The document discusses various aspects of French culture, including its language, arts, cuisine, education system, sports, fashion, and music. France is known for its rich cultural contributions to areas like art, fashion, and cuisine since the 17th century. French is spoken by over 77 million people as a first language and over 190 million as a second language. Traditional French culture places high importance on food, with meals being the main part of the day. Sports like soccer and cycling are very popular in France. The country has also influenced global fashion trends for centuries.

2.  As we will learn about
their language, culture,
food. We are also
interested about the
French style and fashion.
We will also to find out
more about their music
because we knew nothing
about it. And I will be
learning more.

3.  France, and in particular Paris, has played an
important role as a center of high culture and
of decorative arts since the seventeenth
century, first in Europe, and from the
nineteenth century on, worldwide.
 From the late nineteenth century, France has
also played an important role in modern art,
cinema, fashion and cuisine.

4.  French is a Romance language globally spoken
by about 77 million people as a first language
(mother tongue),
 By 190 million as a second language, and by
about another 200 million people as an acquired
foreign language, with significant speakers in
57 countries.
 Most native speakers of the language live in
France, where the language originated. The
rest live essentially in Canada.

5.  France is a secular country where freedom of
thought and of religion is preserved, by virtue of the
1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the
Citizen.
 The Republic is based on the principle of laïcité, that
is of freedom of religion.
 A January 2007 poll found that 51% of the French
population describe themselves as Catholics—and
only half of those said they believed in God--, 31% as
atheists, 4% as Muslims, 3% as Protestants and 1%
as Jews.

6.  The French educational system is highly
centralized, organized, and ramified. It is
divided into three different stages:
primary education ; middle school ; and
secondary education .

7.  Primary and secondary education is predominantly public, while higher
education has both public and private elements. At the end of secondary
education, students take the exam, which allows them to pursue higher
education. The pass rate in 1999 was 78.3%.
 In 1999–2000, educational spending amounted to 7% of the French GDP and
37% of the national budget.
 Since the Jules Ferry laws of 1881-2, named after the then Minister of
Public Instruction, all state-funded schools, including universities, are
independent from the roman catholic church. Education in these institutions
is free. Non-secular institutions are allowed to organize education as well.
The French educational system differs strongly from Northern-European
and American systems in that it stresses the importance of the
development of the individual as an independent intellectual rather than a
productive servant.

8.  Traditional French culture places a high priority on
the enjoyment of food.
 The French typically eat only a simple breakfast of,
say, coffee or tea, and bread, breakfast pastries, or
yogurt.
 Lunch and dinner are the main meals of the day.
Formal four course meals consist of a starter
course, a main course followed by a salad course, and
finally a cheese and/or a dessert course.
 While French cuisine is often associated with rich
desserts, in most homes dessert consists of only a
fruit or yogurt.

9.  In France, cutlery is used in the continental
manner (with the fork in the left hand, prongs
facing down and the knife in the right hand).
French etiquette prohibits the placing of hands
below the table.
 The legal drinking age is officially 18 for strong
liquors (21% vol. alcohol), and 16 for most alcohol
drinks (beer, wine).
 France is one of the oldest wine-producing
regions of Europe. France now produces the most
wine by value in the world. Bordeaux wine,
Bourgogne wine and Champagne are important
agricultural products.

10.  The French "national" sport is football (soccer). The
most-watched sports in France are football (soccer),
rugby , basketball, cycling, sailing and tennis.
 France is notable for holding (and winning) the football
World Cup in 1998, for holding the annual cycling race
Tour de France, and the tennis Grand Slam tournament
Roland Garros, or the French Open.
 Sport is encouraged in school, and local sports clubs
receive financial support from the local governments.
 The modern Olympics were invented in France, in 1894.

11.  Since the 16th century, France
has been the fashion capital of
the World
 Famous top designers
◦ Chanel Christian Dior, Hermes,
Jean-Paul Gaultier, Louis
Vuitton, Dior
 Fashion Week is held in late
January to reveal what is ‘in’ for
the following Spring and Summer
months

13.  Indigenous Folk Music and features
styles from Africa, Latin America, and
Asia
 Most well known for its classical music
 Modern times is known for the
development of hip hop, techno, funk,
and pop.

14.  Tête et épaules, genoux, et orteils, genoux et orteils.
Tête et épaules, genoux et orteils, genoux et orteils.
Yeux et oreilles et bouche et nez.
Tête et épaules, genoux et orteils, genoux et orteils.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose.
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.