The Déclic Anglais Podcast

Bored and Boring ... Two little words that can cause big problems for learners of English! As we often say on this podcast: "You do not need to look far to improve your English." (Vous n'avez pas besoin de chercher bien loin pour améliorer votre anglais!) In other words, don't worry so much about acquiring new vocabulary - make sure that you can correctly use the vocabulary that you already have!...

In this episode, we will continue our exploration of modal verbs - this time should and ought to. What do these verbs mean exactly? Are there any nuances in their definitions? How must we use them in a sentence? If you're not sure, THIS is the episode for you! Happy listening, people! :-) Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est...

The best way to see immediate improvements is to correct the small mistakes that francophones often make in English. This episode continues the theme of modal verbs, this time examining the difference between: "I don't have to..." and "I must not..." (trust me, dear listeners, they do not mean the same thing!) After exploring the meaning, we play a short game to consolidate your learning. Happy li...

Brexit, brunch, electrocute, podcast... What do these words have in common? They are all portmanteau words (des mots-valise). And English is full of them! In this episode, we will explore the wonderful world of English portmanteaus (also known as 'blended words'). What are they exactly? Why do we use them? You will also learn some interesting portmanteaus to impress your English-speaking friends a...

On Thursday, 4th July 2024, the British people will vote in a General Election. A General Election is where the British people can choose the most powerful person in their country: the Prime Minister. But how does a General Election work? What is the role of the House of Commons? And what happens if a Prime Minister suddenly resigns? Listen to this episode to find out more! Cliquez ici pour téléch...

This episode is another exploration of modal verbs. Here we explore two modal verbs in even more detail - have to and must. These verbs change a lot depending on the tense and if a sentence is positive or negative! Using them properly is essential if you want to speak good English. What is the difference between have to and must ? Are they synonyms? Or are there nuances in meaning? More episodes o...

Adorable, hardworking, fascinating... Just three words to describe bees (les abeilles).  Bees play a key part in our eco-system: "No bees = No food. No food = No humans." International Bee Day comes every 20th May, and raises awareness for the essential role that bees play as pollinators. In honour of International Bee Day, this episode gives a short introduction to the fascinating world of bees!...

In this episode, we are exploring the link between English spelling (orthography) and pronunciation - especially in words that end with the letters -MB (e.g. climb, numb, thumb etc.). Tom also shares some practical tips for improving your pronunciation in general. Happy listening! Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le podca...

Grammar... It can be big and scary, but it doesn't need to be this way! In this useful episode, we are exploring modal verbs . Modal verbs might sound complicated and difficult, but they are really much simpler than they sound. We will examine: Which are the main modal verbs? What is a "modal" verb? What are the key points to remember when using modal verbs? This episode also shares some wisdom (s...

English is a very poetic language (and not just because of Shakespeare!) Did you know that everyday English includes hundreds of rhyming expressions? These expressions are often slang (argot) , informal spoken language. But don't worry, they are also totally fine to use in your own everyday conversations. Slang expressions (when used correctly!) make you sound more confident in English, and can ev...

In March 2024, Vaughan Gething became the First Minister of Wales. He simultaneously made history by becoming the first black leader of a European nation. In this episode of The Déclic Anglais Podcast, we will discover Vaughan Gething's background, and also explore the role of First Minister of Wales. What are Mr Gething's responsibilities? Is the First Minister in Cardiff like the Prime Minister...

March 14th is Pi Day ! Pi (π) is a Greek letter used in mathematics. (Perhaps you remember it from your maths lessons at school!) But what is so special about Pi? Why is it celebrated every March 14th? Listen to this interesting episode to find out. Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le podcast idéal pour progresser rapidement e...

2024 is one of those strange years, where February as one more day than normal! In this episode, we will explore what exactly is a 'leap year' (une année bissextile) and why they exist. We will also explore some funny and interesting traditions associated with the 29th February. Happy listening! A birthday present for "leaplings": Is your birthday on 29th February? If yes, you can enjoy one free m...

Carnival is a time of celebration and fun across the world. But did you know that the British lost their carnival traditions? How did this happen? And how do the British celebrate carnival today? Find out in this interesting episode. As always, happy listening! Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le podcast idéal pour progresser...

In the dark winter months, a lot of people have less energy than usual. But in some exteme cases, people may suffer with a condition called S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). In this episode, we will explore this condition, some possible causes, and some interesting remedies. The episode finishes with some useful advice on how to learn vocabulary. Happy listening! Cliquez ici pour télécharger l...

Every year, many people make new year's resolutions. But how many people KEEP those resolutions? An interesting alternative is the "bucket list". In this episode, we will explore this interesting topic, and learn a useful English idiom: "to kick the bucket" . The episode finishes with a writing exercise, where you can create your own "bucket list". Happy listening! Cliquez ici pour télécharger la...

It's our 100th episode! HOORAY! And for this special episode, we have a special guest: the lovely Charlotte. Charlotte is Tom's wife, and works behind the scenes (en coulisse) of the Déclic Anglais Podcast. In this episode, Charlotte talks about Christmas in her home region, Alsace. So, grab your bredala or mannala, make yourself a hot chocolate, and happy listening! Cliquez ici pour télécharger l...

The end of 2023 is almost here. At this time of year, it can be helpful to reflect on past 12 months. In this episode, we will explore the present perfect tense, and we will also practice forming sentences using this tense (don't worry, it's much easier than you think!): So far this year... What have you learned? What have you done? Where have you been? Happy listening! Cliquez ici pour télécharge...

Welcome to "Word of the Week" from the Déclic Anglais Podcast. This week's word is: bonfire (un feu de joie). Other vocabulary heard in this episode: marshmallow (la guimauve) to have a sweet tooth (avoir un bec sucré) Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le podcast idéal pour progresser rapidement et efficacement en anglais. Avec...

Welcome to "Word of the Week" from the Déclic Anglais Podcast. This week's word is: fireworks (des feux d'artifices). For more information on Bonfire Night (also known as Guy Fawkes Night), please listen to episode 98 of The Déclic Anglais Podcast. Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le podcast idéal pour progresser rapidement et...

Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire Night, is a pleasant cultural event in British society. It is an event where friends and families come together in the fresh November air. But Guy Fawkes Night has a dark history that even many British people do not fully understand. In this episode, we will explore how British people celebrate Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes Night) today, and the Gunpowder Plo...

The spookiest day of the year is here! In this terrifying episode, we are exploring something even more terrifying than phrasal verbs... Vampires! And one vampire in particular, created by Irish author Bram Stoker. Happy listening, and hold on to your garlic! (Accrochez-vous à votre ail !) Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le p...

Welcome to "Word of the Week" from the Déclic Anglais Podcast. This week's word is: undead (mort-vivantune). Other vocabulary heard in this episode: even though... (même si) Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le podcast idéal pour progresser rapidement et efficacement en anglais. Avec un nouvel épisode tous les mardis, améliorez...

De quoi avez-vous le plus peur pour Halloween ? Des zombies et des fantômes ? Ou de parler anglais ? La peur de parler anglais est le plus grand obstacle à votre progression. Mais éviter les situations parce qu'elles sont effrayantes ne sert à rien. Avec quelques anecdotes personnelles, Tom explique ce qui l'a aidé à surmonter ses peurs. Happy listening! Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcripti...

Welcome to "Word of the Week" from the Déclic Anglais Podcast. This week's word is: a pumpkin (une citrouille). Other vocabulary heard in this episode: a pumpkin (une citrouille) a jack-o-lantern (une citrouille d'Halloween) a winter squash (une courge d'hiver) spooky (effrayant) Cliquez ici pour télécharger la transcription. -------------------------  The Déclic Anglais Podcast est le podcast idé...