For the first time in French Voices, I’m interviewing a guest from La Réunion! Réunion Island is a tropical French department (un département d’Outre-Mer = overseas region) located in the Indian Ocean. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, with volcanoes, rainforest, coral reefs and beaches. Guest Aline Peltier is a volcanologist (=volcanologue) working at the Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise. Aline specialises in geodesy, the science of measuring and understanding the earth's geometric shape. What does that mean, in the context of volcanoes? It means that by using … Read More →

This is the second part of my conversation with Frenchman Alain Collas, passionate about the Napoleonic Era and a cuirassier during the historical reenactments of the battles of the Napoleonic army. What’s exactly happening during the reenactments? I was curious to find out whether they were above all a show for the audience to see action and costumes or whether they were precise and based upon actual facts and details. Historical reenactments really are a passion for which many enthusiasts from all countries gather together, meeting on the very sites where Napoleon fought his battles. They … Read More →

On my last trip to France, I was welcomed by the mayor of my hometown for an interview at the town hall – in the meeting room, which is also the official room where marriages are celebrated. Find out how a French mayor is elected, what his roles are, facts about getting married in France and much more! Episode Timeline Part 1 A mayor and another occupation What made E.Dhuicq run for mayor? The ballot and office staff list Part 2 How and for how long a French mayor is elected The prerequisites to run for mayor The roles of a mayor Part 3 Funding / Money Projects and … Read More →

This is the second part of my conversation with Jean Auquier, the manager of the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée in Brussels, Belgium – home to many famous cartoonists and characters. This episode focuses on the cutest and tiniest characters of Belgian comic art, the Smurfs (Les Schtroumpfs). How were they born? Why are the Smurfs blue? What makes the Smurfs so popular? Why is the Smurf language so interesting, linguistically and socially? Here are only a handful of the many aspects we’ll discuss in this interview! Episode Timeline Part 1 How the Smurfs were born Why are the Smurfs … Read More →

Jean Auquier is the manager of the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée in Brussels, Belgium. Belgium is home of many famous cartoonist and characters such as Tintin, the Smurfs (Les Schtroumpfs), etc. Why is it that comic strip became a specialty, a symbol of this small country? Learn about the history and the evolution of this popular form of art and culture and about the Centre Belge de la Bande Dessinée itself in the first part of this fascinating conversation with Jean Auquier! Episode Timeline Part 1 How is Belgium associated to comic books? How the first comic strips were … Read More →

Claude Tranchant is a French lady now living in Brisbane, Australia. On her 64th birthday, she set off to walk the way of Saint James (le pélerinage de St Jacques de Compostelle), covering over 2,500 km through France and Spain, crossing the Pyrenees to reach Santiago de Compostela. All alone. Oh, and she had never hiked before! Her physical journey soon became a spiritual and a humane one too. Find out more about the St James’s Way pilgrimage, the fears Claude had to overcome and how she changed forever along the way. Part 1 of this interview located in episode 78. Episode Timeline Part … Read More →

Claude Tranchant is a French lady now living in Brisbane, Australia. On her 64th birthday, she set off to walk the way of Saint James (le pélerinage de St Jacques de Compostelle), covering over 2,500 km through France and Spain, crossing the Pyrenees to reach Santiago de Compostela. All alone. Oh, and she had never hiked before! Her physical journey soon became a spiritual and a humane one too. Find out more about the St James’s Way pilgrimage, the fears Claude had to overcome and how she changed forever along the way. Vocab List pélerin,e = pilgrim pélerinage (nm) = pilgrimage bâton de … Read More →

This is the second part of my conversation with Marie-Louise Gay, award-winning Canadian author and illustrator of children’s books. Find out how Marie-Louise came to write for a young audience. We’ll also discuss how to encourage creativity in children, the benefits of reading with your child and how you can use a book to go deeper than its mere reading. This is a very important and inspiring episode for all parents and carers! Episode Timeline Part 1 Marie-Louise Gay’s early career How Marie-Louise came to write children’s books Part 2 How to encourage creativity in children A … Read More →

Meet Marie-Louise Gay, an award-winning Canadian author and illustrator of children’s book. This is the first part of a fascinating conversation between two book and language lovers: Marie-Louise and myself! In this part, Marie-Louise will tell you a bit about her childhood and to what extent it influences the adventures of the heroes she’s been creating. Do you know Stella and Sam, two very cute siblings? They were born from Marie-Louise Gay’s imagination! Marie-Louise is perfectly fluent in both French and English, so which language comes first when she starts writing? Are there any … Read More →