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Madagascar is a large island located in the Indian Ocean, off the east coast of Africa. Their official language is French. The capital city is Antananarivo. Madagascar is known for its biodiversity. There is a handful amount of species that cannot be found anywhere but Madagascar.

This country is rich in its culture and were mentioned worldwide for its unique. When we talk about madagascar, the first thing that would come to our mind would be a lot of species of animals. Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. More than 90% of the wildlife only exist in Madagascar.

Madagascar became a francophone country after French colonization. Madagascar was colonized by France during 1896 and remain under France command until 1960.

The movie Madagascar was one of the reason that create name and fame for Madagascar. I found some fun fact I would like to share. Alex the lion, Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippo does not live there like it seems to be their home in the movie. The only one that actually live there in nature is King Julian the lemurs.

People celebrate colorful festivals with music and dancing. The island is known for its handmade crafts, especially wood carvings and woven baskets. Its beautiful beaches and rainforests make it a popular destination for travelers who love nature and adventure.

The people of Madagascar are friendly and welcoming, and the island’s unique environment makes it truly special and unforgettable. I would love to visit it for once in my life!

Source:

DreamWorks Animation. "Madagascar." DreamWorks. Accessed March 21, 2025. https://www.dreamworks.com/movies/madagascar

World Wildlife Fund. "Madagascar." World Wildlife Fund. Accessed March 21, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar.

World Wildlife Fund. "Madagascar." World Wildlife Fund. Accessed March 21, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/places/madagascar.

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Amélie was the first French movie that I have ever watched. It was during one of Clara events in the MLC lounge. I noticed myself that I did not appreciate and understand the small details in the movies as much as the second time that I watched it after taking my first French class last semester.

The movie made Amélie from a simple character to a character that has her own charm. Creating an ordinary act and turn it into an act of kindness and grateful. Like there is always some small things that could means a lot when we take a step back and look at it and appreciate what is around you.

I felt like she is the one character that manifest the world around her with the main character power. She loves to make people around her happy. And there is a point of the coming of age for her. She found the one that she loves and that is the only time where she does not know how to manifest her surrounding because it was not dealing with the problems of others anymore it was her own feeling.

Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain (The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain) was the original title of the movie. I think that a lot of people would say that Amélie was the one that set the frame for romantic comedy in the 2000s.

Source:

Chen, Lynn. “A Comprehensive Guide to Analysing Amélie for English: Summary, Themes, Characters.” Art Of Smart Education, 10 Mar. 2024, artofsmart.com.au/english/amelie-analysis/.

ELTE English in the Media Specialisation. “The Irresistible Charm of a French Fairy – ‘Amélie’ Film Review.” Twisted iDEAL, 19 May 2023, twistedideal.wordpress.com/2023/05/19/the-irresistible-charm-of-a-french-fairy-amelie-film-review/.

Strong, Hannah. “Amélie – the Most Stylish Film Ever Made?” BBC News, BBC, 24 Feb. 2022, www.bbc.com/culture/article/20210916-amlie-the-most-stylish-film-ever-made.

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Post #2 2/14: The Eiffel tower was suppose to be temporary?

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Post #2 2/14: The Eiffel tower was suppose to be temporary?

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Eiffel tower was one of the most well known landmarks in the world and even one of the symbol that represent France.

The Eiffel tower was originally constructed to as one of the main attraction at the Paris world's fair during 1889. It was the showcase of the industrial advancement and innovation.

The eiffel tower was first called the 300 meter tower. Then was renamed after the man who built it. (Gustave Eiffel) The tower was built within 2 years and was one of the greatest creation from Gustave.

The eiffel tower was made out of iron not steel. The way they construct it was really a simple method using rivets to connect their parts together.

Most of the people did not know that the eiffle tower was an inch away from its destruction. The point of the construction was to temporary exhibit the 1889 world's fair. The plan was to dismanteld the tower and moved it piece by piece to Canada and reassembled it in Montreal.

The tower was saved by all the science experiments from groups of scientists. There were weather observation station, radiant energy observation, discovering the existence of cosmic rays, and for the radio platform. Which gave the purpose for the eiffel tower from demolition. The first radion contact in Morse code was from the eiffel tower and the pantheon which is four kilometers apart.

The eiffel tower started of as a showcase of innovation and knowledge to a station for scientific study. Now it is an attraction for all the tourist around the world which located in Paris. With its height and the structural shape there is an estimation of nearly 7 millions visitors each year.

Source:

“15 Essential Things to Know about the Eiffel Tower.” La Tour Eiffel, The OFFICIAL Eiffel Tower website, 27 Dec. 2023, www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/history-and-culture/15-essential-things-know-about-eiffel-tower#:~:text=Why%20was%20the%20Eiffel%20Tower,industrial%20advancement%20of%20that%20time.

Pierre. “How the Eiffel Tower Was Saved from Destruction.” French Moments, 22 Oct. 2024, frenchmoments.eu/eiffel-tower-was-saved/.

“All about Gustave Eiffel - the Eiffel Tower.” La Tour Eiffel, 17 Sept. 2024, www.toureiffel.paris/en/the-monument/gustave-eiffel.

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Post #3 2/27: The physical language Braille

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Post #3 2/27: The physical language Braille

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Braille was invented by a Frenchman who lost his sight due to an accident at the age of three, Louis Braille. A genius writing system created by a 15 years old boy.

The idea of Braille came from the way military used to communicate. A system of communication called Night Writing. Which was developed by Charles Barbier for hte French army. But Night Writing was too complex and hard to read them quickly.

Braille implemented a 6 dot system to be the new system of communication which makes it effective to use because it was a lot more efficient.

Braille become a crucial roles for people who have disability in visions. It is being use worldwide and even seen in our daily life like on an ATM, elevator, and books.

It is a really interesting type of communication since the only way to communicate in this language is physically. Braille is not a language but it is a system of writing.

This become an interesting topic to me since learning a new language requires all senses to learn such as speaking, listening, and watching. Braille was considered as a writing system but I felt like it is a language for those who are disable. Eventhough Braille can only be experience physically it still is a way of communication and still create interaction between individual which I think succeed the point of languages.

I have thought about learning Braille. I believe it would be a great skill to acquire. It might become handy one day where we have to communicate to a person who can not see or speak.

Source:

Imperial County Office of Education. “The Story of Louis Braille, the Inventor of the Braille Code.” Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.icoe.org/news/story-louis-braille-inventor-braille-code

Braille Works. “History of Braille.” Accessed February 27, 2025. https://brailleworks.com/braille-resources/history-of-braille

National Federation of the Blind. “Braille Resources.” Accessed February 27, 2025. https://nfb.org/resources/braille-resources.

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Senegal is a country located on the west coast of Africa, along the Atlantic Ocean. Their official language is French. The capital city is Dakar. Senegal is known for its rich culture, beautiful music, and strong sense of community. It’s also famous for its colorful fabrics and traditional wrestling called "la lutte sénégalaise."

This country has a deep cultural history and is often mentioned in world music and arts. When we think of Senegal, we might think of rhythm, dance, and their food. Senegal is also home to many national parks and coastal beauty, making it a great place for adventure and learning.

Senegal became a francophone country due to French colonization. The French began colonizing Senegal in the 1600s, but it officially became part of French West Africa in the 19th century. Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and has since kept French as their official language.

Fun fact I’d like to share: the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar is taller than the Statue of Liberty! Basically a giant bronze statue that represents strength and hope for the future.

People in Senegal celebrate many festivals, especially ones filled with music, like the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival. Their music and dance styles, such as mbalax, are known worldwide. Senegal is also home to the famous singer Youssou N'Dour.

The people of Senegal are known for their hospitality, often referred to as “teranga” a word that means welcoming and generosity. With the beautiful beaches, strong culture, and friendly people, Senegal is a place I’d love to visit someday!

Source:

Kanaga Africa Tours. "Jazz Festival and Dak’Art Biennale – SEN01PS250524." Accessed April 4, 2025. https://www.kanaga-at.com/en/trip/senegal-en/jazz-festival-and-dakart-biennale-sen01ps250524/.

Wikipedia contributors. "African Renaissance Monument." Wikipedia. Last modified April 4, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Renaissance_Monument.

Wright, Habeeb Salloum. "Senegal’s Favorite Sport: La Lutte." GoNOMAD Travel. Last modified July 23, 2018. https://www.gonomad.com/105530-senegals-favorite-sport-la-lutte.

World Travel Guide. "16 Things to Know Before Travelling to Senegal." World Travel Guide. Accessed April 4, 2025. https://www.worldtravelguide.net/features/feature/16-things-to-know-before-travelling-to-senegal/.

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Morocco is a country located in North Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The official languages are Arabic and Amazigh (Berber), French is still widely spoken, especially in education, business, and government. The capital city is Rabat. Morocco is known for its stunning architecture and flavorful cuisine. It’s especially famous for spices, mint tea, and traditional crafts like mosaics and rugs.

This country has a fascinating mix of Arab, Berber, and French influences. When we think of Morocco, we might think of colorful cities like Marrakesh, the Sahara Desert, and the Atlas Mountains. Morocco’s landscapes are incredibly diverse from beaches to mountains to sand dunes making it a great place for adventure and cultural discovery.

Morocco became a francophone country due to French colonization. In 1912. Which lasted until 1956 when Morocco gained independence. Even after independence, French remained an important part of Moroccan society and is still widely used today.

Fun Fact: The city of Chefchaouen is famous for its beautiful blue-painted buildings! It’s a peaceful mountain town that attracts visitors from around the world for its charm and cool tones.

People in Morocco celebrate many festivals, such as Mawazine, one of the world’s largest music festivals held in Rabat. Traditional music styles like gnawa and chaabi reflect Morocco’s cultural richness. Moroccan dance, food, and hospitality are deeply tied to community and tradition.

The people of Morocco are known for their warm hospitality and generosity. With its rich history, diverse culture, and breathtaking scenery, Morocco is a place I’d love to visit someday!

Sources:

Lonely Planet. “Morocco.” Lonely Planet. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco

Encyclopedia Britannica. “Morocco.” Britannica. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/place/Morocco

Wikipedia contributors. “Languages of Morocco.” Wikipedia. Last modified April 16, 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Morocco

World Travel Guide. “Morocco Travel Guide.” World Travel Guide. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/morocco/