Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In this episode, Pierre Esparre, a fine mosaic artist, explains how he discovered his talent and how he gets his inspiration from everyday life, whether it's a street scene, a YouTube video, or an Internet page. Watch this video to see how Pierre translates his ideas into quirky, humorous, and eye-catching creations.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Daniel Benchimol takes us to the quiet village of Carrières-sur-Seine, a mere twenty kilometers from Paris. He points out a fun bench called Le banc des menteurs (The Liars' Bench), where one can sit and presumably tell lies until closing time at 7 p.m. Then the liars can take cover in one of the nearby cave dwellings carved straight out of the cliffs.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
"S.O.S." is the third single by French R&B singer-songwriter Indila from her album Mini World. The music video was shot in Greece and the song was released in 2014. Indila's sweet, melancholy voice seems perfect for this song, a cry for help from within her "kingdom of pain."
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Laurent literally takes sand castles to new heights with his giant sand sculptures, and he's sharing his love of beach art with the next generation. In this video, Laurent teaches a group of kids how to build a giant turtle out of sand.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In this fourth and final episode on the medieval town of Provins, Daniel Benchimol takes us inside the Tour César (Caesar Tower). From this tower, you'll have an amazing view of the whole city and its surroundings. You can also climb up the tower and discover its three-ton bell.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In this third episode on the medieval town of Provins, Daniel Benchimol shows us a monument coming from Brazil, an old synagogue, and a beautiful church where Joan of Arc attended mass with King Charles the Seventh. He also gives us a glimpse into Provins real estate, with a beautiful house that has been estimated at a modest price of six million dollars!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Kendji Girac, a winner of the French version of The Voice, sings about his "beautiful Andalusian girl" in this video that will definitely make you want to get up and dance. You'll even learn a few Spanish words along with your French!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Our trusty guide Daniel Benchimol takes us to the outskirts of Paris to the medieval city of Provins. There you can admire its ramparts that are still intact in places, enjoy its equestrian shows, and follow the historic road to Paris on your way back.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In "Les Voyages en train" (Train Rides), the French slam poet Grand Corps Malade creates an extended metaphor comparing love stories to train rides. Just as a successful train ride involves arriving at the station on time and catching the right train, a good love story involves finding the right person at the right moment in one's life. See if you can find some other similarities between the two in this gorgeous video.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
If you're a comic book lover, you might want to hop on a plane to Lyon, which has held a huge comic book festival for the past ten years. This year, they're even launching a monthly comics magazine called "The Streets of Lyon."
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Maître Gims's song "Changer" (To Change) is a promise to change and rescue his crumbling relationship. Too busy building his empire, he neglects his family and wants to become a better person, but is it too late to make amends? Maître Gims's choice of decor, the atmospheric ambiance of a grandiose castle—empty but for him, a guard dog, and the ghostly figure of a woman in the background—only adds to the feeling of mystery and heartache.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
R&B singer Indila sings "Tourner dans le vide" (Spiraling into Emptiness) from her album Mini World. In the song, she describes how her lover's absence has caused her to fall into a state of vertiginous sorrow and suggests that societal prejudices may also be playing a role.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In the Marais district, Marion takes us to the Place des Vosges, the oldest square in Paris. Its center was sometimes used for tournaments and duels, until Richelieu put a stop to that in 1626. The distinctive red brick buildings surrounding the square were once home to such renowned historic and literary figures as Richelieu and Victor Hugo.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France, Spain
Kendji Girac, a star of the French version of The Voice, goes back to his Gypsy roots in "Color Gitano" (Spanish for "Gypsy color"). This fun, rhythmic song will definitely make you want to get up and dance, and it'll even teach you some Spanish too!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Isabelle Geffroy, aka Zaz, sings “On ira” (We'll Go) from her 2013 album Recto Verso. She takes us on a beautiful journey where, as she says, "encounters make the most beautiful voyages." Let her powerful voice transport you into an ideal world where "children are the guardians of the soul."
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