In this two-part episode, we’ll rewind time back to World War I with Hélène Méhault, directrice du Centre d’Interprétation Marne 14-18. The stories shared in this interview are not the historical facts you’ve learnt in your class textbooks. Instead, we’re going to have a close look at how life was like in the trenches, especially food wise. What were the soldiers eating? (not to mention the civilians). How were they supplied and what do the containers and available foods tell us about the conflict? We’ll also talk about first aid in war zone and the medical developments dating from the Great … Read More →

Claire Feuerstein is a French professional tennis player who agreed to share with you the challenges and the rewards of her high-level career. You’’ll find out about the different types of surface, her routine training, discipline and diet and much more. Claire will also share her valuable tips on how to handle stress! Episode Timeline [04 min 52 sec] The beginnings of a future tennis player [06 min 35 sec] When does one become a professional player? [10 min 12 sec] Why making a living from tennis is difficult [12 min 43 sec] Claire’s favourite player [14 min 05 sec] The different types … Read More →

Do you know Jean de La Fontaine? He was the most famous French fable writer – does The Hare and the Turtle ring a bell? Find out more about his life and legacy in this episode! Episode Timeline [04 min 49 sec] Who was Jean de La Fontaine ? [07 min 24 sec] An approximate date of birth [09 min 00 sec] Describing Jean de La Fontaine’s house [11 min 15 sec] Jean de La Fontaine’s father [13 min 09 sec] What Jean de La Fontaine liked [14 min 25 sec] Did Jean de La Fontaine live from his writing ? [16 min 55 sec] The art of conversation [18 min 25 sec] What makes the fables successful [22 … Read More →

Meet French professional  photographer Denis Dailleux. Denis is passionate about Egypt and the Egyptian people. He will talk about what fascinates him and how he created some of his most powerful photo series: The Martyrs of the Revolution and Mothers and Sons. You’ll get a unique insight into Denis’s emotions, creativity and the way he sees the Egyptian people – both through his eyes and through his lens! Episode Timeline [04 min 20 sec] What Denis Dailleux loves about Egypt [06 min 28 sec] Becoming a photographer [09 min 30 sec] The Egyptian people [12 min 40 sec] Denis Dailleux’s … Read More →

When I last visited the French medieval town of Provins, I attended the spectacular show called “Les Aigles des Remparts”. I was lucky to meet the director and falconer, Philippe Hertel, and I invited him to share his passion for birds of prey and hunt on the wing with you. There’s no doubt you’ll learn a lot in this episode, not only about the different birds but also about the importance of protecting them and the relationship that bonds them with the falconer! Episode Timeline [03 min 32 sec] “Fauconnerie”: definition [05 min 55 sec] How Philippe Hertel became a falconer [10 min 35 sec] … Read More →

Meet greeter Françoise Graux for a lovely visit of Epernay, in the Champagne region. Françoise’s ancestors were railway workers. Between historical facts and personal stories, you’ll get a unique insight about what life was like a few generations ago but also how the development of railway had a direct impact on the layout of the city. Visits with greeters are becoming more and more popular in France; they’re a great way to discover places with a local! Episode Timeline [04 min 06 sec] What’s “un cheminot”? [05 min 29 sec] The occupations of Françoise’s ancestors [08 min 23 sec] The visit … Read More →

Sylvie Pelletier is a painter from Quebec, Canada. Her art is very colourful and depicts human beings in many forms: portraits, nudes, life scenes, etc. Sylvie will share what fascinates and inspires her as well as how she creates her paintings (every artist has their small rituals!). We’ll end the conversation with some differences between Canadian French and French…from France! Episode Timeline [02 min 50 sec] How Sylvie Pelletier became an independent artist [05 min 06 sec] Sylvie’s passion for depicting human beings [07 min 11 sec] Sylvie’s style [10 min 44 sec] Sylvie Pelletier’s … Read More →

Florent Parfait can juggle…with bottles! Just like Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail. In fact, flair bartending has become much more sophisticated and creative than when the movie was released. In this episode, Florent will share how he became happy work-partying for a living, how he went from being a mediocre student to the successful manager of his own entreprise, Cocktail Pro. But the fun is only the tip of the iceberg and the art of flair bartending has many little-known aspects and challenges. Listen to find all about it! Episode Timeline [06 min 24 sec] When work is a party [08 min 16 … Read More →

We had never talked about champagne before...Now it’s done! Meet Tristan Hyest, who will talk about his vineyard and how champagne is made… You’ll learn lots, from grape harvesting to how to accompany your dishes with the different types of champagne. We’ll also discuss the art of blending and the influence of the temperature, type of grape and even of the soil in the taste of the champagne! Episode Timeline [05 min 12 sec] The difference between “vigneron” and “viticulteur” [06 min 38 sec] Presenting the vineyard and types of grapes [07 min 27 sec] La vendange [08 min 53 sec] The … Read More →

In the second part of this conversation with Pierre-Marie Dupré, you’ll find out why Pierre-Marie had to change the end of one of the plays he wrote. Also, how is the cast distributed? What happens when you forget a line? How to deal with stage fright and anxiety? By the way, these tips are very valuable and relevant to all students feeling nervous about speaking French in public…so don’t miss out! Episode Timeline [03 min 15 sec] Casting of the plays [07 min 50 sec] Changing the end of a play [11 min 18 sec] What happens when you forget a line? [13 min 00 sec] Cinema vs theatre [13 min … Read More →