Louis de Funès - le Roi des comédies

Louis de Funès is certainly one of the most loved foreign actors in Poland. Louis Germain David de Funès de Galarza was born on 31 July 1914 in Courbevoie (Hauts-de-Seine) to parents from Seville (Spain). He died on 27 January 1983 in Nantes (I lived in this town, not being aware of this fact!) De Funès is famous for a wide range of facial expressions (=szeroki wachlarz mimiki twarzy), vigorous manner (=energiczny sposób bycia) and snappy impatience (=wielką niecierpliwośc). The actor was known among his friends as 'Fufu'. As a young man, he adored drawing and playing the piano. He earned his living (=zarabiał na życie) playing jazz at Pigalle. Each time he made a grimace his audience burst out laughing (=wybuchała śmiechem). 

Louis De Funès playing the piano

De Funès studied acting at the Simon acting school, where he made a very important contact with Daniel Gélin. In 1945 the French actor helped de Funès (aged 31) to make his film debut in 'La Tentation de Barbizon' ("The temptation of Barbizon"). The actor was married twice - his first marriage with Germaine Carroyer ended in divorce in 1942 (the couple had one son named Daniel). In 1943 De Funès got happily married to Jeanne Bathelémy de Maupassant with whom he had two sons - Patrick (1944) and Olivier (1947). The older of his sons became a doctor, wheras the younger, an Air Force pilot, pursued an acting carrer and played along his father in such films as 'Les Grandes Vacances', 'Le Grand Restaurant' and 'Hibernatus'.

De Funès with his wife, Jeanne de Funès

In 1968 poll Louis de Funès was voted France's favourite actor. The actor starred in countless comedies, just to name a few:

'Le gendarme de Saint Tropez' (1964) Eg. 'The policeman from Saint-Tropez' Pl. "Żandarm z Saint Tropez"

'Fantômas' (1964) - 'Fantômas' - "Fantomas"

'Le gendarme à New York" (1965) - 'Gendarme in New York' - "Żandarm w Nowym Yorku"

'La Grande Vadrouille" (1966) - 'Don't Look Now... We're Being Shot At!' - "Wielka Włóczęga"

'Les grandes vacances" (1967) - Les Grandes Vacances - "Wielkie wakacje"

"Hibernatus" (1969) - Hibernatus - "Hibernatus"

"Les adventures de Rabbi Jacob" (1973) - 'The Mad adventures of Rabbi Jacob' - "Przygody Rabina Jakuba"

"L'aile ou la cuisse" (1976) - 'The wing or the thigh' -  "Skrzydełko czy nóżka"

"Le gendarme et les extra-terrestres" (1979) - 'The gendarme and the Extra-Terrestrials' - "Żandarm i kosmici" 

"La soupe aux choux" (1981), 'Cabbage soup', "Kapuśniak".

I propose watching a few extracts in French and in English:

An English lesson given by Louis de Funès ;) :

Have you learned how to pronounce 'the' ? ;)


French trailer of 'The gendarme and the Extra-Terrestials':

'The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob' with English subtitles:

Which Louis de Funès' film is your favourite? In my next post you'll find a short quiz on this great actor's films !

C u soon!

Source of the photos: the Internet

My guide to London - Part 2

As you surely remember we stopped our visit to London in St James's Park...Perhaps you still have its wonderful pelicans and greenery before your eyes...

A typical view during rainy days

Let's continue our visit, shall we? This time you'll have a short quiz to do!

When you leave St James's Park it is a nice idea to head for Trafalgar Square. On your way you will surely see the magnificent Admiralty Arch.

The Admiralty Arch

The building was commissioned (=zlecony) by King Edward VII in memory of his mother Queen 1....................... 

1. A Anne   B Elizabeth   C Victoria

                             A Latin inscription along the top reads:

: ANNO : DECIMO : EDWARDI : SEPTIMI : REGIS :  : VICTORIÆ : REGINÆ : CIVES : GRATISSIMI : MDCCCCX :

            (In the tenth year of King Edward VII, to Queen ................., from most grateful citizens, 1910)

A famous funny feature of Admiralty Arch is its '................'.  On the inside wall of the arch there is a small protrusion the size and shape of a human ...................... It was placed there by artist Rick Buckley in 1997 as part of a campaign against the "Big Brother" society. 

2. A finger   B nose   C eye

             We are passing under the arch and here it is...spledid Trafalgar Square...

Trafalgar Square is a place where many Londoners and turists meet. In its centre stands Nelson's Column guarded by four 3...................:


3. A lions   B tigers  C elephants (;)

The square was built in order to commemorate the victory of the British Royal Navy against the combined (=połączone) fleets (=floty) of the French Navy and Spanish Navy in a sea battle near Cape Trafalgar in 4………………………

4 A 1855 B 1805  C 1800

Admiral Horatio Nelson died at the battle.

At the square there is also a statue of 5. …………………………………… Guess who it is!

In front of Nelson's Columns stands the impressive building of the National Gallery. The art museum was founded in 4................... 


4. A 1823  B 1824  C1825

Inside you can admire over 2,300 paintings, ranging from 13th century paintings to 20th century masterpieces. Countless visitors look at paintings of such artists as Botticelli, Rubens, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Goya and Monet. I have noticed that the biggest crowd always gathers around Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers'...

 Entry to the main collection is free of charge. Unfortunately it is not allowed to take pictures...


I propose watching a short video to feel the atmosphere of Trafalgar Square!:

When you are at Trafalgar Square you can already notice Big Ben! Let's walk down Whitehall to take a close look at it!


You can check your answers in the comments!

Photos: private collection, 'Sunflowers' : the Internet

Shakira - 'Waka Waka' - answers

   

Here are the answers!

You're a good ......soldier...................

(=jesteś dobrym żołnierzem)

Choosing your .....battles....................

(=wybierającym swoje bitwy)

Pick yourself up

(=podnieś się)

And dust yourself off

(=i otrzyj kurz)

And back in the ...saddle..................

(=z powrotem w siodle)

You're on the frontline

(=jesteś na linii ognia)

Everyone's .....watching.....................

(=każdy patrzy)

You know it's serious

(=wiesz, że to poważna sytuacja)

We're getting .....closer................

(=zbliżamy się)

This isn't over

(=to nie koniec)

The pressure is on

(=presja jest obecna)

You ...feel.................. it

(=czujesz to)

But you've got it all

(=ale masz wszystko, co potrzebne)

......Believe.................... it

(=uwierz w to)

When you fall - ...get up.................

Oh oh...

And if you fall - ...get up...............

Oh oh...

(=Kiedy upadniesz, podnieś się

Jeśli upadniesz, podnieś się)

Tsamina mina

Zangalewa

Cos this is Africa

(=Bo to jest Afryka)

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

.....Listen.................. to your god

(=słuchaj swojego boga)

This is our motto

(=to nasze motto)

Your time to ...shine...................

(=twój czas by błyszczeć)

Don't wait in line

(=nie czekaj w kolejce)

Y vamos por Todo

People are raising

Their .......expectations............................

(=ludzie podnoszą ich oczekiwania)

Go on and feed them

(idź i spełnij je)

This is your moment

(=to twój moment)

No ....hesitations.....................

(nie wahaj się)

Today's your day

I .....feel................ it

(=dziś jest twój dzień, czuję to)

You paved the way

....Believe................ it

(=utorowałeś sobie drogę,

uwierz w to)

If you get down

.....Get up................. Oh oh...

(=kiedy zwątpisz, podnieś się)

When you get down

.......Get up..................... eh eh...

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

(=to jest czas dla Afryki)

Were all your answers correct? :)

Shakira - Waka Waka

In order to warm up the atmosphere of great sports emotions (tonight at 20:30 two matches - Poland versus the Czech Republic and Russia contra Greece!) I've prepared Shakira's great song - 'Waka Waka' (This time for Africa). The official song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup became a worldwide hit. What's interesting, the song is based on a traditional African soldiers' song called 'Zamina mina'.

Listen to the Colombian singer's song and complete the lyrics!

You'll find the answers along with my translation of the lyrics in the next post!

You're a good .........................
Choosing your .........................
Pick yourself up
And dust yourself off
And back in the .....................

You're on the frontline
Everyone's ..........................
You know it's serious
We're getting .....................
This isnt over

The pressure is on
You ..................... it
But you've got it all
.......................... it

When you fall - ....................
Oh oh...
And if you fall - ..................
Oh oh...

Tsamina mina
Zangalewa
Cos this is Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka Waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

....................... to your god
This is our motto
Your time to ......................
Dont wait in line
Y vamos por Todo

People are raising
Their ...................................
Go on and feed them
This is your moment
No .........................

Today's your day
I ..................... it
You paved the way
.................... it

If you get down
...................... Oh oh...
When you get down
............................ eh eh...

Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Tsamina mina eh eh
Waka Waka eh eh
Tsamina mina zangalewa
This time for Africa

A few curiosities..

A few Fang (the dominant Bantu language spoken in northen Gabon, southern Cameroon and throughout Equatorial Guinea) words:

Waka waka - do it

Tsaminamina - come

Tsaminamina zangalewa - where do you come from?

Source of the photo : the Internet

Ludovic Obraniak

Ludovic Obraniak, born 19 November 1984 in Longeville-les-Metz, is a Polish-French football player, who is currently playing for the French club Bordeaux. In 2011 Obraniak along with the Lille club won the championship title and the French Cup. As the player has Polish roots through his grandfather, Zygmunt Obraniak, the attacking midfielder (=pomocnik ofensywny) became subject of interest of the Polish national football team. Since Obraniak's grandfather never renounced (=zrzekł się) Polish nationality, the player's Polish citizenship (=polskie obywatelstwo) did not need to be granted (=przyznane) by the Polish government, but simply confirmed (=potwierdzone) by the Masovian voivode (=wojewoda mazowiecki). Obraniak made his debut in the Polish team on 23 July 2009, scoring two goals against Greece and giving Poland a wonderful victory of 2:0. Obraniak became a honorary citizen (=honorowy obywatel) of the city and district Pobiedziska, where his grandfather, Zygmunt Obraniak, came from. The town is very close to Ludovic, who has revealed that he's wanted to play in the Polish national team to 

pay tribute (=oddać hołd) to his grandfather, who died in 1986. The player has said that his grandfather brought a Polish fooball t-shirt to France, which is still preciously kept by the family.

I invite you to listen to Ludovic speaking Polish and French. 

Which team apart from the Polish national team are you supporting during Euro? 

The photo comes from : http://pilka.biedronka.pl/aktualnosci/czerwiec-2012/reprezentacja-mowi-jednym-glosem/

Euro 2012

The 2012 European Football Championship, commonly referred to (=określany) as Euro 2012, is being hosted (=goszczone) by Poland and Ukraine. Poland has been preparing for the event for 5 years, since in 2007 UEFA's Executive Committee entrusted Poland and Ukraine with organising (=powierzył organizację) the championships. Countless investment projects (=niezliczone projekty inwestycyjne) have been launched (=rozpoczęte), such as constructing four world-class stadiums, building motorways, preparation of airports and railway stations.

National Stadium in Warsaw

Baltic Arena in Gdańsk

Here are the four groups:

The official Polish anthem of Euro 2012 is 'Koko Koko Euro Spoko' by the folk band, Jarzębina.

Euro 2012 will not only be a source of great emotions for football fans, but also the opportunity (=okazja) for people from all over the world to get to know Polish cities, customs and hospitality (=gościnność)!

HERE you can read more about football vocabulary.

Diamond Jubilee

As you have surely heard this year Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her diamond jubilee. She ascended to the throne (=wstąpiła na tron) 60 years ago on 2 February 1952, when her father George VI (the king who struggled with a stutter in 'The King's Speech') died. Elizabeth Windsor was crowned queen on 2 June 1953. She was 27 then (!). The jubilee is marked with numerous celebration throughout the UK and the countries of the Commonwealth. 

Festive accents (=świąteczne akcenty) are present almost everywhere in London.

Here are a few shots of shop windows :

Would you like to have such an apron? ;)

The festive elements are also present in parks...:

One of the boards in St. James's Park

I invite you to watch an extract from an authentic film showing the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II:

Source of the photos : private collection; source of the video : youtube