French To Go

April 3, 2022. Depending on when you are listening to this episode, and from where, you may have missed the most touristic run of the year, the Paris Marathon. Personally, I am a very amateur runner, but I admire all those (crazy ;-) people who are willing to suffer so much to get to the finish line. In this episode, I’m talking about the marathon, the runners, and some funny and smart facts about...

March 26, 2022 at 8:30 pm: thousands of cities around the globe participated in the Earth Hour and turned off the lights. Monuments, cities, companies, but also citizens. I usually don’t like “one day commemorations” or “awareness days”, and I explain again why in this episode. But talking to Fred, the ecologist per excellence, changed my perception of this global event. All my questions and thoug...

I’ve never really understood why it is so important to know that French is the fifth most spoken language and the second most taught language in the world. French Week got me thinking about why we learn foreign languages, and how to stay motivated along the way. Listen to this episode if you want some tips about setting an intention and… the most important: what is the link between learning French...

This week’s episode started with Caroline and one of her misadventures: last week, she had a flat tire. She was lucky, my husband was here to help her. But her reaction, and her complete ignorance regarding cars, led me to some thoughts and research about what women want and need for their car. A good opportunity for you to revise some daily vocabulary! The podcast French To Go is best for interme...

March 8th. International Women’s day. Céline is a strong feminist, and her engagement is an inspiration for this episode. Listen and discover some facts about the situation of women in France, awareness-raising campaigns, and of course learn or revise some vocabulary and practice your listening skills. The podcast French To Go is best for intermediate level and more. Don’t forget to maximize your...

Since 1993, French parents have almost all the liberty regarding the first name they choose for their child. Lately, it has led to some kind of chaos, with many very original first names, renewed old ones or deliberate changes in spelling. Listen to my opinion about first names and why it is really important not to choose one lightly. This episode is an opportunity for you to discover some cultura...

The ceremony of the 37th Victoires de la Musique (the French music awards) was held on February 11, and it is a good opportunity to talk about French music, and about our relationship to music and favorite singers. Ypu will hear about nowadays music and maybe discover your next favorite French singer! The podcast French To Go is best for intermediate level. Don’t forget to maximize your learning b...

Valentine's Day coming this week is a good opportunity to talk about the good and bad reasons to celebrate this lovers' day. Listen to the original way I celebrated Valentine's day, and boost your knowledge in French: learn new vocabulary, practice your listening skills. And remember: listen more to speak better! Don’t forget to maximize your learning by checking the transcription and translation...

Caroline asked me to exercise with her last week. Yes, Caroline who used to run everyday before her pregnancy and even practice boxing. And me, who'd rather sit on the armchair and enjoy a good book. Listen to this episode to discover our plan, what I agreed to do and why, and how we ended the week.  This episode is a great opportunity for you, listeners with an intermediate level to practice your...

Last week was my birthday!  Isn't there a better occasion to talk about how we celebrate birthdays in France? And of course to tell you about Fred - who doesn't celebrate his birthday, and Caroline for whom every event, small or big, is an opportunity to gather friends and family, eat, dance - to celebrate! This episode is best for A2 level (intermediate) and for all those of you who learned Frenc...

In this episode, I share the story of Céline’s week in a ski resort in the French Alps, how she did enjoy a romantic stay with her boyfriend although he is a serious skier and she is a complete beginner. A good opportunity for you to revise or learn some vocabulary about skiing and discover new French expressions, but also imagine ski vacations in France. Don’t forget to maximize your learning by...

All those sensations, those moments when we experience pleasure, feel joy and pride, all those simple pleasures make our life so enjoyable. Have you ever thought that some of those universal simple pleasures may differ from one country to another? Listen to our lists of small pleasures, and more specifically to our French ones, and learn how and when to experience simple pleasures while learning F...

Celebrating the Epiphany in France, on January 6, is the best way to ruin your New Year's resolutions. You just need a galette, some children who don't like bitter food, some strange tradition and you're set. Do you want to know more about how we celebrate this holiday in France? Listen to this episode and discover a new side of the French culture. And as always, listening to this podcast will hel...

The holiday season is this time of the year when you discover (or understand) some behavioral patterns among your friends and family: the way they eat, the way they plan the coming year and their positive or negative look at life. Meet my husband and my daughter, my friends Fred and Céline and guess where I stand among them.   Listening to this episode will be a good opportunity for you to learn o...

Practice your French by listening to this episode about gifts and even receive one! This special episode is all about giving, kindness, thinking about friends and family members and wanting to make them feel happy - yes, by giving them a present.  And the first gift I’m talking about is the gift I will be sending to one of you, dear listeners. Yes, on Monday, December 19th, 2021, I will hold a lot...

Do you know the Festival of Lights in Lyon? Let me show you (yes, just listen and let me guide you through) the sublime light installations and the sound and lights shows. This episode is full of magic and imagination. A good opportunity for you to practice your listening skills in French and learn about cultural life in France. For more on the festival, check the website www.fetedeslumieres.lyon....

Family traditions. We are overwhelmed by traditions at this time of the year. Some love it. Others hate it. Discover a few traditions we have in France, with examples from my family and my friends. And listen to my opinion about traditions. A good opportunity for you to learn or revise some useful vocabulary. Best for A2 level (intermediate). The transcription and the translation are available on...

This episode starts with my children binge-watching the new Korean series, and my friends Céline and Fred horrified by the fact I'm letting them seeing some much violence and spending so much time on a screen. Well, we all like movies and series. And most of us are slightly (or more) addicted. Aren't we? This episode is a good opportunity for you to practice your listening and learn some new vocab...

Ah!!!!! Numbers!!!! I know you don't like them. I know you think French people invented this weird system and all those little rules because they are sadist and cruel. But please put your fear and your biases on the side for 15 minutes and let me help you... if not loving French numbers, then at least mastering them. Best for A2 level (intermediate). The transcription and the translation are avail...

It all started with my students waiting for the class to begin, all heads down, staring at their phone. A scary image and sad at the same time. But am I really different? Are YOU different? We are all addicted to our cell phones. The question is how much, and why. And even more than that, the question now is: what can we do to change the situation? A good opportunity for you to listen about this h...

Paris is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world. But is everything perfect there? Céline comes from Paris, and I've lived there for 2 years. And the picture is quite different when you live there. But shouldn't we try to act sometimes as a tourist in our own city? This episode is all about seeing the two faces of a city: Paris. Leave me your own experience or opinion on the blo...

It all started with Caroline stepping in dog poop… and by the end of the afternoon, we had re-imagined together all the rules for the parks of Lyon. So, just enjoy the story, have a good laugh, and learn or revise vocabulary linked to rules, allowed and prohibited things, people’s behavior etc. Please leave me your own experience or opinion on my blog - www.frenchcarte.com You can either leave a w...

Coffee takes a large part of daily life in France. But is it an easy topic? Well, apparently not. Listen to my story of last weekend and learn more about it. A good opportunity for you to learn new useful expressions.  Have a coffee while listening to this episode ;-) Please leave me your own experience or opinion on the blog at www.frenchcarte.com You can either leave a written comment or a vocal...

Have you ever had an apéro? Do you even know what it is? In this episode you will learn about this ritual of the French culture. An advice: listen to it in the evening, on the sofa or on the terrace, if the weather is good. An opportunity to revise or learn about beverages and snacks of course, but also to hear daily vocabulary and improve your listening skills. Please leave me your own experience...

This episode is about ecology and more precisely about waste sorting, but not only. As usual, follow the stories of my friends and family and learn some new words and expressions. Best for A2 level (intermediate). Transcription and translation are available on www.frenchcarte.com