150 episodes

French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Learn French and boost your listening skills as you get the chance to follow a real conversation between native French people talking at normal speed AND customise your French learning experience. All interviews come with questions to test your comprehension, transcription and a list of specific French vocabulary available for free download at http://www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. Get a slice of French culture! Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? Suitable for upper intermediate and advanced students of French.

French Voices Podcast | Learn French | Interviews with Native French Speakers | French Culture Jessica: Native French teacher, founder of French Your Way

    • Education
    • 4.8 • 32 Ratings

French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Learn French and boost your listening skills as you get the chance to follow a real conversation between native French people talking at normal speed AND customise your French learning experience. All interviews come with questions to test your comprehension, transcription and a list of specific French vocabulary available for free download at http://www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. Get a slice of French culture! Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? Suitable for upper intermediate and advanced students of French.

    FV 134 : Dédé l’Ardéchois (Part 1): local heritage and history of the railway

    FV 134 : Dédé l’Ardéchois (Part 1): local heritage and history of the railway

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    This interview is taking you to Ardèche, that (so) beautiful part of France where I used to spend the summer holidays as a child. Meet André Rouy aka « Dédé l’Ardéchois » and discover the history of the train network in Ardèche – the only French département which doesn’t operate any more trains. Dédé and the Association VIADUC 07 worked to protect that heritage. Dédé wrote several books and created a train museum which opened on the 30th anniversary of the last train running through Ardèche. He built it all himself, with humour as well as a unique way to optimise his small space. What can you see in the museum? Listen to find out!

    Vocab List

    Ardéchois,e (n) / ardéchois,e (adj) = from the Ardèche regioncharbon (nm) = coalcharrette (nf) = cart, barrowcheminot = railway workerdesservir = to stop at, to serve, to lead todévisser = to unscrew, detachélu,e (n) = elected member/representativeembranchement (nm) = junctionexposition (nf) = exhibitionferroviaire (adj) = related to the rail/railwaygîte (nm) = holiday cottage, vacation rentalmaquette (nf) = small-scale modelminerai (nm) = oreorthodontie (nf) = orthodonticspassage à niveau (nm) = railroad crossingpatrimoine (nm) = heritagepneu (nm) = tyrereconversion professionnelle (nf) = career changevis (nf) = screw

    Links and Resources



    http://ardeche-gites.fr/dede-lardechois/

    museedutrain.fr

    https://www.facebook.com/andre.rouy

    FV 055 : Real Life Stories around the Beginning of Railway in Epernay: https://frenchvoicespodcast.com/episode55

    • 39 min
    FV 133 : (Part 2) The “vin de pomme” from Pays Basque

    FV 133 : (Part 2) The “vin de pomme” from Pays Basque

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    In this second part of my interview with Manolo we will talk about his confrérie (a society of people who get together to perpetuate a tradition, a skill): la Confrérie des amateurs de Sagarno de la Bidassoa. This society is currently under process to be part of the Unesco intangible cultural heritage list. Learn the reasons behind the decline then the revival of the art of making “vin de pomme”, the types of apples used for the process, the amount of wine produced by the fellowship. You’ll also find out why drinking wine gives you headaches!



    Thank you Mike for putting me in touch with Manolo! If you too know someone who would be a fantastic guest for French Voices, someone with a passion they would love to share, please get in touch!

    Vocab List

    aléas (nm plur) = hazards, vagaries, contingencies, risks

    ascenseur social (nm) = social mobility

    cahier des charges (nm) = (bill of) specifications

    casse-croûte (nm) (fam) = snack

    confrère (nm) = colleague ; fellow, brother

    confrérie (nf) = brotherhood, fellowship ; association, society, guild

    filer entre les doigts (de qn) = to slip through (sb)'s fingers

    grosso modo = roughly

    moine (nm) = monk

    prendre l'apéro (fam) = prendre l'apéritif = to have an aperitif

    pressoir (nm) = press

    regain (nm) = renewal, revival, resurgence ; rise

    rentable = profitable, money-making

    revendiquer sa basquitude = to claim one's basque origins

    soufre (nm) = sulphur

    valoir le coup = to be worth it

    verger (nm) = orchard

    Links and Resources



    Page Facebook : Bidasoako Sargadozaleen Kofradia

    French Voices episode 74 : "La Fine Mousse – the world of craft beer"

    • 34 min
    FYW : Live workshops are back! May 2022

    FYW : Live workshops are back! May 2022

    Live workshops are back!



    More information and bookings open on my events page: https://frenchyourway.com.au/events



    If you can’t attend, don’t worry: you will receive the replay video as well as the worksheet and answers.



    Upcoming events:



    Dictée en français / French dictation



    Sunday May 22nd at 9pm Paris time.



    Imparfait vs passé composé



    Thursday May 26th at 10pm Paris time.



    Check out my events page



    Subscribe to my newsletter to receive special discount codes for the workshops.



    Looking forward to working with you!



    Jessica

    • 1 min
    FV 132 : (Part 1) The “vin de pomme” from Pays Basque

    FV 132 : (Part 1) The “vin de pomme” from Pays Basque

    Buy Full Notes

    This 2-part interview with Manolo will take you to the heart of the French Basque country (Pays Basque), its heritage and its tradition of making “vin de pomme” (also known as “sagardo”, or “sagarno”), which is not the same as the apple cider from Normandy.

    The start of the conversation will help you locate the Pays Basque and understand its strong sense of identity. People still wear the beret, speak basque (which is a language in itself, not related to French), play local traditional instruments that the rest of France probably never heard of. Listen to find out how talking about music naturally led us to talking about apples (yes, there’s a link!). By the way, do you know where apples originally come from? What’s the difference between “vin de pomme” and “cidre”? In other words, what’s the difference with how the Basque and the Norman people process their apples? The answers are in this episode.

    We’ll talk about the fermentation process of course. We’ll also see why the properties of the sagardo / vin de pomme made it the daily drink on board the ships in the old times.

    As you may have understood by now, this interview is all about culture, traditions, heritage, history, about understanding how trade, routes and human exchanges played a central role in the diversity of it all. Last but not least this interview is Manolo sharing his passion with you. We hope you enjoy it.

    Vocab List

    alambic (nm) = still [alcohol production]baleine franche (nf) = right whalebarrique (nf) = barrel, caskbroyer = to grind, crushclocher (nm) = bell towercontrée (nf) = region, landcouvre-chef (nm) = hat, headgearcroupir = to stagnate [water], to rotfoulage (nm) = pressing, treading, crushingfouler (vt) = to tread, trample, pressfût (nm) = cask, barrel, keghistoire/querelle de clocher = community/parish rivalry ; storm in a teacupmorue (nf) = cod, codfishmûrir = to ripenprendre une pâtée (fam) = to take a thrashingtaquiner = to tease

    Links and Resources



    Page Facebook : Bidasoako Sargadozaleen Kofradia

    French Voices episode 52 : "Champagne Producing with Tristan Hyest"

    • 53 min
    FV 131: Wonder Betty, the life of an inspiring woman (Part 2)

    FV 131: Wonder Betty, the life of an inspiring woman (Part 2)

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    Betty Levanqué really is an incredible woman, I would even call her a wonder woman. I’m truly in awe at everything she’s done so far in her life, her stamina, her strength; she’s an inspiration to work hard, be present for your family, love people, give back to others when you can. Betty studied hard, even while becoming the other of a very premature baby with a disability and later on resuming her studies and taking up three courses in three different universities the same year at age... 40. She founded an association to help orphans in Vietnam (where her background is), the food bank of New Caledonia where she lives (banque alimentaire de Nouvelle-Calédonie), owns a real estate agency (Le Café Immobilier) as well as a popular café in Nouméa (Boops Café), and is the president of the APESA, an association supporting business managers burning out and at risk of committing suicide.



    The least we can say is that Betty is profoundly humane and committed to making a difference in people’s lives. This is a long, inspiring, feel good interview.

    Vocab List

    avoir les pieds sur terre = to be grounded

    bénévolement (adv) = voluntarily

    claquettes (nf plur) = flip flops, slide sandals

    cursus (nm) = course, curriculum

    gaspillage alimentaire (nm) = food waste

    invendu (nm) = unsold article

    natte (nf) = mat

    néon (nm) = neon light, fluorescent light

    orphelinat (nm) = orphanage

    remettre (qn) sur les rails = to put (sb) back on track / on the right path

    Links



    Le Café Immobilier (Facebook)

    La Banque Alimentaire de Nouvelle-Calédonie

    Boops Café (Facebook)

    Apesa NC

    Follow my Dream

    French Voices, episode 126: (Part 1) Representing Belgium abroad: the work of a consul

    French Voices, episode 127: (Part 2) Representing Belgium abroad: the work of a consul

    • 31 min
    FV 130: Wonder Betty, the life of an inspiring woman (Part 1)

    FV 130: Wonder Betty, the life of an inspiring woman (Part 1)

    Buy Full Notes



    Betty Levanqué really is an incredible woman, I would even call her a wonder woman. I’m truly in awe at everything she’s done so far in her life, her stamina, her strength; she’s an inspiration to work hard, be present for your family, love people, give back to others when you can. Betty studied hard, even while becoming the other of a very premature baby with a disability and later on resuming her studies and taking up three courses in three different universities the same year at age... 40. She founded an association to help orphans in Vietnam (where her background is), the food bank of New Caledonia where she lives (banque alimentaire de Nouvelle-Calédonie), owns a real estate agency (Le Café Immobilier) as well as a popular café in Nouméa (Boops Café), and is the president of the APESA, an association supporting business managers burning out and at risk of committing suicide.



    The least we can say is that Betty is profoundly humane and committed to making a difference in people’s lives. This is a long, inspiring, feel good interview.



    In this episode we’ll start with Betty’s Vietnamese background - this is essential to understand the values of merit, work and endurance that are ever present in her life story. Betty’s name and identity changed when she was 6 years old. Learn interesting facts about Vietnamese names.

    Vocab List

    au chevet (de qn) = at [sb]'s bedside

    avoir plusieurs cordes à son arc / avoir plus d'une corde à son arc = to have more than one string to one's bow

    dépayser (qn) = be a break of [sb]'s routine, be a change of scenery

    doudoune (nf) = down / winter / puffa jacket

    guichetier, ière (n) = ticket salesperson

    hypokhâgne (nf) = intensive foundation degree in literature

    khâgne (nf) = literature foundation course

    métissé,e (adj) = mix-race

    parler à bâtons rompus = to talk about this and that, to jump from one topic to another

    patronyme (nm) = surname, family name

    prépa / classe préparatoire (nf) = preparatory class

    sauter / passer du coq à l'âne = to jump from one subject to another

    trame (nf) = outline

    Links



    Le Café Immobilier (Facebook)

    La Banque Alimentaire de Nouvelle-Calédonie

    Boops Café (Facebook)

    Apesa NC

    Follow my Dream

    • 32 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
32 Ratings

32 Ratings

Brentor66 ,

French podcast.

This is so good...... it's like a breath of fresh air compared to other learning programmes

Stephan OB1 ,

French Voices

Jessica is the best teacher of French ever! Totally rocks, smart , funny , knows her subject. Jessica is a dedicated genuine gifted people person and a native french speaker. Highly recommended podcast along with her other podcast, French your way. Subscribe enjoy, learn and laugh! Stephen OB .
(Long term listener. )

ReneeSGR ,

Best podcast for improving French listening

I have listened to a lot of French podcasts and this is by far my favorite and most useful for improving my French listening. Subjects are interesting, Jessica the podcast host is so likeable, and it is very hard to find native conversations to listen to so this fills what was a big gap in my learning toolkit.

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