Learn French by Podcast

In this podcast, Beatrix talks about attending a classical concert and explains the differences between symphonies and concertos. The discussion touches on major and minor compositions, showcasing various classic songs and exploring the emotions they evoke. The episode also delves into the roles and structures of symphonies and concertos, emphasizing the impact of major and minor keys on the emotional tone of the music.

The podcast explores the film 'Dallas Buyers Club', focusing on a Texan cowboy's battle with AIDS and unconventional treatment methods. It discusses vocabulary related to HIV, medication access challenges, and character dynamics. The episode delves into societal issues, financial struggles, and questionable ethical choices made by the protagonist.

If ever the term 'great statesman' were relevant, it could surely be attributed to Nelson Mandela. In our conversation this time, Bertrand puts some questions to Béatrix to discover why, exactly, Mandela became such an icon. Let's listen.

Our conversation this time focuses on working conditions as Qatar develops its infrastructure for the football World Cup in 2022. The tournament is some years away but the controversies surrounding the plight of workers is current, and real. Let’s listen to a conversation between Béatrix and Rémy.

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden discusses his decision to leak classified information on surveillance programs. The podcast explores his motives, actions, government surveillance, and tech company involvement in Moscow. The hosts delve into the implications of Snowden's revelations and analyze the use of language while pondering the consequences of his actions, including potential imprisonment and the death penalty.

Florida was home to a recent winner of the Powerball jackpot of around 400 million dollars. As always, there was a media frenzy. In this lesson, Lucien and Zara discuss lotteries in general. Zara thinks they’re scandalous. Lucien, on the other hand, thinks that Zara needs to lighten up. Let’s listen...

Today, several hundred million people around the world are ‘tweeting’. In this lesson, let’s hear a conversation between Bertrand and Amandine. Bertrand is a regular Twitter user, but Amandine is not. Let’s listen...

This lesson, which we recorded some time ago, focuses on the situation in Mali. In our role-play, Brendan asks Simone to shed some light on the military intervention of France in one of its former colonies. Let's listen. Then we'll come back and discuss some key vocabulary.

One of our listeners, a doctor working in a French-speaking community in New York, suggested that we devote a lesson to a dialogue between a doctor and a patient. That's the subject of this lesson. The patient, Mr Gauthier, has just come into the doctor's clinic, which is where the conversation takes place...

More than a few people seem to suffer from the modern-day 'affliction' of almost constant texting. That's the topic of conversation in this lesson. Alain and Thérèse are out for dinner but they have not yet said a word to each other. Let's listen.