Boy, those French. They have a different word for everything
March 9, 2011 9:16 AM   Subscribe

4 photogenic youngsters travel to beautiful cities, to Paris, Barcelona, Beijing & London. Short, upbeat commercials by Gustav Johansson & Albin Holmqvist for a French language school
posted by growabrain (22 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite
 
EF is more than a language school. It focuses on international educational programs, tours, gap year programs, as well as au pair services, etc. It was started in Sweden in 1965 and has operations around the world. The U.S. headquarters are located in Cambridge, MA.
posted by ericb at 9:28 AM on March 9, 2011


The typography in the ads is really beautiful. It's a lot of off-the-shelf stuff but used very well.

Also, this kinda visuals style is instantly recognizable but as far as I know, nameless. Sophiacoopalean?
posted by The Whelk at 9:33 AM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]


I wish i would travel alone whole Europe, any idea how it will possible? I watched first clip of Paris its sound interesting.
posted by vinujadhav at 9:33 AM on March 9, 2011


Oh and ye Gods why can;t national tourism boards make stuff like this? 20 seconds into the Paris one I was "If I don't spend any money for a 6 months I can probably swing a week..."
posted by The Whelk at 9:35 AM on March 9, 2011


It's like those French have a different word for everything...
posted by doctor_negative at 9:44 AM on March 9, 2011


Tout.
posted by kmz at 9:48 AM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


Those are awesome. The relative language barriers make me want to go to Barcelona and terrifies me to go to Beijing.
posted by mathowie at 9:56 AM on March 9, 2011


As it ever was, the main reason to learn the intricacies of a new language is to get laid.
posted by chavenet at 9:59 AM on March 9, 2011


As it ever was, the main reason to learn the intricacies of a new language is to get laid.

In 7th grade, my middle school offered German, French, or Spanish. I wanted to take French because it was romantic. My parents wanted me to take Spanish because it was practical. Somehow we compromised on German. Neither practical nor romantic!
posted by kmz at 10:02 AM on March 9, 2011 [8 favorites]


I ended up taking Latin in High School out of sheer blind perversion in a - i refuse to learn anything practical - stance.

I can call people "shit-eating goat fuckers" in the language of Livy
posted by The Whelk at 10:07 AM on March 9, 2011


Can any After Effects people please tell me what effect is being used on the text? I love it and it seems like there's something more going on than it just being a flat 2D layer. I think it was a great decision to have it motion track with the wobbly camera, too...
posted by timshel at 10:15 AM on March 9, 2011


As it ever was, the main reason to learn the intricacies of a new language is to get laid.

What else would it be for? Chatting with new people just for the sake of chatting? Conducting business when everyone else involved already speaks better English than most Americans?

Spend years learning French and what have you accomplished? One, you have a better chance of not being flatly ignored when asking for directions in Paris or Quebec City. Two, some hot foreigner might be charmed by your pathetic attempts to chat them up with your vaguely Gallic mumblings and sleep with you.

Now that I type that, those are ludicrous scenarios too. The ads are gorgeous, but language training is a scam.
posted by Mayor Curley at 10:16 AM on March 9, 2011


Spend years learning French and what have you accomplished? One, you have a better chance of not being flatly ignored when asking for directions in Paris or Quebec City. Two, some hot foreigner might be charmed by your pathetic attempts to chat them up with your vaguely Gallic mumblings and sleep with you.

You can read French comics, among the best in the world.
posted by The Whelk at 10:18 AM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


and usually not translated.
posted by The Whelk at 10:18 AM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]


^Curley, the best way to learn a language is always to live for a while in the country where they speak it
posted by growabrain at 10:19 AM on March 9, 2011


There's also food.

My wife and I use French and Spanish and Italian and Portuguese to navigate to out-of-the-way restaurants and small farms where English is rarely spoken or spoken grudgingly. Knowing English only means you just help deepen the grooves on the tourist track.

That, and reading authors like Borges in the original or read authors like Jauffret at all.
posted by vacapinta at 10:23 AM on March 9, 2011


Learning another language can also give you insights into how different people think. Which I suppose could help you get laid, but it is worthwhile in its own right.
posted by ChrisHartley at 11:08 AM on March 9, 2011


timshel Are you talking about the tracking ? Lots of the text was motion tracked to follow the camera movements, it gives the impression that the text is pinned into thin air and not just a layer on top of the image. So if the camera moves the title stays in place, giving the impression that the title exists within the frame rather than on top of it.
It's the same technique used (famously) in the title sequence of Panic Room.
Since then it's everywhere.
posted by SageLeVoid at 11:09 AM on March 9, 2011


Curley, respectfully, you are dead wrong. I (basically) talk to people in other countries for a living, and being able to speak even a modicum of their language is hugely helpful in establishing relationships and getting business done, even if they do speak good English. It is true that it is perfectly possible to go through life only speaking one language, especially if that language is English, but you're definitely closing some doors for yourself, both professionally and culturally, if you don't take the time to study (an)other language(s).
posted by Aizkolari at 12:45 PM on March 9, 2011


Panic Room sequence I call 3D camera matched rather than just motion tracked.
posted by bz at 12:59 PM on March 9, 2011


Nitpick: they could have picked more interesting fonts for the Beijing video...
posted by of strange foe at 1:57 PM on March 9, 2011


As it ever was, the main reason to learn the intricacies of a new language is to get laid.

I would say the travel itself is what boosts your sex appeal.
posted by billyfleetwood at 2:24 PM on March 9, 2011


« Older reality got rocked   |   "Sometimes I get bitter... about things..." Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments