French Blabla

Bonjour à tous, thank you for taking a few minutes out of your very busy life to listen to my story today. Before we start I’d like to thank Checkmate king two for his very kind review on apple podcast. He was a bit puzzled with the format of the podcast and I can understand. So if you’re new here, welcome to the French Blabla community and welcome to you too Checkmate King two.  In today’s episode, we will see all the words we need to talk about the puppet theatre. As for the grammar focus, we will, review a few of the time words. If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide.   In this episode Discover a French cultural nugget Learn the vocabulary of the puppet theatre Review time words A challenge for you to shine   Music by Podington Bear

Coucou à tous ! Bienvenue pour le dernier épisode d’un petit tour de France. Avec la fin du mois d’août arrive aussi la fin de notre capsule estivale. Today is our last episode and the 5th city we’re going to visit. If you’ve just jumped on the bandwagon, better later than never or in French, mieux vaut tard que jamais, you’re very welcome to participate. Let me introduce you to how this series works. In the 4 previous episodes, we traveled to 4 different French cities and no, sorry to disappoint but Paris isn’t one of them. The game is to guess which town it was using all the clues from the episodes. Now that they’ve all been released, send me an email with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. As always, you can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.

Bonjour à tous, thanks for tuning in today, I hope you’re ready for a new episode. Last year, yes, a long time ago, I started a small series called “Don’t say this, say that instead”. The goal here was to expand your vocabulary with natural words as well as explaining to you the subtleties of all the possibilities you had. It was pretty popular, at least the statistics and the emails you sent me say so. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, go check episode 36 to learn a weird French sound and episode 33 to stop saying yes all the time. In the light of all this, I’ve decided to do a third instalment… there might be a fourth one too, but let’s not put the cart before the horse. As the title suggests, we’re going to learn what to say when somebody says “merci” to you. Because yes, there are numerous ways you can answer. Let’s start, shall we?

Coucou à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last week, you discovered the third city and today, we’ll visit the fourth one. If you’re new here, first welcome and let me introduce you to how this series works. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. This is our third city now, could you guess the two first ones? I’m really curious. As always, you can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.

Coucou à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last week, you discovered the second city and today, we’ll visit the third one. If you’re new here, first welcome and let me introduce you to how this series works. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. This is our third city now, could you guess the two first ones? I’m really curious. As always, you can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.

Bonjour à tous et bienvenue pour un nouvel épisode.  In the last episode, I said that I wasn’t very enthusiastic about the Olympic Games. It still stands true but without them I wouldn’t have discovered this gem. I never knew something like that existed and I had to tell you about it. After this episode, please tell me in the comment section if you knew about this sport. Today there won’t be any grammar focus as the episode is beaming with vocabulary. If you’d like to learn more about your car and what the different parts are called, then stay tuned. We won’t obviously go into deep mecanic vocabulary but if I tell you the word steering wheel and you look at me completely confused, then yes, this is the kind of useful words we will study together. How about the brake? What is it called in French? No clue? Ok! Stay with me. As usual, everything can be found in the study guide, the transcription, the vocabulary and the writing challenge. Go download it on frenchblabla.org     Music by Podington Bear

Coucou à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last week, you discovered the first city and today, we’ll visit the second one. If you’re new here, first welcome and let me introduce you to how this series works. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. You can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org.

Today, we’re going to talk about a topic that I’m not really enthusiastic about. Then, you’re gonna wonder why do I bother doing a whole episode about it? Simply because it’s a big thing going on and it’s a classic part of the French life in summer. It will be also be a good excuse for new and interesting vocabulary. Speak of the devil or rather of the wolf, as we say in French, we will see the words and phrases related to the Olympic games as well as some connected to le Tour de France. As for the grammar focus, it will be for the B levels today. We will, indeed, review the words to contrast. In French, we call them les marqueurs de concession. Check them out in your grammar book if you’re not sure about them. If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide.   Music by Podington Bear

Bonjour à tous et bienvenue dans notre série spéciale de l’été “un petit tour de France”. Last year, if you remember, I shared with you a special series called La Saga de l’Ete, which was a short summer story about a bench in the south of France and the unfortunate event that happens to him and his friends. I say him because he’s the main character and he talks. Go listen to it if you haven’t. The transcription is also available for every part of the series. This summer, we’re not gonna do another short story, we’re going to play a game together where we will travel to several French cities. But I’m not going to tell you which town it is. You will need to guess using all the clues from the episode. We will visit 5 places. After all the episodes have been released, send me a message with your 5 guesses and see if you were correct. You can, of course, download the transcription of today’s episode on frenchblabla.org. And you know what? There’s even a little grammar focus, so if you want to review the use of the

Coucou à tous ! Merci d’être là aujourd’hui avec moi pour un nouvel épisode. J’espère que vous allez bien et que vous profitez de l’été. This episode, once more, is a request. from you guys, Tony and Sneha. I’m sure I’ve butchered your name, sorry. They wanted me to review how to use the words tout, tous, toutes… the word meaning all and especially its pronunciation because it can be tricky. After this episode, you’ll see that there’s nothing that difficult, it’s just puzzling sometimes, that’s all.   In this Episode When to pronounce and when not to pronounce this damn last letter in a word The mistake almost every learner makes when they say "monde" Tout, tous... when to pronounce the S and when you don't

This episode is a request from a dear listener, her name is Samin. She contacted me on Instagram and told me about the difficulties she has when she wants to compliment in French. We’re going to study different phrases so that you’ll be able to say something more than “c’est beau”. You'll know several phrases to compliment and to show admiration. Don't forget to download the infographic that sums up all the things you'll learn today. Head over to frenchblabla.org   In this episode Compliment like a native Several techniques to add emotions to your speech Review the repetition

All the great news regarding the French Blabla community   Music by Podington Bear - Wavy Glass

This episode is a confession, I think I should feel a smidgen of shame by revealing the kind of litterature I read on the beach but what wouldn’t I do for the French language. If you have a little guilty pleasure like me, you’re very welcome to share in the comment section, so that I feel a little bit less lonely. The grammar focus today is for A levels but please, B levels, I suggest you review it too if you don’t master the demonstrative pronouns. Check them out in your grammar book to know what I’m talking about. As for the vocabulary, we’re going to study or review a lot of phrases and words about books and litterature. If you’re interested in the transcription, all the vocab and the grammar focus, you know where to go, I say it every time. Head over to frenchblabla.org to download the study guide. Ok, time for the story guys, c’est parti !   In this episode The shameful books I read during the summer Review the demonstrative pronouns A challenge for you to shine   Music by Podington Bear

Today, our episode is inspired by my partner. I said it many times already but he’s not French. Despite that I tend to forget that he’s a foreigner and I make zero effort to adapt my French to his level. Sorry. I want to point out though that his level is really good so I’m not being cruel here. He understands pretty much everything that I say but there are occasional conversational phrases that he doesn’t get. I thought it would be good to talk about this so that you don’t end up completely confused like my partner if you happen to hear such a phrase. There are several phrases that we use regularly that actually mean the opposite of what they’re supposed to mean at first glance.   In this Episode Three conversational phrases untangled A personal story An infographic to download  

As you could see from the title, we’ll talk about something light. It will be surprising for you maybe but it was my first time going to a circus show. It was a good experience but don’t imagine I went to a kind of Cirque du soleil performance. Anyway, with the pandemic, I don’t think that they have shows going on. This episode is full to the brim with words and phrases regarding the circus. I know it’s not really your typical vocabulary you would learn in a lesson or in a french news podcast, but maybe you’ll be interested in going to a show in the future. When you do, I hope you’ll think about me. There’s no grammar focus today but there’s a little nugget for B levels. I created a tricky sentence with several compound relative pronouns. Google it if you have no clue what i’m talking about but I have to tell you, you’re going to sweat when you see what it is.   In this Episode Learn the vocab you need to talk about the circus My first time at the circus A challenge for you to shine   Music by Wonder Ha

I’ve been sick and it’s still going on this week. I’ve spent a lot of days in bed, in the dark because I suffer from migraine every month. I thought I would talk about this today and I will use this excuse to infuse this episode with phrases and words you will need if you ever get sick in France and need to see a doctor or if you go to the pharmacy. In episode 6 of "A day in French", we covered several useful phrases to explain your symptoms, go listen to it if you need a refresher. As for the grammar focus, today will be for B levels as we will review how to express goals with and without the subjunctive. If you’d like the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus, head over to French Blabla.org to download it.   In this Episode Learn the vocab you need to talk at the pharmacy My story with episodic migraine A challenge for you to shine   Music by Wonder Happens by Podington Bear – Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License

I hope you’re fine because I was not happy for sure when the week started. I happened to find leaky pipes in my home. I wasn’t planning on talking about this today but I couldn’t let this occasion pass. I don’t know if you remember but it’s not the first time I’m not happy with something. In episode 16, I got angry at a sales rep. Go listen to it if you want to know the full story, and in today’s episode I get very displeased again. To make it short, if you happen to rent a place in France and you face a leakage, then after this episode you’ll know what to say, because that’s what happened to me this week. No grammar focus this time as there’s a lot of very specific vocabulary for you to learn that will allow you to explain in detail if you ever need to call a plumber or your rental agency. Everything can be found in the study guide I have created.   In this Episode Learn the vocab you need to call a plumber My story of an unfortunate event involving pipes A challenge for you to shine   Music : Wonder H

I hope you enjoyed last week’s episode. If you have missed it, I suggest you go listen to it as in today’s "A day in French" we will use what we have learnt. Last week, we did the theory and today we’ll practice. I will tell you about my dreams and things I wish I could do. The grammar focus is for everybody, that’s quite unusual, since we will review the verb “manquer” and there will also be some B level grammar with a review of the hypothesis. Everything can be found in the study guide I have created. Go to frenchblabla.org to download the transcription, the vocabulary and the grammar focus. Don't forget to download it. Stay tuned!   In this Episode Practice your verb "manquer" Review the hypothesis and how to talk about dreams A challenge for you to shine   Music by Podington Bear

With the pandemic still going strong, I’m sure that most of us are longing for better days and we may feel a bit nostalgic. I’ve been thinking all week about the things I’d like to do. I, then, asked you on Instagram what you were nostalgic about and today’s topic hit me. Today is going to be short and sweet as we will talk about how to express “I miss you” in French. I know that the way we build this phrase is very confusing as everything is inverted so we’re going to untangle all of this in the episode. Obviously, you know me, we won’t just cover the “I miss you” part, we will do an overview of this verb as well as some natural keyphrases you need to add in your speaking repertoire.   In this Episode Simple rules to understand how to use the verb "manquer" Express nostalgia for people and for activities A challenge for you to shine

This episode is for you, my intermediate level listeners. There will be a lot of structure and syntax twisting and a basic command of the French grammar is needed. Hold on tight and stay focused because it won’t be a walk in the park. However as the saying goes “no pain no gain” right? The reward is big, it’s going to change completely the way you ask questions.   In this Episode Difference between the questions you've learnt and questions today How to create questions the natural way A challenge for you to shine