Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
A very unpopular labor law caused Parisians to protest near the Bastille before it was passed in 2015. President François Hollande invoked Article 49-3 of the Constitution to force this law through. The protests continued after the law was successfully enacted in 2016. For more information, you can visit the Nuit Debout and Convergence des Luttes websites.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol visits Aline Putot, a renowned sculptor whose studio is located in the Cour de l'Industrie (Industry Courtyard), a revived artisan district in the eleventh arrondissement of Paris. Her craft requires very old tools, some dating from the nineteenth century, as well as more modern ones. Enjoy her beautiful creations!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Patricia brings to life Baudelaire's famous poem "L'horloge" (The Clock). The poet laments the passage of time and life's inevitable conclusion: death. Aside from the gloomy message, this poem is also an invitation to seize the day and enjoy all that life has to offer, including this poem!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Marion takes us along Paris's Canal Saint Martin, which is part of a waterway network that measures one hundred thirty kilometers long. In their heyday, the Parisian canals were the main means of transportation of goods and materials, and even drinking water! Nowadays, historic buildings, restaurants, and concert halls are the main attractions along the canals.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol stops by the thirteenth arrondissement of Paris and takes us inside Mireille Bailly-Coulange's sculpture studio. You'll see her exquisite art made out of Plexiglas and learn about her fascinating technique. And... don't be alarmed if you hear her dog's loud bark toward the end of the video. He's just sharing his enthusiasm.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lionel shows us around a family farm that spans three generations. This traditional dairy and cattle farm takes good care of its animals, which enjoy a special "cow wash." Nursing cows are allowed a break from milk production prior to calving, and nothing is left to chance as the sex of the newborn calf is predetermined thanks to artificial insemination.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
You'll learn some very useful information about running in this video—from what to wear to how to plan a run according to your own physical abilities. It's all about maintaining a "cardiopulmonary balance" and gradually working up to faster speeds and longer distances without over-exerting yourself. Take a break from your French studies and go for a nice jog!
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Marion walks us through the Buttes Chaumont, a former limestone quarry transformed into a magnificent park, complete with an artificial lake, a grotto, dramatic cliffs, and even a Roman-style temple. On a more tragic note, the park is also home to a bridge that the poet Louis Aragon once called a "mecca for suicides." Luckily, the bridge is now protected by a wire fence.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
How would you like to learn to make your very own ochre paint? Jean-Michel and Stéphane will share their recipe, which is not unlike crêpe batter. While the paint may not be fit for human consumption, it's non-toxic and extremely durable.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lauren continues her tour of Lyon's Croix-Rousse neighborhood, a favorite haunt of artists and students who go there to live, work, and shop. The neighborhood also maintains its heritage as a center for craftsmen.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lauren shows us around the Croix-Rousse neighborhood in Lyon, famous for its traboules, a series of passageways located below the buildings. The neighborhood is a favorite spot for artists and families alike.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Christophe Bertrand, manager of Bellevue Chocolates, shares some of his chocolate-making secrets, from ganaches to mouth-watering pralines.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
René-Marc Cohen, a very fine artisan, will show us how to upholster a squat armchair, "un fauteuil crapaud" (literally a "toad armchair").
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lionel, the stand-up comedian, punster extraordinaire, surpasses himself with his long string of puns. Catch them if you can! The long-suffering husband of Éléonore, he is not shy about making her the butt of all his jokes.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Get a look behind the scenes at the Foire du Trône, an annual fair held in the lovely Bois de Vincennes on Paris's eastern side. It's not just fun and games that go into making this festival an amusement hotspot.
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