Learn French with Gaëlle, an experienced French teacher. 99% in French and designed for students with a basic level (A2) or lower intermediate (B1). Gaëlle speaks slowly to make it easier to understand. If you have an intermediate level, you can always increase the playback speed in your app. Each week, you’ll improve your French whilst also learning about French culture, society, history, and much more. Go to LanguaTalk.com/frenchpod to read an interactive transcript of each episode as you ...
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La ville de Charlevilles-Mézière et le festival de marionnette - interview avec Simon
28:59
28:59
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28:59
In this episode, Gaelle interviews Simon to talk about an international puppet festival that takes place every two years in Charlevilles-Mézières, a city in the North-East of France. You will be surprised to discover that this small city hosts 2 major cultural events. Check out Langua, a cutting-edge AI platform to help you become fluent in French:…
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La ville de Poitiers - interview avec Monique
26:31
26:31
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26:31
In this episode, Gaelle interviews Monique to explore the city of Poitiers. Located in the North West of France, the city is now famous for its universities and amusement park, Futuroscope. But it has a glorious medieval past, still visible in its streets and monuments. Thanks to Monique, you will embark on a historical journey and be left wanting …
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La ville de Rouen - interview avec Margaux
23:12
23:12
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23:12
In this episode, Gaelle interviews Margaux to discover the city of Rouen. Famous for its link with the tragic fall of Jeanne d’Arc in the 15th century, Rouen is a beautiful city in the North Ouest of France, only 1h30 away from Paris, and one that deserves to be visited if you get the chance. Margaux will tell you about the history of the city as w…
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In this episode, Gaelle explains why you can sometimes say “la semaine prochaine” or “la prochaine semaine”. The adjectives “prochain” and “dernier” are trickier than others as they can be placed either before or after the noun and it will change their meaning. So if this subtlety is unclear to you, come and listen! Check out Langua, a cutting-edge…
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In this episode, Gaelle interviews Yoann, to talk about the Olympic games that are going to take place in Paris at the end of July 2024. Yoann lives in the North of Paris, where most of the building sites are located and he tells us how, for the past 2 years, everyone in and around Paris has been affected by the preparations for the major event. Be…
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In this episode, Gaelle touches a deep and difficult subject that agitates French society: the end of life and the right to die. Also known as assisted suicide or euthanasia, this topic is currently being debated in Parliament, with the prospect of a new law at the end of the year. You will understand the arguments on both sides, and the associated…
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In this episode, Gaelle dives into history to tell you the story of one of the most iconic French landmarks: the castle of Versailles. You will understand the intricate link between the castle and king Louis. You will hear how it survived the French revolution and was later on saved from decrepitude by an American philanthropist. And to finish, Gae…
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Interview avec Dimitri - acheter une maison (partie 2)
16:33
16:33
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16:33
This episode is the second part of the interview with Dimitri, a Greek citizen living and working in France, who explains to Gaelle the different steps to buy a property in France. We recommend listening to the first part before diving into this one. Warning: this episode is more challenging than usual because of the sound quality of Gaelle’s recor…
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Interview avec Dimitri - acheter une maison (partie 1)
26:41
26:41
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26:41
In this episode, Gaelle interviews Dimitri, a Greek citizen living and working in France, who recently bought a house near Paris. Through this conversation, Dimitri explains the different steps you need to go through to become a homeowner in France. And you will see that it’s no picnic in the park! Warning: this episode is more challenging than usu…
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In this episode, Gaelle explains the more subtle ways to translate the adverbs “assez” and “bien”. Commonly understood as “enough” and “well”, they in fact have more meanings than that, which can sometimes lead to confusion. Listen to this episode to understand what French people mean when they say “elle a l’air assez sympa” or “il a bien raison”. …
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In this episode, Gaelle reveals a silent but important crisis in the world of French wines. If famous bottles of Chateau-Margaux are ever so expensive, the same story is not true of the more ordinary Bordeaux wines, which have been struggling to sell in recent years. You will understand why this crisis is hitting a lot of winegrowers hard and what …
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about the woman behind the world famous champagne, Veuve Clicquot. The first woman to ever be at the head of a champagne company, in the XIXème century where men largely dominated, she is an inspirational figure. With this episode you will discover her incredible story and how her legacy is still alive nowadays. Check …
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In this episode, Gaelle explains the importance of the Agricultural Show that takes place every year at the end of February near Paris. In the context of the farmers crisis this year, this event was especially important for the political world. With her explanations, you will understand where this tradition originated and why the French president a…
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In this episode, Gaelle explains how to pronounce the little word “plus” - which annoyingly can be pronounced 3 different ways: [plu], [pluS] or [pluZ]. You probably won’t be able to say it correctly straight away, but at least you will know the rules behind it. NEW: Check out Langua, our groundbreaking platform to help you become fluent in French:…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about two traditions typical of February and March: Mardi-Gras and Carnaval. She explains where they originate from, how they were celebrated back in the days and what is left from those traditions nowadays. It all started from a journey down memory lane for Gaelle, when blurry flashbacks of her childhood came rushing …
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about the most famous French literary prize, le prix Goncourt. You will discover how books are selected, who makes up the jury, and why it means so much to authors and publishers. But because nothing is never black and white, you will also hear about the little scandals that took place over the years and tarnished the …
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Interview avec Mélanie - être professeure en lycée professionnel
28:29
28:29
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28:29
In this episode, Gaelle interviews Mélanie, a teacher in a vocational high school in France. Together they explain the purpose of such an educational environment, which students it is aimed at, as well as the stigma surrounding it and the difficulties of the job. NEW: Check out Langua, our cutting-edge software to help you become fluent in French: …
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In this episode, Gaelle presents the life of the world famous singer: Edith Piaf. Everyone is familiar with her most famous song, “La vie en rose”, but few really know who she was and where she came from. She sang about love so beautifully following a lot of hardship and broken heart. NEW: Check out Langua, a cutting-edge AI tool to help you become…
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In this episode, Gaelle introduces you to THE christmas dessert in France: the Christmas log. It’s on every table, for every family. It can be made with chocolate, raspberry or lemon ice cream. But do we even know why French people eat a dessert in the shape of a piece of wood? Listen to this episode to find out. And if you want to learn a bit of p…
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In this episode, Gaelle explains how to navigate the French health system when you are sick. From the first step of finding the correct health professional to the last one of getting the correct medication, she explains what French people have to do to be seen and get better. You will understand what “mutuelle”, “carte vitale” and “médecin traitant…
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In this episode, Gaelle introduces you to a French inventor who revolutionized the world for blind people in the 19th century: M. Louis Braille. You will hear about his extraordinary personal story and how he came to create a brilliant and universal alphabet, still in use nowadays by blind and visually impaired people. NEW: Check out Langua, our ne…
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Grammaire - Différence entre “juste” et “venir de”
12:01
12:01
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12:01
In this grammar episode, Gaelle explains the difference between “juste” and “venir de”, which are both translated by “just” in English, making it difficult for English speakers to understand the difference. NEW: Check out Langua, our new learning software: https://languatalk.com/langua/podcasts?language=french&query=You can get free vocab lists as …
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1
Les choses bien en Angleterre dont la France devrait s’inspirer
27:09
27:09
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27:09
In this episode, Gaelle talks about 3 aspects of English culture that she really likes and that she wished existed in France. She talks about charity shops and open mindedness, then finishes on a more serious note with the issue of street harassment, which is a major problem in France. NEW: Check out Langua, our new learning software: https://langu…
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In this episode, Gaelle interviews Eirini, a Greek citizen who has been living in France with her Greek husband for the past 5 years. They have 3 children, the youngest was born in Paris. Eirini explains how they manage the “double culture” and languages at home, as well as what they do to preserve their Greek origins whilst encouraging their child…
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In this episode, Gaelle explains the concept of the sharing economy, also called collaborative consumption. From its utopic beginnings in California to the giants that have now emerged like AirBnB and Uber, you will get a clear understanding of the principles and how it has evolved in the past 15 years. Gaelle will also tell you about France, where…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about the French series, “Plan Coeur” (or “the Hookup Plan” in its English version). If you like easy romantic comedies, this episode is for you! Gaelle gives you her honest opinion about the series, its flaws and strengths, and why in the end, she recommends watching it. NEW: Check out Langua, our new learning softwar…
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1
La ville de Saint Etienne - Interview avec Julie
27:17
27:17
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27:17
In this episode, Gaelle interviews Julie to talk about the city of Saint Etienne. Located in the middle of France and for a long time considered the rival of Lyon, St Etienne has a fascinating industrial history. And after a tough few decades, the city managed to reinvent itself into a design city. Julie talks so warmly of it that you will want to …
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In this episode, Gaelle interviews Leila to talk about the northern city of Lille. Famous in the past for its mining and textile industry, Lille went through a dry spell during the deindustrialisation era. But as you will discover with Leila, the city is now thriving again and is resolutely moving towards a brighter future. You can get free vocab l…
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La ville de Dijon - Interview avec Solène
26:03
26:03
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26:03
In this episode, Gaëlle interviews Solène to talk about the city she lives in: Dijon. Located between Paris and Lyon, capital of the region “Bourgogne”, where the internationally famous wine is produced, Dijon and its surroundings have a lot to offer. After listening to this episode you might want to go and buy yourself some good wine… You can get …
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about the French summer holidays and why, if you try to visit the country in the month of August, you might find yourself in a deserted country (if you are not in the hotspots like the Mediterranean coast). You will learn how French people like to spend their summer holiday and why this holiday is so long. You can get …
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In this episode, Gaelle focuses on 3 French words that sound very similar, and are hard to pronounce and dissociate for many people. In order to help you, she explains each difficult sound individually and then goes through 3 exercises to hear the differences between them. So don’t forget to take a pen and paper to write down your answers! You can …
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about a controversial topic: cannabis. France is one of those paradoxical countries where people do consume quite a lot of it but where the law is strict and unforgiving. She will also explain the subtle difference between depenalisation and legalisation and tell you where French politicians stand on that specific poin…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about a wonderful French animated movie called “Kirikou et la sorcière” (Kirikou and the Sorceress). Beyond the beautiful story and graphism, this movie has deeply changed the French animated world and set a precedent which would inspire generations to come. You can get free vocab lists as well as read an interactive t…
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In this episode, Gaelle dives into the wonderful world of having children. Having lived in England for many years, she came to the conclusion that the French system for young kids was actually a very decent one, with its solid childcare options for example. But she also noticed the differences during the pregnancy and birth process, with which Fran…
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1
Venir travailler en France - interview d’André Troiano
23:31
23:31
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23:31
In this episode, Gaelle interviews André, a Brazilian doctor who lives in Australia and who studied and worked in France for 3 years. He talks about his experience in Paris as a researcher, how difficult it was to meet people, speak the language and find a flat. With his non-native accent, Andre’s French might be harder to understand but it’s an ex…
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In this episode, Gaelle describes a very common and unsustainable practice: programmed obsolescence. You might not be familiar with the words, but its reality is in your daily life: when your laptop stops working after 4 years, when your printer refuses to print more pages even though you still have ink left, … But the great news is that France is …
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about the famous French author, feminist and philosopher: Simone de Beauvoir. Simone wrote “le deuxième sexe” and is considered the mother of the Second feminist wave. But as you will discover, there is more to Simone de Beauvoir than this extraordinary essay. Both her intellectual and love lives are fascinating. You c…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about a very popular French series that managed the impossible: to gain worldwide recognition and even win an Emmy Award! The series is called “10%”, or “call my agent” in its international version, and is available on Netflix so you will have easy access to it if Gaelle manages to convince you to watch it. You can get…
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In this episode, Gaelle explains the differences between 3 very similar verbs: sentir, se sentir et ressentir. They are all translated by “to feel” in English, but in French they are used in different contexts. Looking to learn French fast with a tutor like Gaëlle? Meet a tutor for a trial session here: https://languatalk.com/french-tutors-online?v…
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In this episode, Gaelle tackles a difficult topic: the project of the French government to change the retirement system, and the massive protests that have followed. As simply as possible, she explains how the French pension system works, why the government decided it was necessary to partially modify it and why the French people, in their vast maj…
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1
Les Misérables, de Victor Hugo à West End
27:33
27:33
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27:33
In this episode, Gaelle talks about the iconic French novel “les Misérables”, written in the 19th century by Victor Hugo. You will learn about the story, its many layers and themes, as well as understanding the man behind the book. In the second part, you will travel to the West End, London, and its famous musical tradition, but also to Hollywood w…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about a touchy subject: French nationality. How can we be French? Is being born in France enough or do we need to have at least one French parent? And how are non-white French people perceived? And if you like football, it all started with the World Cup in Qatar and the composition of the French team.…
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In this episode, Gaelle clarifies a grammatical point: the neutral pronouns. If you have no idea what “ça” or “ce” are, or if you think you can translate “it” by “il” everytime, this episode is made for you. You’ll finally understand the mysterious “c” at the beginning of every “c’est”!By LanguaTalk
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In this episode, Gaelle will make you hungry. She will talk about a special wintery dish, a favorite of hers, called “gratin dauphinois” (and give you the secret recipe in the show notes!). How could you resist the temptation of this simple but delicious dish of potatoes and cream? And what’s even better, the dish is full of interesting historical …
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In this episode, Gaelle reveals some of the most controversial debates in French society around… Christmas! Who said Christmas should be peaceful, magical and lovely? In France, we are born to have heated arguments about… pretty much everything. So Father Christmas, the Christmas tree and even the turkey will be no exception.…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about weddings, marriage and civil union. Weddings in Western countries tend to be pretty similar, but there are some things that make a French wedding different from any other. You will also see when France finally gave the same right to same sex couples and what the reactions were in French society.…
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Faux amis: confus, confortable, supporter et course
20:11
20:11
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20:11
In this episode, Gaelle presents you 4 French words that are commonly mistaken for their English version. But fear not! With clear explanations and a lot of examples, you should understand when to use them, and when not to.By LanguaTalk
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In this episode, Gaelle interviews Eibhlin, an Irish woman who is in a relationship with Edouard, a French man. They live in Paris together. How is it to live with someone with a different language, a different culture? Is it easy to speak with French people? And in truth, are French men that romantic? You’ll learn all this and more in today’s epis…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about climate change, the environment and plastic bags. Can we say that French people are green? Are they pulling their weight when it comes to changing their behavior to have a lighter impact on the environment? Are recycling and taking reusable bags to the shops going to make a difference?…
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In this episode, Gaelle talks about Jamel Debbouze, a French Moroccan artist, famous for his humor and his unmistakable posture with his disable hand. Icon of the 2000’s for his roles in “Amelie” and “Astérix and Obélix - mission Cléopâtre", you should check him out if you like French comedy and humour.…
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