  Ideas to help us all promote French language learning this week, including Washington, D.C. area French-language and cultural events for kids and families.  Please share any other ideas by commenting below or posting to Bonjour Mama's Facebook page!  Bonne semaine! (Scroll down to FRENCH THIS WEEK for the list )

This has been a crazy week with our big move to a new house, end-of our preschool year events, and my general year-round disarray. All this with the vague panic in the back of my mind that in a few days there will be no school. Even shorter preschool mornings gave me a good hour to put on a load of laundry, make some calls, collect my thoughts.  In all those years of my giddiness with the thought that summer was finally here, it never occurred to me that my mother's enthusiasm might not have matched mine.....





Donc, Zach and I agree frequent playdates are a must this summer.  Please let me know if you are interested in getting together for informal French and/or mixed language playdates and outings (mostly in the closer in MD /Bethesda/Rockville, but also DC and possibly close-in Virginia), especially if at least one of your children is in the 4-7 age range.  I will be happy to organize activities.  I am hoping to get a mix of native and non-native speakers, and everyone is welcome!

These will be French-speaking as much as possible, but if English is spoken part of the time it will not be la fin du monde! Especially for us: we have been slacking lately and Zach is unlikely to want to stick to French the entire time.  I will be happy for whatever I get.  Désolee for the die-hard French-only parents.We'll aspire to that by the end of the summer. Peut-etre 

To help me coordinate for the dates and times that most people are available please let me know:


  • best weeks during summer
  • of the weeks you are here, best days and times of day to get together
  • ages of your kids (4-7 preferred, a little younger/older welcome!)
  • your kids' and your level of French (all levels welcome, at least a basic comprehension / conversational ability is preferred)
  • preferences for activities

Here are some ideas of how we plan to spend the days (and would love company!) .....

  • go for a bike ride - faire une balade à vélo
  • go to the local pool - aller à la piscine du quartier 
  • have a water balloon fight - faire la bataille de bombe à eau
  • go to the spray park - jouer au park avec les jeux d'eau
  • go strawberry picking - aller ceuillir des fraises
  • have a picnic under the trees - faire one pique-nique sous les arbres
  • visit the zoo - visiter le zoo 
  • visit a museum -- visiter un musée



To jumpstart le fun, I am proposing a simple playdate at Turtle Park in NWDC this Thursday, June 6 at 3:30pm (see below).  

Venez nombreux (RSVP)!

A bientôt et bonne semaine!



FRENCH THIS WEEK


At Home


Play "Duck, Duck, Goose!" in French.  "Canard, Canard, Oie!". Or Red Light, Green Light (Feu Rouge! Feu Vert!).  

Learn words for everything in your house by doing the Maison de Poupée dollhouse sticker book (available on the Bonjour Mama bookstore!) Also available in English on Zach's bookstore.  


Plan a playdate with other French-speaking parents and kids!  If you are in the DC Metro area, join or suggest an event on Bonjour Mama’s facebook pageLe Petit Groupe Français, or Les Mamans Autour de DC!


Out and About


Tuesday, June 4
6:45pm - French play at Lycée Rochambeau: Quand les chats ne sont pas là. (Tickets: Adult: $5, Student: $3)

Thursday, June 6

3pm-5pm  - (Bonjour Mama) French Playdate at Turtle Park
Note: there is a spray park so if you are so inclined, bring bathing attire and get ready to splash!!  Free. RSVP.


Friday, June 7 

6pm – Kids Movie Night (Ciné Môme) at the Alliance Français: Ponyo (ages 6+, Free, RSVP)

See the calendar for full view of events this week, including regularly scheduled events and storytimes. Looking for adult events en francais? Check the following calendars: 

3 comments :

  1. I would like to join you with my Zacky (also with a Moroccan dad) - I know the National Gallery of Art has tours in French.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pas possible! We must meet. Feel free to send email to bonjourmamadc@gmail.com to coordinate. Great tip for NGA tours in French - merci! Bslama!

    ReplyDelete