Sophie and Patrice discuss the evolution of the word "handicap," from its origins as a horce racing term to its current usage in French. Rather than les handicapés (the handicapped), the French now say les personnes en situation de handicap (persons with disabilities).

We live in tumultuous times, but Patrice and Sophie are optimistic, excited even, about the changes that are happening around the world. They're referring specifically to the yellow vests movement (les gilets jaunes), a populist movement that began in France in 2018.

Patrice and Sophie have a conversation about the French language. They agree that French people speak too fast for the average learner, and abbreviations and contractions make it even more difficult to understand. Patrice has a few theories as to why Parisians in particular speak so fast.

Christmas is a time of celebrations and a showing of goodwill. This young man followed his heart and started giving out small gifts to the homeless. Find out what prompted him to do so at the end of this video.

A group of people gathered in front of the SNCF (French National Railway Company) headquarters to claim the use of empty buildings owned by the latter. Many people who are homeless or live in unsanitary conditions could greatly benefit from those vacant buildings.

Youssef Ben Amar is a rapper and political activist who is running for office in the fourth legislative district of the Sarthe department. He shares his views and urges people to take an interest in politics, which he believes is something that all people do every day.

After one year in power, President Macron has lost some of his popularity. Opinions are divided as to his performance, but most agree that he is a very shrewd ruler, for better or worse.

Clara and Roger's persistence paid off. She passed her entrance examination to the sports-studies program. But first, she had to confront her father with the truth.

Clara has been taking dance classes for three months now. She's become friends with the other students, who help her prepare for her baccalaureate exam. Roger, her homeless friend, has also been a great help, and he's more educated than she realized!

Clara's father finally catches up with her after she disappears for the afternoon. He sees her talking to the homeless man he saw earlier and is concerned for her safety. She goes home with her father and things quiet down a little, for now....

Clara is a step closer to her dream of becoming a dancer. Roger, the homeless man she met earlier, knows a dance teacher who is willing to give her free lessons. But first she will need to bring a signed parental authorization...

Clara is desperate and considering the unthinkable. She is about to throw herself into the canal, but someone intervenes. It's the homeless man she met earlier, who cares enough to listen to her and bring a smile back to her face.

Clara takes her father's refusal to allow her to become a dancer very badly. After he tears up her dance course enrollment form, she storms off and swears never to come back. Desperate, she thinks she has found a way to put an end to her woes.

Elisa speaks with her mom about the good old days when technology was not so invasive. Her mom reminisces about the times when you had to write a letter instead of sending an email or text. Still, she admits that modern life has its advantages, now that you can video chat with faraway relatives.

In part one of "My Father Opposes My Passion," we learn the source of the conflict between a teenage girl, Clara, and her father. She dreams of becoming of dancer, but he is totally opposed to her plans. A chance encounter with a homeless man is about to change her life.

Patricia recites one of Jean de La Fontaine's most famous fables, "La Cigale et la Fourmi" (The Cicada and the Ant). After spending the entire summer singing instead of storing food, the cicada is starving come winter. She hopes her neighbor the ant can help her....

In the suburbs of Paris, women have formed an association called "Femmes-Relais" (Women's Relay) to support each other and their children in times of difficulty. Some parents worry their children are being held in police custody whenever they're late coming home. Politicians like Daniel Goldberg are taking an interest in the situation.

Martine Aubry, the mayor of Lille, is part of a vast citizen mobilization to stop the massacres in Syria. Aubry's deputy director of human rights reflects on the mayor's speech during an official ceremony at the Lille city hall.

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.

In this episode of Micro-Trottoirs, people are asked what they think of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Their opinions run the gamut: some of them agree with the UK's decision, while others believe it will have catastrophic consequences.

Have you ever eaten an orache or a cardoon? Though popular in the Middle Ages, these vegetables are rarely harvested nowadays. But you'll find them in the garden of the Abbaye du Relec (Relec Abbey) in Brittany, which contains vegetables from many different time periods and countries.

What gets you up in the morning? That's the question asked of these Parisians in this video. Some answers may surprise you, amuse you, even shock you a little. Apart from basic biological reasons or urges, there are plenty of incentives for getting out of bed... some of them touching and even inspiring.

In this Micro-Trottoirs episode, people on the street reveal what they wanted to be when they grow up. From fireman to fairy, find out who actually fullfilled their childhood dream.

Pretty much everyone has told a lie, but not everyone is as willing to confess their lies as these pedestrians in France's Essonne department. In this video, you'll hear some falsehoods that range from innocent childhood fibs to more adult-themed exaggerations.