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Bonjour à tous ! Welcome to the French Blabla podcast where you'll find tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. If you're fed up with boring grammar books or tired of speaking an artificial French, far from how natives speak, then this podcast is for you. This podcast isn't French grammar or French vocabulary only, we will cover a wide range of topics that will help you in your learning journey. What are you waiting for? Join me!
- 171 - A day in French - 54 - Closet
Bonjour à tous and welcome back to our podcast! In today's episode, we delve into a practical and engaging topic: how to sell used clothes on French websites. This episode is perfect for those looking to combine the eco-friendly act of selling used clothes with enhancing their French language skills.
As we go through my story to sell used clothes online, I'll teach you the necessary French vocabulary and grammar to navigate these transactions effectively. This setup is an excellent opportunity for French learners to apply language lessons in real-life scenarios, which can be incredibly rewarding.
Throughout the episode, I focus on the practical aspects of how to sell used clothes online in France, including how talk about the process of selling and sending your items and how to describe them attractively in French.
In this Episode:
Vocabulary Expansion: Learn specific terms related to clothing, sales, and e-commerce—all in French. Grammar Mastery: Dive deep into the use of articles in French, which are essential when you list and sell used clothes. Take on a challenge that will help solidify your understanding of the topic and languageThis episode is not just about learning to sell used clothes; it's about enriching your French learning journey through practical application. Join us to improve your language skills and learn how to navigate the French online marketplace effectively!
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 - 03min - 170 - A day in French - 53 - Macros
Hey folks! So, here's the scoop: 2024 is my year of "transformation", and it's all centered around diving deep into 'cuisine French.' But here's the twist – after realizing that my love affair with pain au chocolat has been a little too indulgent, I've decided it's time to get savvy with macro counting. Yep, I'm on a mission to strike the perfect balance between savoring the richness of French cuisine and keeping my nutrition in check.
In this episode, I'm taking you along on my adventure of marrying the art of macro counting with the indulgence of French food. It's not about giving up the good stuff; it's about making the good stuff work for me and my health goals. And let me tell you, it's been quite the enlightening journey so far!
In this Episode:
From Pain au Chocolat to Portion Control: Sharing my personal story of how those irresistible French pastries led me to a path of healthier eating habits without sacrificing flavor. Grammar Corner: We explore useful French phrases to express opposition, perfect for those moments when you're debating between another bite or saying "non, merci." Nutrition in French: Expanding our French vocabulary with key nutrition terms, making it easier to navigate menus and food labels while indulging in 'cuisine French.'So, are you ready to join me on this flavorful expedition through 'cuisine French'? Let's make 2024 the year we embrace the best of French dining, one macro at a time!
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Sun, 18 Feb 2024 - 04min - 169 - A day in French - 52 - Seashells
Hey folks, welcome back to a new episode, where I dive into my laid-back morning stroll on the 'plage'—that's 'beach' in French for those diving into the language with me. This episode is all about the simple pleasures of the beach in French culture, from the seashells I found to the unique way I decided to cook them. Plus, I've got the scoop on beach etiquette in France.
So there I was, walking on the beach in French territory, when I came across an array of seashells. It sparked a little culinary idea in me. Why not cook these seashells? Turned out to be a delicious decision. Along the way, I picked up on some do's and don'ts of French beach etiquette that I thought were pretty interesting to share.
In this Episode:
Seashell Vocabulary: I'll share the French names for the cool seashells I found on the beach. Beach Etiquette: Picked up some tips on how to behave on the beach. There's a certain way to do things here. Grammar Nuggets: We'll tackle how to express obligations and prohibitions in French, super useful for beach-related and other scenarios.Join me for a chill recount of my beach day in France. Whether you're here for the French lessons, curious about my seashell cooking experiment, or just in it for the beach tales, this episode's got a bit of everything.
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Thu, 01 Feb 2024 - 04min - 168 - A day in French - 51 - Calendar
Welcome to a special episode of the podcast, where I delve into the heartwarming French tradition for Christmas, focusing particularly on the enchanting world of advent calendars.
As we count down the days to 'Noël,' I want to share with you my personal experiences with past advent calendars and the unique joy they bring during the festive season.
In this episode, I'll take you through a journey of discovery, exploring the origins of the advent calendar.
This tradition, deeply rooted in French culture, is not just a countdown to Christmas; it's a daily celebration of anticipation and joy.
I'll recount my cherished memories associated with these calendars, from the excitement of revealing each day's surprise to the special moments shared with family.
But that's not all – we'll also dive into some fascinating grammar points.
We'll review the use of 'tout' and 'tous,' exploring their various contexts and applications in French.
This grammar focus will enhance your understanding and usage of these versatile words, especially in the context of holiday traditions.
As for vocabulary, we'll specifically talk about advent calendars. You'll learn the French terms associated with this tradition, enriching your festive lexicon and helping you to describe this delightful custom with ease.
In this Episode:
Advent Calendar Traditions: Explore the French tradition for Christmas through the lens of advent calendars, understanding their cultural significance. Origins and Memories: Discover the origins of advent calendars and hear my personal stories associated with this charming tradition. Grammar Focus on 'Tout' and 'Tous': Learn the nuances of using 'tout' and 'tous' in various contexts, enhancing your grammatical fluency. Vocabulary Deep Dive: Expand your French vocabulary with terms related to advent calendars, perfect for holiday conversations.Join me in this nostalgic episode as we embrace the French tradition for Christmas. Whether you're a language learner or a lover of cultural traditions, this episode is filled with linguistic insights, heartwarming stories, and the magic of the holiday season.
Useful Episode Resources
Episode mentioned in this episode: All about "tout" - Click to listen
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Mon, 18 Dec 2023 - 03min - 167 - A day in French - 50 - Deer
Today's podcast episode is an extraordinary journey into the heart of the French wilderness, as we explore the theme of deer in French or "le cerf" in an enchanting forest setting.
This episode is not just about discovering the majestic deer in their natural habitat but also about enhancing your French skills, particularly if you're at the A2 level.
Our focus is on prepositions of location, an essential aspect of French grammar that paints a picture of where events unfold.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to solidify your A2 level skills, understanding these prepositions is crucial for describing settings and locations in French, especially when talking about nature and wildlife like deer.
So, settle in and relax as we dive into the captivating world of deer in the French forests and unravel the simplicity and beauty of French grammar.
Are you intrigued by all of this?
Make sure to download the study guide linked below. It includes everything from the episode's transcription to a rich vocabulary list centered around our theme - deer in French - and a look at prepositions of location.
In this episode:
Explore vocabulary related to nature, specifically focusing on deer in French Learn and practice prepositions of location, a key component in describing natural scenes in French Take on a challenge that will help solidify your understanding of the topic and languageJoin me on this engaging journey to learn about deer in French and improve your French grammar skills. It's an adventure that blends the beauty of nature with the elegance of the French language!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Tue, 14 Nov 2023 - 04min - 166 - Ep60 - Weird Sounds French people Make
Mastering the French language pronunciation is a crucial aspect of becoming fluent, and integrating French funny phrases and sounds can make the learning process even more enjoyable.
Understanding and using authentic sounds like "pfff," "hein," "rohh," "blowing a raspberry," and "mmmm" can significantly enhance your grasp of the language.
In this lesson, we'll delve deep into these unique elements of French language pronunciation, showing you how to use them just like a native speaker. Adding these sounds to your vocabulary will not only improve your pronunciation but also help you grasp the nuances of various French peculiar everyday phrases.
In this Episode:
Show surprise, frustration and annoyance with sounds Bonus casual phrases to add to the sounds The number 1 French TV show to level up your FrenchUseful Episode Resources
Episode 36 of the French Blabla podcast : Don't say ”je ne sais pas”, use these words instead - Click to listen "Plan Coeur - The Hookup Plan" - TV Show - Click to check the trailer on YoutubeFREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Tue, 31 Oct 2023 - 15min - 165 - A day in French - 49 - Baths II
I've just had an incredible adventure in a French destination that's a great spa town. Picture this: it's early morning, the air is crisp, and I'm stepping into a thermal spa with a history that goes all the way back to the Romans. Can you believe it? This great spa town has been around for centuries, and I'm about to dive into its healing mineral waters.
Our grammar focus today is on conjunctions of coordination and subordination, which help us connect and organize ideas in a sentence. Whether you're a beginner or more advanced learner, we'll explore some essential conjunctions.
The level is A2 so beginner +
If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.
To listen to my previous Bath episode : Click to listen
In this episode
Words and phrases connected to spa and treatments Review conjunctions of coordination and subordination A challenge for you to shineUseful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Fri, 02 Jun 2023 - 05min - 164 - Unlock the Story - 02 - Wine
Do you like wine?
In today's episode of our new series "Unlock the Story", we're playing a game where you'll need to fill in the blanks with the correct French vocabulary to complete the narrative.
The stories follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and today the level is A2 or beginner +.
You can submit your completed story in the comments section for feedback and guidance on frenchblabla.org.
In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of wine and the hard work that goes into producing it. We follow the fictional story of a couple who bought a vineyard in the Aude region of France over fifty years ago and began making their own wine.
Let me know in the comments if you enjoy this episode and would like more!
In this episode
Words and phrases connected to wine Review the past tenses A challenge for you to shineUseful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 12 May 2023 - 02min - 163 - Ep59 - Unlocking the Power of TV Shows to Improve Your French: My Tips and Tricks
Looking for a fun and effective way to improve your French language skills?
While using TV shows and movies to learn a language has always been a popular method, it can be frustrating when subtitles are not designed for language learners.
In this episode of the podcast, we explore some tips for using TV shows to improve your comprehension of fast-spoken French and your pronunciation.
In this episode
The technique to improve your pronunciation What to do for an effective learning My tips to enrich your vocabulary and grammar My free audio training to improve your understanding of fast spoken FrenchUseful Episode Resources
Episode 37 of the French Blabla podcast : Let's remember grammar - Click to listenFREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 28 Apr 2023 - 07min - 162 - A day in French - 48 - Aligot
Today, I'm excited to discuss the beloved French dish, aligot. This cheesy, creamy comfort food is perfect for cold winter nights.
Our grammar focus today is on logical conjunctions, or "les connecteurs logiques" in French, which help us connect and organize ideas in a sentence. Whether you're a beginner or more advanced learner, we'll explore some essential conjunctions.
The level is A2 so beginner +
So sit back, relax, and let's dive into the world of aligot and French grammar!
If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.
In this episode
Words and phrases connected to food and recipe preparation Review the logical conjunctions A challenge for you to shineUseful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Fri, 24 Mar 2023 - 04min - 161 - Unlock the Story - 01 - Pets
In today's episode of our new series "Unlock the Story", we're playing a game where you'll need to fill in the blanks with the correct French vocabulary to complete the narrative.
The stories follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and are appropriate for all levels of French learners.
You can submit your completed story in the comments section of each episode for feedback and guidance at frenchblabla.org.
This episode's theme is "our pets", and the story is half-fictional. Beginners need only provide one word, while intermediate or advanced learners are encouraged to use their imagination and come up with multiple words.
Click the link in the description or visit frenchblabla.org for the transcription and possible answers to the blanks.
Let me know in the comments if you enjoy this episode and would like more!
In this episode
Words and phrases connected to pets A challenge for you to shineUseful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 10 Mar 2023 - 04min - 160 - A day in French - 47 - Eggs II
Discover the world of temporal clauses in French with this A2-B1 level podcast episode.
Get a deep understanding of how these words and phrases express the timing of events and create a sequence of actions.
Along with a discussion on temporal clauses, I share my personal journey of egg donation, including the stimulation process, self-administered injections, and the procedure itself.
Hear about the challenges I faced, such as finding a doctor, dealing with injections, and navigating the hospital experience.
This educational episode also provides technical health terms to enhance your learning.
In this episode
Words and phrases connected to health and hospital Review the temporal clauses A challenge for you to shineUseful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Fri, 17 Feb 2023 - 05min - 159 - A day in French - 46 - Christmas
Joyeux Noël ! Mes meilleurs voeux à tous. Je vous souhaite de passer de merveilleuses fêtes. Voilà. Alors, bienvenue pour ce nouvel épisode. Today, because it’s Christmas, I’m going to share a story that I saw in a newspaper.
It’s aimed at A2 learners, so beginner +. The whole episode uses the present tense.
We also have a sprinkle of passive voice so if you’d like to review this, stay tuned. There are also some colourful phrases you can learn to enrich your vocabulary.
If you’d like to grab all the goodies I’ve just talked about, head over to frenchblabla.org or simply click the link below to download the study guide where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary, the grammar focus and of course the writing challenge. You know the drill.
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Thu, 22 Dec 2022 - 03min - 158 - A day in French - 45 - Cleaning
Aujourd’hui on va parler d’une de mes découvertes qui a changé ma vie quotidienne. Je suis sûre que beaucoup d’entre vous vont me dire “mieux vaut tard que jamais”, better late than never if we say it in English. Yes, I’m always a late bloomer.
This episode is a direct request from Eric. He joined the Christmas Postcard exchange and asked for more beginner episodes.
If you’d like to review your present tense and your object pronouns (le - la - les) while learning new vocabulary to talk about your house cleaning habits, then stay tuned. If you’re intermediate, don’t skip this episode because I have some colourful phrases for you that are natural, casual and especially will make you sound like a native. You’ll find everything in the study guide. Simply click on the link below to get your hands on the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Fri, 09 Dec 2022 - 04min - 157 - A day in French - 44 - Eggs
Raise your hand if you think we’re going to talk about breakfast.
Sorry guys, this isn’t the kind of eggs we’re going to talk about today I’m afraid.
We’re gonna have a conversation about MY EGGS. Something I had never imagined I would say on the internet for the whole world to hear, but here we are.
The vocabulary in this episode is obviously very medically-oriented with a lot of specific words related to this field. It will be very useful if you want to share your last experience at the hospital in French.
If you’re interested in all of this, you can either go to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar or you can simply click on the link in the description. It will take you there.
In this episode
Words and phrases connected to the medical world A sneakpeek into the French medical world A challenge for you to shineMusic: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 04 Nov 2022 - 06min - 156 - A day in French - 43 - Dancing
Today, we’re going to continue talking about my life and the activities that I have finally resumed.
I feel overjoyed and it’s not even an exaggeration frankly.
Being able to clear my mind during the week and taking a break from the daily life…it’s really refreshing.
This episode is a bit more difficult than usual so it’s aimed at intermediate levels, B1 and B2.
We will study words and phrases that are related to the world of dancing. As for the grammar focus, we will review phrases about feelings and how to use the verb “to miss” as in “i miss dancing” for example.
If you’re interested in all of this, you can either go to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar or you can simply click on the link in the description. It will take you there.
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 14 Oct 2022 - 03min - 155 - Ep58 - Voilà ! It's time to use this word like a native
Last week, my partner watched a rugby match on tv and he got really impressed by the incredible amount of "voilà" one can fit in a few sentences. He, then, asked me if it was common for French people to use this word so much. I mean, the rugby player felt the need to put at least one "voilà" per sentence. That is some dedication!
Of course, as you can imagine, I answered him that no, we’re not supposed to use "voilà" as a punctuation mark.
Today you’re going to learn how to use "voilà" properly.
Last year, thanks to the Eurovision, this little word got famous again all over the world. It was the title of the song France won her second place with so it was time for "voilà" to have its own episode.
In this episode
New ways to use the word “voilà” Alternatives to “voilà” to sound more natural A challenge for you to shineUseful Episode Resources
Struggling with pronunciation, especially when it's fast? Do you think to yourself "how on earth am I supposed to produce those sounds in my mouth?"
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 30 Sep 2022 - 09min - 154 - Ep57 - The word "little" will never be the same again
I’ll be honest this is something I say a lot… I realized it when I quickly listened to one of the episode to see if everything was ok. I guess it’s a bad French habit that pervaded my English. Tell me if you noticed it! As a consequence, I strongly believe this is a bad habit you should integrate in your French language. Like everybody in my country, I tend to overuse the word “little”. It’s not really a filler since it conveys different meanings and emotions as well. Today that’s what we’ll study so that your world becomes smaller and cuter
In this episode
New ways to use the word “little” Speak a more natural and native sounding FrenchFREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 23 Sep 2022 - 08min - 153 - A day in French - 42 - Violin
September is finally here and with it, the sadness of waving goodbye to our summer holidays. Work and school have resumed. France now went back to its humdrum daily life.
In this episode we’re going to talk about music instruments and we’ll have a look at a specific vocabulary related to this.
As for the grammar focus, we will study phrases to express regrets. As a consequence, it’s best suited for my B level listeners.
Everything can be found in the study guide : the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.
If you want to download it, head over to frenchblabla.org or you can click the link below.
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Fri, 16 Sep 2022 - 03min - 152 - A day in French - 41 - Shopping
Today, we’re going to talk about a challenge that everybody is now more or less facing I guess. Please don’t hesitate to share your story or opinion if that’s the case… and you know what, even if it’s not the case, just comment anyway, I’m always glad to read your story.
It’s been a couple of years now of international instability and struggles, let’s say. Obviously, we’re not going to talk about anything depressing, nobody needs that. Today, the vocabulary is for B1 levels and it’s all about words and phrases to describe your shopping habits but focused on sales, coupons and saving money. As for the grammar focus, we’ll see a few phrases to express goals with the infinitive.
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Fri, 09 Sep 2022 - 03min - 151 - A day in French - 40 - UFO
I’m not a big fan of French tv shows but recently I found a couple that were funny and captivating.
We’re gonna talk about that today. This program is called Ovnis, let me know in the comment section if you know it and if you have watched it.
It follows a group of people who work for the French bureau of unidentified aerospace phenomena. In other words, UFO.
Do you know what the most interesting part of all this is?
It’s inspired by a true story, but you’ll need to stay tuned if you want to know more.
What are we going to learn today?
In this episode, you’ll get to know how to react and whom to contact if you witness something strange in the French sky during your holiday.
As for the grammar focus, we’re going to review the simple relative pronouns so it’s for you my A level learners.
To get your hands on the transcription, the grammar focus and the vocabulary, head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide or simply click on the link below.
Useful Episode Resources
Grab today's study guide HERE
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Music by Podington Bear
Sun, 20 Feb 2022 - 04min - 150 - A day in French - 39 - Wild
Today’s story was inspired by some program my partner listened to at the radio. Since I talked about weird French events, like the bizarre and let’s admit it, quite ghastly Christmas menu we covered in episode 21 of "A day in French", it will not come as a surprise that I cover this strange event.
The grammar focus today will be geared towards A2 and B1. You’ll be able to review or learn how to create adverbs.
To get everything, head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide where you’ll find the transcription, the grammar focus and the vocabulary.
There’s also a free audio training waiting for you on the homepage. You’ll learn my best tips to sound like a native.
Music by Podington Bear
Useful Episode Resources
Grab today's study guide here.
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Sat, 22 Jan 2022 - 04min - 149 - Ep56 - Don't always say no, say this instead
Happy to be back after my holiday break. It went really too fast. I guess it’s always like that when you have a break from work. It’s never long enough. That being said, let’s not forget that it’s 2022 now, so bonne année à tous, je vous souhaite beaucoup de succès avec votre français et surtout la santé. C’est important en ce moment.
As you know, I’m not big on watching sports on tv but my partner is. It’s always a source of surprise and learning. He’s been really into rugby these past months, mainly because the NHL matches are unwatchable with their commercial breaks every 5 minutes. He noticed a big difference between the way north american commentators talk about matches and the way French commentators do. If you’ve been following the podcast for some time, you may get where I’m heading with this.
In this episode
Alternatives phrases to "no" Bonus phrases to say "no" in a shopUseful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Sun, 16 Jan 2022 - 09min - 148 - Une pluie d'étoiles - Episode 06
Today is the last episode of our Christmas story.
Are the old tales true? Will they meet something magical that night? We left when Ayline was running towards the strange voice she heard and that's when this episode starts.
Je te souhaite un très joyeux Noël. Thank you for being with me throughout the month of December and for listening to the Christmas story.
Useful Episode Resources
Grab today's transcription here.
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Thu, 23 Dec 2021 - 05min - 147 - Une pluie d'étoiles - Episode 05
Winter is officially here... yet we didn't wait for the 21st of December to put on our jumper and snuggle in our blanket on the couch.
We're not the only ones to feel the cold and wish a little bit it were summer... well, after Christmas is over of course!
Nope...
I'm sure Ayline, her mum, Yoko, Helmut and all the characters of the Christmas story wish they were somewhere warm drinking a hot cup of tea.
For now, they're still in the train station...
Today is the penultimate chapter of our tale.
Our characters are going to meet a very special person...
They will, for sure, remember it for the rest of their life.
Useful Episode Resources
Grab today's transcription here.
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Tue, 21 Dec 2021 - 05min - 146 - Une pluie d'étoiles - Episode 04
In the fourth episode of our Christmas story, all of our characters got together. Nobody seems to be there for them... are they waiting for somebody? What will happen to them in the middle of the night?
Useful Episode Resources
Grab today's transcription here.
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 17 Dec 2021 - 03min - 145 - Une pluie d'étoiles - Episode 03
This morning when I woke up, the garden was covered with snow.
But it was already melting...
You know this kind of dangerous weather where it melts and then ices again... you have to be really careful when you walk on the pavement.
For our characters that night, it was just cold... I'm not sure it was snowing.
In this third episode, we meet the last characters of our story.
They are all gathered in this small train station. The night is falling and the last train of the day has already departed.
They're all alone.
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 10 Dec 2021 - 03min - 144 - Une pluie d'étoiles - Episode 02
In the second episode of the Christmas story, we get to meet two new characters. Far from home, what will they be doing in this cold village? What will await them?
Useful Episode Resources
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Tue, 07 Dec 2021 - 04min - 143 - Une pluie d'étoiles - Episode 01
Are you ready for the 1rst episode of the Christmas story?
It will take you in a French region hidden in the mountains. Famous for its legendary beast. But today, you will meet the characters and the special bond they have with this place.
Useful Episode Resources
Grab today's transcription here.
FREE audio training to help you understand spoken French
Want to understand when French people speak? Sound more natural? Have a better and smoother pronunciation? Well, you can do that with this free audio training. It will give you the tips and secrets to speak more like a native. Grab your FREE training here.
Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast
Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I'd really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.
Not only does it let me know you're out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!
Fri, 03 Dec 2021 - 04min - 142 - Last day to join - It starts tomorrow!Tue, 30 Nov 2021
- 141 - Quoi de beau Caro ? - 09 - The Christmas Specials are hereSun, 28 Nov 2021 - 04min
- 140 - A day in French - 38 - Driving
Today’s adventure is the gripping story of how the postman knocked on my door. Spoiler alert! He gave me a letter. I know, it’s riveting, right? If you want to know what kind of letter I got, you will have to listen a little bit more.
In the last episode of "A day in French", we’ve talked about the use of the present tense and strangely the future tense to describe historical events. Today I’d like to review the tense that every French person learns at school but also forgets quite quickly. It’s a tense we absolutely never use. The only time you’ll encounter it is in litterature. All this to say that today’s grammar focus is for B levels and we will review le passé simple. To explain in one sentence, le passé simple is used like le passé composé but in a novel. As for the vocabulary, you will learn every word and phrase you need to complain next time you get fined in France. If it sounds interesting, head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.
Click HERE to get the study guide
Music by Podington Bear
Fri, 26 Nov 2021 - 04min - 139 - A day in French - 37 - Hotel
Bonjour à tous ! J’espère que tout va bien pour vous et que vous êtes prêts pour un nouvel épisode. Thanks for tuning in again week after week. I’m thrilled you’re here!
Ok, I have to ask you guys… do you have a partner who keeps repeating the same jokes over and over again? I sure have one! When we’re in town, every time we pass by a hotel… not the kind of hotel you’re thinking about, you’ll have to listen to the story to know what kind I’m talking about because hotel is used for many things here! So, every time we pass by, he makes this joke and I wanted to talk about that today.
For the vocabulary, be prepared to scratch your head with the French numbers. Little challenge for you! Before you download the study guide, go to the comment section of this episode and write to me the 4 years I mentionned.
As for the grammar focus, I wanted to show you a special use of the present and the future tenses. It’s common nowadays to use the present tense when we talk about historical events. Something even stranger is the use of the future tense.
You’ll find all these things in the study guide. It contains the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus so head over to frenchblabla.org to download. I’ll be waiting for you in the comment section for my number challenge.
Music by Podington Bear
Sat, 06 Nov 2021 - 04min - 138 - Ep55 - Don't always say "au revoir", say this instead!
Coucou à tous, je suis heureuse de vous retrouver pour un nouvel épisode.
Today’s topic is a request from one of my students, Leah. We’ve been working together for some time now in my Let’s Talk conversation class. I was surprised when she asked me to cover this. I’m always very glad to receive suggestions because even though I try my best to cover everything you need to speak like a native, I cannot possibly come up with every idea in the world. Leah’s French is good and as such, her request really took me by surprise. She asked me to cover the different ways to say goodbye. You know, this is typical of certain topics we, as French teachers, take for granted, we don’t think twice about them. Something like goodbye, as simple as it seems, deserves an episode because there are numerous ways to express this idea. And you might be surprised, so stay tuned because I have one goodbye you probably don’t know and a bonus hello I’m sure you don’t use at all even though you should.
In this Episode
The truth behind the word "adieu" This special way to use "à bientôt" A bonus hello that you probably don't knowSat, 30 Oct 2021 - 09min - 137 - French Blabla is back!Mon, 25 Oct 2021 - 01min
- 136 - A day in French - 36 - Autumn
Bonjour à tous, bienvenue pour un nouvel épisode. J'espère que tout va bien chez vous.
With the season starting, I've decided to share with you all the charm there is to find in the autumn season. Especially, here, in the countryside, the landscape is beautiful. The leaves are turning golden and orange and there's something in the air that just feels like autumn. I know I will start soon eating a lot of pumpkins. Is it the same for you ? How is your autumn where you live ?
Stay tuned because it will be a real autumn galore in this episode.
As for the grammar focus, it will be for both A levels and B levels. We will review the relative pronouns. You will find the easier ones and the more complicated ones too. Don't forget to download the study guide on frenchblabla.org so that you can practice the vocabulary, the grammar as well as your writing.
Music by Podington Bear
Fri, 22 Oct 2021 - 04min - 135 - A day in French - 35 - Kiss
Bonjour à tous, j’espère que vous allez bien ! Thank you for joining me today for a new episode. One of my colleagues shared a very interesting interview about a peculiar cultural aspect we have. You all know about it. I’m talking about la bise of course! How many foreigners have been completely puzzled by this tradition? I mean, how many kisses should one do? should you start from the right cheek or the left cheek? Should I kiss this man too? Today, we’re not going to talk about the bulletproof way to faire la bise like a native, because frankly, there is none. Speaking about this negative aspect, this will be our grammar focus today. As a consequence if you’re A+ or B1, this episode is for you. I will link on the show notes the video of the historian talking about the roots of la bise, if you’d like to see it. This is what inspired today’s topic. As usual, you can download the transcription, the grammar focus and the vocabulary on frenchblabla.org.
Music by Podington Bear
Sat, 02 Oct 2021 - 04min - 134 - Ep54 - Parce que, parce que... time to shake up the way you speak!
Hey guys, bonjour à tous et bienvenue pour un nouvel épisode de podcast. How is your French going? Now that summer is over and we get back in the daily groove of things with work and school, have you found a place in your busy schedule for your French studies? I hope so and if you haven’t, let’s take advantage of the few minutes we have together to improve your French. Thank you for sharing your precious time with me.
I was thinking about my students from my Let’s Talk conversation class. Check it out if you want to practice your French. I noticed that when they speak, a lot of them tend to rely on the same words, the same structures, over and over again.
There’s nothing wrong about it, especially when we start learning, but there are other words and other structures that we use a lot in spoken French. However, it’s difficult to know which ones to choose, because when you open a grammar book and you look for certain types of words, you’re overwhelmed with a list of a dozen words… which one to choose? and especially which ones are actually common in daily French? There’s no way to know.
Today let me give you two words that you’re not even going to find in books or in class.
Sat, 25 Sep 2021 - 09min - 133 - A day in French - 34 - Puppet
Bonjour à tous, thank you for taking a few minutes out of your very busy life to listen to my story today. Before we start I’d like to thank Checkmate king two for his very kind review on apple podcast. He was a bit puzzled with the format of the podcast and I can understand. So if you’re new here, welcome to the French Blabla community and welcome to you too Checkmate King two.
In today’s episode, we will see all the words we need to talk about the puppet theatre. As for the grammar focus, we will, review a few of the time words. If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide.
In this episode
Discover a French cultural nugget Learn the vocabulary of the puppet theatre Review time words A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear
Sun, 12 Sep 2021 - 04min - 132 - L'heure du conte - 02 - Les trois souhaits
Coucou à tous, Did you like the first part of the Fairytale series? If you've missed it, click here and let's do the first part together. I hope it was helpful to you and that le passé composé is crystal-clear. Today we will focus on a new fairytale, less famous than le Petit Chaperon Rouge. With it, we will study our second past tense: l'imparfait. How we use it is very different than with our other past tense and the study guide that I made will help you practice. Share your memories in the comment section In the study guide, there’s a new creative exercise for you to do. If you’d like me to have a look at it, please share it in the comment section. This time you won't have to make a story, you'll be invited to share some childhood memories. I'm really looking forward to sharing with you on the blog. Stay tuned for the final part of the Fairy Tale series where we’ll cover how to use the passé composé and l'imparfait together. A très vite,
Mon, 10 Oct 2016 - 06min - 131 - Ep14 - Let's read in French
Coucou à tous, Welcome to the fourteenth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. It's been more than a year that French Blabla exists and it's all thanks to you. Today I have a giveaway for you and also my recommendations to find some reading materials when you're a beginner. Being myself a beginner in Swedish, I know it's not an easy task. Stay tuned! In this Episode Why reading shouldn't be your main language technique How to study actively through reading Reading ideas for beginners A giveaway Music by bensound.com
Fri, 23 Sep 2016 - 07min - 130 - Ep13 - Don't forget your raincoat in Ireland - Let's talk about the weather
Coucou tout le monde, Welcome to the thirteenth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. In this new episode we will continue our trip to Dublin with Candice. This time, she will talk about the weather . Through our conversation, we’ll learn how to talk about the weather but also we will study some fluency tips to improve your listening skills. Stay tuned! In this Episode Bad French English accent Learn the vocabulary of the weather Tips for a better pronunciation A challenge for you to shine Tell me about the weather in your city in the comment section Now is your turn to tell me about where you live! With the help of the vocabulary and grammar that you’ve learnt in the study guide, write a few lines about the typical weather that you have where you live. You can also describe what the weather is like depending on the seasons. I’ll be waiting for you in the comment section. I can’t wait to discover a bit more about you! Music by bensound.com
Tue, 23 Aug 2016 - 02min - 129 - Ep12 - Dublin is so cool - How to describe your city
Bonjour à tous, Welcome to the twelfth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. This episode is a bit special, I’ve decided to have a chat with my little sister and we talked about her last holidays in Dublin. Through our conversation, we’ll learn how to talk about our city. Stay tuned! In this Episode Bad French English accent Learn the vocabulary of the city Tips for a better pronunciation A challenge for you to shine Tell me about your city in the comment section Now is your turn to tell me about your city! With the help of the vocabulary and grammar that you’ve learnt in the study guide, write a few lines about a city you like or the one where you live in. I’ll be waiting for you in the comment section. I can’t wait to discover a bit more about you! Music by bensound.com
Mon, 15 Aug 2016 - 03min - 128 - Ep11 - The Real French Etiquette in Shops
Bonjour à tous, Welcome to the eleventh episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. This episode is once again inspired by one of my advanced student who told me a story of an embarrassing situation she experienced in a shop in Paris. She was shocked that nobody told her about that. Today we’re going to study together the real French manners when you go to shops so that you don’t have to experience what my student did. Stay tuned! In this Episode A common French attitude Learn the real French etiquette Stop saying “je voudrais” Some listening practice Share your anecdotes in the comment section Have something like that ever happened to you? Have you ever found yourself in a situation you didn’t understand? How did you react? If you have some embarrassing or funny stories to share, I’ll be delighted to read them. I’ll be waiting for you in the comment section. Music by bensound.com
Mon, 15 Aug 2016 - 07min - 127 - L'heure du conte - 01 - Le Petit Chaperon Rouge
Coucou à tous, I hope everything is going as great for you as for me. I’m thrilled to introduce you with this post to a new segment of my podcast. I will, of course, continue to do the normal episodes with my tips to improve your fluency. I have, however, decided to expand a bit and to create a new series that will teach you French. We will start with the three parts Fairy tale series that will help you master the past tenses. For each part, you will find the audio of the story and a study guide with everything you need from grammar to exercises to learn these tenses. Go to my website to download the study guide. http://frenchteachercaro.wordpress.com Music by bensound.com
Thu, 16 Jun 2016 - 06min - 126 - Ep10 - The Guide to Love
Salut à tous, Welcome to the tenth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. This episode is inspired by one of my Conversation student who keeps using the phrase “je l’aime”. I realized that even though the verb “aimer” is one of the first we learn and seems very easy to use, it can be tricky to master. This verb has a lot of nuances and we will study them today so that you can really express your feelings accurately. Stay tuned! In this Episode Learn how to avoid this common mistake The multiple shades of love A cheat sheet with bonus phrases A challenge for you to shine Music by bensound.com
Mon, 30 May 2016 - 09min - 125 - Ep09 - 3 Tips to boost your listening skills
Salut à tous, Welcome to the ninth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. Today we tackle the biggest challenge French learners face, that is understanding when people talk. Pronunciation in all our study books doesn't come close to what we hear in the streets. There are a few reasons for that and today we will study 3 tips to boost your listening skills. Stay tuned! In this Episode Tips to sound more natural 3 listening skills boosters The reason why you struggle to understand French people A challenge for you to shine Share your answers in the comment section The number 2 is particularly tough as there are a lot of "e" in the sentence. It will help you to count the pronounced syllables. If you haven't joined my Twitter, there's still time. You will find more resources and challenges to improve your French! Music by bensound.com
Fri, 25 Mar 2016 - 10min - 124 - Ep08 - Essentials#2 - Stop confusing Bon and Bien
Bonjour à tous, Welcome to the eight episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. Let's start 2016 with some French! I wish you all the best for this new year and I hope you will fill it with language learning. To kick-start it, today we will cover two words that learners usually don't really know how to use. We will cover tips to choose wisely and to understand why we use what we use depending on the situation. Stay tuned! In this Episode Mistakes to avoid Cheat words to swap to instantly know which word to use A cheat sheet to download with the tips from today’s episode A challenge for you to shine Share your answers in the comment section I’m really looking forward to your answers to my little challenge. After a few contributions, I will post the answer to the quizz. Do you have any other pairs or puzzling grammatical use that you struggle with? Is there something that you can’t seem to master no matter how hard you try? Don’t hesitate to share with me in the comment section. Music by bensound.com
Fri, 01 Jan 2016 - 07min - 123 - Ep07 - Asking questions about work like a native
Bonjour à tous, Welcome to the seventh episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. I know that in my previous post, I told you that this episode would be the second part of my French Essentials serie, but I changed my mind in the mean time and really wanted to do a follow-up of the third episode where we talked about introducing ourselves like real French people. I thought that doing a single episode about self-introduction and basically about proper French social chit-chat wasn't enough. As for the last episode, do you remember my little challenge? I would like to thank Elias, Ruth, and Danielle for their answers. You did great and right! Congrats to the 3 of you. I'm so happy you joined me here. In this Episode Which phrases are real French and which aren't How to be polite even where you're not interested How to ask for details gracefully A cheat sheet to download with the tips from today’s episode Choose what will be next on the French Blabla podcast! This podcast is for you and your French journey, I'm really interested in knowing what you would like me to cover in the next episodes. Is there a grammar point or a situation that you're curious about? Something you learnt at school you'd like me to frenchify? Please tell me your ideas in the comment section :) A très vite pour un nouvel épisode, Caroline Music by bensound.com
Fri, 13 Nov 2015 - 06min - 122 - Ep06 - French Essentials#1 - Stop confusing C'est and Il est
Bonjour à tous, Welcome to the sixth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. This episode was created hearing my advanced students make this mistake over and over again. I’ve decided that it was time to end the confusion and help choose correctly between the two constructions. In today’s episode, you will see that it’s a trap easy to avoid. We will cover tips to choose wisely and to understand why we use what we use depending on the situation. Stay tuned! In this Episode Real tips and explanations Use the two constructions like a boss A cheat sheet to download with the tips from today’s episode A challenge for you to shine Share your answers in the comment section I’m really looking forward to your answers to my little challenge. After a few contributions, I will post the answer to the quizz. Oh and by the way, you remember the question I asked you in the episode, I hope you chose “c’est une fille”! Don’t forget that with an article + noun, we use “c’est”. If you chose correctly, let me know in the comments too! Music by bensound.com
Sat, 31 Oct 2015 - 06min - 121 - Ep05 - You shall not pass - Tips to avoid the subjunctive - Guest episode with Takelessons.com
Bonjour à tous, Welcome to the fifth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. This episode was created in collaboration with our friends at Takelessons.com and you can find the original post by clicking here. You will get extra tips on how to create the subjunctive. I was super excited to be contacted to create an episode for them. I'm also really happy I had the chance to meet the friendly Megan. In today's episode we will talk about the least favourite tense of French learners: the dreaded subjunctive. We will cover tips to avoid using it but also how to sound like a native when you do use it. Stay tuned! In this Episode 4 tips to avoid using the subjunctive Learn how to sound like a native using subjunctive A cheat sheet to download with the tips from today's episode (on my website) Share you story in the comments Which tense is the worst for you? Which phrases would you like to know how to use better? I would love to hear about it. Music by bensound.com
Wed, 07 Oct 2015 - 09min - 120 - Ep04 - Risqué pronunciation - The mistakes you must avoid
Welcome to the fourth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. In today's episode, I will share with you a shameful moment of my English journey and you will discover some words that you should pronounce correctly if you don't want to get offended looks, or if you don't want to put yourself in an awkward situation. In this Episode Why I was so embarrassed on that fateful night The words you really shouldn't mispronounce Expressions that are definitely not transparent Share you story in the comments What words or expressions have you used that got you some weird looks? Do you have an embarrassing moment that happened in your learning journey? I would love to hear about it. Music by bensound.com
Mon, 24 Aug 2015 - 07min - 119 - Ep03 - How to introduce yourself like a native
Welcome to the third episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. In today's episode, we will go back to the first lesson ever that you took in French. You remember when you learnt how to introduce yourself? I'm sure you only repeated "Je m'appelle" and I'm afraid this is not what natives would say. In this Episode Ways to introduce yourself Say bye bye to artificial French How to behave when you meet somebody Music by bensound.com
Fri, 07 Aug 2015 - 04min - 118 - Ep02 - Sound like a native#1 - The R sound
Welcome to the second episode of French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. In today's episode, we will talk about the most difficult sound of the French language, that is to say our R sound. Feared by many of you, after this episode, you will know all there is to know about it and you will have the tools to face this sound! In this Episode Reasons you can't pronounce R in every word A step by step guide to pronounce the R sound How to create your personalized drills Share your story in comments below We've all been struggling with pronunciation and it can be so frustrating not to be able to sound the way we want. Try to do the exercises and tell me if it helped. Which position of the R is the most difficult to you? I would love to hear about it. Music by bensound.com
Fri, 31 Jul 2015 - 08min - 117 - Ep01 - Overcome your fear of speaking now
Welcome to the first episode of French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. In today's episode, we will talk about a situation that every learner has faced at least once. It can be a real plague for some of us and prevent us from reaching our full potential. Today is the day you will discover how to overcome your fear of speaking. In this Episode Reasons we get blocked and paralyzed when speaking a foreign language Why the recurrent advice "go face your fear" doesn't work Why active listening will improve your communication 8 practical tips to definitely get rid of fear Share your story in comments below We've all felt this way at one point in our learning journey. What are the situations when you feel anxious and blocked? What do you do to overcome your fear? I would love to hear about it. Music by Bensound.com
Fri, 12 Jun 2015 - 08min - 116 - Un petit tour de France - 05
Coucou à tous ! Bienvenue pour le dernier épisode d’un petit tour de France. Avec la fin du mois d’août arrive aussi la fin de notre capsule estivale. Today is our last episode and the 5th city we’re going to visit. If you’ve just jumped on the bandwagon, better later than never or in French, mieux vaut tard que jamais, you’re very welcome to participate. Let me introduce you to how this series works. In the 4 previous episodes, we traveled to 4 different French cities and no, sorry to disappoint but Paris isn’t one of them. The game is to guess which town it was using all the clues from the episodes. Now that they’ve all been released, send me an email with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. As always, you can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.
Fri, 03 Sep 2021 - 03min - 115 - Ep53 - Don't say "de rien", use these words instead!
Bonjour à tous, thanks for tuning in today, I hope you’re ready for a new episode. Last year, yes, a long time ago, I started a small series called “Don’t say this, say that instead”. The goal here was to expand your vocabulary with natural words as well as explaining to you the subtleties of all the possibilities you had. It was pretty popular, at least the statistics and the emails you sent me say so. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go check episode 36 to learn a weird French sound and episode 33 to stop saying yes all the time. In the light of all this, I’ve decided to do a third instalment… there might be a fourth one too, but let’s not put the cart before the horse.
As the title suggests, we’re going to learn what to say when somebody says “merci” to you. Because yes, there are numerous ways you can answer. Let’s start, shall we?
Sun, 29 Aug 2021 - 10min - 114 - Un petit tour de France - 04
Coucou à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last week, you discovered the third city and today, we’ll visit the fourth one. If you’re new here, first welcome and let me introduce you to how this series works. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. This is our third city now, could you guess the two first ones? I’m really curious. As always, you can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.
Fri, 27 Aug 2021 - 03min - 113 - Un petit tour de France - 03
Coucou à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last week, you discovered the second city and today, we’ll visit the third one. If you’re new here, first welcome and let me introduce you to how this series works. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. This is our third city now, could you guess the two first ones? I’m really curious. As always, you can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.
Wed, 18 Aug 2021 - 03min - 111 - A day in French - 33 - Soapbox
Bonjour à tous et bienvenue pour un nouvel épisode.
In the last episode, I said that I wasn’t very enthusiastic about the Olympic Games. It still stands true but without them I wouldn’t have discovered this gem. I never knew something like that existed and I had to tell you about it. After this episode, please tell me in the comment section if you knew about this sport.
Today there won’t be any grammar focus as the episode is beaming with vocabulary. If you’d like to learn more about your car and what the different parts are called, then stay tuned. We won’t obviously go into deep mecanic vocabulary but if I tell you the word steering wheel and you look at me completely confused, then yes, this is the kind of useful words we will study together. How about the brake? What is it called in French? No clue? Ok! Stay with me.
As usual, everything can be found in the study guide, the transcription, the vocabulary and the writing challenge. Go download it on frenchblabla.org
Music by Podington Bear
Sat, 14 Aug 2021 - 03min - 110 - Un petit Tour de France - 02
Coucou à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last week, you discovered the first city and today, we’ll visit the second one. If you’re new here, first welcome and let me introduce you to how this series works. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. You can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.
Wed, 11 Aug 2021 - 02min - 109 - A day in French - 32 - Summer sports
Today, we’re going to talk about a topic that I’m not really enthusiastic about. Then, you’re gonna wonder why do I bother doing a whole episode about it? Simply because it’s a big thing going on and it’s a classic part of the French life in summer. It will be also be a good excuse for new and interesting vocabulary. Speak of the devil or rather of the wolf, as we say in French, we will see the words and phrases related to the Olympic games as well as some connected to le Tour de France. As for the grammar focus, it will be for the B levels today. We will, indeed, review the words to contrast. In French, we call them les marqueurs de concession. Check them out in your grammar book if you’re not sure about them. If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide.
Music by Podington Bear
Fri, 06 Aug 2021 - 03min - 108 - Un petit Tour de France - 01
Bonjour à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last year, if you remember, I shared with you a special series called La Saga de l’Ete, which was a short summer story about a bench in the south of France and the unfortunate event that happens to him and his friends. I say him because he’s the main character and he talks. Go listen to it if you haven’t. The transcription is also available for every part of the series. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. You can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org. And you know what? There’s even a little grammar focus, so if you want to review the use of the pronoun Y, this episode is for you.
Wed, 04 Aug 2021 - 03min - 107 - Ep52 - Tout, tout, tout you'll know everything about... everything
Coucou à tous ! Merci d’être là aujourd’hui avec moi pour un nouvel épisode. J’espère que vous allez bien et que vous profitez de l’été. This episode, once more, is a request. from you guys, Tony and Sneha. I’m sure I’ve butchered your name, sorry. They wanted me to review how to use the words tout, tous, toutes… the word meaning all and especially its pronunciation because it can be tricky. After this episode, you’ll see that there’s nothing that difficult, it’s just puzzling sometimes, that’s all.
In this Episode
When to pronounce and when not to pronounce this damn last letter in a word The mistake almost every learner makes when they say "monde" Tout, tous... when to pronounce the S and when you don'tSun, 01 Aug 2021 - 09min - 106 - Ep51 - How to compliment like a native
This episode is a request from a dear listener, her name is Samin. She contacted me on Instagram and told me about the difficulties she has when she wants to compliment in French. We’re going to study different phrases so that you’ll be able to say something more than “c’est beau”. You'll know several phrases to compliment and to show admiration. Don't forget to download the infographic that sums up all the things you'll learn today. Head over to frenchblabla.org
In this episode
Compliment like a native Several techniques to add emotions to your speech Review the repetitionSat, 17 Jul 2021 - 13min - 105 - Quoi de beau Caro ? - 08Fri, 09 Jul 2021 - 06min
- 104 - A day in French - 31 - Books
This episode is a confession, I think I should feel a smidgen of shame by revealing the kind of litterature I read on the beach but what wouldn’t I do for the French language. If you have a little guilty pleasure like me, you’re very welcome to share in the comment section, so that I feel a little bit less lonely. The grammar focus today is for A levels but please, B levels, I suggest you review it too if you don’t master the demonstrative pronouns. Check them out in your grammar book to know what I’m talking about. As for the vocabulary, we’re going to study or review a lot of phrases and words about books and litterature. If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, you know where to go, I say it every time. Head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide. Ok, time for the story guys, c’est parti !
In this episode
The shameful books I read during the summer Review the demonstrative pronouns A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear
Fri, 02 Jul 2021 - 04min - 103 - Ep50 - These phrases can fool you! Watch out for a misunderstanding
Today, our episode is inspired by my partner. I said it many times already but he’s not French. Despite that I tend to forget that he’s a foreigner and I make zero effort to adapt my French to his level. Sorry. I want to point out though that his level is really good so I’m not being cruel here. He understands pretty much everything that I say but there are occasional conversational phrases that he doesn’t get. I thought it would be good to talk about this so that you don’t end up completely confused like my partner if you happen to hear such a phrase.
There are several phrases that we use regularly that actually mean the opposite of what they’re supposed to mean at first glance.
In this Episode
Three conversational phrases untangled A personal story An infographic to downloadSat, 19 Jun 2021 - 08min - 102 - A day in French - 30 - Circus
As you could see from the title, we’ll talk about something light. It will be surprising for you maybe but it was my first time going to a circus show. It was a good experience but don’t imagine I went to a kind of Cirque du soleil performance. Anyway, with the pandemic, I don’t think that they have shows going on. This episode is full to the brim with words and phrases regarding the circus. I know it’s not really your typical vocabulary you would learn in a lesson or in a french news podcast, but maybe you’ll be interested in going to a show in the future. When you do, I hope you’ll think about me. There’s no grammar focus today but there’s a little nugget for B levels. I created a tricky sentence with several compound relative pronouns. Google it if you have no clue what i’m talking about but I have to tell you, you’re going to sweat when you see what it is.
In this Episode
Learn the vocab you need to talk about the circus My first time at the circus A challenge for you to shineMusic by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Sat, 05 Jun 2021 - 04min - 101 - A day in French - 29 - Migraine
I’ve been sick and it’s still going on this week. I’ve spent a lot of days in bed, in the dark because I suffer from migraine every month. I thought I would talk about this today and I will use this excuse to infuse this episode with phrases and words you will need if you ever get sick in France and need to see a doctor or if you go to the pharmacy. In episode 6 of "A day in French", we covered several useful phrases to explain your symptoms, go listen to it if you need a refresher. As for the grammar focus, today will be for B levels as we will review how to express goals with and without the subjunctive.
If you’d like the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus, head over to French Blabla.org to download it.
In this Episode
Learn the vocab you need to talk at the pharmacy My story with episodic migraine A challenge for you to shineMusic by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Sat, 29 May 2021 - 04min - 100 - A day in French - 28 - Pipes
I hope you’re fine because I was not happy for sure when the week started. I happened to find leaky pipes in my home. I wasn’t planning on talking about this today but I couldn’t let this occasion pass. I don’t know if you remember but it’s not the first time I’m not happy with something.
In episode 16, I got angry at a sales rep. Go listen to it if you want to know the full story, and in today’s episode I get very displeased again. To make it short, if you happen to rent a place in France and you face a leakage, then after this episode you’ll know what to say, because that’s what happened to me this week. No grammar focus this time as there’s a lot of very specific vocabulary for you to learn that will allow you to explain in detail if you ever need to call a plumber or your rental agency. Everything can be found in the study guide I have created.
In this Episode
Learn the vocab you need to call a plumber My story of an unfortunate event involving pipes A challenge for you to shineMusic : Wonder Happens by Podington Bear - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License
Fri, 14 May 2021 - 03min - 99 - A day in French - 27 - Dreams
I hope you enjoyed last week’s episode. If you have missed it, I suggest you go listen to it as in today’s "A day in French" we will use what we have learnt. Last week, we did the theory and today we’ll practice. I will tell you about my dreams and things I wish I could do. The grammar focus is for everybody, that’s quite unusual, since we will review the verb “manquer” and there will also be some B level grammar with a review of the hypothesis. Everything can be found in the study guide I have created. Go to frenchblabla.org to download the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus. Don't forget to download it. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Practice your verb "manquer" Review the hypothesis and how to talk about dreams A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear
Sat, 08 May 2021 - 03min - 98 - Ep49 - Stop pulling your hair with how to translate "I miss you"
With the pandemic still going strong, I’m sure that most of us are longing for better days and we may feel a bit nostalgic. I’ve been thinking all week about the things I’d like to do. I, then, asked you on Instagram what you were nostalgic about and today’s topic hit me. Today is going to be short and sweet as we will talk about how to express “I miss you” in French. I know that the way we build this phrase is very confusing as everything is inverted so we’re going to untangle all of this in the episode. Obviously, you know me, we won’t just cover the “I miss you” part, we will do an overview of this verb as well as some natural keyphrases you need to add in your speaking repertoire.
In this Episode
Simple rules to understand how to use the verb "manquer" Express nostalgia for people and for activities A challenge for you to shineFri, 30 Apr 2021 - 09min - 97 - Ep48 - This is actually how we ask questions
This episode is for you, my intermediate level listeners. There will be a lot of structure and syntax twisting and a basic command of the French grammar is needed. Hold on tight and stay focused because it won’t be a walk in the park. However as the saying goes “no pain no gain” right? The reward is big, it’s going to change completely the way you ask questions.
In this Episode
Difference between the questions you've learnt and questions today How to create questions the natural way A challenge for you to shineFri, 23 Apr 2021 - 12min - 96 - Ep47 - How to litter your French like a native #3 - Slang edition
There’s a topic that I haven’t really delved into and that is completely overlooked in this podcast. People may think that for a podcast whose claim is to teach you real spoken French, it’s a bit strange that I haven’t talked about that sooner. Frankly, I don’t think today’s topic is a requisite for sounding like a true French person. This episode comes from one dear listener, Oliver, he asked me to cover slang in French. And that’s what we’re going to do today. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Why slang isn't a requisite when you want to sound like a native Useful and common slang you often hear One rule that creates a lot of our usual slangSun, 18 Apr 2021 - 11min - 95 - A day in French - 26 - Gardening
In this episode, you’ll learn everything, to buy or order what you need for gardening so that if you happen to go to a garden centre in France or to order from a French website, you’ll know what to ask and look for.
Today, the grammar focus is for A students as we will review simple ways to ask questions. As usual, with this episode comes a study guide that contains the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus. You might want to check it out. Don't forget to download it. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Learn gardening vocabulary Review the simple ways to ask questions A challenge for you to shineFri, 09 Apr 2021 - 03min - 94 - A day in French - 25 - Croque-Monsieur
Last time, we talked about ice cream and today we will talk about croque monsieur. If there’s one dish you can make at home that is super easy and really French, it’s the croque-monsieur. With a side of salad, you’ve got yourself a perfect lunch. I encourage you to try. If you do, please let me know. Coincidentally, Marcel Proust will make an appearance again in this episode.
Today, the grammar focus is for B students as we will review the two conditionals, present and past. As usual, with this episode comes a study guide that contains the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus. You might want to check it out. Don't forget to download it. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
How the croque-monsieur was invented Review the conditionals present and past A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear
Fri, 02 Apr 2021 - 04min - 93 - Ep46 - Let's talk about our shopping habits
In this episode, Candice comes back for a chat. We had a nice talk about her dream house in this episode. Today, we will discover her shopping habits. It will be a good opportunity to review how to properly use articles. If you struggle with them, it's time to listen and download the study guide to practice.
In this Episode
Real conversation with real fillers and regional pronunciation Learn or review how to use articles Vocabulary about grocery shoppingFri, 26 Mar 2021 - 06min - 92 - Ep45 - Get the most out of your language partner
Today, I’d like to continue on the topic of finding a language partner to talk to since it’s a big struggle for many of you. In episode 42, I shared my tips to be able to find a conversation partner. If you haven’t listened to it yet, go check it out and grab yourself a French friend. However, finding somebody is only the first step in an efficient language practice. There are some other important things to consider. In this episode, I’d like to share with you a few strategies that you will need to get the most out of your language practice.
In this Episode
Why asking for explanations to natives is usually useless The one question you should ask differently The essential thing you should ask your language partner to radically improve your FrenchFri, 19 Mar 2021 - 06min - 91 - Ep44 - How to choose between Tu and Vous
In this episode, we’re going to talk about the intricacies of the pronouns “tu” and “vous”. Today’s title is a bit misleading and I’m sorry about that. My intent isn’t really to have a definite guide of the different uses of these pronouns, instead I would like to go deeper into the complexity of French social interactions. These two words really reflect that. Obviously, as always, I’ll give you some etiquette tips to behave like a French person, but today is more of a cultural episode.
In this Episode
Learn when you can say “tu” The situation where “vous” is the ultimate insult A small etiquette guide to the internetFri, 12 Mar 2021 - 08min - 90 - A day in French - 24 - Tastebuds
In this episode, I will share some anecdotes related to taste and ice cream. It’s strange to talk about this in winter but I’m longing for sunny days.
The grammar focus is for A levels as we will review the negative. As for the vocabulary, it will be useful for when we get to travel again during the summer. You’ll become ice cream professionals as we will learn many words that you will hear when you order in France. If you struggled understanding the different possibilities on a menu, listen to today’s episode, study the guide and you’ll be ordering like a native. Don't forget to download it to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!
Music by Podington Bear
Fri, 05 Mar 2021 - 04min - 89 - Ep43 - Set your French learning goals for success - With special guest, Ines
It’s been almost two months that 2021 has started and I haven’t even asked you if you had any good French goals for this year. Every new year is always an opportunity to start fresh and I thought it would be a nice change on the podcast to have a guest. Her name is Ines and she used to be a French teacher, a regular one, just like me, years ago. Now she’s a French coach and she specializes in neurolanguage. She has kindly accepted my invitation to share with us her expertise. If you need a kick in the butt and/or some guidance because you’re a bit lost with all the things you need to learn, then stay tuned and listen to the episode.
In this Episode
5 tips to set effective learning goals 2 tips to stay motivated A guide to achieve your goalsMusic by bensound.com
Fri, 26 Feb 2021 - 26min - 88 - Ep42 - How to find natives to talk to
A few weeks ago, I sent you an email asking you what your biggest struggle was. The answers were overwhelming. Almost everybody asked me how to find natives to talk to. Christine for example told me “finding someone to speak French with”. David, who also answered my email, faces the same problem. “Finding opportunities to practice” he told me. I also received emails directly in my inbox asking me the same question. Today we’re going to go over some solutions we have to finally find where these French people hide. We’ll divide this episode in two parts. In the first one, we’ll explore French people favourite’s hideouts in your town. The second part will apply if you live in the heart of the countryside or in a very small town. We will need to rely on the magic of the internet. Stay tuned!
Music by bensound.com
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 - 07min - 87 - A day in French - 23 - The Photobooth
Today, we’re going to dive into the world of movies. We’ll learn some useful phrases to describe them. I don’t usually talk about movies I watched because I’m not really into this. I rarely go to the cinema and I don’t even watch that many tv shows. If you've listened to episode 5 of "A day in French", then you know that I like to watch hockey instead. I decided to talk about the movie called "Amelie Poulain" because I learnt that one character and what he does were inspired by real events. I couldn’t imagine that anything in that movie was actually real so I was surprised and wanted to share this piece of information with you.
Don't forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Cultural nugget about the movie "Amelie Poulain" Review phrases to describe movies A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear
Fri, 05 Feb 2021 - 03min - 86 - Quoi de beau Caro ? - 07 - Big surprise for 2021Fri, 29 Jan 2021 - 07min
- 85 - Ep41 - Are you guilty of saying "comme ci comme ça " ? Time to use "bof" instead
Guys, it’s time for the truth! Are you guilty of answering “comme ci comme ca” when somebody asks you how you are? I have no idea where it comes from, maybe from a song but when I was teaching in schools, students sometimes answered with this phrase. Frankly, I don’t know anybody in my relatives nor friends that ever said this. Today, we’re gonna drop the comme ci comme ca and study how to answer properly like French people would. In episode 22, we talked about how to translate the phrase “I’m excited” and following up on this episode, we’re going to dive a little bit deeper into the French world of total lack of enthusiasm. This three letter word we’ll study can be used in different situations with different meanings. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Learn how to show a lack of enthusiasm Learn two body expressions and turn into a real French person The real answer to "how are you?" Cultural nugget about French social habitsMusic by bensound.com
Fri, 22 Jan 2021 - 07min - 84 - A day in French - 22 - Olive Oil
Welcome to the twenty-second episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. I hope you’re hungry because we’re going to talk about food, my favourite topic. In the previous episode, we talked about food as well but about a very strange Christmas menu. I wonder if there were any vegetarians who listened to that episode. Today, nothing disgusting I promise, it will be about olive oil. I will share a story about last summer and a tour that I did with my family. Don't forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Cultural nugget about olive oil Review the object pronoun “les” A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear - Prod by Lukrembo
Fri, 15 Jan 2021 - 03min - 83 - Ep40 - "Let's" or the subtle art of suggesting
I noticed that a lot of learners struggle with the translation of “let’s”, especially since it’s very different from the translation of the verb “to let”. This can be confusing. Today we’re going to talk about it. Before listening, I suggest you refresh your mind with the episode 26 , where we covered when to use "nous" and when to use "on". You will need it to fully grasp this new episode. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Three phrases to properly translate "let's" The number one sentence you need to know to leave a place A challenge for you to shineMusic by bensound.com
Fri, 08 Jan 2021 - 09min - 82 - A day in French - 21 - A Christmas menu in Paris
Welcome to the twenty-first episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. What is the weirdest or most disgusting thing you have ever eaten in your life? For me, it was silkworm pupae, that I ate when I was in Korea. I put it in my mouth a bit reluctantly. I really thought it was going to be disgusting but to my surprise, I enjoyed it. I won’t say it was delicious but it was edible and somewhat interesting. Today, we’re going to travel back in time and we will be heading towards Paris during a hard time the town had to face. Since, it was Christmas not a very long time ago, I would like to talk about a very strange Christmas menu that was found in restaurants at that time. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Historical nugget about a crazy time in Paris Animal and food vocabulary Review the passive voice with the present tense A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear - Keys of Moon
Fri, 01 Jan 2021 - 03min - 81 - Ep39 - Listen if you hesitate about the pronunciation of "plus"
Welcome to the thirty-ninth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. Today’s episode is a special request from a dear listener, Sarah. She contacted me on the chat and she told me “Caroline, in french you usually drop the last letter. But how is it with the “plus” I can’t figure out when to say plu or plus“. When I read her question, I panicked a little bit because there was no way I could explain the rules in just two sentences on a chat while preparing dinner. I gave her a very simplified answer but we really need an episode. This is a topic that comes up a lot and a question that you will find in many French podcasts. Today is my turn to cover it. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
The rules you need to know how to pronounce the word "plus" A challenge for you to shineMusic by bensound.com - Audio Sponsor by Timbre · Freesound
Fri, 18 Dec 2020 - 07min - 80 - A day in French - 20 - Snow
Welcome to the twentieth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. In this new episode we’ll be talking about my birthday and what I will do on this special day. I will also talk about the joy of bathing and the bath culture. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Winter and snow vocabulary Review the subjunctive with feelings A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear / Borrtex
Fri, 11 Dec 2020 - 03min - 79 - A day in French - 19 - The postman Cheval
Welcome to the nineteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. Did it ever happen to you that you woke up in the middle of the night and an idea popped into your mind, for no reason whatsoever. That’s exactly what happened to me for this episode. I got up and suddenly this idea knocked on my door. She said (because idea is a feminine word in French) “ Caroline, in your next episode you’re going to talk about this famous French postman and you will do a special beginner episode”. I said ok. Now we’re here together, dear listeners, and I’m going to talk about M. Cheval. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Amazing story of Ferdinand Cheval A story to review the beginner basics A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear - Keys of Moon
Fri, 04 Dec 2020 - 03min - 78 - Ep38 - Using "alors" doesn't have to be hard. Discover these 5 meanings
Welcome to the thirty-eighth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. In episode 36, we talked about different ways to express the phrase “je ne sais pas”. One of these ways was “alors là”, my personal favourite. I thought about this phrase and realized that this word “alors” is really multifaceted. So today, we will dive into some meanings that the word "alors" has. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Five new ways to use this little word How to show emotion like a native The absolute no-no when cooking carbonaraMusic by bensound.com
Fri, 27 Nov 2020 - 06min - 77 - A day in French - 18 - Wigs
Welcome to the eighteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. Days ago, I was working on the last Day in French in the living room while the other members of my family were watching TV. In France, the national public TV service loves historical documentaries about famous figures who influenced our History. They were watching a tv program about Marie-Antoinette and they were talking about her wigs. We all know some tidbits about her but learning about the quirky fashion trends of the end of the eighteenth century in Paris was something new for me and I found it highly interesting. So, I would like to share it with you today. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Cultural nugget about crazy wigs of the time Review the past conditional Review the pronoun Y A challenge for you to shineMusic by Podington Bear
Fri, 20 Nov 2020 - 03min - 76 - A day in French - 17 - Election
Welcome to the seventeenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. Today I’d like to use the news to talk about our topic. This presidential election was a good opportunity to study this very specific vocabulary. We will also do a small comparison between how we elect our French president and how you, American people elect your president. If I make any mistake, please correct me in the comment section. Don't forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Vocabulary of the election Cultural nugget about how we elect our president A challenge for you to shineMusic by
Wonder Happens by Podington Bear - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License Clarion by Scott Buckley - https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley - Creative Commons ‘Attribution 4.0 International’ License
Fri, 13 Nov 2020 - 03min - 75 - Ep37 - Let's remember grammar
Welcome to the thirty-seventh episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. Today’s episode is a special request from a dear listener, Russ. In episode 33, he told me that he struggles to remember and use certain phrases that combine too many verbs. We will talk about a method that will help you remember difficult grammar. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
My personal method to remember difficult grammar A talk about chunking A challenge for you to shineMusic by bensound.com
Fri, 06 Nov 2020 - 06min - 74 - Ep36 - Don't say "je ne sais pas", use these words instead
Welcome to the thirty-sixth episode of the French Blabla podcast where we will cover tips to increase your fluency while boosting your way of learning. In episode 33, we talked about different alternatives to the word “oui” you could use to enrich your conversation and to become a more active participant. In this episode, we continue to expand our vocabulary and we’re going to tackle the phrase “je ne sais pas”. It’s totally ok to use this in your conversations but let’s study some other ways to express this idea in a bit more colourful way. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Master different ways to show your ignorance like a native Add nuances through different "je ne sais pas" A funny anecdote about cultural differencesMusic by bensound.com / Audio Sponsor by Timbre – Freesound
Fri, 30 Oct 2020 - 08min - 73 - A day in French - 16 - The phone call
Welcome to the sixteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. I wasn't planning on creating this episode but I got so upset with what happened that I thought it was the perfect opportunity to review some more subjunctive. Some phone calls can be so annoying and I'm sure all of you can relate with this. Let's talk about this particular phone call I received some time ago. Don't forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!
In this Episode
Vocabulary of a phone call Review the subjunctive with negative/bad feelings A challenge for you to shineMusic : Wonder Happens by Podington Bear - Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License Cold (Prod. by Lukrembo)
Fri, 11 Sep 2020 - 03min - 72 - La Saga de l'été - Le Banc Public de Nice - Episode 8
Welcome to the eighth episode of our summer series "La Saga de l'été". This summer, we will travel to the south of France in the town of Nice. This is the last episode of our saga. Our metal friends' adventure will soon be over as they're about to be saved and go back to their dearest Promenade. Don't forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription and the vocabulary. Stay tuned!
Credits - The short novel can be found here: https://www.atramenta.net/lire/le-banc-public-denice/34976/1#oeuvre_page Short novel written by Kowka
The Miracle Of Flight by Scott Buckley - https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley - Creative Commons ‘Attribution 4.0 International’ License
Fri, 04 Sep 2020 - 03min - 71 - A day in French - 15 - The flea market
Welcome to the fifteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. Do you like flea markets? Summer is the season to visit them. It seems every little town has its own market when summer is here. Today, I'd like to talk about the complicated relationship I have with them. Don't forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!
Music by Podington Bear
Vintage Memories by Schematist - Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) License
Tue, 01 Sep 2020 - 03min
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