Cultivate your French

Last week we had lunch with Pauline at Coda. As we live in the same neighbourhood, she offered me a lift in her new car. And this car isn't just any car, it's the new favourite of the French: the electric R5. The R5 is an old model brought up to date, an iconic car from the 80s. We recorded our journey through Paris. Pauline really enjoys driving around town in her new R5. But what about the power? I become a motoring journalist in this episode. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we're going to highlight the typical turns of speech in our conversation. We'll also look at the best strategy for learning the conjugation of two verbs used in this episode and very common in French. What is an optimal strategy? Well, the minimum amount of learning for the maximum amount of use in real life. So, to cultivate your French in the optimum way, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe to transcpript at www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchPodcast #LearnFrench #ElectricCar #RenaultR5 #ParisLife #FrenchConversation #CarVocabulary #ModernFrench #DailyFrench #FrenchListening

Cette semaine, nous allons à nouveau au restaurant, mais cette fois avec mon amie Pauline. Après le bouillon, c'est le bistrot qui nous attend. Le bistrot parisien a beaucoup évolué depuis les années 2000, du restaurant de quartier un peu désuet aux nappes à carreaux rouges, on est passé à un restaurant de quartier, toutjours, mais tenu par des jeunes chefs avides de créativité, d'amitié, de vins naturels et de produits locaux. C'est ce qu'on appelle « la bistronomie » qui est un mot valise composé de « bistrot » et « gastronomie ». Dans cet épisode, Pauline va nous raconter son déjeuner : ce qu'elle a mangé, mais aussi ce qui lui a plu dans ce restaurant.  Dans les notes qui accompagnent le transcript, vous trouverez des notes culturelles sur ce type de restaurant, des photos de nos plats, et nous allons nous pencher sur les mots et les trournures de prhases que Pauline emploie pour partager avec nous son expérience.  This week we're going to the restaurant again, but this time with my friend Pauline. After the bouillon, it's the bistrot that awaits us. The Parisian bistrot has come a long way since the 2000s, going from being a slightly old-fashioned neighbourhood restaurant with red-checked tablecloths to being a neighbourhood restaurant, run by young chefs eager for creativity, friendship, natural wines and local produce. This is what's known as ‘ bistronomie ', a word made up of ‘ bistrot ' and ‘ gastronomie '. In this episode, Pauline tells us about her lunch: what she ate, but also what she liked about the restaurant. In the notes accompanying the transcript, you'll find cultural notes on this type of restaurant, photos, and we'll be looking at the words and phrases Pauline uses to share her experience with us. www.cultivateyourfrench.com   #FrenchPodcast #FrenchCuisine #BistronomyParis #LearnFrenchVocabulary #FrenchFoodCulture #ParisRestaurants #FrenchListeningPractice #AuthenticFrench #FrenchGastronomy #FrenchConversation  

Last week, I saw my friend Caroline. We'd booked tickets to see a play at the Théâtre des Abbesses in Montmartre. We'd arranged to meet at the Place de Clichy. As we had time for a little dinner, Caroline suggested the Bouillon Pigalle, a typically Parisian and inexpensive restaurant. That's the dinner I'm telling you about in this episode. In the accompanying notes, we'll take a look at the history of bouillons, as well as the typical restaurant vocabulary developed in this episode. Then you'll be ready to order! So if you want to cultivate your French “bouillonnant”, the Slow Way, I invite you to subscribe. www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Join me in today's episode as I share how my daughter Felicia's school presentation on nuclear energy unexpectedly connected with the morning news! Discover how this mirrors information from Felicia's research on nuclear energy production costs compared to other energy sources. I'll also share some thoughts on France's historical dependency on nuclear energy Perfect for learners looking to improve their listening skills with authentic French content! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchPodcast #LearnFrenchOnline #DailyFrenchListener #FrenchComprehension #NuclearEnergy #EnvironmentalFrench #FrenchListening #EasyFrenchPractice #ParisianLife #FrenchWithTranscript #SlowFrench

In this episode of "Cultivate Your French," I share a family anecdote about the famous "Le Jeu des Mille Euros" radio game and our discovery of France's tallest skyscraper. This episode follows the "right pace" method with both slow and normal versions of the same content in sequence - designed to build your listening comprehension progressively. First, you'll hear the story at a gentle pace to understand vocabulary and structure, then at natural speed to develop real-world listening skills. Subscribers receive the complete transcript, vocabulary notes, and cultural insights to fully support your French learning journey! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #SlowFrench #FrenchComprehension #LearnFrenchMethodically #FrenchListeningPractice #TwoSpeedFrench #FrenchProgressionMethod #FrenchPodcastWithTranscript #RightPaceFrench #FrenchRadioShow #AuthenticFrenchLearning

In today's episode of "Cultivate Your French," Lisa and I take you on a delicious French pastry tasting adventure! We compare strawberry tarts and other desserts from several renowned pastry shops in our neighborhood, including the famous Lola tart from Arnaud Larher and creations from award-winning pastry chef Stéphane Glacier. Join us for this unscripted conversation as we discuss textures, flavours, and what makes the perfect French pastry. Perfect for French learners who want to improve their listening skills with authentic conversation about French culinary culture. Subscribe for the full transcript and cultural notes! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchTasteTest #FrenchPastryTour #LearnFrenchWithFood #FrenchStrawberryTart #ParisianPastries #DailyFrenchPractice #AuthenticFrenchConversation #FrenchListeningPractice #FrenchCulturalImmersion #FrenchFoodVocabulary

Join me and my daughter Lisa on our search for the perfect strawberry tart! We explore Asnières, a town near Paris, visiting a comic book store and a famous pastry shop. Discover the town hall where I got married years ago, and follow our quest for seasonal treats as spring begins. This mother-daughter conversation provides natural French vocabulary about books, pastries, and seasonal specialties - perfect for improving your listening skills! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #LearnFrenchBaking #FrenchPastry #FrenchListeningPractice #ParisianBakeries #StrawberryTart #FrenchDesserts #EverydayFrench #AuthenticFrench #FrenchFoodVocabulary #FrenchCulture

Last Saturday, on a warm and sunny afternoon, I met Emilie from the Instagram account @shotdecafeine. It was Micaela who introduced me to her account, because Emilie has a rather creative way of running in Paris. You'll find out how in this episode. We've reached the point in the conversation where Emilie tells me that she had the idea of running along the metro lines after running with a colleague from La Défense, where they work, to his home near the Château de Vincennes for an aperitif and cheese.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll be looking at the patisseries that Emilie has mentioned thanks to her journeys. I'll tell you what's special about these pastries and whether they've already been mentioned in the podcast. You're in for a real treat.  So if you'd like to cultivate your French in the Slow way and in a creative way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchRunning #ParisRunning #FrenchPastries #LearnFrench #FrenchPodcast #RunningInParis #MarathonDeParis #FrenchVocabulary #FrenchListening #PracticalFrench

In this episode, I take you on a journey to Argenteuil, a suburb of Paris made famous by Impressionist painters like Claude Monet. Join me as I travel on bus 164 to a kung-fu competition, while discovering the charming neighborhoods where Monet lived and painted for five years. I share my observations of the Seine river, the historic Argenteuil bridge that appears in many famous paintings, and my plans to visit Monet's house with its recreated boat-studio. This episode also offers practical French vocabulary about transportation and movement with a focus on the versatile verb "passer" and the pronoun "y". Perfect for intermediate French learners who want to improve their comprehension while discovering French art history and daily life outside Paris. www.cultivateyourfrench.co   #LearnFrenchWithPodcast #ImpressionistArtists #ClaudeMonet #Argenteuil #FrenchCulture #FrenchListening #ParisSuburbs #FrenchJourney #PracticalFrench #DailyFrenchLife

Do two and two make five? Yes, sometimes on certain artificial intelligence platforms. So can we say that AIs are stupid? I had a conversation with Olivier, a computer scientist friend who has been passionately following developments in AI for his work for many years. He's going to give us his answer from a professional's point of view. This will be an opportunity to discover the vocabulary of AI in French. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll focus on Olivier's way of speaking. Olivier is a professional who is used to explaining complicated things, adding nuance or asserting facts. How does he do this in French? We're going to take a look at the subtleties of his speech. And then, perhaps you'll share with us your uses of artificial intelligence? So, to cultivate your French, subtly and the Slow Way, with or without AI, I invite you to subscribe. www.cultivateyourfrench.com   #ArtificialIntelligence #FrenchTech #LearnFrench #FrenchPodcast #AIExplained #FrenchConversation #ChatGPT #TechVocabulary #FrenchListening #FrenchTechnology

In the notes that accompany the transcript, you'll find the 2020 notes: a list of vocabulary to read before listening to the episode, so that you understand it better the first time, cultural references and three useful expressions to remember, with examples of how to apply them.  So if you want to cultivate your French, the slow way version 2020, I invite you to subscribe to cultivateyourfrench.com  

We had Lisa's Italian exchange student with us for a week. She left yesterday and in 10 days' time it will be Lisa's turn to go to Italy. Lisa's Italian friend did a lot of visiting with her class, but at the weekend she was with us, so we prepared a programme for her: the department stores, a view of Paris from the terrace of Galeries Lafayettes, a play in a small theatre near the Moulin Rouge,  dinner at a crêperie and a trip to the Eiffel Tower in the evening. In the morning, we'd also done a bit of shopping in our neighbourhood. It was Saturday 8 March and we stopped to have a look at the window of the bookshop, which had women's rights as its theme.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, you'll find some cultural notes and we'll look at three useful expressions in French with examples. I often choose expressions that may seem simple, but are in fact typical of natural French.  So, to cultivate your French, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript, a very useful tool in lots of good ways.  www.onethinginafrenchday.com  

Every winter vacation, we take the girls away for a few days. The destination is kept secret until the last minute. This year, it was Mont Saint-Michel. Micaela found our destination when I gave the following clue: it's a controversial place. Indeed, we like to play around in France with the geographical location of Mont Saint-Michel. The Bretons like to say that it's in Brittany, whereas it's in Normandy, because the bay of Mont Saint-Michel lies between the two regions. When you arrive by car, you have to walk three-quarters of an hour to get to the Mont via a footbridge. It's a lovely walk. Then you have to climb a lot of steps to reach the abbey, where we had booked a visit.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we'll take a look at the pronunciation of the difficult words in this episode. There will also be three natural French expressions with examples and, of course, photos of our visit!  To cultivate your French, and take the bridge with us, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe!   www.cultivateyourfrench.com

This week, I invite you to discover or rediscover an episode recorded in February 2020. It was after a period of strikes in the Paris transport system and a month before the start of the lockdown. Lisa was ten at the time. We were both taking Bollywood dance classes on Saturday mornings.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, you'll find cultural explanations, but also three expressions that are natural in French, with examples of how they're used.  So, to improve your French, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript at www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

So last week we went to the Opéra Garnier to see Castor et Pollux, a lyrical tragedy by Jean-Philippe Rameau, directed by Peter Sellars. I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy the show. But what did it turn out to be? That's what I tell you in this episode. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we're going to make a list of practical phrases for giving your opinion of a show, rather enthusiastically, and discover a range of formulations that may be useful to you in other circumstances too. Of course, there will also be photos of this unforgettable evening! So you'll discover, as I did, that the Opera is a place where you like to take your time, the Slow Way. I invite you to subscribe to the transcript.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

A few months ago, Pietro and I were offered a ‘box', a gift box, to go to the Opera. We chose to go and see Jean-Philippe Rameau's lyrical tragedy Castor et Pollux, directed by Peter Sellars. The orchestra is the Utopia Ensemble, led by the Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis.   Before going to this exceptional evening, tomorrow Thursday 13 February, I did some research on the composer, but I also read some reviews of this new staging. I don't know if it was a good idea.  By the way, when I say ‘the opera', do I mean ‘the Opéra Garnier' in central Paris, built by Charles Garnier in the 19th century, or ‘the Opéra Bastille', inaugurated a hundred years later?  You'll find out in this episode.  The transcript is a very practical and effective tool for improving your understanding. It has a number of advantages, which I describe in detail on www.cultivateyourfrench.comThat's where you can subscribe to receive it and cultivate your French, the Slow Way.  This week, in the notes accompanying the transcript, you'll find a list of very natural expressions from this text and we'll be focusing on two words in particular with examples of their natural use in French. 

Lisa had a French assignment due on Sunday evening. She had to choose a poem from Book IV of Victor Hugo's Contemplations and then send in a ten-minute audio file in which she presented the poem, explained her choice, read the poem and finally suggested a parallel with a painting. All the poems in the collection deal with the same subject: the disappearance of Victor Hugo's daughter, Léopoldine, and how sad this death made him. The poem Lisa chose was entitled ‘A quoi songeaient les deux cavaliers dans la forêt' (‘What were the two horsemen thinking about in the forest'). It was Sunday afternoon and I wanted to take a nap after my Nordic walking session, but Lisa wanted to read me her assignment before recording it. She was annoyed because she hadn't found a painting, but a piece of music to go with it. In the notes accompanying the transcript, we're going to look at liaisons in French. When do we do them? When don't we? And so on. Liaisons are particularly important in poetry, because they sometimes make it possible to obtain the required number of feet, for example to form an alexandrine. But what about in everyday life? We'll be comparing the liaisons in today's text and in Victor Hugo's poem. So to improve your French liaisons, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com

Last week, I visited the offices of the newspaper Le Monde. I had an appointment with Nabil Wakim, the journalist who runs the podcast Chaleur humaine. It's a podcast that takes an expert but relaxed look at the various issues surrounding climate change, with expert guests. Each episode takes the form of a question. For example, the last episode was entitled ‘How can we save the Mediterranean Sea? I met Nabil Wakim at the Human Heat Ideas festival last December. I was there with my daughter Micaela, who is particularly interested in the subject of climate change. We had a chance to talk to him and he agreed to be interviewed. So we met last week. I chose a passage in which he talks about the French approach to climate change.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll look at the way Nabil Wakim constructs his answer to make it clear: he makes oppositions, he uses adjectives of different intensities, and so on.  So, to cultivate your French, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com

I hadn't really followed the story. Of course, I knew that transport fares were going to change in the Ile-de-France, that the price of a ticket outside Paris was going to be a single rate of 2.50 euros. I imagined some sort of magic ticket that would allow me to go further than Bécon if I suddenly changed my plans.  Then, one day when we were coming back from Nordic walking, Thierry mentioned the Navigo Liberté. The Navigo is a pass, with a photo, that allows you to travel throughout the Ile-de-France region for a single monthly or weekly rate. It's a season ticket. Until now, I didn't move around enough to take it. But we're going to talk about this in this episode. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll look together at three expressions or turns of phrase that are natural in French. We'll also notice which tense I use and how I compose my sentence when I give Pietro some advice in this episode.  So, to improve your French and learn how to give advice, I invite you (‘advice from a friend') to subscribe to the transcript.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Last week, I told you about our trip to the bakery before going to the theatre. We arrived at the theatre half an hour before the play was due to start. It was very busy, and the play was a great success. We showed our tickets and settled in. You could say that there was a performance before the performance when you take the time to watch or listen to what's going on around you. That's what this episode is about.  In the notes that come with the transcript, we'll look at three natural turns of phrase in French and we'll also look at a series of practical phrases for talking about theatre.  I'll also suggest that you send me a booking for an upcoming play at the Théâtre Saint-Martin by leaving me a message on the podcast answering machine.  So, to cultivate your French for cultural life, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript.   www.cultivateyourfrench.com

On Friday 27 December, Pietro and I went to see La serva amorosa at the Porte Saint-Martin theatre. The theatre was built in two months on the orders of Marie-Antoinette. It is magnificent. The play is a very beautiful play by the Italian author Goldoni. It was performed by great actors, including Isabelle Carré in the lead role, that of Coraline. Before going to the theatre, we took a walk along the Canal Saint-Martin and stopped to buy a bite to eat at Du pain et des idées, one of the most famous bakeries in Paris. They make Pain des amis, a sourdough bread. It was almost closing time, but there was still a bit of choice.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we'll note all the interesting expressions in this ‘bakery scene'. We're going to have fun varying them a little to discover new ones and get ready to buy bread at the boulangerie in French.  To practise your boulangerie French the slow way, Slow does not only mean slow pace, but also mindful learning, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com

Dear listeners, I wish you all une très belle et heureuse année 2025. I wish you a wonderful year filled with the joy of learning another language, opening up to another culture and meeting new people thanks to French! And, of course, good health.  In today's episode, we take a look back at our New Year's Eve party. We were invited to dinner at the house of our friends Isabelle and Thierry, who live in a house in Colombes.In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll be trying to make resolutions to find our way around French in 2025, we'll also be getting curious by taking a closer look at the wine mentioned in this episode and finally, there'll be a phrase to repeat out loud! On ne perd pas les bonnes habitudes ! So, to cultivate you French in 2025, I invite you to subcribe to the transcript and get all the positive effects all the full experience. www.cultivateyourfrench.com

There's a giveaway with the podcast at the moment to win books, you'll find all the details in the latest podcast blog post.  I invite you to take part!  By the way, I'd like to thank you for all the messages I've already received, it's so exciting to read you and find out what you like about the podcast.    This year, as usual, we celebrated Christmas: Christmas Eve on the 24th, opening presents on the 25th in the morning and lunch with a beautiful poultry, a lovely cheese platter and a bûche!  We like to prepare a home-made bûche. It's always a bit stressful because from one year to the next I can never remember which recipe I used for the biscuit.  This time, I used the Savoie biscuit recipe and everything seemed to go well.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, I'll suggest a routine to improve your listening comprehension based on the podcast. I'll also be inviting you to share yours!  Of course, there will be a few Christmas photos and we'll take a look at three very natural French expressions.  To cultivate your French, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript!  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Today we're back with French cheesemonger Augustin Denous. He's the author of a fascinating little book about cheese, which I recommend you get if you want to understand all the different aspects of cheese. Last week, Augustin gave us his definition of a good cheese. In his book, he explains that cheeses have seasons, so I asked him what his favourites were for late autumn. That's the subject of this episode.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we'll see how Ausgustin talks about Comté in particular. I'll also suggest a sentence for you to repeat, as it's a very powerful exercise for improving your spoken French. You can send me your phrase on the podcast answering machine.  So to cultivate your French for cheese, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

On my way back from the Jura, in a shop in Beaune, I came across a little yellow book that caught my eye: Le bon fromage. I looked through it and was immediately won over. Above all, I thought of you, dear listeners. At last, a simple, interesting book that opens up new perspectives and explains a whole host of things: from the importance of the meadow, to the composition of a cheese platter, not forgetting how it's made, the different regions of France, and so on. All in very accessible, yet enriching, French.  The author of this book runs two shops in Boulogne-Billancourt, near Paris. His name is Augustin Denous, and he's a very nice man who likes to share his knowledge and experience, so he agreed to talk to us about good cheese.  Today's episode is an extract from that interview, in which Augustin gives us his definition of ‘good cheese', after specifying that a good cheese is one that brings us emotion, whether it's an industrial or artisan cheese.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we'll look at how Augustin constructs this definition and how this construction can be useful in other circumstances. A link will also give you access to the whole episode and its transcript published on One Thing In A French Day.  So, to Cultivate your cheese knowledge, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com

— We should go and meet our MP. I think your listeners would be interested!  Pierre had an excellent idea.  After contacting our MP, his parliamentary assistant, Shéri Diop, suggested that we meet at the Assemblée Nationale for an interview.  It was very impressive to have an appointment in such a beautiful building and to be welcomed so warmly.  Mr Juvin was mayor of La Garenne-Colombes for many years before being elected as a Member of Parliament. He has been an MP since 2022. His electoral district covers Bois-Colombes, La Garenne-Colombes and Courbevoie. In civilian life, he is a professor of medicine and is currently head of the emergency department at Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris.  He welcomed us to his office. In this episode, I invite you to listen to the part of the interview in which Philippe Juvin explains his role as an MP.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we will look at how Mr Juvin constructs a very clear speech and how he goes about it.  You will also find a link to the audio and full transcript of this part of the interview, in which he goes on to explain the differences and similarities between the role of mayor and that of MP.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

The house was silent and I wondered what Lisa was doing that Sunday afternoon. I could already see her laughing at a Squizzie video on YouTube. Now that I know what she was doing, I think she was sighing, but it wouldn't be long before she was laughing. Lisa was reading for her French class.  In the notes that go with the transcript, I'll give you a quick introduction to the author of the text she was reading and some very famous lines. We'll also look at Lisa's sentence construction when she tells me the story of the play and we'll see how to use this construction to talk about a character by explaining its intentions. This will be applicable in everyday life, of course!  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Are you familiar with the Vendée Globe race? It's a solo round-the-world yacht race on a small boat, a monohull. A race without assistance! It's what we call a ‘sick race'. Every four years, the participants set off from Les Sables d'Olonne, in Vendée, and arrive in Le Sable d'Olonne after sailing around the world from west to east.  Pietro is very fond of this race, and has been taking part virtually for several years. What exactly do I mean by ‘virtually', that's what you're going to find out in this episode, among other slightly wacky things. In the notes accompanying the transcript, you'll find three useful and natural expressions in French, with examples. We'll also take a closer look at what the little word ‘bien' can change in a sentence. Especially when you're investigating, my dear Watson.  So, if you want to cultivate your French, not virtually, but the Slow and at the right pace way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript at www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

On Friday, I met up with my friend Anne-Laure for lunch at a cute little restaurant in La Garenne-Colombes. To warm us up, we ordered tea. ‘Let it steep for two minutes', said the lady in the restaurant. Everything changed when I removed the tea bag. Fortunately, as they say in French, ‘le ridicule ne tue pas'.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we're going to play around with switching certain sentences from indirect speech to direct speech, because it's very useful to know how to do that when you're telling someone something, a little adventure that's happened to you, for example. We're also going to identify some pronouns to see how they're used in the sentences in the episode. It's a good opportunity to pick up some automatic patterns, both when you're listening and when you need to express yourself.  So if you want to cultivate your French, the Slow Way, I invite you to subscribe. www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

As I prepare this episode, we still don't know the result of the US elections. I hope this episode will give you a break from the stress of the election campaign.  Last week, we were in the Jura mountains. We went for a walk with Eric Wolff, a naturalist guide, around the village of Etival. After climbing ‘Le Mont Paradis', where we were able to observe a number of different plant species, we went back down a wooded path to look for animal tracks - there were traces of wild boar.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, there will be photos of the walk, but we're also going to look at a word that occurs three times in the text, but in different contexts. If you have time, I'll suggest that you send me a mini-story about the wolf or a phrase to repeat on the podcast answering machine.  So, to cultivate your French, the slow way, I invite you to follow in the footsteps of the wolf, er, of the other subscribers. www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

After going to the bakery, in last week episode,  two days later, I went back to Bécon, this time to withdraw money from the ATM. Lisa was with me. Perhaps she'll tell us about her cinnamon roll?  In the notes that accompany the transcript, you'll find an assortment of super-practical phrases about withdrawing money from an ATM. Yes, yes, you also need to know how to speak ATM French!  So if you want to cultivate your French and have a nice assortment of words about withdrawing money, I invite you to subscribe.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Today's episode is a live recording. I recorded it on Monday morning on my way to do an errand. The recording starts outside my building. It's a chance for you to hear some totally natural French, as well as a real dialogue at the bakery.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll look at all the expressions that are typical in this dialogue and how you can use them.  So, to cultivate and improve your French at the boulangerie, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

On Saturday nights, we eat a slice of homemade pizza in front of the TV. But not on Sunday evenings. this Sunday, Lisa suggested we watch something. By the time we'd agreed, Pietro's soup was ready. We watched a live political debate on France 5. The subject of the debate was the importance of ecology in the new government. There were a few sighs at the beginning of the programme, but by the end we were all hooked.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll make a list of practical phrases for debating or expressing your opinion. It's always useful in a discussion.  So if you want to improve your French, the slow way, and debate in French, I invite you to subscribe.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

When Micaela was a baby, one of my favourite walks was to the Pont de Levallois. If I saw a barge, I thought I'd won the barge game. If I didn't see one, I'd lost. Sometimes I'd see two or even three barges. It was a real party.  Since then, playing the game of barges has become a sort of reflex whenever a member of the family passes over the bridge or on a train over the Seine. In this episode, I tell you about a new version of the game that my father and I are developing.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll look at three natural French expressions that come from the text and we'll focus on the phrase in the text that contains the locution ‘en train de', which means « in the process of », and we'll see how it's very important when we're talking about something.  So, if you're ‘in the process of' cultivating your French, the slow way, at the right pace, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com

Today we're not going to talk about choux, but about sous (money).  Cultural differences are sometimes also differences in financial culture, as my friend Pierre explained to me about mortgages.  It's his job, and he knows the French banking industry very well. He's going to compare a few aspects of mortgages in France and the United States. The first difference is that there is no credit score in France. In this episode, Pierre will tell us about a second difference, and then a third.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll look at three useful expressions and then you'll find a list of simple phrases for talking about rates that go up, down and up.  If you'd like to improve your French, the slow way, also about finance culture, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript at www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

On Saturday morning, I had tea near the station with Anne-Laure. We were sitting on the café terrace, slightly in the sun. It was lovely!  - So what are you doing this weekend?' asked Anne-Laure.  I explained that I had to go to Paris, to a luthier in the 11th arrondissement, to get Felicia's viola da gamba fixed. The luthier's workshop was located in a typical passageway in this district. Perhaps you remember a flânerie with Anne-Laure in that area two years ago? It reminded me that the luthier was not far from a patisserie whose speciality we had discovered, le chou à la flouve, a plant that gives a taste of vanilla and caramel when infused in a crème pâtissière. I offered to bring Anne-Laure some choux.  Did I find any? You'll find out when you listen to this episode in French.  In the notes that accompany the transcript of the episode, I'll focus on three typical French expressions and we'll play with questions, questions to awaken our curiosity and take the time to wander with the language.  So to cultivate your French, the Slow way, but also your curiosity, I invite you to subscribe. www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Last Thursday, Géraldine and I headed off to Normandy to spend the day. We arrived early in Trouville, by the sea, to see an exhibition dedicated to the painter Augustin Rouart. On the train home, I asked Géraldine how she liked the exhibition. You'll hear our conversation in this episode.  In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll take a look at three natural French expressions used in this episode, as well as suggestions for grammar lessons to brush up on and a link to the whole interview with Géraldine and its transcript, of course!  So to make the most of this escapade in Normandy, Slow style, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Just before the start of the new school year, I received a text message from my friend Géraldine. She asked me to come with her for a day to Normandy, to see two exhibitions, one of which was on the painter Augustin Rouart, as part of the Normandie Impressioniste festival, which takes place every four years. The name Rouart sounded familiar, but I wasn't really sure why. I said ‘yes' to her proposal and we decided on a date.  In this episode, you'll find out why the name Rouart rang a bell and also what day we leave for Normandy.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we'll look at three expressions that are natural in French. There will also be some interesting links on the painter Augustin Rouart, suggestions of grammar points to review (these are only suggestions) and also an episode of the One Thing In A French Day archives to listen to!  So if you want to learn French the ‘slow' way, I invite you to subscribe.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

You've probably seen it on TV, or perhaps in Paris, the atmosphere at the Olympic Games was extraordinary! Last week we went to a para-swimming event at La Défense and the girls, Pietro and I loved the atmosphere, watching the athletes and seeing their performances. Over at the kung fu club, Alistair got the chance to work for the Olympics thanks to a partnership between his school and OBS (Olympic Broadcast Service). He is a student sound engineer. He accompanied a team of Indian journalists who were feeding the Olympickehl Instagram page. It was a fantastic experience for him. Today, in Cultivate Your French, I'm showing you an extract from the interview we had last week.  In the transcript with notes, we'll take a close look at what makes this speech typical of spoken French, we'll also notice the tense changes and of course we'll have three expressions to note down because they're very natural in French. You'll also have the link to the whole episode of the interview with Alistair, with the transcript, of course!  So, to cultivate the Olympics atmosphere with the podcast, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

Last Thursday, Micaela and Anna (Micaela's best friend) returned from their Interrail trip. The trip was part of their plans for this summer. They were away for ten days, visiting Vienna and Munich.  We had planned for them to tell us about their trip over dinner on Saturday with Anna's parents, Hélène and Olivier.  It's this dinner that we're talking about in today's episode.  In the notes that go with the transcript, you'll find the sentence to repeat, of course, but also three expressions that are very natural in French. I'll also give you three suggestions of little things you can do for your French, depending on the time you have. www.cultivateyourfrench.com  

On Wednesday 24 July, we loaded up the car and left Paris with a twinge of regret.  - I'm a bit sad we won't be here for the Olympics,' said Micaela. I have a feeling that the atmosphere is going to be really great.  Two days later, we arrived in the Marche region of Italy, after a stopover in Aix-les-Bains and another in Pavia.   Our hosts, Kirsten and Massimo, were waiting for us at their house in Barchi, from which we had rented the first-floor flat. We were very excited to be spending more than two weeks in this eco-friendly house in the middle of a hilly landscape.  In this episode, I'm going to tell you all about it. In the notes that go with the transcript, we're going to focus on three sentences in the text that contain the conjunction ‘mais'.   So, to Cultivate Your French, ‘'mais aussi‘' your turns of phrase, I invite you to subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyourfrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

Micaela and I are at Gare Saint-Lazare for a summer stroll. Since the last renovation, the station has become a real shopping centre. There are numerous stores selling clothes, shoes and beauty products, as well as fast-food outlets and fine restaurants such as chef Eric Frechon's Lazare. I'm dying to try his Paris-Deauville dessert. But our program was more geared towards sweets. There's plenty to choose from at Saint-Lazare! We bought macarons at Ladurée, we also bought some at Dalloyau and finally, we stopped off at Les Merveilleux de Fred. Do you know this meringue and cream dessert? They're a big hit in Paris.  So to cultivate your French, your palate, but also to discover this area of Paris and benefit from all the positive effects of the exact text and cultural notes, I invite you to subscribe.  One last thing: the podcast will be on hiatus next week, the week of August 15. I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday August 21. So if you'd like to improve your French, discover this part of Paris and benefit from all the positive effects of the exact text, as well as the cultural notes, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

Micaela and I are at Gare Saint-Lazare for a summer stroll. Gare Saint-Lazare is the oldest station in Paris, having been renovated for the 1889 Universal Exhibition, the same year the Eiffel Tower was built. After going up rue de Rome to the Pont de l'Europe, the site of two famous paintings: Edouard Manet's Le chemin de fer and Gustave Caillebotte's Pont de l'Europe, we'll head back down to the station via rue d'Amsterdam. Can you follow us?  So if you'd like to improve your French comprehension, discover this part of Paris and benefit from all the positive effects of the exact text, as well as the cultural notes, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

We're at Gare Saint-Lazare, in the Europe district, whose streets bear the names of capital cities. This summer, I'd like to invite you on a four-part historical, cultural and gourmet summer stroll!  Where were we?  Ah yes, Micaela and I were walking up Rue de Rome, the street that runs alongside the train station from the Cour de Rome up towards the Batignolles district. We're going to talk about painting today.  So if you'd like to improve your French comprehension, discover this part of Paris and benefit from all the positive effects of the exact text, as well as the cultural notes, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

Gare Saint-Lazare is a star! What is it? A station that doesn't even have a TGV? A star? But why?  Well, there are several reasons. First of all, in terms of passenger traffic, it's the second busiest station in France (after the Gare du Nord). The station serves the western suburbs of Paris, as well as Normandy. It's also the oldest station in Paris. It opened in 1837. It has been painted by some very famous artists. Would you like some names? Gustave Caillebotte, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Camille Pissaro, among others.  These are all 19th-century artists. The Saint-Lazare station was fascinating because it embodied modernity and technical progress. These were themes dear to the artists who settled in the new Europe district.  Micaela swiped her Navigo, I swiped my ticket, and you could hear the automatic gate open. We're at Gare Saint-Lazare, in the Europe district, whose streets bear the names of capitals. I'd like to invite you on a four-part summer stroll through history, culture and food!  So if you'd like to improve your French, discover this part of Paris and benefit from all the positive effects of the exact text, as well as the cultural notes, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

This episode is a re-run of an episode from 2020, at the end of the lockdown when we started to be able to move around. But it's also a very summery episode!  This week, I'm on a kung fu course in Reims, the Champagne region!  In the notes that come with the transcript,I give you a list of words from this episode that I find interesting to know. We'll also take a look at three turns of phrase and you'll see how to use them with examples.  So if you want tobenefit from all the positive effects of having the exact text of the episode, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

We have some major political news in France with the legislative elections since the President, Emmanuel Macron, dissolved the National Assembly. We therefore have to elect new deputies. There is a rise in the far right in France, certainly because people feel misunderstood more than out of racism. Still, it makes everyone a bit nervous. This rise is mainly affecting rural areas. The second round of legislative elections takes place on Sunday 7 July.  My daughter Micaela is eighteen, so she voted in this year's European elections, the results of which prompted the head of state to dissolve the assembly.  She took part in the counting of the ballot papers, as the municipality had too many problems with the electronic machines used instead of paper ballots.  In the notes accompanying the transcript, we'll take a look at a few expressions. You'll also find the election vocabulary and some sample sentences. This is very useful for following what's happening in France on TV, radio or in the press.  So if you want to get your French right up to the ballot box and benefit from all the positive effects of having the exact text of the transcript, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

For the Olympic Games, which start in Paris in a few weeks' time, we have a beautiful poster. It was designed by the artist Ugo Gattoni, who studied art after a spell in the sports and swimming studies section. The poster took two thousand hours of work, and was produced on a graphics tablet, but entirely by hand. Anne-Laure and I got together to talk to you about this poster. In the notes that come with the transcript, I invite you to try your hand at collecting adjectives based on the last blog post on the podcast. You can share your harvest with me, either orally or in writing.  So if you want to cultivate your French and harvest a good crop and benefit from all the positive effects of having the exact text of the transcript, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

Last week, on Thursday to be precise, our friends Isabelle and Thierry, Pietro and I, got on our bikes for a trip to Paris. Our destination? The Centre Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg. Until 1 July, the museum is showing an exceptional retrospective of the sculptor Brancusi. It's an extraordinary museum, with one of the best views of Paris. On the way back, we took the rue de Rivoli, which is now reserved for bicycles (but still has a lane for buses and taxis) and runs alongside the Louvre and the Tuileries gardens. We turned off towards the Madeleine, then the Gare Saint-Lazare, the 17th arrondissement, Neuilly, the Levallois bridge and we were back home. We left at 1.30pm. So it was a nice ride, which of course also included a gourmet break, as you'll discover in this episode recorded on the spot!  In the notes accompanying the transcript, I'm going to suggest three sentences for you to repeat! Yes, three because I find them interesting. I'll explain my choice for each one, pointing out a few things along the way, but I can already tell you that the idea behind these choices is to practise speaking French as you would in everyday life.  www.cultivateyourfrench.com

There was a change in the weather at the start of the week, with the sun that had finally returned giving way once again to rain. It's in keeping with the gloomy mood I've been in since the elections. I don't feel like listening to the news or the radio any more, so to take my mind off things I listened again to the concert by Lea Dessandre, Thomas Dunford and the Jupiter Ensemble, who played pieces by John Dowland and Henry Purcell last Tuesday at the Maison de la Radio. Felicia and I attended the concert, the theme of which was melancholy in love. I'd had the tickets for a long time, hoping that she would be able to come. Everything becomes uncertain as the end of the year approaches.  In the notes that come with the transcript, we'll look at three very natural expressions in French that I want to tell you about. I'll also share with you some practical phrases relating to culture: going to the theatre, a concert, etc.  So to cultivate your French without melancholy and benefit from all the positive effects of having the exact text of the transcript, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.

Last week, I dropped by the station in the early evening to drop off a book at the book box. I noticed that a florist had set up a stall there. The station is the focal point of the neighbourhood. It's on the border between Courbevoie, Asnières and Bois-Colombes. The railway line divides the Bécon district into two areas, the one on the Courbevoie side being the most commercial. But with the arrival of a new bakery and a new pastry chef, the area on the Asnières side is coming back to life. The florist was also on the Asnières side.  In the notes that come with the transcript, we'll focus on practical phrases for talking about prices in shops and three typical expressions of natural French and also three expressions that are interesting to notice.  So if you want to cultivate your French and benefit from all the positive effects of having the exact text of the transcript, you could subscribe to the Cultivate Your French transcript at www.cultivateyoufrench.com. The subscription costs 4 euros a month and each new subscriber receives the 10 latest episodes.