LanguaTalk Slow French: Learn French With Gaëlle | French podcast for A2-B1

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 where Les Misérables was adapted for the cinema. Yo...

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.

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”!

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 facts, feeding both your stomach and brain at the...

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.

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.

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.

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 episode.

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?

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.

In this episode, Gaelle goes back to basics and explains 6 different time indicators. From the common trap of “depuis” (which doesn’t only translate “since”) to the lesser known “ça fait”.

In this episode, Gaelle talks about a major cultural event happening all across Europe every year in September: the European Heritage Days. It started in France in 1984 and is now a major event, with millions of people going. Clear your calendar, you have some exploring and visits to do!

This episode is the last of a four-part summer series to give you the urge to travel in France. Gaelle interviews Catherine to talk about Montpellier, a beautiful medieval city in the South of France. You will learn that French is not the only official language in this part of the country and that if you want to come to France to study, Montpellier should be on the top of your list.

This episode is the third of a four-part summer series to give you the urge to travel in France. Gaelle interviews Isabelle to talk about Nice, a famous French city on “la Côte d’Azur”, the French Riviera on the Mediterranean sea. You will learn that Nice hasn’t always been French and that there is more to do than just sunbathe on the beach.

This episode is the second of a series of four, a summer special to give you the urge to travel in France. In this episode, Gaelle interviews Sylvaine to talk about Nantes. You will hear about the rich (and not always glorious) history of the city, with its duchess, slave trade and famous LU biscuits. Warning: after hearing this episode, you might have a terrible urge to go to Nantes and see for y...

This episode is the first of a series of four, a summer special to give you the urge to travel in France. In this episode, Gaelle interviews Lea to talk about their home city: Lyon. You will hear about the history of the second largest city in France, the touristic trails you can follow, and some first hand tips if you want to enjoy some hidden gems like a local.

In this episode, you will be baffled to hear that there is a mustard crisis in France and that French people take it very seriously. Gaelle investigated the situation and discovered that behind a seemingly minor issue actually lay two very serious problems. After listening to this, French mayonnaise will never taste the same.

In this episode, Gaelle talks about (and sings!) a French song by the artist Angèle, which was top of the charts in France, Belgium and Switzerland in 2019. Behind the pop phenomenon hid profound and meaningful lyrics denouncing sexism and harassment.

In this episode, Gaelle tries to give you a simple and clear account of what is currently happening in French politics. French citizens are unhappy, inflation is flaring up, the president has lost his majority at the Parliament and the threat of political paralysis is high. But why?

In this episode, Gaelle helps you put the future tenses into practice. First, you’ll quickly revise how to conjugate the near future and simple future tenses. Then you will hear some real life examples. So next time you want to tell your French colleague about your plans for the weekend, you won’t go blank!

In this episode, Gaelle talks about one of her favourite cultural event in France: a theatre festival that takes place in July in the superb city of Avignon. If you love plays and live art in general, this festival is for you. You will hear about its origins back in 1947 and the bubbly and uplifting atmosphere that takes hold of the city every summer.

In this episode, Gaelle talks about the life of an iconic French woman: Brigitte Bardot. A famous actress in the 50’s and 60’s, activist for animal protection later on, Brigitte Bardot (B.B. as she was known back then) is hard to put in a box. Come and discover the many layers of her personality and career.

In this episode, Gaelle interviews Soledad, a young woman born in France but who grew up in La Martinique. Her personal experience enlightens us to the reality of life in one of France's overseas territories (Outre-Mer). Is the culture the same? Does she feel French? Are the opportunities the same? A fascinating conversation to complement the 2 episodes released on Outre-Mer in previous weeks.

In this episode, Gaelle explores a very useful and versatile expression: n’importe quoi. From showing your embarrassment to strongly disagreeing with someone, you can place it in almost any conversation.

In this episode, Gaelle tells you everything about “la fête de la musique”, a musical event that happens every year on the 21st of June. This year we are celebrating its 40th anniversary. And as this French event has now spread worldwide, there’s a good chance there’s one organised near where you live!