Qui sont les Français de 2011? Family life.

Amongst the 17,5 million families in France (7,7 million couples),44%  have children. This number decreases year after year.
The typical French family has changed: 3,9 million families have one child against 3,5 million who have 2.
The number of childless couples is increasing and represents 42% of families. There are 7,3 million couples without children at home.
The nombre of single parent families is increasing  (2,4 million). 85% ofsingle parent families are women who bring up their children alone.

Qui sont les Français de 2011? Budget.

The biggest expense in French people's budget is ....bottled water. Every year, they drink 151,1 liters of mineral or spring water. In the 80's, the 5 foods at the top of the shopping list were: potatoes, fresh vegetables,wine, bread and milk. Now, they are: bottled water, fresh vegetables, potatoes, bread and fresh milk. Compared to 1999, the French spend more on housing, their health and communication equipment but less on food, alcohol, tobacco, clothes and transport.

Qui sont les Français de 2011? Salaries.

Average salary: 2068 euros

The "average" French person working full time in the private and semi-public sector earns 2068 euros a month. 10% of the French workforce in full time employement earn less than 1124 euros. The SMIC (minimum hourly wage) has been increased steadily in the past years to reach  9 euros on January 1st 2011. Manuel workers have seen the highest salary increase in 2008 (1,3%) in contrast with management whose salary have decreased of 0,8%.

Qui sont les Français en 2011 ? Le mariage.

249 000 couples said "yes" in 2010.The average age of the groom is 31,7 and  the bride 29,8. Even if marriage is decline since 1970 (393700 weddings then), it is still more popular than the Pacte Civil de Solidarité (185 000) which is increasing in popularity (13% since 2009).
The divorce rate has increased dramatically from 1969 to 2009 (76%). 127 600 couples divorced in 2009, (10,6 divorces for 1000 marriages). Most couples divorced after 5 years of marriage.

Qui sont les Français en 2011? Population overview.

The population of France is now well over 65 million. In 26 years, it has risen from 56,4 millions (1985), that is a 15% increase.
The average age for a man is 38,9 and a woman is 41,9.
The French population is growing older : over 65s represent a sixth of the population.Their number has increased by an impressive 20,7 % in the past 10 years.
Experts forecast that the average age of a French person will be 43,6 by 2040.
And by 2050, the total population should be between 70 and 73 milllion!

Qui sont les Français en 2011 ?

Who are the French in 2011?

L'Internaute (internet magazine) offers 14 quick glimpses at French people 's everyday life,what does aFrench family look like, what are the working hours, what is the average size of a French home etc...For the time being, it is all in French so reading material for higher improvers, intermediate to advanced students. But keep on eye on the blog as I will slowly translate the good bits.
Follow the link:
Qui sont les Français en 2011 ?

En avril....

This week, we have had glorious sunshine and Summer temperatures and so has everybody in France. But the French do not take the weather for granted and television and my own mum have reminded that Spring is only a few days old and things could turn nasty...Popular sayings (des dictons) and proverbs (des proverbes)  give us a warning...
"En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil, en mai , fais ce qu'il te plaît!" is one of my family's favorite! Do not take a thread (any cloths) off in April, do what you want in May! Even though, temperatures reached high maximums this week, most French people will follow this advice and not wear shorts quite yet...
"Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps!" A swallow does not make the spring! is of the same rather negative register and both sayings are hot favorites at home and on TV...
There are also plenty of proverbs mostly used by "les paysans" (those who work the land) and can be found in the ephemeride and calendar:
"Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison" Christmas on the balcony, Easter near the fireplace. Can somebody remind what kind of weather we had this Christmas?
All this negative talk has put me off this beautiful weather...Luckily I can also think of a more uplifting one: "Après la pluie, vient le beau temps."(after rain, comes better weather).



  If you want to learn how to say the weather, practice, listen some weather forecasts (la météo) , or learn more weather related "dictons", use the following links:

How to say the weather.

Practice:basic
Practice with a weather report: French region map, weather and grammar step by step
Practice: improvers
Audio exercise: advanced

Plus de dictons sur les mois de l'année.

Very recommended: today's weather for kids.