Prof. Veronica Anover Website - News

France: Gold Medal Again (Figure Skating) Winter Olympic Games, 2026

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:10:00 +0000

So, the French pair figure skating won again the gold medal in the Winter Olympics in Italy! Bravo! With a magnificence performance during their free figure skating but also their rhythm dance event with a choreography that was original and breathtaking.

It is interesting to note that Guillaume Cizeron won a gold medal in Beijing in 2022 with a different partner: Gabriella Papadakis. In only eleven months, him and his new partner on ice, Laurence Fournier Beaudry have accomplished what no one believed could be possible: another gold for France!

Watch their amazing performance here:

Have you ever thought about how hair defines our identity?

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:03:00 +0000

If you think about it, hair is one of the first things we see in an individual. We can judge a person by the hair, and that person can project an image/a perception by the choice of the hairstyle, hair color, hair length, haircut, or hair texture. Our identity, who we are, may therefore be expressed through our hair.

While hair is an influential part of identity for many people, nonetheless it does not solely define who we are—it serves as a versatile tool for storytelling, cultural and social identity, emotional connection (who has not had a bad hair day, or being afflicted by hair loss), and self-expression.

Hair can alter our self-esteem and our well-being. It is a complex matter, not to be taken for granted!

Interesting facts about hair: (info collected from AI)

Black hair is the most common color, while red is the rarest.
Hair can store information about substances that have been in the bloodstream, making it useful in forensic analysis.
Hair is primarily made of keratin, a protein also found in nails and teeth. It contains various elements, including sulfur, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon, with trace amounts of gold in babies' hair.
Hair grows faster in warm weather due to increased blood circulation. Asian hair grows the fastest, at about 1.4 cm per month, followed by Caucasian hair at 1.2 cm, and African hair at 0.9 cm.
Hair has significant cultural and historical importance, symbolizing status, beauty, and identity across various societies. For example, in ancient Egypt, hair was associated with power and fertility.

Did Marie-Antoinette's hair turn white before her execution? Is there a Marie-Antoinette syndrome?

Watch the video to find out!

Olympic Games- Paris 2024- Léon Marchand breaks his world record and wins his 4th gold medal

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 23:36:00 +0000

Have you been watching the Summer Olympic Games in Paris 2024? I will be remiss not to mention the magnificent gymnast Simone Biles who has won seven gold medals, a silver one, and a bronze. For sure the most decorated gymnast in history.

https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/simone-biles-boot-injury-calf-paris-olympics

However, have you been watching the men swimmers? If so, I am sure that you have seen the French swimmer Léon Marchand. He is 22 years old, and he is from Toulouse. But did you know that he goes to Arizona State University? And do you know who is coach is? The legendary Michael Phelps! Watch Phelps presenting Marchand with the gold medal for the men's 400 meters individual medley.

La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias- Valencia, Spain

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 22:21:00 +0000

Have you seen the HBO series West World? If you have, then you are familiar with the futuristic architecture from the City of the Arts and the Sciences in Valencia, Spain. Designed by the famous architect, Santiago Calatrava, this original modern oasis in the middle of the city has much to offer: a museum, an aquarium, sculptures, Imax films, and so much more!

Check it out and be amazed at this innovative architectural design!

Westworld's Season 3 Film Locations in Real Life (harpersbazaar.com)

Show of lights

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 01:06:00 +0000

Below is a show of lights at the Cathédrale St-André in Bordeaux. The show is called Luminiscence and it aims to enhance the cathedral's architecture, as well as to retrace its history through lights accompanied by music. Check the video below to see for yourselves.

Receta de la tarta de Santiago/Spanish Almond Cake Recipe

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 22:42:00 +0000

Hoy os pongo la receta de la tarta de Santiago. Es una de mis favoritas. No tiene gluten y además es un postre muy tradicional de la provincia de Galicia. Esta tarta se puede comer todo el año, pero se sirve en particular el 25 de julio que es el día de la festividad de Santiago. Todos habréis oído hablar del Camino de Santiago, ¿no? Son rutas que iniciaron los peregrinos durante la edad media hacia la tumba de Santiago, situada en Santiago de Compostela, en Galicia, al Noroeste de España. El Camino empieza en los pirineos franceses y termina en Santiago de Compostela. ¿Os animáis a hacer la tarta o a emprender el Camino? ¿Quizás las dos cosas?

https://www.hogarmania.com/cocina/recetas/postres/tarta-santiago-14332.html

Today, I leave you the recipe for the Spanish almond cake. It is one of my favorites. It is gluten free, and it is a traditional dessert from the province of Galicia. This cake may be eaten all year; however it is served specifically on July 25th to celebrate Santiago's day (St. James' day). I am sure that you have heard about the Camino de Santiago, right? The Camino are routes walked by pilgrims during the Middle Ages who were going towards Santiago's tomb, in Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia (Northwest of Spain). The Camino starts in the French Pyrenees and ends in Santiago de Compostela. Are you ready to make the Spanish almond cake, or would you rather do the Camino? Maybe both?

https://spanish sabores.com/tarta-de-santiago-recipe-spanish-almond-cake/

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NPSDnpFxNY4/VbEEyeBN2XI/AAAAAAAADGk/Dz09X1-Ec0s/s1600/Tartasantiago10.jpg

La boxeuse amoureuse by Arthur H

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 21:35:00 +0000

Meet Marie-Agnès Gillot. If you like contemporary dance and classical ballet, I believe that you are going to enjoy this video. Arthur H's voice is deep and mysterious, like the dancer herself.

Marie-Agnès was "une étoile" (a star) at the Paris Opera Ballet. She has retired from the Opera Ballet, and she is now a choreographer and a ballet teacher. She is so graceful and elegant. So resilient and strong. She had to overcome many obstacles to rise and shine as une étoile. Marie-Agnès is an inspiration.

Read her short bio here: Marie-Agnès Gillot: "I like dance more than anyone" - Teller Report

By popular demand from my Spanish students! Rosario: Te lo Digo Todo

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 00:03:00 +0000

I am posting this song because several students have told me that they love this song! (It is upbeat for sure and the choreography is beautiful). I use extra credit in my classes and one of the songs I assign is this one (if you have taken my SPAN 201 class, then, you might have heard and seen this video for extra credit points!)

In this case, I asked my students to identify the direct and indirect object pronouns and explain their placement in the sentences taken from the song:

"No te digo nada y te lo digo todo". (I do not tell you anything and I tell you everything).

"No te sirve de nada" (It does not help you).

No sé cómo hacerlo (I do not know how to do it).

Do you want to test your Spanish? Could you identify the direct/indirect objects and explain their placement in the sentences?

Olympic Champions 2022! French Figure Skaters Papadakis and Cizeron

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:56:00 +0000

Do you enjoy figure skating? (patinage artistique) If so, on February 2022, at the Olympic games in Beijing, the French duo Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron won their first gold medal for ice dance.

Watch one of their most stunning performances, Made to Love (a song by John Legend), for which they were choreographed by Axelle Munezero, where they incorporated Waacking movements (a queer dance form born in L.A.) to their performance. Absolument magnifique! Et bravo pour cette médaille d'or si bien méritée! (Bravo for that gold medal so well-deserved!)

Francophone singer: Angèle- "Ta Reine"

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 19:13:00 +0000

This song is a remix and it is totally addictive! The title of the song is "Ta Reine" (Your Queen). Angèle is a singer from Belgium who has written and produced two albums. She is one of the biggest Francophone pop stars today. "Bruxelles je t'aime" is one of her most famous singles, although the one I am posting today is one of my favorites.

Here is an excerpt of the lyrics:

[Chorus] https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-angele-ta-reine-english-translation-lyrics

But you would like her to be your queen tonight
Even if two queens, it's not too accepted
But you would like her to be your queen tonight
You don't care about kings, it's not what you like