A little about the creator of the French Talk Show!
A picture of me in my high school French class!
A little about me
My name is Stephanie Nelson and I eighteen years old. I am a senior at Episcopal High School in Houston Texas. However, my native language is Spanish and I grew up in Mexico City. I moved to Houston when I was thirteen years old.
Why did I start learning French?
When I was little, my family would attend family gatherings every few months in which I got to spend time with all of my cousins. Since my mom’s sister married a French man, my cousins spoke both Spanish and French interchangeably. I always felt excluded and jealous to not be able to get in on whatever secrets they were gossiping about. This curiosity sparked my desire to learn French.
I began my French-learning journey almost ten years ago. I took French lessons after school with my mom because they did not offer them at my school. I slowly began to grow extremely fond of the language. I soon discovered that learning French for me was not only about learning a language, it was also about understanding a different perspectives of the world around me. It was learning to view the world from a different set of eyes than my own.
At the beginning of my junior year I decided that I wanted to share my passion for French with others. And that is how The French Talk Show was born!
Why did I start this podcast?
The summer of my sophomore year of high school I was planning on going on a summer exchange program with my high school French teacher to the South of France. I was going to live with a host family for a month while taking daily French lessons at the local university. I was so incredibly excited for this. But as we all know March rolled around and suddenly there was a world pandemic. It is safe to say the program got cancelled. However, I was optimistic that I would be able to do it the summer of my junior year. This was not the case. Although I was not able to live with a family abroad I was able to practice French from my desk at home by speaking into a microphone. I have been able to share my love for French language and culture with hundreds of people who listen to my podcast. Although my French is far from perfect it has allowed me to connect with others by sharing something I am passionate about!
What can you expect from the podcast?
If you are a beginner to intermediate French student, this podcast is the perfect place for you. By listening to spoken French you will become more accustomed to French language. My podcasts cover French phases, expressions, and oral skills for students to improve their spoken French. In addition to language, I believe that learning about French culture and the Francophone world is just as important. For this reason, my podcast also features aspects of French culture such as politics, traditions, cuisine and way of life.
My Study Abroad Experience!
The picture on the left, is a time capsule from my first study abroad experience. The date is June 5th, 2017. I still remember the exact feeling of awe as my neck bent back to observe the majestic work of architecture in front of me. What to some may have seemed like a tourist trap, the Eiffel Tower represented a culmination of history, art, and culture in just one singular monument.
Throughout my lifetime, I have been fortunate enough to study French abroad on two different occasions. These opportunities fueled my passion of the Francophone culture and allowed me to immerse myself in the French language. The people I met, friendships I made, and the memories of these experiences will live with me forever.
On both occasions, I arrived solo. I will not lie, it was not easy at first. In fact, it was quite incredibly awkward. But this same discomfort pushed me. I pushed myself to become friends with people that on the outside it might have seemed I had nothing in common with. I made friends from Russia, Istanbul, Brazil, Belgium, Korea, and so many other incredible places. This experience allowed me to have an increasing global perspective and understanding of the world and the people around me. It allowed me to open my mind to an array of cultures, languages, music, and customs.