In this lesson, our task is to find out how to transfer money to someone elsewhere in France. The Post Office can help us with this task but there are different options available. Let’s study some of the key vocabulary. Let’s begin with a...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 137
In this lesson, lesson 137, Paul and Julie are talking about Julie's friend, Anne, who has moved back to Europe having lived for a decade in the U.S. We examine the verb "vivre" again and we practise using the expressions "s'adapter bien à",...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 136
The subject of this lesson, lesson 136, is Haïti. Not, in fact, the dreadful tragedy which befell the country in the form of an earthquake, but the reasons why Haïti continues to be such an impoverished country. The dialogue is a rather long...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 135
The topic of this short lesson is how to explain that you're running late for an appointment. In our role-play, Mr. Morel is stuck in traffic. He has to pull over and make a quick call to say that he'll be a little late. Let's listen. We'll work with...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 134
The subject of this lesson is a remarkable woman, born in the Ukraine but now a resident of the United States. Some say she has raised the bar of musical performance higher than anyone so far. Whether that is indeed true or not, let's hear a role-play...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 133
In this lesson, lesson 133, we hear a discussion between Sonia and FrÃdÃric about the Polanski affair. His recent arrest in Zurich was an outrage to some and long overdue to others. Discover useful words and expressions, including "clore", "extrader",...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 132
In recent weeks, just about every news bulletin has had a mention of swine flu. To pick up some relevant vocabulary, in this lesson, lesson 132, weâll hear a role-play where CÃline tells us how she picked up a virus. We'll discover some useful...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 131
In this lesson, lesson 131, weâll discover how to talk about a concert weâve been to. In this case, itâs a rock concert. Letâs get started with a role-play between Lucie and Ãtienne. We'll practice using a range of expressions: 'mettre des boules QuiÃs',...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 130
The world of pop music lost one of its most famous exponents in Michael Jackson. His passing was a shock, not least because he was only fifty. In this lesson, letâs talk about some of the things that made Jackson a larger-than-life figure... Weâll start...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 129
In this lesson, lesson 129, we hear a role-play between Sandrine and Yann. They are discussing an article by a journalist who has made some rather unflattering comments about the French on an English website. Though the comments may have been...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 128
One of our listeners asked that we would do a lesson on opening a bank account. Thatâs the topic of conversation in this lesson, lesson 128. In fact, opening an account is not so straightforward and sometimes even necessitates an appointment. In any...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 127
Though this lesson, lesson 127, has an Irish flavour, our dialogue relates to a quirky story which hit the headlines worldwideâ at the expense of the Irish Prime Minister. Letâs listen to a role-play between Xavier and AmÃlie. We'll discover some very...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 126
One or our listeners asked that we would do a lesson on renting an apartment. Itâs an activity which, as one might expect, has its own specific vocabulary. In this lesson, lesson 126, letâs see if we can shed some light. Weâll hear a role-play between...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 125
A new sporting chapter has opened for Lance Armstrong, 7-time winner of the Tour de France. This year, after 3 years of retirement, he plans a return to the worldâs greatest cycling race. Surely it is a chapter which can only result in frustration for...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 124
As a consequence of the global financial crisis, unemployment is at the top of the agenda. Being made redundant is one of the themes of this lesson, lesson 124. We'll make use of the verbs 'licencier' and 'dÃlocaliser', we'll examine the expressions...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 123
One of our listeners asked that we would do a lesson focusing on a trip to the local dry-cleanerâs. Thatâs the topic of conversation in this lesson, lesson 123. We'll discover lots of useful expressions and several versatile verbs, including 'dÃtacher',...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 122
In this lesson, lesson 122, we hear a conversation about the unexpected âgoodbye kissâ President Bush received in Iraq. The President brushed it off as something insignificant but it will be an incident that many will remember from Mr Bushâs final days...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 121
In our last lesson, we booked our car in to the local garage for a service. This time â in lesson 121 â the car is ready. Letâs hear the conversation when Madame Legrand goes to pick up her car. We'll study the French for the adjectives 'rear' and...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 120
This lesson â lesson 120 â is a short one. We simply want to make an appointment to book our car into the local garage for a service. Letâs hear a role-play. We'll learn the terms for 'car service' and 'additional costs', we'll make use of the verbs...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 119
In this lesson, lesson 119, we need to have a specific service carried out, that is, to have a puncture repaired. But the expressions used could just as easily apply to a variety of services. Letâs begin with a role-play between Marie and a mechanic.
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 118
In this lesson - lesson 118 - weâll deal with a common situation - calling for a taxi - not such an easy task when you canât see the other personâs gestures and so on, over the phone. Letâs discover what vocabulary weâll need. Weâll start with a...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 117
La crise financiÃre a dominà la rentrÃe 2008. Les marchÃs ont vraiment Ãtà chahutÃs en ce mois de septembre. Certains jours, une psychose de âfin du mondeâ rÃgnait en bourse. Les grandes banques centrales ont dà injecter des milliards de dollars dans des...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 116
One of our listeners, Corrine, asked that we would do a lesson on phrases a mum might need around the home with her children. So, in this lesson, letâs deal with that. This time, Xavier, will play the role of a grumpy teenager while AmÃlie will be the...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 115
Brian, one of our listeners in Canada, asked that we would do a lesson on the difficulties one experiences nowadays travelling. In particular, the security issues at airports, whether people of colour encounter longer delays, and so on. Thatâs the topic...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 114
One of our listeners asked for a lesson which would help when buying clothes. In this Beginner lesson â lesson 114 â that will be the topic conversation. We'll discover how to ask for a garment one size larger or smaller, how to ask if we may try...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 113
The Tour de France is the worldâs premier cycling race. It traces a route â âla Grande Boucleâ â through France and certain stages â des âÃtapesâ â are sometimes organised in neighbouring countries. In this Advanced lesson, lesson 113, letâs discuss a...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 112
One of our listeners in the U.S. asked if we would create a lesson focusing on larger numbers, for example those found in dates, and so on. Thatâs the subject of this lesson, lesson 112. Weâll start with a role-play where Sylvie tells us about the region...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 111
In this lesson, lesson 111, we discuss the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by Irish voters. An event which dominated current affairs in Europe recently. This very complicated document, aimed at facilitating the functioning of the EU, will not come into...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 110
The real race to the White House has begun, after a gruelling campaign for the Democrats. For now Hillary Clinton is out of the picture, leaving Barack Obama and John McCain to slug it out. In this lesson, lesson 110, letâs discover some vocabulary which...
Learn French by Podcast, Lesson 109
In this lesson, lesson 109, our conversation centres on oil and, more significantly, the spiralling price of oil. Let's discover some of the vocabulary we'll need in order to talk about prices that are going through the roof, investors, yield,...
