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ArchiveLesson #32World

Astronaut's French Greeting in Space

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen spoke French in space, promoting the language after a recent controversy involving Air Canada’s CEO. His words helped heal tensions related to language in Canada.

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Standard version (B1-B2)

Standard: natural English

During NASA’s Artemis II mission, Canadian Jeremy Hansen the world in French, marking a historic moment for the language in space. His decision to speak French came after Air Canada’s CEO faced backlash for not using the language in a tribute to pilots. Hansen's actions helped ease tensions related to language in Canada.

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Narration includes the headline and summary.

Adapted from The Guardian, 19 April 2026, and rewritten at three levels by Newslish. Newslish is not affiliated with the source. Read the original.

Key vocabulary

  • astronaut

    a person trained to travel in space

    The astronaut floated in zero gravity.

  • greet

    to say hello to someone

    She waved to greet her friend.

  • controversy

    a disagreement or argument about something

    The new law caused a lot of controversy.

  • tension

    stress or strain in a situation

    There was tension in the room during the debate.

  • heal

    to make something better or to recover

    Time can help heal emotional wounds.

Quick quiz

01What language did Jeremy Hansen speak in space?

02What was the reason for the controversy involving Air Canada’s CEO?

03What did Hansen's decision to speak French help to do?

04What historic event did Hansen's French greeting represent?

Answered 0 of 4

Discussion

How does language influence national identity and culture?