Patrice and Sophie reminisce about their summer vacation. They both feel refreshed and are very pleased.

Simon and his mother are making pain perdu (literally "lost bread") or French toast. Listen to their conversation as they putter around the kitchen. In the process, you will learn a wealth of kitchen-related vocabulary.

Sophie bought a bicyle that she's hoping to ride when the weather allows. Patrice discusses bike gear that could make riding in the cold and the rain more comfortable.

With Christmas around the corner, Patrice and Sophie discuss the pros and cons of live Christmas trees versus artificial ones. Patrice makes a crazy suggestion. Be sure to watch to the very end!

Patrice and Sophie are in the Belleville-Jourdain neighborhood around the nineteenth arrondissement. This quiet neighborhood is benefitting from the city officials' committment to bring back pedestrians areas to the city.

Professor Joseph Melone explains to us how countries got their name. He shares some very interesting insights on the origin of the name "France," coming from the word franc.

Listen to people's reaction to Emmanuel Macron's reelection for a second term. Some newspaper headlines show a lack of enthusiasm, yet there is also a sense of relief.

Sophie and Patrice discuss the weather as they shop at the market on a miserable winter day. Sophie detests the cold and the rain whereas Patrice doesn't mind at all!

Sophie and Patrice share their impressions of Paris under a gray sky. They say that the multiple shades of gray make Paris all the more beautiful. Even the old buildings blackened by years of grime add texture and beauty, but they concede that a good clean-up is sometimes necessary.

Patrice and Sophie reminisce about playing ombres chinoises (shadow puppets) when they were little. Patrice makes some interesting observations about Eisenstein's Ivan the Terrible and Coppola's Dracula, two films that incorporate shadow puppetry.

After thirty years as a graphic designer, Denis Lagarde decided to switch gears and work in the "completely crazy world" of artisan cutlery, fulfilling a childhood dream.

Laurent Azriel is a luthier in Vauréal. In this video, he talks about his craft, how he became a luthier, and the demands of his job, which he loves!

Manon Saenko works her magic on broken objects that she restores to their former glory. She calls herself the "doctor for objects," as she repairs all kinds of ceramics, ranging from family pieces to archaeological artifacts.

Amal and Caroline admit that they use a lot of swear words (jurons) when they're having a bad day or just dealing with the stress of life in Paris. Amal suggests they take a yoga class to decompress.

Philippe meets up with his old friend Claire, whom he has not seen in a while. Philippe is thinking about becoming a teacher, and Claire, who happens to be one, is able to tell him all about her job.