In this lesson, we will hear Bertrand’s thoughts on a book he has just finished reading. But we are going to discover that the book’s title isn’t really true.

‘Les garçons ne pleurent pas’

People were starting to feel invincible. After over two year’s of covid, they were saying to themselves: ‘it’s over – we can get back to normality’. But covid is still circulating. Let’s start with a conversation.

207: J'ai eu le covid.

After nearly two years, we are seeing a gradual return to the workplace. Working from home – travailler de sa maison – has presented both advantages and disadvantages.

206: De retour au bureau - à temps partiel

Some people are early-risers while others are night owls. In this lesson, we discuss an adage which makes the bold claim that people who fall into the first category are at an advantage.

205: Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt!

One of our Beginner listeners asked about the English verb ‘to get’ which made us think about prendre. ‘Get’ is just one of the many meanings of this multipurpose French verb, depending on the context.

204: Prendre - un verbe polyvalent

This lesson centres on an interesting initiative which should see manufacturers pull up their socks when it comes to environmentally-friendly products. Let's start with a conversation!

203: L'indice de réparabilité - un petit pas dans la bonne direction

One of our listeners asked that we would prepare a lesson with some gardening vocabulary and that’s what we did, over WhatsApp! We have lots of interesting vocabulary to learn – let’s start with a conversation.

202: Ça pousse, ton jardin?!

Our conversation this time is about something which has been central to our lives around the world since the beginning of the year. We are speaking, of course, about the coronavirus pandemic. Let's get started with a conversation.

201: La covid-19 - une crise inédite

The subject of this - our 200th lesson! - is the opioids crisis in the U.S. which has reached quite shocking proportions. But how did it come to this? Let’s start with a conversation.

200: La crise des opioïdes

Our conversation this time focuses on people who are referred to as ‘les décroissants’. But who exactly are ‘les décroissants’? To find out, let’s start with a conversation.

199: ‘Les décroissants’, c’est qui?

One of our listeners was taking up a position as a teacher in a pre-school in France and asked if we would put together some expressions and vocabulary that might be used in a dialogue between the teacher and a parent. Let’s consider one such conversation.

198: Je viens chercher mon fils!

Our lesson this time goes back to a joke made by chat-show host Trevor Noah last summer, following the World cup. The only thing is, some people didn’t find his joke funny at all, not least the French ambassador in Washington. So what was it all about, again? Let’s start, as usual, with a conversation to put things in context.

197: Quand l’Afrique a gagné la Coupe du Monde

Our conversation this time focuses on President Macron's plan to reintroduce national service in France. Some people are wondering if he is the right man to decide on such matters, given that he himself is the first French president not to have done military service.

196: Le Président Macron réinstaurera le Service national

The Trump presidency is nearing the mid-term elections in November. Mr Trump – arguably more than any other American president – has polarised opinions. Let’s talk about the first half of his mandate and what has being going on in recent weeks.

195: La présidence Trump approche des élections de mi-mandat

Traditionally, French high school graduates have been guaranteed public university places, regardless of the grades achieved in their baccalauréat. This, however, has resulted in very high drop-out rates. It is hoped that, from 2018, proposed reforms will result in a more efficient means of access to university. Let’s talk about all this. C’est parti!

194: France: la réforme de l'accès à l'université

Britain’s vote to withdraw from the European Union was widely controversial and continues to be so. Brexit – from a French perspective – is at the centre of our conversation this time. 

193: "Que penses-tu du Brexit?"

The transfer of Brazilian footballer, Neymar, smashed all records in terms of the colossal sums of money involved. Are such sporting investments really justified? Let’s talk about that.

192: Le transfer de Neymar : comment expliquer une telle outrance ?

Our lesson this time was inspired by a recent article entitled “Have smartphones destroyed a generation?” A provocative title indeed, but one that got us thinking. C’est parti!

191: “Je vais m’offrir un téléphone basique”

Our lesson this time - for Advanced learners – focuses on the stunning rise to the French presidency of the youthful Emmanuel Macron at just 39 years of age. How, exactly, did he manage to pull off such a victory? Let’s discuss.

190: Le phénomène Macron ... en marche!

A listener wondered if we could do a lesson on the basis of a traffic accident. So that’s what we’ve done : we’ve simulated a discussion on the basis of a minor accident that did actually occur recently at our end. Let’s start with a conversation: then we’ll look closely at the vocabulary.

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