In this video brought to us by Allons en France, a French government program that encourages students to learn the language and culture of France, young people from all over the world tell us about what learning French means to them.

Corrine shares some more with us about the rich culture of the South of France, and she even puts on her best southern accent for us!

Fanny and Corrine tell us all about the merits of their hometowns. Crepes and parties? Or hot weather and bouillabaisse? Either way, you get some lovely beaches!

According to Lionel, we hear far too much about Charlie Hebdo and not enough about Le Canard Enchaîné, which is about to celebrate its centenary in 2016. This quality satirical newspaper is in a similar vein to Charlie Hebdo. Both papers even shared the same cartoonist, Cabu, who sadly did not survive the January attack on Charlie Hebdo. Le Canard Enchaîné was no stranger to extremist threats either.

In this "Micro-trottoir" series, people share the best ways of showing kindness. Smiling and making sure to greet people with a smile, it seems, is a universal language. Kindness is an art.

The actress Aïssa Maïga talks about her work for UNESCO, which has partnered with Always to promote literacy among women and girls in Senegal and other countries.

B-Girl “Frak” talks about growing up in Beaubreuil, a neighborhood in Limoges with an unfair reputation for being full of people who want to burn your curtains.

Contrary to French folklore, girls do not come from roses, nor do boys come from cabbages, nor does any baby come from a stork. These French midwives, the true "storks" of France, are demonstrating for better pay and working conditions.

Interviewees on the streets of Paris protest the banning of the burqa in public places in France and offer their perspectives on this controversial issue.

These brief interviews on the streets of Lille were conducted in order to test the waters of the tricky dispute over the banning of burqa-wearing in public.

Arlette Grosskost, UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) representative and member of the Parliamentary task force on the burqa in France, advocates a law aiming to ban the wearing of the full-body veil in public. What’s your take on this controversial issue? Is it a question of women’s rights? Of religious freedom? Are arguments against the burqa perhaps another type of veil—to cover up underlying racism?

This Parisian poetry fair sees poets young and old, from all walks of life. Perhaps poetry is, as one attendee says, a link extended across space, time, and people.

We’re all a part of this big, happy family that is humanity. Now if only we could get our “universal citizen” passports…

Hélène and Célia tell us about their musical influences, origins, and inspiration. When they encountered prejudice about Africa and Africans upon coming back to France, Les Nubians used music to paint a truer picture of African culture.

We’re back in Central Park! This time, French teens Barbara and Lorraine discuss politics, including the recent controversial Contrat Première Embauche and President Nicolas Sarkozy. (Love him or leave him? The girls don’t quite agree…)