Cultivate your French : Slow French, at the right pace.

I don't know about you, but I don't write letters any more, at least not handwritten ones, because you could say that some emails are letters. So I was delighted to discover the café Pli in Paris, a letter café. My friend Lorena and I went there a few days ago. The café is located in an area of Paris that I know well, not far from the Place de la République. The formula is simple: you order a drink and they give you an envelope, a card and some paper to write a letter that will be sent in one, five or twenty years' time. Once your letter is ready, you place it in the rack that corresponds to the date it will be sent. The wall of racks is impressive, full of letters. What was it like for Lorena and me? That's what we tell you in this episode, recorded as we left the Café Pli. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll be looking at the words ‘ambiance’ and ‘moment’ to see how we like to describe them in French. There will also, of course, be a conjugation strategy around a particularly useful verb, because just because a verb is useful doesn't mean it's useful to know all its tenses. You need a strategy. So if you want to cultivate your French in a letter or with a strategy, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchWriting #LetterWritingFrench #FrenchCafe #ParisCafeLife #FrenchLanguageLearning #ParisHiddenGems #FrenchConversation #FrenchCulture #LearnFrenchPodcast #AuthenticFrench

Last week we had lunch with Pauline at Coda. As we live in the same neighbourhood, she offered me a lift in her new car. And this car isn't just any car, it's the new favourite of the French: the electric R5. The R5 is an old model brought up to date, an iconic car from the 80s. We recorded our journey through Paris. Pauline really enjoys driving around town in her new R5. But what about the power? I become a motoring journalist in this episode. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we're going to highlight the typical turns of speech in our conversation. We'll also look at the best strategy for learning the conjugation of two verbs used in this episode and very common in French. What is an optimal strategy? Well, the minimum amount of learning for the maximum amount of use in real life. So, to cultivate your French in the optimum way, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe to transcpript at www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchPodcast #LearnFrench #ElectricCar #RenaultR5 #ParisLife #FrenchConversation #CarVocabulary #ModernFrench #DailyFrench #FrenchListening

Cette semaine, nous allons à nouveau au restaurant, mais cette fois avec mon amie Pauline. Après le bouillon, c’est le bistrot qui nous attend. Le bistrot parisien a beaucoup évolué depuis les années 2000, du restaurant de quartier un peu désuet aux nappes à carreaux rouges, on est passé à un restaurant de quartier, toutjours, mais tenu par des jeunes chefs avides de créativité, d’amitié, de vins naturels et de produits locaux. C’est ce qu’on appelle « la bistronomie » qui est un mot valise composé de « bistrot » et « gastronomie ». Dans cet épisode, Pauline va nous raconter son déjeuner : ce qu’elle a mangé, mais aussi ce qui lui a plu dans ce restaurant. Dans les notes qui accompagnent le transcript, vous trouverez des notes culturelles sur ce type de restaurant, des photos de nos plats, et nous allons nous pencher sur les mots et les trournures de prhases que Pauline emploie pour partager avec nous son expérience. This week we're going to the restaurant again, but this time with my friend Pauline. After the bouillon, it's the bistrot that awaits us. The Parisian bistrot has come a long way since the 2000s, going from being a slightly old-fashioned neighbourhood restaurant with red-checked tablecloths to being a neighbourhood restaurant, run by young chefs eager for creativity, friendship, natural wines and local produce. This is what's known as ‘ bistronomie ’, a word made up of ‘ bistrot ’ and ‘ gastronomie ’. In this episode, Pauline tells us about her lunch: what she ate, but also what she liked about the restaurant. In the notes accompanying the transcript, you'll find cultural notes on this type of restaurant, photos, and we'll be looking at the words and phrases Pauline uses to share her experience with us. www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchPodcast #FrenchCuisine #BistronomyParis #LearnFrenchVocabulary #FrenchFoodCulture #ParisRestaurants #FrenchListeningPractice #AuthenticFrench #FrenchGastronomy #FrenchConversation

Last week, I saw my friend Caroline. We'd booked tickets to see a play at the Théâtre des Abbesses in Montmartre. We'd arranged to meet at the Place de Clichy. As we had time for a little dinner, Caroline suggested the Bouillon Pigalle, a typically Parisian and inexpensive restaurant. That's the dinner I'm telling you about in this episode. In the accompanying notes, we'll take a look at the history of bouillons, as well as the typical restaurant vocabulary developed in this episode. Then you'll be ready to order! So if you want to cultivate your French “bouillonnant”, the Slow Way, I invite you to subscribe. www.cultivateyourfrench.com

Join me in today's episode as I share how my daughter Felicia's school presentation on nuclear energy unexpectedly connected with the morning news! Discover how this mirrors information from Felicia's research on nuclear energy production costs compared to other energy sources. I'll also share some thoughts on France's historical dependency on nuclear energy Perfect for learners looking to improve their listening skills with authentic French content! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchPodcast #LearnFrenchOnline #DailyFrenchListener #FrenchComprehension #NuclearEnergy #EnvironmentalFrench #FrenchListening #EasyFrenchPractice #ParisianLife #FrenchWithTranscript #SlowFrench

In this episode of "Cultivate Your French," I share a family anecdote about the famous "Le Jeu des Mille Euros" radio game and our discovery of France's tallest skyscraper. This episode follows the "right pace" method with both slow and normal versions of the same content in sequence - designed to build your listening comprehension progressively. First, you'll hear the story at a gentle pace to understand vocabulary and structure, then at natural speed to develop real-world listening skills. Subscribers receive the complete transcript, vocabulary notes, and cultural insights to fully support your French learning journey! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #SlowFrench #FrenchComprehension #LearnFrenchMethodically #FrenchListeningPractice #TwoSpeedFrench #FrenchProgressionMethod #FrenchPodcastWithTranscript #RightPaceFrench #FrenchRadioShow #AuthenticFrenchLearning

In today's episode of "Cultivate Your French," Lisa and I take you on a delicious French pastry tasting adventure! We compare strawberry tarts and other desserts from several renowned pastry shops in our neighborhood, including the famous Lola tart from Arnaud Larher and creations from award-winning pastry chef Stéphane Glacier. Join us for this unscripted conversation as we discuss textures, flavours, and what makes the perfect French pastry. Perfect for French learners who want to improve their listening skills with authentic conversation about French culinary culture. Subscribe for the full transcript and cultural notes! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchTasteTest #FrenchPastryTour #LearnFrenchWithFood #FrenchStrawberryTart #ParisianPastries #DailyFrenchPractice #AuthenticFrenchConversation #FrenchListeningPractice #FrenchCulturalImmersion #FrenchFoodVocabulary

Join me and my daughter Lisa on our search for the perfect strawberry tart! We explore Asnières, a town near Paris, visiting a comic book store and a famous pastry shop. Discover the town hall where I got married years ago, and follow our quest for seasonal treats as spring begins. This mother-daughter conversation provides natural French vocabulary about books, pastries, and seasonal specialties - perfect for improving your listening skills! www.cultivateyourfrench.com #LearnFrenchBaking #FrenchPastry #FrenchListeningPractice #ParisianBakeries #StrawberryTart #FrenchDesserts #EverydayFrench #AuthenticFrench #FrenchFoodVocabulary #FrenchCulture

Last Saturday, on a warm and sunny afternoon, I met Emilie from the Instagram account @shotdecafeine. It was Micaela who introduced me to her account, because Emilie has a rather creative way of running in Paris. You'll find out how in this episode. We've reached the point in the conversation where Emilie tells me that she had the idea of running along the metro lines after running with a colleague from La Défense, where they work, to his home near the Château de Vincennes for an aperitif and cheese. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll be looking at the patisseries that Emilie has mentioned thanks to her journeys. I'll tell you what's special about these pastries and whether they've already been mentioned in the podcast. You're in for a real treat. So if you'd like to cultivate your French in the Slow way and in a creative way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com #FrenchRunning #ParisRunning #FrenchPastries #LearnFrench #FrenchPodcast #RunningInParis #MarathonDeParis #FrenchVocabulary #FrenchListening #PracticalFrench

In this episode, I take you on a journey to Argenteuil, a suburb of Paris made famous by Impressionist painters like Claude Monet. Join me as I travel on bus 164 to a kung-fu competition, while discovering the charming neighborhoods where Monet lived and painted for five years. I share my observations of the Seine river, the historic Argenteuil bridge that appears in many famous paintings, and my plans to visit Monet's house with its recreated boat-studio. This episode also offers practical French vocabulary about transportation and movement with a focus on the versatile verb "passer" and the pronoun "y". Perfect for intermediate French learners who want to improve their comprehension while discovering French art history and daily life outside Paris. www.cultivateyourfrench.co #LearnFrenchWithPodcast #ImpressionistArtists #ClaudeMonet #Argenteuil #FrenchCulture #FrenchListening #ParisSuburbs #FrenchJourney #PracticalFrench #DailyFrenchLife

Do two and two make five? Yes, sometimes on certain artificial intelligence platforms. So can we say that AIs are stupid? I had a conversation with Olivier, a computer scientist friend who has been passionately following developments in AI for his work for many years. He's going to give us his answer from a professional's point of view. This will be an opportunity to discover the vocabulary of AI in French. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll focus on Olivier's way of speaking. Olivier is a professional who is used to explaining complicated things, adding nuance or asserting facts. How does he do this in French? We're going to take a look at the subtleties of his speech. And then, perhaps you'll share with us your uses of artificial intelligence? So, to cultivate your French, subtly and the Slow Way, with or without AI, I invite you to subscribe. www.cultivateyourfrench.com #ArtificialIntelligence #FrenchTech #LearnFrench #FrenchPodcast #AIExplained #FrenchConversation #ChatGPT #TechVocabulary #FrenchListening #FrenchTechnology

In the notes that accompany the transcript, you'll find the 2020 notes: a list of vocabulary to read before listening to the episode, so that you understand it better the first time, cultural references and three useful expressions to remember, with examples of how to apply them. So if you want to cultivate your French, the slow way version 2020, I invite you to subscribe to cultivateyourfrench.com

We had Lisa's Italian exchange student with us for a week. She left yesterday and in 10 days' time it will be Lisa's turn to go to Italy. Lisa's Italian friend did a lot of visiting with her class, but at the weekend she was with us, so we prepared a programme for her: the department stores, a view of Paris from the terrace of Galeries Lafayettes, a play in a small theatre near the Moulin Rouge, dinner at a crêperie and a trip to the Eiffel Tower in the evening. In the morning, we'd also done a bit of shopping in our neighbourhood. It was Saturday 8 March and we stopped to have a look at the window of the bookshop, which had women's rights as its theme. In the notes that accompany the transcript, you'll find some cultural notes and we'll look at three useful expressions in French with examples. I often choose expressions that may seem simple, but are in fact typical of natural French. So, to cultivate your French, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript, a very useful tool in lots of good ways. www.onethinginafrenchday.com

Every winter vacation, we take the girls away for a few days. The destination is kept secret until the last minute. This year, it was Mont Saint-Michel. Micaela found our destination when I gave the following clue: it's a controversial place. Indeed, we like to play around in France with the geographical location of Mont Saint-Michel. The Bretons like to say that it's in Brittany, whereas it's in Normandy, because the bay of Mont Saint-Michel lies between the two regions. When you arrive by car, you have to walk three-quarters of an hour to get to the Mont via a footbridge. It's a lovely walk. Then you have to climb a lot of steps to reach the abbey, where we had booked a visit. In the notes accompanying the transcript, we'll take a look at the pronunciation of the difficult words in this episode. There will also be three natural French expressions with examples and, of course, photos of our visit! To cultivate your French, and take the bridge with us, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe! www.cultivateyourfrench.com

This week, I invite you to discover or rediscover an episode recorded in February 2020. It was after a period of strikes in the Paris transport system and a month before the start of the lockdown. Lisa was ten at the time. We were both taking Bollywood dance classes on Saturday mornings. In the notes accompanying the transcript, you'll find cultural explanations, but also three expressions that are natural in French, with examples of how they're used. So, to improve your French, the slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

So last week we went to the Opéra Garnier to see Castor et Pollux, a lyrical tragedy by Jean-Philippe Rameau, directed by Peter Sellars. I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy the show. But what did it turn out to be? That's what I tell you in this episode. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we're going to make a list of practical phrases for giving your opinion of a show, rather enthusiastically, and discover a range of formulations that may be useful to you in other circumstances too. Of course, there will also be photos of this unforgettable evening! So you'll discover, as I did, that the Opera is a place where you like to take your time, the Slow Way. I invite you to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com

A few months ago, Pietro and I were offered a ‘box’, a gift box, to go to the Opera. We chose to go and see Jean-Philippe Rameau's lyrical tragedy Castor et Pollux, directed by Peter Sellars. The orchestra is the Utopia Ensemble, led by the Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis. Before going to this exceptional evening, tomorrow Thursday 13 February, I did some research on the composer, but I also read some reviews of this new staging. I don't know if it was a good idea. By the way, when I say ‘the opera’, do I mean ‘the Opéra Garnier’ in central Paris, built by Charles Garnier in the 19th century, or ‘the Opéra Bastille’, inaugurated a hundred years later? You'll find out in this episode. The transcript is a very practical and effective tool for improving your understanding. It has a number of advantages, which I describe in detail on www.cultivateyourfrench.comThat's where you can subscribe to receive it and cultivate your French, the Slow Way. This week, in the notes accompanying the transcript, you'll find a list of very natural expressions from this text and we'll be focusing on two words in particular with examples of their natural use in French.

Lisa had a French assignment due on Sunday evening. She had to choose a poem from Book IV of Victor Hugo's Contemplations and then send in a ten-minute audio file in which she presented the poem, explained her choice, read the poem and finally suggested a parallel with a painting. All the poems in the collection deal with the same subject: the disappearance of Victor Hugo's daughter, Léopoldine, and how sad this death made him. The poem Lisa chose was entitled ‘A quoi songeaient les deux cavaliers dans la forêt’ (‘What were the two horsemen thinking about in the forest’). It was Sunday afternoon and I wanted to take a nap after my Nordic walking session, but Lisa wanted to read me her assignment before recording it. She was annoyed because she hadn't found a painting, but a piece of music to go with it. In the notes accompanying the transcript, we're going to look at liaisons in French. When do we do them? When don't we? And so on. Liaisons are particularly important in poetry, because they sometimes make it possible to obtain the required number of feet, for example to form an alexandrine. But what about in everyday life? We'll be comparing the liaisons in today's text and in Victor Hugo's poem. So to improve your French liaisons, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com

Last week, I visited the offices of the newspaper Le Monde. I had an appointment with Nabil Wakim, the journalist who runs the podcast Chaleur humaine. It's a podcast that takes an expert but relaxed look at the various issues surrounding climate change, with expert guests. Each episode takes the form of a question. For example, the last episode was entitled ‘How can we save the Mediterranean Sea? I met Nabil Wakim at the Human Heat Ideas festival last December. I was there with my daughter Micaela, who is particularly interested in the subject of climate change. We had a chance to talk to him and he agreed to be interviewed. So we met last week. I chose a passage in which he talks about the French approach to climate change. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll look at the way Nabil Wakim constructs his answer to make it clear: he makes oppositions, he uses adjectives of different intensities, and so on. So, to cultivate your French, the Slow way, I invite you to subscribe. www.cultivateyourfrench.com

I hadn't really followed the story. Of course, I knew that transport fares were going to change in the Ile-de-France, that the price of a ticket outside Paris was going to be a single rate of 2.50 euros. I imagined some sort of magic ticket that would allow me to go further than Bécon if I suddenly changed my plans. Then, one day when we were coming back from Nordic walking, Thierry mentioned the Navigo Liberté. The Navigo is a pass, with a photo, that allows you to travel throughout the Ile-de-France region for a single monthly or weekly rate. It's a season ticket. Until now, I didn't move around enough to take it. But we're going to talk about this in this episode. In the notes that accompany the transcript, we'll look together at three expressions or turns of phrase that are natural in French. We'll also notice which tense I use and how I compose my sentence when I give Pietro some advice in this episode. So, to improve your French and learn how to give advice, I invite you (‘advice from a friend’) to subscribe to the transcript. www.cultivateyourfrench.com