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

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 same time. Enjoy!

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 yourselves the famous “machines de l’île”.

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!

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, playing hide-and-seek.

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.

In this episode, Gaelle interviews Laure, a French woman currently unemployed and who decided to use her free time to do some good and volunteer. Laure talks about the association she volunteers for, what she does there, and explains why she loves it.

In this episode, Gaelle gives you some handy tips that’ll help you understand French people and sound more French. Oral French is quite different from written French and you need to be able to spot the contractions and missing letters.

In this episode, Gaëlle takes you down a musical path to meet a famous Belgian singer: Stromae. You will learn where his stage name comes from, what he’s been up to for the past 6 years since he left the musical world, and you’ll finally understand the lyrics of his famous “Alors on danse” song.

In this episode, Gaelle talks about the nuclear strategy chosen by France as its main source of energy and electricity. She explains why the country has made this unique choice and what problems result from it.

In this episode, Gaelle takes you on an adventure between France and Italy, Renaissance and modern time. She explains why the most famous painting in the world - La Joconde (or Mona Lisa) - is in le Louvre museum in Paris. And she talks about the fascinating relationship between a French king and an Italian artist, Leonardo da Vinci.

In this episode Gaelle introduces you to 5 new words that are quite unique to the French language, words that can’t be translated into English without using long paraphrases. You will understand the meaning of: dépaysement, gourmand, la rentrée, flâner et bêtise.

In this episode, Gaëlle will try to understand why French society seems so opposed to vaccines. In the land of Louis Pasteur, the distrust toward jabs, and even more so against the Covid vaccines, can seem incomprehensible. Gaëlle will go through the facts and explain the different factors leading to such distrust.

In this episode, Gaëlle interviews a special guest - Elisabeth, a “médiathécaire” (librarian). You will learn what she loves about her job, how the library works in terms of its budget, employees and goals. She will even give you her special recommendations if you want to challenge yourself and start reading a novel in French!

In this episode, Gaëlle will “vous mettre l’eau à la bouche” (make your mouth water) by talking about two all time favourite French foods: cheese and bread. You will discover that good bread is all about the flour you use; and if you don’t want to give a heart attack to your French host, you had better learn how to properly cut a piece of cheese.😉

In this episode, Gaëlle explores a literary style, typical of France and Belgium, the “bande dessinée” or “BD”. You will discover the drawn world of Astérix and Tintin and finally understand why a “BD” isn’t the same thing as a comic. Gaelle will even make some personal recommendations in case you want to give it a go and buy your first bande dessinée.

In this episode, Gaëlle focuses on phonetics and explains two phenomena commonly used in French and vital to be understood: “la liaison” and “l’élision”. You will understand when to use them and more importantly, how to pronounce them! With easy and repetitive examples, you'll be able to copy her and practice your beautiful French accent.

In this episode, Gaëlle tells you the story of one of the great French women - Coco Chanel, creator of the world-famous brand. In this short biography, her life will be revealed to you. Both the glorious and the shameful. Because no one is perfect...

In this episode, Gaëlle discusses the specificities of a French meal and the French habits around the table. It’s common knowledge to say that French people have amazing food and a true passion for the subject and here you will understand what makes it so special and why French people still have a 2-hour lunch break.

The Eiffel Tower...everyone knows its shape and instantly thinks of Paris when seeing it. But did you ever wonder why this big metal structure exists? In this episode, Gaëlle goes back in time and starts at the origins of this monument, unfolding the story all the way to the current period, where it’s now the perfect symbol of France.

In this episode, Gaëlle tackles stereotypes about French women. Are they really all slim and elegant ? Do they smoke 20 cigarettes a day whilst letting their hairy armpits get some fresh air on Parisian terraces? The truth will finally be revealed!

In this episode, Gaëlle talks about the French series “Lupin”, produced by Netflix and “must see” of 2021. If you haven’t watched the series yet, don’t worry, no spoilers will take place :) Instead, you will discover the books which inspired the series and the reasons behind this huge success.

In this episode, Gaëlle helps you with two tricky words: “finalement” and “actuellement”. Through examples and translations in English, you will understand why they are “false friends” and how you should really use them.

Welcome to LanguaTalk Slow French. This short trailer explains what the podcast will cover and how it can help you learn French.