English Transcripts

Episode 1: “Episode D’Introduction” / “Introduction Episode”

Hello it’s Stephanie and you are listening to the French Talk Show! Hi to all and welcome to the first episode of this podcast. I am so excited in this moment to finally be able to share this with you. In this episode I will talk about the objectives of this podcast so you can have a better idea of what it is about. I started this podcast for those who are learning French, between beginners and intermediates, who wish to improve their listening comprehension skills. The podcast will cover different subjects of French culture such as politics, cuisine, way of life, and French culture. Aside from learning French you will learn about the Francophone world. I will also cover certain words and phrases to use to improve your oral skills (in order to not give the expression that you are reading off a manual when you speak French). Well, to talk a little about me, my first language is Spanish and also English. I grew up in Mexico because my mom is Mexican and we moved to the U.S to started middle school in the U.S when I was about 13 years old. I began to learn French because half of my mom’s family is French and when we would go to family reunions my cousins would always whisper to each-other in French and laugh, and since I did not understand what they were saying I always thought they were making fun of me. And that is what made me want to learn French. Right now I am in my third year of high school and I am seventeen years old. I started this podcast because I love French culture and I want to my passion with others. All my episodes will not last more than 10 minutes. On the website of this podcast I will include a French and English translation that you can use to follow along to when you are listening to the podcast. There will also be French lessons and other content, so make sure to check that out. I hope you will be a part of this journey to improve your French. Thank you and see you soon!

Episode 2: “Dix phrases pour utiliser dans votre conversation”/ “Ten phrases to use in your conversations”

Hello it’s Stephanie and you are listening to the French Talk Show! Hi to all and welcome to the second episode of this podcast, I hope you all are doing well. In this episode I will show you ten phrases that French people use in their day to day conversations and what they mean. Without further doubt, lets get started! The first phrase that we will learn today is “tiens ma aux courant” (X2) in English this phrase means “keep me up to date” or “keep me in the loop”. This phrase is truly used in conversations French people have everyday. For example, if your friend asks you for advice or asks you your opinion on a certain subject you will give them a response and then you tell her “tiens ma aux courant” or keep me up to date on whats going on. This phrase is truly important to have in your vocabulary. The second phrase we will learn today is “revenons à nous moutons”. This is one of my favorite phrases because i think it is really funny and I will explain why. Literally revenons means “to come back” and “à nous moutons” means “to our sheep”. So the phrase in English translates literally to: lets get back to our sheep, but that is not what the phrase really means. In reality, this phrase means lets get back to the subject. You use this phrase when you are having a conversation with someone and you start talking about something that has nothing to do with the original topic of the conversation. When you realize you are very far from the original topic you say “revenons à nous moutons”: lets get back to the topic.The third phrase we will learn today is “j’en mettrai ma main au feu” (X2) In English this phrase literally means “I put my hand in the fire”, but this phrase does not have a literal meaning. This phrase is used when you promise or swear something. This phrase is equivalent to saying “I cross my heart”. When you say this you mean you I promise, you swear, you give your word. “J’en mettrai ma main au feu”, I promise you something. If someone thinks you are not telling the truth you can say “J’en mettrai ma main au feu” and then the person will know that you are very serious about what you are telling them and you give them your word. The fourth phrase we will be learning today is “Ça roule comme d’habe” (X2). This phrase is used when someone asks you how you are. Someone asks you and you respond with “ça roule comme d’habe”. Everything is great, everything is normal. “Comme d’hab is an abbreviation for “comme d’habitude” which means per usual. This phrase is quick, easy, straight to the point, casual and is used in day to day speaking. The next phrase we will learn today is “Laisse tomber” or let it go. One uses this phrase when you do not want to talk about a certain subject any more. You tell the other person “laisse tomber” or let it go (lets drop it, lets move on). If you are in an argument with someone this is the perfect occasion to use this phrase. If you don’t want to talk about something really serious in that moment, you say “laisse tomber” we can talk about this in another occasion. The next phrase we will learn today is “Je te jure” or “I swear to you”. This phrase is very practical and very important for your vocabulary and very easy to use. In your conversations if someone asks you a questions and you respond with “Je te jure”. This phrase is used a lot and very practical to know. You will use it a lot. The next phrase we will learn today is a little more complicated, but it is commonly used and I think if you hear it in a conversation and you understand it it will be very impressive. The phrase is “Mauvais quart d’heure” (X2). In English this means awful fifteen minutes of an hour or bad fifteen minutes. This is not the literal meaning of the phrase, the actual meaning of this phrase is that you had a short but very embarrassing experience. For example, you fell down the stairs in front of a bunch of people and you are super embarrassed you can say “J’ai a un mauvais quart d’heure". I really embarrassed myself, I had a really terrible experience. This is a perfect phrase when something bad happens to you and it shows that you really know French language because this is something that people really use in their day to day speaking. The next phrase is another one of my favorite phrases. I will explain the phrase “J’ai le cafard” (X2). Literally, in English, this phrase means I have the cockroach. But this is not the actual message of the phrase. The phrase says “I am a little depressed or a little sad”. If you say this to someone they will understand immediately that your not having a good day and they will leave you alone. I think it is a very funny and practical phrase. The next phrase we will learn today is “Chacun voit midi a sa port” (X2). In English this phrase states that everyone sees noon at their door. This phrase means that everyone takes things in their own. Everyone looks out for proper interests. No one sees the same thing the same way. Everyone has their own opinion. What you may think may be very different than your friend or your your mom. People have different opinions and it is important to respect them. The final phrase that we will learn today that a lot of young people use in their conversation is “La thune” (X2). This phrase means “money”. I think this phrase is very important because it is used by a lot of young people and money is also very important. Thank you for listening to the second episode of this podcast. I hope that you practice these phrases in your French conversations with other people!

Episode 3: “La Negation: Écrite vs parlé” / “Negation: Written vs spoken”

Hello it’s Stephanie and you are listening to The French Talk Show! I am very happy to have you here with me today. This episode is very important if you are looking to improve your spoken conversations in French because the tips I will give you today are very important because French use them in their daily conversations. In this episode I will talk about using the negation when one writes (the grammatical negation) and how you negate when you talk in French. To begin I will talk about how one uses negation in a written, grammatical manner. When one learns French you are taught two types of phrases: affirmative and negative. For example, if you want to say that you do a certain thing, you say this in an affirmative manner. For example “Je melange la salade” or “I mix the salad”. But if you want to say that you did not do a certain action, you place the preposition “ne” before the verb and the preposition “pas” after the verb. For example you will say “Je NE melange PAS la salade” (X2). This means that you do not do this action. This rule or format is used for all verbs in French when you write. This rule when writing is very important when you are writing in French because people will immediately recognize that you know grammatical rules. Next, I will talk about how French people use negation when speaking in their daily conversations. When one has a daily conversation, it is not very formal. For this reason one does not use the preposition “ne” in front of the verb when speaking. When you are writing you use it because writing is a formal action. When one speaks it is not formal so you do not say “ne”. For example, when you are writing you would write “Je NE melange PAS la salade,” but when you speak you say “Je melange PAS la salade”. This way the phrase is much more quick and natural. If you are speaking in French and you use the preposition “NE” in front of a verb, people will know that you are just learning French and you do not know how to really speak the language. If you do not use people will know that you know spoken rules and that your French level is more advanced. An example of a conversation where I use the negation is when someone asks me how I am doing (ça va?). After this a person may ask me a question like have you cleaned your room. I will respond “Je fais pas” or “I did not”. This is easy, natural and quick. And that is it! Now you know how to use negation when speaking and writing in French. Thank you for listening to my podcast! I hope I will see you at the next espisode.

Episode 4: “Culture: La Bise” / “Culture: Greetings”

Hello it’s Stephanie, and you are listening to The French Talk Show! Hello to all and welcome to the fourth episode of The French Talk Show. In this episode I will give a brief talk on French culture, particularly a tradition known as “la bise” (the kiss). More than a tradition, “la bise” is a French social tinteraction that is practiced by everyone, and is almost a natural gesture. One does this action when greeting someone you know, like a friend or a family member. If you are not familiar with this expression “la bise”, I imagine that a romantic image comes to mind; however, that is not the case. The expression of “la bise” makes a reference to the act of greeting someone you know by giving them a small peck on each side of their cheek. But one does not make out or kiss someone on the lips, it is only a familiar gesture that one makes with friends and family. Depending on the region of France, people give different numbers of kisses. Well where does this tradition come from? The tradition of “la bise” was practiced in the Roman empire, and was eventually adapted by the French. That is all for our culture lesson for today, I hope you learned something about French culture!

Episode 5: “Culture: Comment être un touriste poli en France”/ “How to be a polite tourist in France”

Hello everyone and welcome to my podcast! In this episode, I will talk about how you can be a good tourist when you visit France. Maybe you've heard a story, or two, about the French and how they treat American tourists. In general, tourists consider French people to be very rude (especially Parisians). But that's not really the case. The French think that tourists don't show any for their language or their culture, and for that they are not friendly. In this episode, I'll give you some tips on how to be a polite and respectful tourist when you visit France.The first advice I will give you is not to approach anyone in France and automatically start speaking English; the French perceive this as rude, and might even be offended. For this reason, it is a good idea to learn some basic French phrases before you travel to France. The second tip I'm going to give you is to look presentable when you dress. The French do not use sportswear or loungewear when leaving their home. Looking messy will draw attention to you and make you seem like a tourist. Another tip is not to speak very loudly. The French find it unbearable and rude; this particularly applies in public places such as the metro (you might get a rude look or two if you do this). Next, before asking a question, always say hello. This is not only common courtesy, but it will be considered rude and you may receive a a rude remark (this has happened to me before). Another good thing to know is not to greet a waiter in a restaurant obnoxiously. make eye contact or raise your hand slightly to signal that you need it. It is not customary for servers to approach their tables very often The final tip I'm going to give you today is don't expect you to be able to ask for specific requests on the menu. It is not common like in the United States, and can be perceived as demanding. Be prepared to order something else off the menu instead. Well that's it for today's episode, I hope these tips were helpful!

Episode 6: “Les Faux Amis: Partie 1” / “False Friends: Part 1”

Hello and welcome to my podcast! In this episode I will be talking about several false friends that you should be aware of when learning French. French and English have a long and complicated history together, that may be why many French words may sound familiar to you. However, some can be misleading because they do not have the same meaning as in English. These words can easily lead you to say something crazy or embarrassing that you hadn't expected at all. For this reason, it is important to be aware of these. The first false friends that we will learn today is wait in English that means (to tend or take care of something) and to wait who wants to say (to wait on someone or something). As you can see, these two words are very similar and spelled the same. However, the correct word for wait in French is: assist. The second “false friend” that we will learn today is the English word bless or blessed which means (to confer or invoke divine favor upon; ask God to look favorably on.) And the French word wounded which means ( injured). These two words sound almost identical, but their meanings are far from the same. The correct word for blessed in English is blessed imagine that you are trying to tell someone that they are blessed and that you are actually telling them that they are hurt. The next pair of words that we will learn today are actually semi false friends because there are two meanings for the same word, which we will learn is the English word button and the French word button which in addition to literally means pimple means (acne) It might be confusing if someone keeps talking about their pimples and think about the pimples on their jacket The final false friends that we will learn today is the English word money (cash, paper bills) and the French word currency which means Loose change. While these words sound extremely similar, it's important to know the difference. This is especially important if you are thinking of traveling to France. The correct word for money in French is money, but many people also call it money.

Episode 7: “Les Faux Amis: Partie Deux” / “False Friends: Part two”

Hello everyone and welcome to the second part of false friends. I will continue to talk about false friends in this episode and give you more examples. The first false friends I'm going to talk about today is the English word envy that means (to be jealous of someone) and the French word envy that means (to have a wish or desire). These two words sound exactly the same but mean completely different things. The word for envy in French is joulousie, but the verb envy has the same meaning as the word in English envy. For example I can say I want Sophie, because she has a new bag. But I can also say I want an ice cream with chocolate after the meal. In this case the word envy and used as a means of expressing the desire The second false friend I'm going to talk about today is the word jolly in English which means (to be happy) and the word joli in French which means (pretty). Both words are used as a noun to describe people. there are no direct translations into French but similar words are The French word for the word jolly is gay or playful. The next false friends that we will learn is the English word Journey which means (a sort of travel or adventure) and the French word journée which means (day). For example, if someone says in French "hold a good day" they tell you (have a good day). The word for journey in french is <voyage>. The next false friends that we will learn is the word in English "library" in place where one can rent books and librarie in francias which means bookstore or news stand. This one is particularly tricky because the words are exactly the same. The French word for library is library. it can be confusing if you ask someone to go to the library and they take you to a bookstore. For that we have to pay attention to where you want to look for books. The next false friends that we will learn is the French word location which means rental and the English word location which means (a specific place). These two words are exactly the same, but you have to be careful. If you are in French and you want to know <the location> of a place, we ask for the location or the situation of a place. For example if you want to know where the nearest supermarket is you can ask someone "ex cuse me monseuir where is the situation of the market closer to here". The final false friend that we will learn is the French word raisin which means grapes and the French word raisin which means (dried grapes). To define the word raisin on French we only have to add the dry word after grape and you will get the word raisin or raisin.

Episode 8: “Culture: Napoléon Bonaparte” / “Culture: Napoleon Bonapart”

Hi everyone and welcome to today's episode. In this episode I will talk a little about a very important person in the history of France: Napoleon Bonaparte. Who was Napoleon? Napoleon was a French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century. How did Napoleon become emperor? Napoleon quickly rose through the ranks of the army during the French Revolution during the years 1789-1799. After taking political power in France in a coup d'état in 1799, he crowned himself emperor in 1804. During these years, Napoleon reestablished a French aristocracy (which was wiped out during the French Revolution) and began distributing titles of nobility to his loyal friends and family as his empire continued to expand from western and central Europe. Why was he a controversial figure in French history? Although Napoleon brought positive changes to France such as reform of the legal and educational system also invaded much of Europe and returned France to a monarchy, and established himself as dictator. People wanted to abolish the monarchy during the revolution, but he restored it. Another reason why Napoleon is a very controversial figure in France is because he reestablished slavery in France after its abolition years earlier. Napoleon's decision in 1802 to restore slavery not only betrayed the ideals of the French Revolution, but also condemned around 300,000 people to a life of servitude for several years, before France finally abolished slavery. in 1848. Napoleon was forced to surrender to the invaders of Europe and was finally exiled in 1815 to the island of Saint Helena. He died in 1821 and Louis 18 (the brother of Louis 16) took control of France. For some napoleon is commemorated as the man who brought a new modern era to France, but others see him as a cruel dictator hungry for power. I choose to speak about this historical figure because this month was the 200th anniversary of his death.

Episode 9: “Culture: Emily à Paris” / “Culture: Emily in Paris”

Hi everyone and welcome to the French Talk Show! In this episode I'm going to talk about the Netflix show Emily in Paris. To be honest, I was completely obsessed with this series when it came out in October. I also adore the beautiful actress Lily Collins, the main character of the series. If you're not familiar with this series it's about an American girl who works for a marketing agency in Chicago who has the opportunity to go to France for a year for her job, but she had never been to France and she does not speak French. On the show, we watch Emily discovering French culture, new people and the Parisian way of life. This is all a shock to Emily as an American. I think the show makes fun of Americans because they are totally ignorant when they go to different countries and I totally agree with that (it is hilarious). Well I'm going to talk about aspects of the show that are true of French culture and some of which are not very realistic. The first thing I'm going to talk about is the scene where Emily arrived at her French department and she didn't have an elevator. This aspect is completely true. Many of the buildings in France are very old and they do not have an elevator. One always have to go up several floors and carry their things up the stairs (be prepared for that if you ever plan on living in France). Another very popular aspect of the show is Emilie's very pretty clothes. She wears a lot of very colorful and eye-catching things. This is not a normal aspect of French culture. Normally people in Paris wear classic, elegant clothes and they don't use a lot of colors (more neutral tones). In the show, Emily is very punctual on her first day of work, but no one is in the office. This is true of French culture. The French have a reputation for being late and they don't like to be in a rush especially when they are eating. This is why they have longer lunch breaks than in the United States were people sometimes only get up to thirty minutes. In the series, Emilie meets a lot of cafes in her time in France. This is a completely true aspect of French culture. A lot of people spend a lot of time in cafes and they have coffee alone or with friends. They watch people who pass in the street.

Episode 10: “Culture: LGBTQ+ en France et États Unis”/ “Culture: LGBTQ+ in France and the United States”

Hello everyone and welcome to the French Talk Show! Today's episode is special, because June is Gay Pride Month. Yesterday their were parades in the cities of Los Angeles and New York in the United States. In these parades everyone goes out in the street and wears rainbow-colored clothes (which is also the symbol of the gay flag). This month is especially important for me, since I am bisexual myself, so this is an important topic for me. Today I am going to talk about how homosexuality is perceived in France compared to the United States. Same-sex marriage has been legal in France since May 18, 2013, making France the thirteenth country in the world to allow marriage for same-sex couples. Two years later, the United States legalized marriage on June 26, 2015, under President Barack Obama. However, on May 17, 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state and the sixth jurisdiction in the world to legalize same-sex relationships (well before 2015). France has often been called one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world. As we could see, the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States and in France is a relatively recent phenomenon. It has only been six years since same-sex marriage is legalized in the United States and eight years since it has been legal in France. Personally I think this is completely crazy. We live in the 21st century and homosexuality is only just beginning to be accepted by societies around the world. Homosexuality was just beginning to be accepted when I turned 11 years old (wow). That said, we can consider France and the United States as more progressive countries in a social aspect. Homosexuality is banned and criminalized in many countries in Africa and the Middle East. I hope that in the next few years homosexuality will be better perceived by society. France has often been called one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, especially among the younger generations. France in general is seen as a very progressive country. It means that the country is more inclined to social reform. Certainly more liberal than the United States. The district of "Marais" in Paris became the center of the homosexual community in 1980. Even though the United States is seen as a country that generally accepts gay rights, different parts of the country are more tolerant, largely on the basis of political opinions. For example, in southern and mid-western states, homosexuality is less socially accepted in some communities, mainly on the basis of religious and political ideology since more people in these states are conservative. However, other states such as California, New York, New Mexico, and Florida are much more tolerant in their view of homosexuality.

Episode 11: “Culture: Le Repas” / “Culture: Meals”

Hello everyone and welcome to the French Talk Show! Today I am going to talk about the different meals of the day in France: the petit-déjuenr, the déjuener, and the dîner. I will tell you what the French normally eat for these meals. Well we start with breakfast. Normally, the French do not eat too much for breakfast as in the United States. Breakfast and the smallest meal of the day. This is the complete opposite of the United States. The French people have a latte or an espresso or a hot tea. They may also take a loaf (baguette) with butter and jam from different fruits. The next meal of the day is lunch. Lunch in France is considered by all to be the most important meal of the day. In the United States people don't eat too much for lunch, maybe they eat a salad or a sandwich. This is not the case in France. In France it is completely normal to take a lot of time for lunch. People leave their desks for at least an hour. The time for the meal is not compressed. In fact, French people hate to be in a hurry when they eat. It is also normal not to leave the restaurant immediately after you finish eating. People talk to their friends or colleges. For the French, lunch is that big meal meant to get you through the day. A late afternoon snack is perfectly acceptable for kids - there's even an official name for it, snack. But in my experience, at least for most people in France it is considered more offensive for an adult to have a snack than a cigarette. So make sure your lunch is filling. Eating a light breakfast helps with this. Many people wonder why the French are thin. This is because they don't eat snacks all day. Finally, we will talk about dinner in France. French people generally eat a small dinner, as lunch is the main meal of the day. Also, people normally eat dinner with their families. Dinner is considered a time to be with the family. They normally eat dinner between seven and nine in the evening. It is very common to have dinner with a glass of wine.

Episode 12: “Langue: Lupin”/ “Language: Lupin”

Hello everyone and welcome to the French Talk Show. In today’s episode I’ll talk a bit about the Netflix series: Lupine. Lupine is a mystery series that was released on Netflix in January 2021. The main character of the show, Arsenne Diop, is inspired by the adventures of the thief Arsène Lupine. Lupine was a character created in the early 1900s by writer Maurice LeBlanc. Lupine was the main character of his novels. So what is the series about? The story follows professional thief Assane Diop, the only son of an immigrant from Senegal who came to France to seek a better life for his family. Assane's father is accused of stealing an expensive diamond necklace by his employer, a rich and powerful man named Hubert Pellegrini. Assane’s father hangs himself in his prison cell out of shame, leaving teenage Assane an orphan. (Spoiler alert) However Assane’s father never stole the necklace!!!! Twenty-five years later, inspired by a book on the robber gentleman Arsène Lupine that his father had given him on his birthday, Assane sets out to take revenge on the Pellegrini family, using his charisma and his mastery of theft and disguise. There are ten episodes, each lasting about an hour long. Why is watching movies and television in French useful? Well, when we normally learn French, we learn it in a very formal manner through studying language and grammar. When listening to a TV show, you may even feel like you are not listening to French at all this is because informal and formal French are very different. The French language is filled with phrases and jokes that are usually not taught in the classroom. You can start to understand these by watching French TV with the subtitles, while also listening to the spoken French. As your listening skills improve, try to start watching without captions (it will definitely be a challenge at first, but it is one of the best exercises to improve listening). Not only that, but you have the chance to see how the French really speak to each other To be completely honest, I personally find it hard to listen to Lupine without subtitles (and i have been learning French for years). One of the main reasons being that French people speak so fast and so quietly (almost muffled) that it is very easy to miss a word. I haven't finished the whole show, but it keeps me on my toes. I can not wait to see what happens next

Episode 13: “Culture: Les Cafés en France”/ “Culture: Cafes in France”

Hello everyone and welcome to the French Talk Show! Today I am going to talk about “cafés” in France and why they form a large part of the culture French culture and way of life. Parisian cafes serve as the center of social and culinary life in Paris. They have been around since the 17th century and serve as a meeting place, neighborhood hub, conversation, meeting place - the social and political pulse of the city. Parisian cafes show the Parisian way of sitting undisturbed for a few hours. People often spend time people watching and what is happening around them.

Episode 14: “Culture: Le Tour de France”/ “Culture: The Tour of France”

Hello everyone and welcome to the French talk show! Today I'm going to talk a bit about the Tour de France. If you don't already know, the tour de France is an annual cycling competition that takes place in France between the end of June and July. This year is the one hundred and eighth year of the competition. The Tour de France is one of three “grand tours” of cycling in the world for men. The other two take place in Italy and Spain. The tour consists of 21 stages which each last one day on the 23 day course. The race was organized in the year one thousand nine hundred and three to increase the sales of the newspaper L’Auto. Today it is competed and organized by the organizations "Amaury Sport". The competition has been happening every year from 1903, except for the two world wars. In the first years of the competition, the participants are mostly French. But over the years the competition grew and competitors from all over the world were arriving in France to compete in this competition. The competition has grown into the world's largest sporting event. The majority of the contest is passed in July, but it is starting in June. Although the route of the contest changes every year, the format of the contest remains the same. Each year the competitors must pass for the passages between the mountains of the Pyrenees and the Alps. The competition ended in avenue Champs Elysees in Paris. In total the competition covers 3,500 kilometers. Normally there are come and go-two teams with eight competitors in each one. The competitor with the shorter time is the team leader and he wears a yellow shirt. There are different competition classifications in the competition: the classification for the sprinter, the classification for the mountain and the classification for the young competitors (some who are under 26 years old). The Tour de France started this year a few days ago. Maintain a competitor of the great Brittany: Mark Cavendish came n first place since stage 6 of the competition. Cavendish has already participated in the tours de France.

Episode 15: “Culture: Le Système éducatif en France et aux États-Unis”/ “Culture: The Education system in France and the United States”

Hello and welcome to the French Talk Show! Today I will compare the educational system in France and the United States. The French education system has three stages: primary school, secondary school and high school. Primary school includes classes from kindergarten to sixth / seventh grade. Secondary school consists of grades seven to ten. Upper secondary school consists of the eleventh and twelfth years. Students go to school for a total of thirteen years. After graduating from high school, students must pass the Baccalaureate, an academic qualification test designed to qualify successful applicants for higher-level colleges. Tuition fees range from 150 euros ($ 178.63) to 900 euros ($ 1,071.78) per term. In France, students go to school four days a week. School normally starts around 8:30 a.m. and ends around 4:30 p.m., and students are given two breaks during the day. Twelve courses are taken, including mathematics, a foreign language and physics. Students spend up to four or five hours on homework each evening. Uniforms have not been mandatory in schools since 1968, but some residential schools still have them. Sport is not really very important in France; if children play sports, they are normally only with the community in which they live. In the United States, students go to school for twelve years, with three different stages as well: elementary school, middle school, and high school. Elementary school usually consists of Kindergarten to Grade 5, however, levels may vary. The middle school includes classes from sixth to eighth. High school goes through twelfth grade. The school takes place Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. and ends around 3:00 a.m., with a small break for lunch. Subjects vary according to grade level, however, there are four core classes: math, science, language arts, and history. In middle and high school, students have a certain choice in the courses they take. Sports are very common. In France, school meals are planned two months in advance. The school menu consists of a wide range of vegetables, different kinds of fish and a very wide variety of cheeses. Management staff pay attention to sugar intake and make sure the meal is balanced with protein, fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates. To make the meal healthier, kids don't eat prepackaged fruits or vegetables, and soups are made the same day, not the days before. Studies have shown that healthier eating habits lead to better school results and fewer sick days. On the contrary, college students across America are consuming foods high in sugar, fat, and salt. Experts say this is a huge contributor to obesity, and later leads children to do poorly in school. Additionally, students' eating habits are not monitored, so many of their lunches consist only of snacks and some do not eat at all. Although they are allowed to bring their lunch from home, many children buy their lunch, and the number of those who pack decreases with age. Students in the United States have the option of bringing a packed lunch from home, however, the number of those who do decline with age. Children in France benefit from a two-hour lunch break. According to Eric Rimm, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, “Children learn a lot in school. They should also learn to eat slowly and enjoy their food. On the other hand, in America, lunch breaks last about 30 minutes, which does not give students enough time to digest their food. Children who have to buy their lunch often have to queue before they can even buy their lunch, which takes ten to fifty minutes. In the United States, too, the college application system is much more complex than in France. Students are required to take an exam, ACT or SAT, submit grades, write numerous essays, and participate in a number of extracurricular activities In addition, the tuition fees in the United States are extremely expensive. Many private universities cost up to $70,000 per year. a total of about 300 thousand dollars for four years. On the contrary, many French universities are compulsorily free for French citizens.

Episode 16: “Culture: Le Guide Michelin”/ “Culture: The Michelin Guide”

Hello everyone and today I am going to talk about the Michelin guide. Maybe you've heard someone talk about the “Michelin Guide” or maybe someone said “this restaurant has three Michelin stars” in today's podcast I'll talk a bit about the history of the Michelin Guide and how it originated. In 1900, there were less than 3,000 cars on the roads of France. To increase the demand for cars and car tires, car tire manufacturers and brothers Édouard and André Michelin published a guide for French motorists, the Michelin Guide. Almost 35,000 copies of this first free edition of the guide have been distributed; it provided useful information for motorists, such as maps, tire repair and replacement instructions, lists of garage owners, hotels and gas stations across France. The guide began to award stars to gastronomic establishments in 1926. Initially, there was only one star awarded. Then, in 1931, the hierarchy of zero, one, two and three stars was introduced. Finally, in 1936, the criteria for star ratings were published: A single star means A very good restaurant in its category "A very good restaurant in its category," two stars meaning “Excellent table, worth a detour”. Three stars, the greatest merit for a chef, means “One of the best tables, worth the trip”. In 2005, Michelin published its first American guide, covering 500 restaurants in New York's five boroughs and 50 hotels in Manhattan. In 2007, a Michelin Guide to Tokyo was launched. The same year, the guide launched a magazine, Étoile. In 2008, a volume from Hong Kong and Macao was added. In 2013, the guide was published in 14 editions covering 23 countries. Michelin assessors (commonly known as “inspectors”) are anonymous; they do not identify themselves, and their meals and expenses are paid by Michelin, never by a restaurant under review. Michelin has gone to great lengths to preserve the anonymity of its inspectors. Many of the company's senior executives have never met an inspector; inspectors themselves are advised not to disclose their profession, even to their parents (who might be tempted to brag about it); and, in all these years that it has published the guide, Michelin has refused to allow its inspectors to speak to journalists. Inspectors write reports that are distilled, at annual “star meetings” at the guide's various national offices, in the ranking of three stars, two stars or one star - or no star. (Establishments that Michelin deems unworthy of a visit are not listed in the guide. French chef Paul Bocuse, one of the pioneers of nouvelle cuisine in the 1960s, said: “Michelin is the only guide that matters”. been compared to that of the annual Oscars for films. The media and others are debating the likely winners, speculation is rife, and television and newspapers are discussing which restaurant could lose and which could win a Michelin star. The Michelin Guide also awards “Rising Stars,” an indication that a restaurant has the potential to qualify for an additional star or star. In 2020, the Michelin Guide launched an emblem of sustainability to symbolize the excellence of sustainable gastronomy. An establishment awarded this green star has a space on the Guide website for the chef to describe the restaurant's vision. Although receiving a Michelin star is a notorious achievement, many speculate on the fairness of the system and accuse the guide of favoritism.

Episode 17: “Culture: Comment restent trop maigres les Françaises?”/ “Culture: How do French people remain very slim?”

Hello everyone and welcome to the French Talk Show. Today I'm going to talk about how French people stay very thin. In a country where on a street corner, there is a bakery with pastries, and in the other, a cafe where Parisians linger for hours. a place known for its rich desserts, baguettes made from refined flour, foie gras, fatty meats and wine. Yet most residents seem to have little difficulty maintaining a healthy weight. It's called the French paradox. A paradox refers to something that contradicts itself or is completely absurd. It is really absurd that French people eat food which seems very dense in calories but they remain very thin. One of the reasons is a mentality thing. Especially French women are very concerned with their image. They want to stay skinny, so they are careful with what they eat. Another thing that is different is the way of life. In France, Eating is a relaxing experience. In the United States, we often swallow meals in record time or eat while driving or sitting at our desks. But the French seem to have all the time in the world to sit down and have dinner. In America, many of us say no to white foods like bread and pasta, but in France everyone seems to be carrying a fresh baguette to take home. One of the reasons is that "You have to eat a lot of bread or pasta for the calories to add up, and most of the time, French meals are quite light and the portions are small. The portions in the United States are very, very large in comparison with the French portions. Confit, foie gras, and many other fatty foods are eaten occasionally - perhaps once every two weeks, he says. Wine is enjoyed regularly, but in limited portions. And you won't find artificial sweeteners in sherbet-colored sachets on every table. This is because the French prefer small portions of real stuff, like sugar and butter. Order a ham sandwich in France and you might be surprised to get a thin slice of ham and some mustard tomatoes on a baguette. It's a far cry from the calories found in an American-style deli sandwich or cheeseburger and fries. It is difficult to determine the nutritional value of many foods on the French markets. Nutrient labeling is optional in France. Judging from the foods I've seen, the average French consumer seems to be more interested in added vitamins and minerals than in reducing fat or calories. I have found foods that were labeled 0% fat, but not as many calorie-free, fat-free products lining the shelves of American grocery stores. This daily physical activity is one of the reasons they tend to be slimmer. Having a car in any European city is a challenge. As a result, city dwellers walk a lot, and in the countryside they walk or cycle. And when the French are walking or driving, they usually don't eat, drink coffee from paper cups, or talk on the phone. Another thing that I noticed is that it is practically impossible to find a non-smoking area, in town or in the countryside. Smoking is a way of life, much like sitting in cafes. maybe all that coffee and cigarettes are helping to calm the appetite and explain why the French are skinny. Of course, we all know that smoking is unhealthy and certainly not a good way to control your weight.

Episode 18: “Culture: Le Festival De Cannes”/ “Culture: The Cannes Festival”

Hello everyone and welcome to the French Talk Show! In this episode I will talk about the history of Festival de Cannes (the Cannes Film Festival) and the festival that happened this year in 2021. Well to start I will talk about the history of the festival. The Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which premieres new films of all genres, including documentaries, from around the world. Founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival is held annually (usually in May) at the “Palais des Festivals et des Congrès”. The Cannes Film Festival has its origins in 1938 when Jean Zay, the French Minister of National Education, decides to create an international film festival. Its creation is largely explained by the French desire to compete with the Venice Film Festival, which was at the time the only international film festival and had shown a lack of impartiality with its fascist bias during these years. Political interference seemed evident in the 1937 edition when Benito Mussolini stepped in to ensure that the French pacifist film La Grande Illusion did not win. he last drop was the event of 1938 when Mussolini and Adolf Hitler respectively overturned the jury's decision to award the Coppa Mussolini (Mussolini Cup) for best film to the Italian war film Luciano Serra, Pilot, produced under supervision from Mussolini's son, and Coppa Mussolini for Best Foreign Film at Olympia, a German documentary on the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin produced in association with the Nazi Ministry of Public Awakening and Propaganda despite the fact that the regulations at the time prohibited awarding a documentary. Indignant at the decision and as a measure of protest, the French, British and American jury members decided to withdraw from the festival with the intention of not returning. This snub prompted the French to found a free festival. Thus, on May 31, 1939, the city of Cannes was finally chosen to host the festival. the French government signed the official birth certificate of the International Film Festival with the name Le Festival International du Film. The reason for choosing Cannes was its tourist attraction as a seaside resort on the Côte d'Azur. The first edition was to be held from September 1 to 20, 1939 in an auditorium of the Municipal Casino and Louis Lumière would be its honorary president. Its objective was "to encourage the development of all forms of cinematographic art and to foster a spirit of collaboration between the countries producing films". On August 31, the opening gala took place with the private screening of the American film The Hunchback of Notre Dame (the hunchback of notre dame) with Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara. On Monday, September 1, German troops invade Poland. the festival was postponed for 10 days and would be resumed if circumstances permitted. However, the situation only worsened and on September 3, France and the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, triggering World War II. The French government ordered a general mobilization and this prevented the festival from continuing so it was ultimately canceled. In 1946, the festival was relaunched and from September 20 to October 5, 1946, twenty-one countries presented their films at the first Cannes International Film Festival, which took place in the former Casino de Cannes. In 1951, the festival was moved to spring to avoid direct competition with the Venice Film Festival which is held in the fall. So that's a bit of the history of the festival. The seventy-four year Cannes Film Festival ended in Jordan on June 17, 2021. Taking place two months later than usual, this year's film festival was eagerly awaited after last year's cancellation. During the closing ceremony, Italian director Marco Bellochio received an honorary Palme d'Or for his extraordinary career as a filmmaker. a Palme d'Or, presented by Sharon Stone, was awarded to Titane directed by Julia Ducournau. By winning, Ducournau made history by being the second woman to win the Palme d'Or in 74 years.

Episode 19: “Langue: Phrases Pour Utiliser quand vous parlez Français”/ “Language: Phrases to use when you speak French”

Episode 20: “Culture: Les Différences entre le Révolution Française et Amércaine”/ “Culture: The Differences between the French and American Revolution”

Episode 21: “Culture: Marie Antoinette”/ “Culture: Marie Antoinette”

Episode 22: “Culture: Marie Curie”/ “Culture: Marie Curie”

Episode 23:

Hello to all and welcome to the French Talk Show! In this episode I will be talking about the difference between the sense of style in the United States and in France. First, I will be talking about French style. French style, especially Parisienne style, mostly consists of basic colors: black, white, beige and denim. You will not regularly see French people wearing very bright colors such as yellow or green. French people are not over the top or extravagant in their day-to-day clothing. They like to keep their style elegant, chic, and timeless. You will often see a woman wearing light-colored jeans with a white button down and sneakers. Or you will see someone wearing jeans and a blazer. Men in France also have a consistent style. Opposed to the United States where you will find men in t-shirts and athletic shorts, men in France wear jeans or trousers with simple t-shirts. French men are generally much more stylish than Americans, who do not put much effort into their style. A major difference between the France and the United states is that you will not find anyone wearing sportswear in their day-to-day routine. In the U.S. it is considered completely normal to throw on a pair of leggings and workout tank to run errands or pick your children up from school. In France, this is unheard of. In France most people only wear exercise clothes if and only they are going to work out. After working out most people will change their outfit to look presentable for the rest of the day. Another American style custom that would be considered outrageous in France is wearing flip flops. Americans use these regularly. In France it is only acceptable to use flip flips when one is going to the beach or pool. Any other occasion would not be acceptable. In contrast to the French, Americans are very good at keeping up with trends. The mass consumption in America is the perfect place for trends to be constantly circulating. People are regularly buying the hottest “it” item of the season that they will no longer like in a few months. Instead, French people stick to more classic items that will last them a long time and will not go out of style by the next season. Another difference between French and Americans is jewelry. In fact it is often said that one can recognize an American just because of their jewelry. Americans tend to like chunky jewelry like stacking bracelets or large hooped earrings. French people like to keep their jewelry more simple with necklace pendants and small earrings. Another tip in the Parisian style handbook is to keep it subtle with logos, because it can be seen as tasteless. In the U.S people love logos, especially designer ones. In France you will notice that most people prefer to carry bags without any logos. The American style tends to see people having multiple statement pieces in a single look. This can be funky pants, a funky jacket, and funky shoes all put together in one outfit. These looks are more creative and individualistic, plus trendsetting. American style can be seen as more versatile than Parisian style; there is no article of clothing that can’t be used or incorporated into an outfit. That is all for today! I hope you learned about the differences between French (Especially Parisienne) and American style! I hope to see you at the next episode!

 Episode 24:

Hello to all and welcome to the French Talk Show! In this episode I will talk about the amazing fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent and his legacy in the fashion world. Yves Saint Laurent was born on August 1, 1936, in Oran, Algeria. He grew up in a villa by the Mediterranean with his two younger sisters, Michelle and Brigitte. His father, Charles, was a lawyer and insurance broker who owned a chain of cinemas. Despite his privileged position, childhood for Yves was not easy. Yves was not popular in school, and was often bullied by schoolmates for appearing to be gay. Because of this, Yves was a nervous child, and got sick very often. However, he found comfort in the world of fashion. He liked to create intricate paper dolls in his free time. In his early teen years he began designing dresses for his mother and sisters. At the age of 17, a whole new world opened up to Yves when his mother took him to Paris for a meeting she'd arranged with Michael de Brunhoff, the editor of French Vogue. Yves had impressed Brunhoff with his drawings. A year later, Saint Laurent, moved to Paris and enrolled at the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, where his designs quickly gained notice. De Brunhoff introduced Saint Laurent to the designer Christian Dior, who was a giant in the fashion world at that time. Later in his life, Yves recalls how "Dior fascinated him,". "I couldn't speak in front of him, he said. He taught me the basis of my art. Whatever was to happen next, I never forgot the years I spent at his side." Under Dior's guidance, Saint Laurent's continued to mature through his work. In 1960 Saint Laurent was called back to Algeria to fight for its independence. He managed to secure an exemption based on his health. However, when he returned to Paris, Yves found that his job with Dior had disappeared. The news, at first, was traumatic for the young, designer. Saint Laurent sued his former mentor for breach of contract, and collected £48,000. The money and the freedom soon presented Yves with a unique opportunity. In cooperation with his partner and lover, Pierre Berge, the designer resolved to open his own fashion house. With the rise of pop culture and a general yearning for original, fresh designs, Saint Laurent's timing couldn't have been better. Over the next two decades, Saint Laurent's designs sat atop the fashion world. Models and actresses gushed over his creations. He outfitted women in blazers and smoking jackets, and introduced attire like the pea coat to the runway. His signature pieces also included the sheer blouse and the jumpsuit. By the 1980s, Saint Laurent was a true icon. He became the first designer to have a retrospective on his work at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Under the direction of Berge, who continued to manage Saint Laurent's firm even though the two had broken up in 1986, the fashion house flourished as a money making venture.But Saint Laurent struggled. He isolated himself, and fought addictions to alcohol and cocaine. People in the fashion world complained that the designer's work had grown stale. In the early 1990s, Saint Laurent found firmer footing. His designs were rediscovered by a fashion elite that had grown tired of the grunge movement that dominated the runways. Saint Laurent, too, seemed to have conquered his demons. By the end of the decade, with Saint Laurent slowing down his work pace, he and Berge had sold the company they'd started, netting the two men a fortune. In January 2002, Saint Laurent participated in his final show and then retired for good in Marrakech. Five years later, Saint Laurent's imprint and importance on French culture was cemented when he was appointed Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.Yves Saint Laurent passed away in Paris on June 1, 2008.

 Episode 25

Hi and welcome to the French talk show! In honor of college application season, in this episode I will talk about university system in France and how it is different than the American one. The first step to attending a university in France is taking the Baccalaureate, commonly referred to as Le Bacc. The bacc is an extensive, national examination taken at the end of High School, that students take upon completion of 11th and 12th grade. It marks the successful conclusion of secondary studies and it is the required qualification in France for students wishing to carry on their studies in Higher Education. Courses that prepare students for the French Baccalaureate are taught at the college level. As a result, most of both Canadian and US colleges and universities grant college credit or scholarship to French high school graduates on the basis of their performance on the Baccalaureate. Students can follow one of three tracks: literature, Economics and Social Studies and Sciences and Math. In the U.S students must take a standardized test either their junior or senior year: The Act or SAT. This test is different than the bacc, because it is not particularly focused on certain classes students take in high school. The tests test students’ knowledge in math reading comprehension and grammar. However, both tests are similar in that a higher score allows you to attend universities that are considered more “elite”. Universities in France are classified into four different categories. Universities, Les grandes écoles, technical schools and specialized schools. I am going to briefly describe each. To begin I will talk about the Universities. Universities are public institutions that offer academic, technical, and professional degrees to any student who has obtained a baccalauréat or its foreign equivalent. University study leads to degrees in many fields. Degrees are awarded at three different levels of achievement, called cycles, within a framework referred to as licence, master, doctorat. Next, I will talk about “les grandes écoles”. A grande école is a French institution of higher education that is separate from, but parallel and to the main framework of the French public university system. Grandes écoles are elite academic institutions with highly competitive admission requirements, a large proportion of whose graduates populate the upper levels of the private and public sectors of French society. Grandes écoles primarily admit students based on their national ranking in competitive written and oral exams. While anyone can register for those national exams, successful candidates have almost always completed two or three years of dedicated specialized preparatory classes for admission. Similarly to the grand colleges in France, the U.S. has a group of schools referred to as the ivy league schools. These schools are extremely selective and only take outstanding students. However elite institutions in the U.S focus on grades, extra curricular and a test score instead of just a test score. Since higher education is funded by the state in Farce, the fees are very low; the tuition varies from €150 to €700 depending on the university and the different levels of education. One can therefore get a master's degree, in 5 years, for about €750–3,500. Additionally, students from low-income families can apply for scholarships, paying nominal sums for tuition or textbooks, and can receive a monthly stipend of up to €450 per month. This is the complete different in the united states. College tuition in the united states is insanely expensive. Attending a private institution costs up to 70 thousand dollars per year, excluding cost of living. For the four years it costs almost 300 thousand dollars in total. This puts many, many students in debt, which they pay years paying for. Some students are awarded merit or need-based scholarships, but it is not easy to obtain these. Thank you for listening to my episode! I hope you learned more about the higher education system in France and how it is different than the U.S.!

Episode 26: “La France aux Olympiades de Tokyo 2021”/ “France at the Tokyo Olympics 2021”

Hello to all and welcome to the the French talk show! Today I will be talking about France’s participation in the Tokyo Olympics and the 2024 olympics which will be held in Paris! This year France won a total of 33 olympic medals. 10 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze medals. Tokyo 2020 was a memorable year for the French judo team. Under Nippon Budokan, the judokas of France delivered the country’s must successful judo competition in history. They walked away with from with a total of eight Olympic medals: two golds, three silvers, and three bronzes. Headlining the medal tally was Clarisse Agbegnenou who solidified her legendary status when she finally won an Olympic gold medal - the one title that had eluded her, having won five world championships and five European championships. The flag-bearer for the French delegation erupted into tears when she sent Rio 2016 final foe Tina Trstenjak to the mat for a waza’ari move to snatch the win in the -63kg competition. Perhaps the icing on the cake for France was the way they unfastened Japan’s iron grip on judo. The two powerhouses the sport went head-to-head for the coveted mixed team Olympic gold medal. The event was a first for the Games and a long-awaited way to establish which country would reign supreme on the Olympic stage. In the final, Teddy Riner – who came short in the olympic gold competition in the +100kg competition – laid his personal demons to rest and rose to the team occasion in what unfolded to be a gruelling Golden Score fight. He bested Japanese gold medallist WOLF Aaron by an inner thigh throw to score waza’ari and help lift his country to the gold medal. Riner’s win, plus those from Agbegnenou, Axel Clerget, and Romane Dicko meant that France took the overall victory 4-1 over hosts Japan. With the team gold medal in his pocket, 32-year-old Riner now has a grand tally of three golds and two bronzes from his Olympics appearances. When the French men's handball team defeated Denmark (25-23) to win gold at Tokyo 2020, they made history, becoming the first country to claim three Olympic men's handball titles. It's a perfect point of departure for Nikola Karabtic, a French legend of handball. There is nothing he hasn't already done. He is a four-time world champion, three-time European champion, three-time IHF world player of the year, and now he is a three-time Olympic champion. The man already considered to be one of the greatest of all time, and who fought hard to recover from an ACL injury just to be in Japan, certainly did not rest on his laurels at the tournament. Karabatic produced 22 goals and 29 assists in nine games for France. He finished the competition ranked fourth for total assists, and seventh for goals and assists. It felt like the whole of France was willing the women's handball team on when they took to the floor in the Tokyo final. The men's team had been victorious the day before over Denmark: could the women complete the sweep? Throw into the mix the small matter of it being a rematch of Rio 2016 where France fell short: could the women do what they couldn't five years ago?The pressure was on. Cue Grace Zaadi. Throughout the tournament, the centre back had coolly, and consistently, provided whatever her team needed. With 31 assists and 33 goals of her own, Zaadi showed her willingness to play both a team role and step up individually when required.Even in the gold medal match she was unflappable. The Frenchwoman played just over 45 minutes, contributing a healthy six assists, three turnovers, and one blocked shot. Now the 28-year-old can forget the pain of Rio 2016 and finally boast of a gold medal of her own. Playing for France may have initially cost Gabby Williams a spot on a WNBA roster, but the basketball star now has had her choice vindicated by an Olympic bronze medal. Williams' scintillating performance in the bronze medal match (itself a replay of Rio 2016 where Serbia came out on top) was an ample reflection of the way she carried herself throughout the tournament. During the fight for bronze the 1.8m dual national (whose mother is French) notched 17 points and eight rebounds for France. Her teammates Endene Miyem and Sandrine Gruda joined her in adding 16 and 14 points each. Williams' most impressive statistic throughout the tournament was assists. The 24-year-old recorded 27 in Tokyo, averaging 4.5 a game. Matching her sense of teamwork is also her impressive steal count. The power forward ranked third highest for steals in the competition: totalling 17, to average 2.8 a game.Romain Cannone Tokyo 2020, bested the top three fencers in the world, including Hungary’s Gergely Siklosi in the final, to take Olympic gold in the men’s épée competition. Not only was it France’s first gold of Tokyo 2020 but also, ahead of the Games in Japan, the Frenchman had never been on an international individual podium. Cannone, the youngest member of the French fencing team, ended something of an individual fencing medal drought for the nation. The last Frenchman to have finished top of an Olympic podium was Brice Guyart back in Athens 2004. Other fencing highlights included France’s record breaking eighth team foil gold - a first in more than 20 years – plus silver in the women’s foil and sabre team events and an individual bronze for Manon Brunet, leaving the French with a total of five fencing medals. The 2024 olympics will be held in Paris. The sporting celebration will flow along the Seine, from the new Olympic Village, just 15 minutes from Paris city centre, to such city centre landmarks as the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais.

Episode 27: “La Vie de Victor Hugo (Partie 1)”/ “The Life of Victor Hugo (Part 1)”

Hello to all and welcome to the French Talk Show! Today I will be talking about a very important French writer: Victor Hugo. Victor Hugo, Victor-Marie Hugo was born on February 26, 1802 in Besançon France. He was a French poet, novelist, and dramatist, who was the most important of the French Romantic writers. He is regarded in France as one of that country’s greatest poets, but he is better known abroad for such novels as Notre-Dame de Paris and Les Misérables. To begin I will talk a little about his child hood and his experience growing up. Victor was the third son of Joseph Hugo, a major and general in Napoleon’s army. During his childhood, his father constantly travelled with the imperial army, which colored his childhood. In addition, his parents did not get along very well due to the disagreements they had between each other. His mother’s royalism and his father’s loyalty to successive governments—the Convention, the Empire, the Restoration—reflected their deeper incompatibility. It was a chaotic time for Victor, continually uprooted from Paris to set out for Elba or Naples or Madrid, yet always returning to Paris with his mother, whose royalist opinions he initially adopted. The fall of the empire gave him, from 1815 to 1818, a time of uninterrupted study at the Pension Cordier and the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, after which he graduated from the law faculty at Paris, where his studies seem to have been purposeless and irregular. Memories of his life as a poor student later inspired the figure of Marius in his novel Les Misérables. From 1816, at least, Hugo had conceived ambitions other than the law. He fillied notebooks with verses, translations, particularly from Virgil, two tragedies, a play, and elegies. Encouraged by his mother, Hugo founded a review, the Conservateur Littéraire, in which his own articles on the poets Alphonse de Lamartine and André de Chénier stood out. His mother died in 1821, and a year later Victor married a childhood friend, Adèle Foucher, with whom he had five children. In that same year he published his first book of poems, Odes et poésies diverses, whose royalist sentiments earned him a pension from Louis XVIII. Behind Hugo’s concern for classical form and his political inspiration, it is possible to recognize in these poems a personal voice and his own particular vein of fantasy. In 1823 he published his first novel, Han d’Islande, which in 1825 appeared in an English translation as Hans of Iceland. The journalist Charles Nodier was enthusiastic about it and drew Hugo into the group of friends, all devotees of Romanticism, who met regularly at the Bibliothèque de L’Arsenal.Hugo emerged as a true Romantic with the publication of his verse drama Cromwell in 1827. The subject of this play, with its almost contemporary overtones, is that of a national leader risen from the people who seeks to be crowned king. But the play’s reputation rested on the elaborate preface, in which Hugo proposed a doctrine of Romanticism, which was considered extremely provocative. He demanded a drama in which the contradictions of human existence—good and evil, beauty and ugliness, tears and laughter—would be resolved by the inclusion of both tragic and comic elements in a single play. Such a type of drama would abandon the formal rules of classical tragedy for the freedom and truth to be found in the plays of William Shakespeare.The defense of freedom and the cult of an idealized Napoleon in such poems as the ode “À la Colonne” and “Lui” brought Hugo into touch with the liberal group of writers on the newspaper Le Globe, and his move toward liberalism was strengthened by the French king Charles X’s restrictions on the liberty of the press as well as by the censor’s prohibiting the stage performance of his play Marion de Lorme ,which portrays the character of Louis XIII unfavourably.While Hugo had derived his early renown from his plays, he gained wider fame in 1831 with his historical novel Notre-Dame de Paris (Eng. trans. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame), an evocation of life in medieval Paris during the reign of Louis XI. The novel condemns a society that, in the persons of Frollo the archdeacon and Phoebus the soldier, heaps misery on the hunchback Quasimodo and the gypsy girl Esmeralda.Hugo’s literary achievement was recognized in 1841 by his election, to the French Academy and by his nomination in 1845 to the Chamber of Peers. From this time he almost ceased to publish, partly because of the demands of society and political life but also as a result of personal loss: his daughter Léopoldine, recently married, was accidentally drowned with her husband in September 1843. Hugo’s intense grief found some mitigation in poems that later appeared in Les Contemplations, a volume that he divided into “Autrefois” and “Aujourd’hui,” the moment of his daughter’s death being the mark between yesterday and today. He found relief above all in working on a new novel, which became Les Misérables, published in 1862 after work on it had been set aside for a time and then resumed.With the Revolution of 1848, Hugo was elected a deputy for Paris in the Constituent Assembly and later in the Legislative Assembly. That is all for part 1! See you in the next episode for part 2!

Episode 28: “La Vie de Victor Hugo (Partie Deux)”/ “The life of Victor Hugo: Part 2”

Hello to all and welcome to the French talk show! In this episode I will be doing a part two of victor Hugo’s life. In the first episode I talked about his early years and his rise to fame and influence in France as a successful author. In this episode I will talk about his exile from France and his life after that. To begin, we will discuss Victor Hugo’s support of Napoleon Bonapart. In 1848, Hugo supported the candidacy of Napoléon for the presidency. The more the president evolved toward an authoritarianism of the right, however, the more Hugo moved toward the assembly’s left. When in rebellion took place in October of 1851, Hugo made an attempt at resistance and soon after fled to Brussels. Hugo’s exile lasted until the return of liberty  in France and the reconstitution of the republic in 1870. Although his exile was originally enforced, his exile later became a voluntary gesture. He remained in Brussels for a year. After being expelled from Brussels and sought refuge in Britain. He remained there from 1852 to 1855. Later on he moved ot the island of Guernsey. During this 20 year exhile, Hugo produced his most extensive and original writings. Since he was immersed in politics, Hugo devoted his first exile writings to satire of recent history. For example, his book Napoléon le Petit (1852) was an indictment of Napoleon III and his book Histoire d’un crime was a day-by-day account of Louis Bonaparte’s coup. Hugo’s also returned to poetry with an explosion of anger through: Les Châtiments (1853; “The Punishments”). This collection of poems unleashed his anger against the new emperor. Les Châtiments is considered among the most powerful satirical poems in the French language. All Hugo’s future verse profited from this release of his imagination: the tone of this collection of poems is sometimes lyrical, sometimes epic, sometimes moving, but most often virulent, containing an undertone of national and personal frustration. After the publication of three long books of poetry, Hugo returned to prose and took up his abandoned novel, Les Misérables. Its extraordinary success with readers of every type when it was published in 1862 brought him instant popularity in his own country, and its speedy translation into many languages won him fame abroad. The novel’s name means “the wretched,” or “the outcasts,” but English translations generally carry the French title. The story centres on the convict Jean Valjean, a victim of society who has been imprisoned for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. A hardened and astute criminal upon his release, he eventually softens and reforms, becoming a successful industrialist and mayor of a northern town. Yet he is stalked obsessively by the detective Javert for an impulsive, regretted former crime, and Jean Valjean eventually sacrifices himself for the sake of his adopted daughter, Cosette, and her husband, Marius. Les Misérables is a vast panorama of Parisian society and its underworld, and it contains many famous episodes and passages, among them a chapter on the Battle of Waterloo and the description of Jean Valjean’s rescue of Marius by means of a flight through the sewers of Paris. The defeat of France in the Franco-German war and the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1871 brought Hugo back to Paris. He became a deputy in the National Assembly (1871) but resigned the following month. Though he still fought for his old ideals, he no longer possessed the same energies. The trials of recent years had aged him, and there were more to come: in 1868 he had lost his wife, Adèle, a profound sadness to him; in 1871 one son died, as did another in 1873. Though increasingly detached from life around him, the poet of L’Année terrible (1872), in which he recounted the siege of Paris during the “terrible year” of 1870, had become a national hero and a living symbol of republicanism in France. In 1878 Hugo was stricken by cerebral congestion, but he lived on for some years in the Avenue d’Eylau, renamed Avenue Victor-Hugo on his 80th birthday. In 1885, two years after the death of his faithful companion Juliette, Hugo died and was given a national funeral. His body lay in state under the Arc de Triomphe and was buried in the Panthéon.

 Episode 29: “15 Verbes Tu Dois Savoir”/ “15 Verbs you must know”

Hello to all and welcome to the French talk show! In this episode I will be teaching you 15 French verbs that are essential for you to know!  The first verb is the verb “etre” which means “to be” in English. This verb is the most important verb that you will learn as a French student . For example “Je suis une fille”  which translates to “I am a girl”. In this sentence I am using the present participle of the verb etre which is “suis”. 2. The second verb we will learn today is the verb Avoir (to have). This along with the verb etre are vital to know how to use and conjugate. But it is also very easy to use. For example: J’ai 20 pommes. I have 20 apples. The present singular conjugation of avoir is “Ai”. 3. Aller (to go). The third verb we will learn today is the verb “aller” which means to go in English. For example: Je vais au marche. I go the market This is important to pay attention to because the singular conjugation starts with a v and not an a which can be confusing. 4. Pouvoir (to be able to). The fourth verb we will be learning is the verb pouvoir, which means “To be able to”. For example, Je peux manger trop vite. I can eat very fast. 5. The fifth verb we will be larning is the verb vouloir (to want ) Pour example je veux  un Cadeau speciale pour mon anniversaire. I want a special gift for my birthday. The conjugation fo the verb vouloir and pouvoir are almost identical, which makes things more easy. 6. The sixth verb is the verb faire (to do): For example: Je fais le nettoyage. I do the cleaning.  7. Parler (to speak): For example: Je parle sur le livre que je lis maintenant. I am talking about the book I am currently reading. 8.  Demander (to ask): Je vous demande un question. I ask you a question.
This can be tricky because the verb demand in English has a different meaning. 9. Savoir (to know): Je sais ce que vous faites apres l’ecole. I know what you are doing after school. 10. Venir (to come): Je viens de faire une promenade. I come from taking a walk. 11. Dire (to say): Je dis mon opinion sur le suject. I say my opinion on the topic. 12. Devoir (to have to): Je dois faire mes devoirs apres l’ecoles. I must do my homework after school. 13. Donne (To give): Je donne mes chaussures à mon seour. I give my shoes to my sister. 14. Manger (to eat):  Je mange beacoup parce que j’ai beaucoup de faim. I eat a lot because I am hungry. 15. Rester (to stay): Je reste a la maison. I Stay at home.

Episode 30: “Être Adolescente en France vs aux Etats-Unis”/ “Being a teenager in France vs in the United States”

Hello and welcome to the thirtieth episode of the French talk show! In Today’s episode I will talk about what being a teenager is like in France and I will compare that to my experience being a teenager in the United States. The first aspect I will talk about is sports. Sports are a huge part of high school culture in the United States. The most popular sports are definitely American football and ice hockey in the northeast. On Friday nights during the fall, students dress up to a theme and go t the schools football games. In the northeastern states that are colder hockey is also a huge deal. It is customary for students, both girls and boys, to play at least one sport throughout high school. High schools sports are played on two levels: Junior varsity and varsity. In France, the most popular sports for teens are soccer, tennis and rugby. Europeans do not usually play American football. In addition, sports are often not intertwined with the high schools themselves. People play with friends for fun or join an outside of school league for their certain sport. In general, sports are much less emphasized and integral in France than in the United States. In the united states, teenagers dress extremely casually and do not really care that much about their appearance. It is common for teens to wear sweatpants or sportswear when spending time with friends. The next thing I'm talking about is driving. Most teenagers start driving at sixteen. Their parents often give them a car on their sophomore year anniversary. Teens drive to school everyday, since most cities in the United States are not walkable. In France, the driving age is eighteen and one can only get a license by passing a difficult exam at driving school. Many people don't normally get a license until they're twenty-one or twenty-two, because it's very expensive (almost eight hundred dollars). Gas and parking are extremely expensive as well. Only about twenty percent of teenagers have a car in France.Instead of driving, teenagers walk, bike, take electric scooters or public transportation like the bus or metro. Next, I will talk about how standardized testing is different for college. In the United States, students take the ACT or SAT during their third or fourth year of high school. These exams cover math, reading comprehension, grammar and data analysis. Doing well on these exams is crucial for students who want to enter prestigious universities. In France, at the end of high school all students take a national exam called the baccalaureate. Like the ACT and SAT this exam is crucial (probably even more so considering extracurriculars are more important for schools in the United States) for getting into a good college. This test covers all the topics from the main classes such as math, language, french, math, science, humanities and more. That is all for today! I hope you learned something about the differences of being a teenager in France compared to the United States. I might do a part two so keep a look out for that. Salut!