Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In the second episode of Ferme de la Croix de Pierre, the goat breeder gets all warm and cuddly with one of her baby goats, which become like plush toys when bottle-fed. She'll teach you all you need to know about caring for these adorable animals.
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada
In the first episode of this documentary on Quebec, a young Frenchman shares his impressions on Canada. As the interviewees in the film demonstrate, the Quebecois have conflicting attitudes toward the French—some see them as "snobs," while others see them as just "polite."
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada
In the second episode of Le Québec parle aux Français, we learn more about the complex relationship between the French and the Quebecois throughout history. We also learn about the evolution of the French language in Quebec—according to a former Prime Minister of Quebec, the province even "spoke French before France"!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Marion, our guide, takes us to Place de la Bastille (Bastille Square), where the old Bastille fortress was stormed during the French Revolution. The guillotine was installed on the square for a very short time, but was nevertheless the site of a whopping 75 executions. Nowadays, the square hosts some much less sinister events, such as the Bastille Day (French national holiday) celebrations and the annual Gay Pride Parade.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
After the farm visit, it's time for our angora rabbit and goat breeder to show us around her boutique, where you can stock up on fluffy angora wool sweaters and super light and warm socks to help you enjoy the winter in comfort.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In her first hit single, "Dernière Danse" (Last Dance), Indila shares her troubles, her loneliness, and her sense of rejection in the big city of Paris. Her sweet suffering (douce souffrance or douce France) is a melancholy echo of classic French songwriting, underlining her struggles and lending pathos to her courage.
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada
The situation of the French language in Quebec is controversial and complex. Montreal was an English-speaking city until 1920, and it wasn't until the passage of Law 101 in 1977 that French became the official language of Quebec. According to some of the interviewees in this video, Québécois French is in a precarious position once again, with municipal signage and corporate names in Montreal reverting to English, as well as shopkeepers who refuse to speak French.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
The Place des Vosges, located in Paris's Marais neighborhood, is a gorgeous square with a rich history. Formerly the royal square of Henry the Fourth, the area was also the home of two of France's most renowned literary figures, the Marquise de Sévigné and Pierre Beaumarchais.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
If you've been wanting to learn archery, Sylvestre will tell you everything you need to know about the bow and arrow. With a little practice, you'll be hitting the bull's eye in no time!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Here's the trailer for La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast), a new French film based on the famous fairy tale first published in 1740. While some of you may be most familiar with the Walt Disney or Jean Cocteau versions, this recent release is an attempt to recapture the spirit of the original tale while also giving it more of a contemporary twist.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
It is common knowledge that French people love their wine, but did you know that France is only the second largest wine consumer in the world, just behind China? As you will see in the video, winegrowers from the Savoie region put a lot of love and passion into winemaking. It's very often a family affair passed on from generation to generation. Long may it continue... and remember—enjoy your wine in moderation!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Regular bus riders from the Essonne, a suburb south of Paris, share their views on public transport. It appears that some people behave badly on buses and in the subway, which can give tourists a bad impression. So the next time you catch a bus, don't forget to give up your seat for the elderly!
Difficulty: Advanced
Canada, France
One might think that the push to remove anglicisms from the French language would be stronger in France, but the larger movement to "purify" French is actually happening in Quebec. Many Québécois worry that the French language is endangered in Canada, and the Quebec government has taken measures to preserve it by inventing new words instead of borrowing from English. That's why an email is still un email in France, but un courriel in Quebec.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
In this episode, Daniel Benchimol introduces La Buttes aux Cailles, a neighborhood in the thirteenth arrondissement in Paris. He will tell you all about the origins of the street, its free spring water fountain, and its artsy walls decorated with stencils.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Featured in the animated film Un monstre à Paris, this duet from Vanessa Paradis and -M- is a tribute to Paris's most famous waterway, the Seine. Gorgeous, bewitching, and, according to Vanessa's character Lucille, "clairvoyant," the Seine has such a powerful presence in Paris that it's almost as if the city is submerged under it just as much as it's organized around it.
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