In a few short months, I will be completing my studies towards a Masters in Education. If all goes well, one of these days I hope to becomeprof de français(a French teacher) in a localcollege ou lycée(middle or high school). While that days is still a ways off, my work got me thinking about the different types of knowledge and about the different ways to talk about teaching and learning in French.

To teach or to learn?

One of the nuances of French that I have always wondered at is the way that the verbapprendrecan mean bothto teachandto learn.While most of us learn the later definition, it is commonly used in French to mean it opposite.¹The French linguist and philosopher Roland Barthes called words like this – that can mean one thing and their opposite – énantiosèmes. You can see a few more of themhere.Let’s look at some examples. [Click the play button if you would like to hear each phrase pronounced.]

J’apprends le français. /I am learning French.

J’apprends le français à mon neveu./I am teaching my nephew French.

Nous apprenons à jouer au tennis. /We are learning to play tennis.

Nous apprenons à jouer au tennis à nos nouveaux amis./We are teaching our new friends to play tennis.

Of course if you’re mad at someone, you can also say “Je vais t’apprendre … !” which would mean “I’m gonna teach you … !”

The other common verb forto teachisenseigner. It is a bit more formal thanapprendreand likely to be the word you would hear and would use when talking about teaching in a school. A French teacher would be more likely to say “J’enseigne le français.“, for example, when asked what they do for a living.

Fait divers/ Variety

I don’t want to let this week go by without acknowledging thatHalloweenis Friday. If you are someonequi aime avoir peur(who likes to be scared) you might like the new series now streaming on Netflix,Marianne. The story takes place in France and is filmed entirely in French. A (potentially) great way to work on your listening comprehension skills … if you can stand the fright! I will miss the fun this year as I will be on a plane flying to France! More on that when I returnla semaine prochaine(next week).

Apple picture CCo from https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-apple-on-top-of-books-256520/

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  The French linguist and philosopher Roland Barthes called words like this – that can mean one thing and their opposite – énantiosèmes. You can see a few more of themhere.