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

This episode is the second (and final) part of our mini series talking about “Outre-Mer” - French overseas territories. In this episode, Gaelle takes you far from the picturesque postcard image of an island with coconut trees to tell you about the traumatic past of those old colonies, and the tensions that are still present.

In this episode, Gaelle focuses on a French oddity: the existence of French territories around the world. If you thought France was only a European country, then you need to listen to this episode. Martinique, Guyane and La Réunion (to name only a few) are part of France. You’ll learn why this is the case, and how it works.

In this episode, Gaelle helps you correct two very common mistakes with the verbs “visiter” and “rencontrer”. She explains where the mistakes are coming from and what verbs to use instead.

In this episode, Gaelle will make you salivate! Discover with her the legendary “Tarte Tatin”. With its layers of apples cooked in caramel and the important upside down cooking process, you will want to eat one at the end! If so, this is not a problem - Gaelle even gives you the recipe.😍

In this episode, Gaelle tells you everything you need to know about the French schooling system. Whether you are planning to move to France with your children, or you are just curious about how French kids get their education between the age of 3 and 18, this episode will hopefully make it clearer to you.

In this episode, Gaelle introduces you to an inspiring French man: Lilian Thuram. A famous international footballer and major intellectual against racism, Lilian Thuram is a multi-faceted personality who deserves to be better known. And don’t worry, you don’t need to like football to enjoy this episode.

In this episode, Gaelle reveals the mysteries of the verb “manquer” (to miss) which is usually so hard for foreigners to use. If you want to finally be confident when you say “I miss you”, this is the episode for you.

In this episode, Gaelle talks about an iconic French movie of the 2000’s: L’Auberge espagnole, which can be translated as “the Spanish inn”.

In this episode, Gaelle explains the job of the French President and how he is elected. In the context of the presidential elections coming up mid-April 2022, it’s the perfect time to finally understand what this is all about.

In this episode, Gaelle interviews Margaux, a French midwife. She asks her what brought her to this profession and what is the reality of the job. The long hours, the beauty of a healthy newborn, the stress of an emergency, the happiness of new parents. Being a midwife is full of ups and downs and Margaux shares it all with you.

In this episode, Gaelle presents you with 5 slang words that French people use all the time. So if you want to finally understand what “mais trop!” or “c’est clair!” mean, you are on the right episode.

In this episode, Gaelle tells you about her personal experience being vegetarian in a country famous for its foie gras, coq au vin and boeuf bourguignon. As you’ll hear, even if things are slowly changing, it’s still not easy.

In this episode, Gaelle talks about a unique place to visit in Paris: the catacombs. Filled with old bones, neatly arranged in piles and walls, these underground tunnels are quite the sensation. But what lies beneath it? Why do they exist and what is their history? That’s what you will discover in this episode.

In this episode, Gaelle presents to you one of the most beloved and popular charity associations in France: “les Restos du coeur”. She tells you how it started back in 1985 with the comic Coluche, what their missions are and how they fund it all.

In this episode, Gaelle explains the difference between 3 similar verbs: rentrer, revenir and retourner. If you think they all mean “to come back” and you never know which one to choose, this is the episode for you.

In this episode, Gaelle introduces you to the new French revolution that has taken place in the dictionary ‘Le Robert’: the introduction of the new subject pronoun, “iel”. She explains in which contexts you can use it and why it has created such a heated debate in French society.

In this episode, Gaelle presents to you the wonderful Josephine Baker, an American-French black woman, born in 1906, dead in 1976 and recently admitted to the Pantheon in France. You will understand why the French president decided to give her a posthumous honour, and discover the different aspects of her colorful personality.

In this episode, you’ll hear an interview with Yoann, a young French dancer and choreographer. He talks about his incredible journey from his local dance school to the Opéra de Paris, and what it takes to create an hour-long dance show from scratch.

In this episode, Gaelle explains the 3 different styles of speech that exist in French and that people use depending on their cultural background and their audience. You will even have a little game at the end to see if you can recognise which style is used. If you want to learn slang words to say “chaussure” and “voiture”, this is the episode for you!

In this 2nd episode on ‘la banlieue’, Gaelle explains the origins of the French banlieue from the 20s, and the reasons behind its slow and predictable decay. She also talks about a few solutions that the government is currently trying out and gives somes film suggestions to complete the picture in your heads.

In this episode (part one of two), Gaelle explains what “banlieue” means. It’s commonly translated as “suburb” but in reality it’s more complicated than that. You’ll understand the two opposite realities hidden behind the word and why “banlieue” is so strongly linked to violence in people’s minds.

In this episode, Gaelle will tell you everything you need to know about a festive dessert, available in France only in January: la galette des rois. You will understand where it takes its origins from, what a “fève” is, and how serious this tradition is for businesses like bakeries. But more importantly, you will finally understand why grown-ups go under the table as if they were 4 years old, play...

In this episode, Gaelle will introduce you to a French movie: la tour Montparnasse infernale. You will also get to learn about a famous comic duo: Eric et Ramzy.

In this episode, Gaelle introduces you to a key French female figure of the 20th century: Simone Veil. Born in 1927, she was caught in the horror of the Second World War and survived a concentration camp. When she came back to France, she set herself to work in politics. Still to this day, her name is famous. Discover why in this episode.

In this episode, Gaelle gives you real life examples of how to talk about your weekend or your day at work. Because when you want to have a friendly chat with colleagues or friends, talking about your past day/week/holiday is common. Gaelle will also highlight the differences between “passé composé” and “imparfait” to try to help you use them accurately.