Americans who speak French love to hang out together. I’ve found myself out with a group who at some point realized they all spoke French and decided to speak it right then. Let me tell you, I wish I knew I French too, because they were having lots of fun!

So when after filming an English lesson with French star, Tété, I went to his only show in the US this fall, it was no surprise to find the front rows full of people singing along and whispering to one another in French. And by the end of the set, Tété, came down off the stage and sang along with them with no microphone. You can read more about the show in the review I wrote for the Oregonian newspaper here in Portland.

But unlike my night out with friends that took an unexpected turn for the French, Tété is an inclusive kind of guy. When we met him at the recording studio, he gave us a tour. We wished we could have hung out all day! And even though I don’t know what they mean, I get the words to “Fils de cham” stuck in my head all the time now.

Following Nicolas Batum and Sebastien Le Toux, this is the third French celebrity English lesson we’ve had on English, baby! in the last year, more than any other nationality. But you just wait…we’ve got a celebrity English teacher from outer space coming up soon!

For more info on Tété, visit his website.

This Friday, we are featuring our first English lesson with a professional soccer player! We were thrilled to learn we would have French player Sebastien Le Toux on the site, especially after learning how thrilled he is to be playing in the US. Take a peak at our lesson on “flick” with Sebastien Le Toux of Sounders FC.

I talked to Sebastien on the phone for a few minutes the day before I went up to the Sounders’ practice field in Tukwila, Washington. We discussed what slang term would be good for him to teach. I asked him if he uses any slang phrases frequently and he said he might, but he might not know they are slang! I hadn’t thought of that.

His teammates couldn’t think of any idioms he uses often, so I looked at a list of soccer slang and chose “flick” because it’s slang outside of soccer as well. Plus, a short high kick was something Sebastien could demonstrate easily. He was more than happy to demonstrate how it can be an effective way to pass a defender by kicking a ball over my head!

Needless to say, the interview was a lot of fun. It was wild seeing part of the Sounders practice as well. I wound up catching a header drill where each player took turns trying to score on the keeper with their heads.

Here’s a shot of Sounders practice. Sebastien (who is called “Seba” by his teammates) is in the long shorts and blue shirt.

The Sounders will finish a successful season at home against FC Dallas on Saturday and then head to the MLS playoffs!

Beren plays drums in a rock band called the Intelligence. She has been on tour before, though never outside the US. But starting next week, she’ll be traveling all over Europe playing shows for six weeks! Follow her adventures on her blog.

Take a look at the tour dates below. Is Beren coming to your city? You should go to the show and meet her! We promise she’s leaving her evil twin behind. She has some Ebaby! shirts and bracelets with her to give to Ebaby! members who come to her shows. You’ll be able to brag to your friends about meeting an Ebaby! cast member and you’ll match all the cool people we met in Beijing.

Apr 30 L’autre Canal in Nancy, France
May 1 Bunker in Bruxelles, Belgium
May 2 L’abordage in Evreux, France
May 4 Le Saint Des Seins in Toulouse, France
May 5 Live Factory in Nantes, France
May 6 Cave Aux Poetes in Roubais, France
May 7 La Peniche in Chalons sur Saone, France
May 8 Woodstock Boogie Bar in Limoges, France
May 9 La Cooperatice de Mai in Clermont Ferrant, France
May 11 Molodoi in Strasbourg, France
May 13 Point Ephemere in Paris, France
May 16 Confort Moderne in Poitier, France
May 21 La Cupa in Ancona, Italy
May 22 Festaintenda in Mortegliano, Italy
May 23 Beat Cafe in San Salvo, Italy
May 25 Bomberena in Tolosa, Spain
May 26 Wurlitzer Ballroom in Madrid, Spain
May 27 Side Car in Barcelona, Spain
May 28 Magazine Club in Valencia, Spain
May 30 Festival Mixed Up in Beauvais, France
May 31 Le Sambre in Rennes, France
Jun 1 Vlas Vegas Festival in Korttrijk, Belgium
Jun 2 Bar Mundial in Antwerp, Belgium
Jun 4 Boat Music Festival in Stockholm, Sweden
Jun 5 Debaser Medi in Stockholm, Sweden
Jun 6 Gloria Flames in Oslo, Norway
Jun 7 Loppen in Copenhagen, Denmark
Jun 8 Musikhuset Elaerket in Helsinki, Finland
Jun 10 Sonic Ballroom in Cologne, Germany
Jun 11 Paradisio in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jun 12 Patronnat in Haarlem, The Netherlands
Jun 13 Aucard de Tour in Tours, France

Watch the Intelligence’s MySpace for changes in tour dates. Here’s a photo of Beren with one of the shirts you can have if you meet up with her.

We’ve run a few surveys on English, baby! recently about the U.S. presidential election. As the race for the closely contested democratic nomination gets closer to the end, it looks like the opinion of some undecided Americans might be swayed by members of our site.

The Oregonian, Oregon’s daily newspaper, ran an article today titled, “World’s young adults say ‘Barack, baby!,” which covers the thoughts of our members regarding the election and who should win. While our first survey last year had Clinton in the lead, the current survey shows that opinion has flipped and Obama is now the favorite.

As the people of our world become more connected, major decisions such as presidential elections of all nations become more important to everyone. And to have the opinions of our members published here in the U.S. is a sign that Americans do care about foreign relations and our contribution to making the world a better place.

Our polls were also picked up by the World Wants Obama Coalition’s website in a post called Swing to Obama among English language students. Their site helps explain the drastic shift in world opinion about our election. There have been Obama rallies around the world, like this one in France.

It’s so interesting to hear a mix of French and Obama’s slogan, “Yes we can!” We’re glad that we have been able to quantify some of the global attention to this election and that the American media is taking an interest in it.

Image: from the Oregonian’s home page.