French Blabla

A day in French – 63 – Lingonberries

Speak Like a native — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000

Berries, Roots, and a Sunday Walk

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast!

In today’s episode, we’re going on a calm forest walk that turns into a small foraging adventure.

Along the way, you’ll hear a real story, pick up useful vocabulary, and of course, learn the French for blueberry.

This episode is perfect for A2-level learners who want to enjoy natural French while discovering how to use indefinite pronouns like quelques-uns, quoi que ce soit, and certaines, all gently woven into a story that starts with the search for the French for blueberry.

In this episode:

• Vocabulary expansion: nature, plants, and everyday observations
• Grammar focus: using indefinite pronouns naturally in French
• Challenge: a writing prompt to help you reflect on your own nature experiences
• And yes, the French for blueberry, in context

Don’t forget to download the full study guide below with the transcript, key vocabulary (including the French for blueberry), and grammar focus.

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Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Not only does it let me know you’re out there listening, but your feedback helps me to keep creating the most useful episodes. And you know what? I also get to be discovered by more awesome people like you!

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 62 – Watch

Speak Like a native — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Time in French Made Simple: My Watch Story

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast!

In today’s episode, we’re talking about something small but surprisingly life-changing. It’s a little story about buying a simple object that ended up making everyday life a lot easier. And yes, it has everything to do with time in French.

You’ll follow along as I share how I bought my very first watch as an adult. What I was looking for, where I went shopping, and why I finally decided it was time. (Pun intended.)

This episode is perfect for A2 French listening practice, especially if you want to feel more comfortable telling the time in French.

You’ll hear natural examples of time expressions like il est dix heures, il est trois heures et demie, and il est midi moins le quart, all used in context.

We’ll also explore practical vocabulary related to daily life, accessories, and those little routines that help us manage our day better.

In this episode:

• Vocabulary Expansion: Time, routines, and accessories
• Grammar Focus: How to tell the time in French in everyday situations
• Challenge: A short writing prompt to help you talk about your own habits

Don’t forget to download the complete study guide with the transcript, useful vocabulary, and grammar tips. You’ll find the link just below.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 61 – Finds

Speak Like a native — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000

A Cozy Thrifting Adventure in Sweden

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast !
Today, we are travelling to Sweden for a little slice of everyday life, as usual.

In this episode, you will hear a true story that takes place during a family trip, in a place we always enjoy visiting together.

It is a small autumn tradition of ours, and even if we never plan anything special, something unexpected always seems to happen.

I will not spoil anything. You will discover it naturally as you listen.

This episode is perfect for A2 learners who want to practice listening, storytelling, and especially verbs in French that use prepositions. You will hear natural examples of verbs in French like penser à, craquer pour, or parler de, all used in a relaxed and everyday context. It is an excellent way to become more confident with these very common verbs in French.

We will also explore practical vocabulary related to the world of second-hand shops, the words you need to talk about objects, clothes, furniture, and those little surprises you can find when you least expect them.

In this episode:

Vocabulary Expansion: useful words about second-hand shopping and everyday objects
Grammar Focus: prepositional verbs and how to use them naturally
Challenge: a short writing task to help you talk about your own experience

Do not forget to download the complete guide below, with the transcript, vocabulary list, and grammar explanation.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 60 – Computer

Speak Like a native — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Everyday French With a Computer Crisis: Talk About Tech Like a Native

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast ! This time, we’re not going shopping or sightseeing, we’re staying home, trying to get some work done… but of course, things don’t go as planned.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear a real story that started with a very normal goal: using my computer in French to get through a regular workday.

But between a missing Wi-Fi connection and a disappearing Bluetooth signal, that little goal turned into a full-on tech mess.

You’ll discover how small problems with your computer in French can snowball into big frustration, and maybe even make you laugh in the end.

This episode is great for A2 learners who want to practice listening, storytelling, and especially exclamations in French, expressions like Quel cauchemar !, Ouf !, and Comme c’est embêtant ! that help you react to daily challenges with personality and style.

We’ll also explore practical vocabulary about tech gear, USB ports, keyboards, and how to explain what’s wrong with your computer in French, so you’re ready when something inevitably breaks.

In this episode:

Vocabulary Expansion: Everyday French words about tech, devices, and unexpected glitches
Grammar Focus: Exclamations, how to react and express emotion in French naturally
Challenge: A short writing task at the end to help you tell your own tech trouble story

Don’t forget to download the complete guide below, with the transcript, vocabulary, and grammar explanation.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 59 – Salt

Speak Like a native — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Discovering Salt in French

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast! In the last episode, I talked about my click and collect habits. You can listen to it here if you’ve missed it.

Today, we’re leaving the shops behind and heading outdoors.

While driving toward a small village, I came across something unexpected that made me stop the car and take a closer look. It reminded me of salt in French and led to a little side trip that I can’t wait to tell you about.

This episode is perfect for A2 learners who want to practice listening and storytelling in French.

You’ll learn how to express obligation using il faut and on doit, two very common and useful expressions.

We’ll also explore vocabulary linked to nature, landscapes, and travel discoveries, perfect for describing what you see when you’re out exploring.

In this episode:

Vocabulary Expansion: Learn practical French words about salt in French, the salt flats, and the natural world.
Grammar Focus: Practice il faut and on doit to talk about rules, advice, and everyday obligations.
Challenge: A short writing task at the end to help you use today’s grammar and vocabulary in your own story.

If you enjoy learning French through simple, real-life experiences, this episode will be a great opportunity to improve your skills while discovering one of the most fascinating landscapes in France, the pink salins, where salt in French meets sunlight and sea breeze.

Don’t forget to download the complete guide below, with the transcript, vocabulary, and grammar explanation.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 58 – Drive

Speak Like a native — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

A Day in French Shops: My Experience with Grocery Pick-Up

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast!

In today’s episode, we’re talking about something that has become a big part of daily life in France: French shops and the way we do our grocery shopping at the drive.

If you’ve ever been curious about how people shop in France, this episode is for you. I’ll share my own experiences with le drive, what works well, what can be tricky, and how I make it part of my weekly routine.

This episode is perfect for learners who want to speak French more confidently while learning practical vocabulary for real-life situations like shopping and errands. You’ll also discover an important grammar point for A2–B1 learners: expressions of quantity such as beaucoup de, assez de, and trop de.

In this Episode:

Vocabulary Expansion: Learn everyday words and phrases to talk about French shops, grocery shopping, and pick-up services.
Grammar Mastery: Practice using expressions of quantity to describe shopping experiences naturally.
Challenge: Complete a simple activity at the end of the episode to put your new skills into action.

Whether you’re exploring French shops for the first time or want to sound more natural when talking about your daily routine, this episode will help you grow your vocabulary and confidence.

Don’t forget to download the complete guide below, with the full transcript, vocabulary list, and grammar notes.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 57 – Card

Speak Like a native — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

A Sidewalk Mystery to Speak French

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast!

In today’s episode, we continue with a fun theme that started with a very unusual discovery.

Last time, I found a hedgehog in the middle of the city! If you missed that episode, go check it out. It’s a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary and discover a touching rescue story.

Today, the adventure continues, but this time, it’s not about animals. I stumbled upon something else unusual on the sidewalk that led me on a small mystery.

This episode is perfect for learners who want to speak French more fluently by practicing real-life storytelling.

If you enjoyed my previous story, you’ll definitely love this one too. Along the way, you’ll learn useful vocabulary and focus on an important grammar point for intermediate learners: adverbs ending in “-ment.”

In this Episode:

Vocabulary Expansion: Learn everyday French words related to daily life, small mysteries, and neighbourhoods.
Grammar Mastery: Learn how to use adverbs ending in “-ment” to make your sentences more fluid and expressive as you speak French.
Challenge: Take on a mini task at the end of the episode to apply what you’ve learnt!

Whether you’re here to improve your storytelling or just looking for a fun way to speak French better, this episode will help you boost your skills while enjoying a surprising urban story.

Don’t forget to download the complete guide below (transcript, vocabulary, and grammar focus)

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 56 – Supplies

Speak Like a native — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Back-to-School Shopping in France | French to English Vocabulary + Grammar

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to the podcast!

Today is September 1st, which means it’s back-to-school day in France. Pupils are having their very first day of class, and for parents, that also means back-to-school shopping.

In today’s episode, I’ll share my own adventure with school supplies, the mistakes I made in the past, how I tried to be more prepared this year, and even a funny story about a business idea I once had.

This episode is designed for learners who want to feel more confident speaking French by following real-life stories. Since today is all about back-to-school shopping, you’ll hear a personal story full of small mistakes, funny surprises, and useful vocabulary you can reuse in daily life.

We’ll explore the world of school supplies with plenty of French to English explanations so you can connect new words to their meaning right away.

On the grammar side, we’ll work with chronological connectors like d’abord, ensuite, puis, enfin, which are essential for telling stories clearly in French.

Here’s what’s waiting for you in this episode:

Vocabulary boost: Everyday French words connected to school supplies, shopping, and organization, always explained with clear French to English support.
Grammar focus: How to use chronological connectors naturally in your own stories.
Mini challenge: A short task at the end so you can practice what you’ve just learnt.

If you’re ready to make your French storytelling smoother and expand your vocabulary with easy French to English connections, this episode will give you both practice and a relatable story to enjoy.

Don’t forget to download the complete guide below (transcript, vocabulary, and grammar focus)!

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 55 – Hedgehog

Speak Like a native — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

An Unexpected Hedgehog French Story

Today, we open a new chapter with a fun and unexpected theme: hedgehog French!

If you’re wondering what that means, you’re in the right place. This episode is perfect for French learners who want to expand their vocabulary and improve their grammar while enjoying a surprising real-life story.

In this episode, we will explore useful words related to animals, nature, and city life.

More importantly, we’ll focus on a key grammar point for A2 learners: reflexive verbs in the past tense.

You’ll hear how to use verbs like se cacher, se mettre en boule, or se détendre when telling simple stories or sharing personal experiences.

In this Episode:

Vocabulary Expansion: Wildlife, rescue situations, and everyday actions in French.
Grammar Focus: Master reflexive verbs in the past.
Challenge: At the end of the episode, you’ll get a creative writing task to apply what you’ve learned.

So, whether you’re curious about starting your journey with hedgehog French or simply want to grow your storytelling skills, this episode is for you!

Don’t forget to grab your free study guide below with the transcript, vocabulary, and grammar tips.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 54 – Closet

Speak Like a native — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Your Guide to Sell Used Clothes While Learning French!

Bonjour à tous and welcome back to our podcast! In today’s episode, we delve into a practical and engaging topic: how to sell used clothes on French websites. This episode is perfect for those looking to combine the eco-friendly act of selling used clothes with enhancing their French language skills.

As we go through my story to sell used clothes online, I’ll teach you the necessary French vocabulary and grammar to navigate these transactions effectively. This setup is an excellent opportunity for French learners to apply language lessons in real-life scenarios, which can be incredibly rewarding.

Throughout the episode, I focus on the practical aspects of how to sell used clothes online in France, including how talk about the process of selling and sending your items and how to describe them attractively in French.

In this Episode:

Vocabulary Expansion: Learn specific terms related to clothing, sales, and e-commerce—all in French.
Grammar Mastery: Dive deep into the use of articles in French, which are essential when you list and sell used clothes.
Take on a challenge that will help solidify your understanding of the topic and language

This episode is not just about learning to sell used clothes; it’s about enriching your French learning journey through practical application. Join us to improve your language skills and learn how to navigate the French online marketplace effectively!

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 53 – Macros

Speak Like a native — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Embarking on a 'Cuisine French' Odyssey: My Macro Counting Journey

Hey folks! So, here’s the scoop: 2024 is my year of transformation, and it’s all centered around diving deep into ‘cuisine French.’ But here’s the twist – after realizing that my love affair with pain au chocolat has been a little too indulgent, I’ve decided it’s time to get savvy with macro counting. Yep, I’m on a mission to strike the perfect balance between savoring the richness of French cuisine and keeping my nutrition in check.

In this episode, I’m taking you along on my adventure of marrying the art of macro counting with the indulgence of French food. It’s not about giving up the good stuff; it’s about making the good stuff work for me and my health goals. And let me tell you, it’s been quite the enlightening journey so far!

In this Episode:

From Pain au Chocolat to Portion Control: Sharing my personal story of how those irresistible French pastries led me to a path of healthier eating habits without sacrificing flavor.
Grammar Corner: We explore useful French phrases to express opposition and choice, perfect for those moments when you’re debating between another bite or saying “non, merci.”
Nutrition in French: Expanding our French vocabulary with key nutrition terms, making it easier to navigate menus and food labels while indulging in ‘cuisine French.’

So, are you ready to join me on this flavorful expedition through ‘cuisine French’? Let’s make 2024 the year we embrace the best of French dining, one macro at a time!

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 52 – Seashells

Speak Like a native — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

A Casual Stroll on the 'Plage': My Beach in French Experience

Hey folks, welcome back to a new episode, where I dive into my laid-back morning stroll on the ‘plage’—that’s ‘beach’ in French for those diving into the language with me. This episode is all about the simple pleasures of the beach in French culture, from the seashells I found to the unique way I decided to cook them. Plus, I’ve got the scoop on beach etiquette in France.

So there I was, walking on the beach in French territory, when I came across an array of seashells. It sparked a little culinary idea in me. Why not cook these seashells? Turned out to be a delicious decision. Along the way, I picked up on some do’s and don’ts of French beach etiquette that I thought were pretty interesting to share.

In this Episode:

Seashell Vocabulary: I’ll share the French names for the cool seashells I found on the beach.
Beach Etiquette: Picked up some tips on how to behave on the beach. There’s a certain way to do things here.
Grammar Nuggets: We’ll tackle how to express obligations and prohibitions in French, super useful for beach-related and other scenarios.

Join me for a chill recount of my beach day in France. Whether you’re here for the French lessons, curious about my seashell cooking experiment, or just in it for the beach tales, this episode’s got a bit of everything.

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Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 51 – Calendar

Speak Like a native — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:55:00 +0000

Unwrapping Memories: French Tradition for Christmas and the Charm of Advent Calendars

Welcome to a special episode of the podcast, where I delve into the heartwarming French tradition for Christmas, focusing particularly on the enchanting world of advent calendars.

As we count down the days to ‘Noël,’ I want to share with you my personal experiences with past advent calendars and the unique joy they bring during the festive season.

In this episode, I’ll take you through a journey of discovery, exploring the origins of the advent calendar.

This tradition, deeply rooted in French culture, is not just a countdown to Christmas; it’s a daily celebration of anticipation and joy.

I’ll recount my cherished memories associated with these calendars, from the excitement of revealing each day’s surprise to the special moments shared with family.

But that’s not all – we’ll also dive into some fascinating grammar points.

We’ll review the use of ‘tout’ and ‘tous,’ exploring their various contexts and applications in French.

This grammar focus will enhance your understanding and usage of these versatile words, especially in the context of holiday traditions.

As for vocabulary, we’ll specifically talk about advent calendars. You’ll learn the French terms associated with this tradition, enriching your festive lexicon and helping you to describe this delightful custom with ease.

In this Episode:

Advent Calendar Traditions: Explore the French tradition for Christmas through the lens of advent calendars, understanding their cultural significance.
Origins and Memories: Discover the origins of advent calendars and hear my personal stories associated with this charming tradition.
Grammar Focus on ‘Tout’ and ‘Tous’: Learn the nuances of using ‘tout’ and ‘tous’ in various contexts, enhancing your grammatical fluency.
Vocabulary Deep Dive: Expand your French vocabulary with terms related to advent calendars, perfect for holiday conversations.

Join me in this nostalgic episode as we embrace the French tradition for Christmas. Whether you’re a language learner or a lover of cultural traditions, this episode is filled with linguistic insights, heartwarming stories, and the magic of the holiday season.

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Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 50 – Deer

Speak Like a native — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 19:00:00 +0000

An Evening of Enchantment and Learning

Today’s podcast episode is an extraordinary journey into the heart of the French wilderness, as we explore the theme of deer in French or “le cerf” in an enchanting forest setting.

This episode is not just about discovering the majestic deer in their natural habitat but also about enhancing your French skills, particularly if you’re at the A2 level.

Our focus is on prepositions of location, an essential aspect of French grammar that paints a picture of where events unfold.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to solidify your A2 level skills, understanding these prepositions is crucial for describing settings and locations in French, especially when talking about nature and wildlife like deer.

So, settle in and relax as we dive into the captivating world of deer in the French forests and unravel the simplicity and beauty of French grammar.

Are you intrigued by all of this?

Make sure to download the study guide linked below. It includes everything from the episode’s transcription to a rich vocabulary list centered around our theme – deer in French – and a look at prepositions of location.

In this episode:

Explore vocabulary related to nature, specifically focusing on deer in French
Learn and practice prepositions of location, a key component in describing natural scenes in French
Take on a challenge that will help solidify your understanding of the topic and language

Join me on this engaging journey to learn about deer in French and improve your French grammar skills. It’s an adventure that blends the beauty of nature with the elegance of the French language!

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 49 – Baths II

Speak Like a native — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 19:50:00 +0000

My Adventure in a Historic French Spa Town

I’ve just had an incredible adventure in a French destination that’s a great spa town. Picture this: it’s early morning, the air is crisp, and I’m stepping into a thermal spa with a history that goes all the way back to the Romans. Can you believe it? This great spa town has been around for centuries, and I’m about to dive into its healing mineral waters.

Now, I don’t want to give too much away, but let me tell you, the facilities were something else. The heat, the calm atmosphere, it was just… wow. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend their day in a place like this?

But it’s not just about the spa, you know? It’s about the whole experience. The peacefulness of the early morning, the anticipation of the day ahead, the history surrounding you… it’s a feeling you can’t quite put into words. And that’s what makes this French destination such a great spa town.

I know, I know, I’m being a bit vague here. But trust me, you’ll want to hear the whole story on the podcast. I promise, it’s worth the wait.

So, stay tuned for the full episode. I can’t wait to share more about this amazing adventure with you.

Our grammar focus today is on conjunctions of coordination and subordination, which help us connect and organize ideas in a sentence. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced learner, we’ll explore some essential conjunctions.

The level is A2 so beginner +

If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.

To listen to my previous Bath episode : Click to listen

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to spa and treatments
Review conjunctions of coordination and subordination
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 48 – Aligot

Speak Like a native — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Le plat qui réchauffe les coeurs

Today, I’m excited to discuss the beloved French dish, aligot. This cheesy, creamy comfort food is perfect for cold winter nights.

Our grammar focus today is on logical conjunctions, or “les connecteurs logiques” in French, which help us connect and organize ideas in a sentence. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced learner, we’ll explore some essential conjunctions.

The level is A2 so beginner +

So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the world of aligot and French grammar!

If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to food and recipe preparation
Review the logical conjunctions
A challenge for you to shine

Oui, ce n’est pas de l’aligot. On est d’accord.

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Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 47 – Eggs II

Speak Like a native — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 08:30:00 +0000

I did it!

Discover the world of temporal clauses in French with this A2-B1 level podcast episode.

Get a deep understanding of how these words and phrases express the timing of events and create a sequence of actions.

Along with a discussion on temporal clauses, I share my personal journey of egg donation, including the stimulation process, self-administered injections, and the procedure itself.

Hear about the challenges I faced, such as finding a doctor, dealing with injections, and navigating the hospital experience.

This educational episode also provides technical health terms to enhance your learning.

If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to health and hospital
Review the temporal clauses
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 46 – Christmas

Speak Like a native — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Joyeux Noël !

Joyeux Noël ! Mes meilleurs voeux à tous. Je vous souhaite de passer de merveilleuses fêtes. Voilà. Alors, bienvenue pour ce nouvel épisode.

Today, because it’s Christmas, I’m going to share a story that I saw in a newspaper.

It’s aimed at A2 learners, so beginner +. The whole episode uses the present tense.

We also have a sprinkle of passive voice so if you’d like to review this, stay tuned.

There are also some colourful phrases you can learn to enrich your vocabulary.

If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to Christmas and the town
Review the present tense and the passive voice
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 45 – Cleaning

Speak Like a native — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +0000

Let's clean together!

Aujourd’hui on va parler d’une de mes découvertes qui a changé ma vie quotidienne. Je suis sûre que beaucoup d’entre vous vont me dire “mieux vaut tard que jamais”, better late than never if we say it in English. Yes, I’m always a late bloomer.

This episode is a direct request from Eric. He joined the Christmas Postcard exchange and asked for more beginner episodes.

If you’d like to review your present tense and your object pronouns (le – la – les) while learning new vocabulary to talk about your house cleaning habits, then stay tuned.

If you’re intermediate, don’t skip this episode because I have some colourful phrases for you that are natural, casual and especially will make you sound like a native.

If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to house cleaning
Review the present tense and object pronouns
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 44 – Eggs

Speak Like a native — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 17:00:00 +0000

How donations work in France

Raise your hand if you think we’re going to talk about breakfast.

Sorry guys, this isn’t the kind of eggs we’re going to talk about today I’m afraid.

We’re gonna have a conversation about MY EGGS. Something I had never imagined I would say on the internet for the whole world to hear, but here we are.

The vocabulary in this episode is obviously very medically-oriented with a lot of specific words related to this field.

It will be very useful if you want to share your last experience at the hospital in French.

If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to the medical world
A sneakpeek into the French medical world
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 43 – Dancing

Speak Like a native — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 16:00:00 +0000

My feet are on fire

Today, we’re going to continue talking about my life and the activities that I have finally resumed.

I feel overjoyed and it’s not even an exaggeration frankly.

Being able to clear my mind during the week and taking a break from the daily life…it’s really refreshing.

This episode is a bit more difficult than usual so it’s aimed at intermediate levels, B1 and B2.

We will study words and phrases that are related to the world of dancing.

As for the grammar focus, we will review phrases about feelings and how to use the verb “to miss” as in “i miss dancing” for example.

If you’re interested in all of this, you can download the study guide below where you’ll find the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus.

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to the world of dancing
Review phrases to express feelings
A challenge for you to shine

To learn or review and practice how to use the verb “to miss” in French, click here to listen to the episode.

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Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 42 – Violin

Speak Like a native — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:44:00 +0000

I practice 40 hours a day

September is finally here and with it, the sadness of waving goodbye to our summer holidays.

Work and school have resumed.

France now went back to its humdrum daily life.

In this episode we’re going to talk about music instruments and we’ll have a look at a specific vocabulary related to this.

As for the grammar focus, we will study phrases to express regrets. as a consequence, it’s best suited for my B level listeners.

In this episode

Words and phrases connected to music instruments
Review phrases to express regrets
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 41 – Shopping

Speak Like a native — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:44:00 +0000

How to get FREE washing liquid

Today, we’re going to talk about a challenge that everybody is now more or less facing I guess. Please don’t hesitate to share your story or opinion if that’s the case… and you know what, even if it’s not the case, just comment anyway, I’m always glad to read your story.

It’s been a couple of years now of international instability and struggles, let’s say. Obviously, we’re not going to talk about anything depressing, nobody needs that. Today, the vocabulary is for B1 levels and it’s all about words and phrases to describe your shopping habits but focused on sales, coupons and saving money. As for the grammar focus, we’ll see a few phrases to express goals with the infinitive.

In this episode

A boatload of vocabulary to talk about saving money
Review phrases to express goals with the infinitive
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 40 – UFO

Speak Like a native — Sun, 20 Feb 2022 20:44:00 +0000

Do you believe in UFOs?

I’m not a big fan of French tv shows but recently I found a couple that were funny and captivating.

We’re gonna talk about that today. This program is called Ovnis, let me know in the comment section if you know it and if you have watched it.

It follows a group of people who work for the French bureau of unidentified aerospace phenomena. In other words, UFO.

Do you know what the most interesting part of all this is?

It’s inspired by a true story, but you’ll need to stay tuned if you want to know more.

In this episode

How to react and whom to contact if you witness something strange in the French sky during your holiday.
Review the simple relative pronouns
A challenge for you to shine

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 39 – Wild

Speak Like a native — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 20:43:00 +0000

The wild kid that lived 10 years in the forest

Today’s story was inspired by some program my partner listened to at the radio.

Since I talked about weird French events, like the bizarre and let’s admit it, quite ghastly Christmas menu in episode 21 of “A day in French”, it will not come as a surprise that I cover this strange event.

The grammar focus today will be geared towards A2 and B1.

In this episode

The true story of a feral kid
Review how to create adverbs

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 39 – Wild appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 38 – Driving

Speak Like a native — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 19:47:00 +0000

The mysterious letter

Welcome to the thirty-eighth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Today’s adventure is the gripping story of how the postman knocked on my door.

Spoiler alert! He gave me a letter.

I know, it’s riveting, right?

If you want to know what kind of letter I got, you will have to listen a little bit more.

In the last episode of “A day in French”, we’ve talked about the use of the present tense and strangely the future tense to describe historical events.

Today I’d like to review the tense that every French person learns at school but also forgets quite quickly.

It’s a tense we absolutely never use. The only time you’ll encounter it is in litterature.

All this to say that today’s grammar focus is for B levels and we will review le passé simple. To explain in one sentence, le passé simple is used like le passé composé but in a novel.

As for the vocabulary, you will learn every word and phrase you need to complain next time you get fined in France.

If it sounds interesting, download the study guide below.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 37 – Hotel

Speak Like a native — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 20:48:00 +0000

How many types of French hotel can you name?

Welcome to the thirty-seventh episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Ok, I have to ask you guys… do you have a partner who keeps repeating the same jokes over and over again?

I sure have one!

When we’re in town, every time we pass by a hotel… not the kind of hotel you’re thinking about, you’ll have to listen to the story to know what kind I’m talking about because hotel is used for many things here! So, every time we pass by, he makes this joke and I wanted to talk about that today.

For the vocabulary, be prepared to scratch your head with the French numbers. Little challenge for you! Before you download the study guide, go to the comment section of this episode and write to me the 4 years I mentionned.

As for the grammar focus, I wanted to show you a special use of the present and the future tenses. It’s common nowadays to use the present tense when we talk about historical events. Something even stranger is the use of the future tense.

You’ll find all these things in the study guide. It contains the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus so head over to frenchblabla.org to download. I’ll be waiting for you in the comment section for my number challenge.

By the way, if you’d like the other guides, you can find them here.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 36 – Autumn

Speak Like a native — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 20:10:00 +0000

Want to talk about autumn?

Bonjour à tous, bienvenue pour un nouvel épisode. J’espère que tout va bien chez vous.

With the season starting, I’ve decided to share with you all the charm there is to find in the autumn season.

Especially, here, in the countryside, the landscape is beautiful. The leaves are turning golden and orange and there’s something in the air that just feels like autumn. I know I will start soon eating a lot of pumpkins.

Is it the same for you ? How is your autumn where you live ?

Stay tuned because it will be a real autumn galore in this episode.

As for the grammar focus, it will be for both A levels and B levels. We will review the relative pronouns. You will find the easier ones and the more complicated ones too.

Don’t forget to download the study guide below so that you can practice the vocabulary, the grammar as well as your writing.

Share your story in the comment section

What is autumn for you? What does represent this season best? I’m looking forward to chatting with you in the comment section.

By the way, check the other study guides here.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 35 – Kiss

Speak Like a native — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 18:38:00 +0000

The origins of la bise

Welcome to the thirty-fifth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Bonjour à tous, j’espère que vous allez bien ! Thank you for joining me today for a new episode.

One of my colleagues shared a very interesting interview about a peculiar cultural aspect we have. You all know about it. I’m talking about la bise of course!

How many foreigners have been completely puzzled by this tradition? I mean, how many kisses should one do? should you start from the right cheek or the left cheek? Should I kiss this man too?

Today, we’re not going to talk about the bulletproof way to faire la bise like a native, because frankly, there is none.

Speaking about this negative aspect, this will be our grammar focus today. As a consequence if you’re A+ or B1, this episode is for you.

As usual, you can download the transcription, the grammar focus and the vocabulary below.

Bonus video

This is the video that inspired today’s topic. The historian is talking about the roots of la bise, if you’d like to see it. I added more elements in the episode that aren’t mentioned as well as element that I omitted.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 34 – Puppet

Speak Like a native — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 20:00:00 +0000

Le théâtre de Guignol

Bonjour à tous, thank you for taking a few minutes out of your very busy life to listen to my story today.

Before we start I’d like to thank Checkmate king two for his very kind review on apple podcast. He was a bit puzzled with the format of the podcast and I can understand. So if you’re new here, welcome to the French Blabla community and welcome to you too Checkmate King two.

In today’s episode, we will see all the words we need to talk about the puppet theatre.

As for the grammar focus, we will, review a few of the time words.

If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, download the study guide below.

Bonus video

Voici la chaîne Youtube du Théâtre Le Guignol de Lyon !

• Les 265 marionnettes de la ville de Lyon.

• Du théâtre de Guignol et de la marionnette contemporaine, pour petits et grands !

• Le plus grand castelet de marionnettes à gaine d’Europe.

Subscribe and review The French Blabla Podcast

Thanks so much for tuning into the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and love the show, I’d really appreciate you subscribing and leaving me a review on your favourite podcast player.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 33 – Soapbox

Speak Like a native — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 18:40:00 +0000

Welcome to the thirty-third episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In the last episode, I said that I wasn’t very enthusiastic about the Olympic Games. It still stands true but without them I wouldn’t have discovered this gem. I never knew something like that existed and I had to tell you about it. After this episode, please tell me in the comment section if you knew about this sport.

Today there won’t be any grammar focus as the episode is beaming with vocabulary. If you’d like to learn more about your car and what the different parts are called, then stay tuned. We won’t obviously go into deep mecanic vocabulary but if I tell you the word steering wheel and you look at me completely confused, then yes, this is the kind of useful words we will study together. How about the brake? What is it called in French? No clue? Ok! Stay with me.

As usual, everything can be found in the study guide, the transcription, the vocabulary and the writing challenge. Download it below.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 33 – Soapbox appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 32 – Summer sports

Speak Like a native — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 19:27:00 +0000

Les JO?

Welcome to the thirty-second episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Today, we’re going to talk about a topic that I’m not really enthusiastic about. Then, you’re gonna wonder why do I bother doing a whole episode about it?

Simply because it’s a big thing going on and it’s a classic part of the French life in summer.

It will be also be a good excuse for new and interesting vocabulary.

Speak of the devil or rather of the wolf, as we say in French, we will see the words and phrases related to the Olympic games as well as some connected to le Tour de France.

As for the grammar focus, it will be for the B levels today. We will, indeed, review the words to contrast. In French, we call them les marqueurs de concession. Check them out in your grammar book if you’re not sure about them.

If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, download the study guide below.

In this episode

Sports related vocabulary
Review the word to contrast
A challenge for you to shine

Oh and before I forget, if you want the other study guides, there are HERE.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 31 – Books

Speak Like a native — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 21:42:00 +0000

Welcome to the thirty-first episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

This episode is a confession, I think I should feel a smidgen of shame by revealing the kind of litterature I read on the beach but what wouldn’t I do for the French language. If you have a little guilty pleasure like me, you’re very welcome to share in the comment section, so that I feel a little bit less lonely. The grammar focus today is for A levels but please, B levels, I suggest you review it too if you don’t master the demonstrative pronouns. Check them out in your grammar book to know what I’m talking about. As for the vocabulary, we’re going to study or review a lot of phrases and words about books and litterature. If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, download the guide below. Ok, time for the story guys, c’est parti !

In this episode

The shameful books I read during the summer
Review the demonstrative pronouns
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 31 – Books appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 30 – Circus

Speak Like a native — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 11:06:00 +0000

Welcome to the thirtieth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

As you could see from the title, we’ll talk about something light. It will be surprising for you maybe but it was my first time going to a circus show. It was a good experience but don’t imagine I went to a kind of Cirque du soleil performance. Anyway, with the pandemic, I don’t think that they have shows going on. This episode is full to the brim with words and phrases regarding the circus. I know it’s not really your typical vocabulary you would learn in a lesson or in a french news podcast, but maybe you’ll be interested in going to a show in the future. When you do, I hope you’ll think about me. There’s no grammar focus today but there’s a little nugget for B levels. I created a tricky sentence with several compound relative pronouns. Google it if you have no clue what i’m talking about but I have to tell you, you’re going to sweat when you see what it is.

In this Episode

Learn the vocab you need to talk about the circus
My first time at the circus
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 30 – Circus appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 29 – Migraine

Speak Like a native — Sat, 29 May 2021 19:57:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-ninth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

I’ve been sick and it’s still going on this week. I’ve spent a lot of days in bed, in the dark because I suffer from migraine every month. I thought I would talk about this today and I will use this excuse to infuse this episode with phrases and words you will need if you ever get sick in France and need to see a doctor or if you go to the pharmacy. In episode 6 of “A day in French”, we covered several useful phrases to explain your symptoms, go listen to it if you need a refresher. As for the grammar focus, today will be for B levels as we will review how to express goals with and without the subjunctive.

In this Episode

Learn the vocab you need to talk at the pharmacy
My story with episodic migraine
A challenge for you to shine

Music by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 29 – Migraine appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 28 – Pipes

Speak Like a native — Fri, 14 May 2021 13:11:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-eighth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

I hope you’re fine because I was not happy for sure when the week started. I happened to find leaky pipes in my home. I wasn’t planning on talking about this today but I couldn’t let this occasion pass. I don’t know if you remember but it’s not the first time I’m not happy with something.

In episode 16, I got angry at a sales rep. Go listen to it if you want to know the full story, and in today’s episode I get very displeased again. To make it short, if you happen to rent a place in France and you face a leakage, then after this episode you’ll know what to say, because that’s what happened to me this week. No grammar focus this time as there’s a lot of very specific vocabulary for you to learn that will allow you to explain in detail if you ever need to call a plumber or your rental agency. Everything can be found in the study guide I have created.

In this Episode

Learn the vocab you need to call a plumber
My story of an unfortunate event involving pipes
A challenge for you to shine

Music : Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 28 – Pipes appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 27 – Dreams

Speak Like a native — Sat, 08 May 2021 07:25:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-seventh episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

I hope you enjoyed last week’s episode. If you have missed it, I suggest you go listen to it as in today’s “A day in French” we will use what we have learnt. Last week, we did the theory and today we’ll practice. I will tell you about my dreams and things I wish I could do. The grammar focus is for everybody, that’s quite unusual, since we will review the verb “manquer” and there will also be some B level grammar with a review of the hypothesis. Everything can be found below in the study guide I have created. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Practice your verb “manquer”
Review the hypothesis and how to talk about dreams
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 27 – Dreams appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 26 – Gardening

Speak Like a native — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:28:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-sixth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. In this episode, you’ll learn everything, to buy or order what you need for gardening so that if you happen to go to a garden centre in France or to order from a French website, you’ll know what to ask and look for.

Today, the grammar focus is for A students as we will review simple ways to ask questions. As usual, with this episode comes a study guide below that contains the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus. You might want to check it out. Don’t forget to download it. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Learn gardening vocabulary
Review the simple ways to ask questions
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 26 – Gardening appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 25 – Croque-Monsieur

Speak Like a native — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 18:01:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-fifth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Last time, we talked about ice cream and today we will talk about croque monsieur. If there’s one dish you can make at home that is super easy and really French, it’s the croque-monsieur. With a side of salad, you’ve got yourself a perfect lunch. I encourage you to try. If you do, please let me know. Coincidentally, Marcel Proust will make an appearance again in this episode.

Today, the grammar focus is for B students as we will review the two conditionals, present and past. As usual, with this episode comes a study guide that contains the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus. You might want to check it out. Don’t forget to download it. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

How the croque-monsieur was invented
Review the conditionals present and past
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 25 – Croque-Monsieur appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 24 – Tastebuds

Speak Like a native — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-fourth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this episode, I will share some anecdotes related to taste and ice cream. It’s strange to talk about this in winter but I’m longing for sunny days.

The grammar focus is for A levels as we will review the negative. As for the vocabulary, it will be useful for when we get to travel again during the summer. You’ll become ice cream professionals as we will learn many words that you will hear when you order in France. If you struggled understanding the different possibilities on a menu, listen to today’s episode, study the guide and you’ll be ordering like a native. Don’t forget to download it to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Order ice cream like a native
Review the negative
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 24 – Tastebuds appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 23 – The Photobooth

Speak Like a native — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-third episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Today, we’re going to dive into the world of movies. We’ll learn some useful phrases to describe them. I don’t usually talk about movies I watched because I’m not really into this. I rarely go to the cinema and I don’t even watch that many tv shows. If you’ve listened to episode 5 of “A day in French”, then you know that I like to watch hockey instead. I decided to talk about the movie called “Amelie Poulain” because I learnt that one character and what he does were inspired by real events. I couldn’t imagine that anything in that movie was actually real so I was surprised and wanted to share this piece of information with you.

Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Cultural nugget about the movie “Amelie Poulain”
Review phrases to describe movies
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

The post A day in French – 23 – The Photobooth appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 22 – Olive Oil

Speak Like a native — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-second episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

I hope you’re hungry because we’re going to talk about food, my favourite topic. In the previous episode, we talked about food as well but about a very strange Christmas menu. I wonder if there were any vegetarians who listened to that episode. Today, nothing disgusting I promise, it will be about olive oil. I will share a story about last summer and a tour that I did with my family. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Cultural nugget about olive oil
Review the object pronoun “les”
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License – Prod by Lukrembo

The post A day in French – 22 – Olive Oil appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 21 – A Christmas menu in Paris

Speak Like a native — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the twenty-first episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

What is the weirdest or most disgusting thing you have ever eaten in your life? For me, it was silkworm pupae, that I ate when I was in Korea. I put it in my mouth a bit reluctantly. I really thought it was going to be disgusting but to my surprise, I enjoyed it. I won’t say it was delicious but it was edible and somewhat interesting. Today, we’re going to travel back in time and we will be heading towards Paris during a hard time the town had to face. Since, it was Christmas not a very long time ago, I would like to talk about a very strange Christmas menu that was found in restaurants at that time. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Historical nugget about a crazy time in Paris
Animal and food vocabulary
Review the passive voice with the present tense
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Keys of Moon

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A day in French – 20 – Snow

Speak Like a native — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the twentieth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman.

We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. In this new episode we’ll be talking about my birthday and what I will do on this special day. I will also talk about the joy of bathing and the bath culture. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Winter and snow vocabulary
Review the subjunctive with feelings
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Borrtex

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A day in French – 19 – The postman Cheval

Speak Like a native — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the nineteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman.

We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points. Did it ever happen to you that you woke up in the middle of the night and an idea popped into your mind, for no reason whatsoever. That’s exactly what happened to me for this episode. I got up and suddenly this idea knocked on my door. She said (because idea is a feminine word in French) “ Caroline, in your next episode you’re going to talk about this famous French postman and you will do a special beginner episode”. I said ok. Now we’re here together, dear listeners, and I’m going to talk about M. Cheval. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Amazing story of Ferdinand Cheval
A story to review the beginner basics
A challenge for you to shine

Joseph Ferdinand Cheval

In : Fonds d'Archives photographiques marcelle Vallet, Série : Le Facteur Cheval I

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Awakening by Keys of Moon – Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) – https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

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A day in French – 18 – Wigs

Speak Like a native — Fri, 20 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the eighteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Days ago, I was working on the last Day in French in the living room while the other members of my family were watching TV. In France, the national public TV service loves historical documentaries about famous figures who influenced our History. They were watching a tv program about Marie-Antoinette and they were talking about her wigs. We all know some tidbits about her but learning about the quirky fashion trends of the end of the eighteenth century in Paris was something new for me and I found it highly interesting. So, I would like to share it with you today. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Cultural nugget about crazy wigs of the time
Review the past conditional
Review the pronoun Y
A challenge for you to shine

Pouf à la Belle Poule

« The Flower Garden », M. Darly, 1777, caricature

« The French lady in London », Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, 1771, caricature

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

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A day in French – 17 – Election

Speak Like a native — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the seventeenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Today I’d like to use the news to talk about our topic. This presidential election was a good opportunity to study this very specific vocabulary. We will also do a small comparison between how we elect our French president and how you, American people elect your president. If I make any mistake, please correct me in the comment section. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Vocabulary of the election
Cultural nugget about how we elect our president
A challenge for you to shine

Music : Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License Clarion by Scott Buckley – https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley – Creative Commons ‘Attribution 4.0 International’ License

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A day in French – 16 – The phone call

Speak Like a native — Fri, 11 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the sixteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

I wasn’t planning on creating this episode but I got so upset with what happened that I thought it was the perfect opportunity to review some more subjunctive. Some phone calls can be so annoying and I’m sure all of you can relate with this. Let’s talk about this particular phone call I received some time ago. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Vocabulary of a phone call
Review the subjunctive with negative/bad feelings
A challenge for you to shine

That’s what you say when you’re not interested by something. Next time a sales rep contacts you, say “bof”! Click the picture to know more.

Music : Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Cold (Prod. by Lukrembo)

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A day in French – 15 – The flea market

Speak Like a native — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the fifteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Do you like flea markets? Summer is the season to visit them. It seems every little town has its own market when summer is here. Today, I’d like to talk about the complicated relationship I have with them. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Vocabulary of furniture renovation and flea market
Review the cause
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

Vintage Memories by Schematist – Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) License

The post A day in French – 15 – The flea market appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 14 – La Sieste

Speak Like a native — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the fourteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Summer is a good excuse to talk about la sieste, this special moment in the middle of the day where it’s ok to nap. Let’s talk about it and see what’s good about it. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Cultural nugget about la sieste
Review the conditional mood
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Holiday Prod. by Lukrembo

The post A day in French – 14 – La Sieste appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 13 – Stormy Night

Speak Like a native — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the thirteenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Today, I’d like to share one of my fears with you. We will talk about the big storm that happened weeks ago. It is the perfect excuse to develop our weather vocabulary and learn new phrases to talk about fear. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Express fear with phrases
Review your weather vocabulary
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License Ephemera by Scott Buckley – www.scottbuckley.com.au – Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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A day in French – 12 – The beast

Speak Like a native — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 16:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the twelfth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

Today, I’d like to share a very famous scary story involving a beast that happened in the mountains in the south of France. This beast has inspired many books and movies. The story will be graphic with gory details so if you’re sensitive to blood and violence, I would suggest you skip this episode. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Acts of violence vocabulary
Review the passive voice
A challenge for you to shine

For those of you who would like to know more about the beast, here’s a documentary. It’s one among many you can find on youtube or some other streaming platforms. A lot has been written and told so it won’t be difficult to find more information.

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Surreal Forest by Meydän – Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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A day in French – 11 – Still on the Road

Speak Like a native — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:57:00 +0000

Welcome to the eleventh episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we continue our journey but this time, we take a boat and we will cross a new country. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode, I highly recommend you start with episode 10 instead. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Boat and protection from viruses vocabulary
Review the agreement of the past participle
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Ferry Landing by Blue Dot Sessions – Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

The post A day in French – 11 – Still on the Road appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 10 – On the Road

Speak Like a native — Fri, 29 May 2020 18:10:00 +0000

Welcome to the tenth episode of this series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we’ll be talking about some big changes that happened in my life recently and our days on the road. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Road traffic and transportation vocabulary
Review how to express goals
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Sun goes down acoustic by Sahara Sky – Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

The post A day in French – 10 – On the Road appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 09 – Bath

Speak Like a native — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 17:40:00 +0000

Welcome to the ninth episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we’ll be talking about my birthday and what I will do on this special day. I will also talk about the joy of bathing and the bath culture. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Bath and water vocabulary
Review the phrases to allow and forbid
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 09 – Bath appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 08 – Being a kid in the 50’s

Speak Like a native — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 18:38:00 +0000

Welcome to the eighth episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we will talk about surprising French social habits in the 50’s. This time isn’t a story about me but something that I’ve watched and that I found really interesting. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Review the past tenses
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 08 – Being a kid in the 50’s appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 07 – La Chandeleur

Speak Like a native — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:59:00 +0000

Welcome to the seventh episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we’ll be talking about la Chandeleur and what happened on February the second in France. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Chandeleur and religious celebration vocabulary
Review le participe présent and le gérondif
A challenge for you to shine

As bonus for you, here’s a vintage French TV show that will teach you how to make crêpes. Bon appétit bien sûr !

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 07 – La Chandeleur appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 06 – The Sickness

Speak Like a native — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:44:00 +0000

Welcome to the sixth episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we will talk about sickness and all the vocabulary related to different symptoms, so that you can too talk about your next benign sickness. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Sickness vocabulary
Review the past tenses
A challenge for you to shine

Music by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Night Hills by Livio Amato – Freemusicarchive

The post A day in French – 06 – The Sickness appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 05 – The Hockey Match

Speak Like a native — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 17:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the fifth episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we will talk about ice hockey and how it differs in North America and Sweden. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Ice Hockey vocabulary
Review the comparison
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

The post A day in French – 05 – The Hockey Match appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 04 – The Christmas Table

Speak Like a native — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 16:30:00 +0000

Celebrating 'Noël': Christmas in French

Welcome to the fourth episode of my series, where I invite you into my world as a French woman, sharing the nuances of my culture and language.

Today, we’re going to immerse ourselves in the festive spirit of ‘Noël’ – Christmas in French.

This episode is not just about learning; it’s about experiencing the joy and traditions of a French Christmas.

In this new episode, I’ll take you through the charming details of the Christmas table in France.

We’ll explore the specific vocabulary that lights up our conversations around this time of the year.

From the sparkling ‘décorations’ to the sumptuous ‘repas de Noël’ (Christmas meal), you’ll learn how to talk about these festive elements with authentic French flair.

But that’s not all – we’ll also dive into some essential grammar points.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to review our future and near future tenses, crucial for planning those holiday gatherings and sharing your festive plans in French.

Don’t forget to download the study guide for this episode. It includes a full transcription and exercises to help you practice what you’ve learned.

Stay tuned, and let’s embrace the magic of Christmas in French together!

In this Episode:

Vocabulary of the Christmas Table: Learn the terms for traditional French Christmas decorations and dishes, enriching your festive vocabulary.
Celebrating Christmas in France: Discover how we celebrate Christmas in France, from family traditions to public festivities.
Grammar Focus: Review the future and near future tenses, essential for discussing upcoming holiday plans.

Join me in this delightful journey as we explore the beauty and warmth of Christmas in French. Whether you’re a language enthusiast or someone who loves cultural explorations, this episode is packed with insights, practical language tips, and a whole lot of festive cheer.

Music by Wonder Happens – Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Jolly Old St Nicholas (Instrumental) – E’s Jammy Jams https://youtu.be/Z-SFQmAh0BA

The post A day in French – 04 – The Christmas Table appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 03 – Let There Be Light

Speak Like a native — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 18:44:00 +0000

Welcome to the third episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we will talk about Christmas light and decorations. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

Christmas light and decoration vocabulary
Review the passive voice
A challenge for you to shine

Music by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License / Il Neige by Flora – License – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

The post A day in French – 03 – Let There Be Light appeared first on French Blabla.

A day in French – 02 – A walk in the forest

Speak Like a native — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 16:30:00 +0000

Welcome to the second episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we will talk about mushrooms, a walk in the forest but also the pair “savoir” and “connaître”. I covered the differences between the two so don’t hesitate to go to episode 17 to listen to it again. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

The confusing “savoir” and “connaître”
Learn the vocabulary of mushrooms and of a walk in the forest
Review the past tenses
A challenge for you to shine

Music: Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License Acoustic / Folk Instrumental – Mumford & Sons Inspired by Hyde – Free Instrumentals – Creative Commons License.

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A day in French – 01 – An apple and an unfortunate event

Speak Like a native — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 16:30:00 +0000

Welcome to the first episode of this new series that will transport you to the daily life of a French woman. We will cover specific vocabulary to increase your fluency while practicing particular grammar points.

In this new episode we will talk about apples but also an unfortunate event. Don’t forget to download the study guide to get access to the transcription. Stay tuned!

In this Episode

The “en” pronoun
Learn the vocabulary of apples
Review the past tenses and the plus-que-parfait
A challenge for you to shine

Music by
Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License /

Somewhere Down The Line by AERØHEAD https://soundcloud.com/aerohead Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported — CC BY-SA 3.0 Wanderlust by Nomyn – Creative Commons License

The post A day in French – 01 – An apple and an unfortunate event appeared first on French Blabla.