Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
We continue our visit to Malicorne with Olivier, who speaks with Dominique Bourneuf, the owner of the Petite Auberge (Little Inn) restaurant and president of the artistic trades association. Besides the many art and crafts events organized in Malicorne, there's also a world record event planned for April.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Olivier takes us to the Malicorne castle for the last episode of "Mon Village" (My Village). The castle has been owned by the same family since the 1800s and boasts a magnificent marble stairway as well as beautiful floor marquetry. It's often used to host events during festivals.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Meet the various artists in residence at number 39 Saint-Pavin Street in Le Mans. The city-sponsored studio space is a great opportunity for artists to grow in their art and exchange with others.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Paris would be an entirely different city today if the architect Le Corbusier had carried out his ambitious project for the capital. But Minister of Culture André Malraux put a stop to this and set out to preserve the historic heritage of Paris by introducing a new law. Find out what Paris could have looked like in this video!
Difficulty:
Advanced
Canada, France
In part 6 of Le Québec parle aux Français, the interviewees compare and contrast the immigrant situation in France and Quebec. France, being a smaller country, creates additional pressure for immigrants, while in Quebec, immigrants do rather well. Later, Olivier treats us to a little song he wrote himself.
Difficulty:
Beginner
France
This video takes an in-depth look at the curious French idiom mener une vie de bâton de chaise (to lead a chair-pole life). Though the life of a chair pole might not seem very interesting, the history behind the idiom certainly is!
Difficulty:
Beginner
France
The Carnival of Nice is famous around the world for its colorful parade of floats covered in flowers. You can even participate in a "battle" of flowers that are grown in abundance in the region.
Difficulty:
Beginner
France
Where does the expression on n'est pas sorti de l'auberge (we aren't out of the inn) come from? Find out its meaning in this video.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Patricia discusses the history of the the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," explaining how the song traveled from the Rhine region to Marseille, where it earned its final name.
She even sings a few lines of the song for us!
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Part two of this video on "La Marseillaise" explains how it evolved from a song of war and freedom to its current status as the French national anthem. The fact remains that it still stirs up controversy for its violent content, which some find offensive.
Difficulty:
Beginner
France
Patricia introduces one of France's most renowned poets, Charles Baudelaire. His major work, Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil), is still the most studied poetry collection in French schools and was as much a source of controversy as admiration in his day. Baudelaire's love affair with his muse, actress Jeanne Duval, was a main source of inspiration for Les Fleurs du Mal.
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:
Intermediate
France
In the wake of the recent tragedy on the Promenade des Anglais, Nice remains a beautiful and diverse city. In this video, Patricia talks about what makes the city such a great place to live and visit.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
Jean de La Fontaine's fables are all-time classics that have been in the French school curriculum for many years, at all levels. It's safe to say that every French person knows at least one of his fables.
Difficulty:
Intermediate
France
In this video you will hear a fable by Jean de La Fontaine, the most famous fable writer in French literature. "Le Chêne et le Roseau" (The Oak and the Reed) is a lesson in humility. The humble reed belies an inner strength that the oak does not possess. The oak's unbending nature proves to be its downfall.
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