Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Racing around the world by yourself often means a Christmas at sea. We drop in to the cabin of race leader Jean Le Cam, which has been decorated for the occasion, right down to a little tree.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Paris to Marseille for just 19 euros. Passengers are thrilled, but the ticket agent unions are not. These internet-only sale prices are putting their jobs at stake. Onboard, passengers can get a massage, or rent a DVD player, making for a more relaxing trip. Book your seat today!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Rail travel between Paris and Marseilles used to be a lengthy ordeal. In 1950, the road trip took over ten hours, as did the train. By 2001, the TGV needed only three hours.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
As a gift to journalists looking for a tongue-in-cheek story, French schools have banned kissing. Students ask, “Where’s the harm?”
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Only four bears remain in Haut-Béarn, and all of them are male. Nothing can be done to save the population unless some females are introduced.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Newcomers Kader Belarbi and Loumia Hiridjee are bringing fresh blood and talent to the French cultural and commercial landscape.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In the US, many American truckers don’t want Mexican drivers on the road. A similar situation is brewing in France where drivers from other countries will do the same work for half as much pay.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
The mortality rate for people with AIDS in France is one fifth of what it once was. Not only that, but modern medications are much easier to schedule.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
DJ Gilb’R and I:Cube, a unique duo, are the key ingredients of Château Flight. Their innovative electro-fusion beat, with hints of everything from pop to soul, is demonstrated on their album, The Meal.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
The Malgré-nous (Despite Ourselves) are the roughly 130,000 young Alsatians from Lorraine, many of them recruited by force, who served under the Nazis during World War II.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
The Oradour-sur-Glane massacre took place over a half a century ago, but France still remembers.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
The summer months have been very dry in many parts of France for the past several years.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Today’s mime is a far cry from Marcel Marceau, whose clones accost you in the park.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
X-Games: As though windsurfing wasn’t hard enough, they had to add a series of jump-obstacles to the race just to keep things interesting! Check out the “extreme kid” french voiceover… c’est formidable!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France, Senegal
Youssou N’Dour, one of the world’s most beloved French-speaking musicians, hails not from France, but from Africa.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Like the SATs for Americans, or A level in the UK, the baccalauréat exam, or le bac, creates more than its fair share of stress in students, especially on the day when they find out the results, the culmination of an entire school career. Students meet outside the school where exam results are posted, and share the emotion of knowing whether they and their friends succeeded or not.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Homelessness is difficult for anyone, but for women the dangers can be more acute and the experience even more alienating than for men.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Ten months of training go into learning to fly a helicopter, but less time is being spent aloft. More and more flight hours are logged in a hyper-realistic simulator that allows young pilots to hone their skills without ever leaving the earth.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
European football matches are known for the passion they inspire in their fans. The president of the international league is thinking of banning pre-game anthems, which seem to exacerbate the situation.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Sure, everyone likes to laugh, even the French, but can it really be good for your heart? Scientists seem to believe mais oui!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
All over France, students are protesting the loi Fillon, which they feel does not best represent the interests of students and their schools.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Even in his wildest dreams, Jules Verne never imagined a trip around the world in fifty days. But that’s just what Captain Peyron and the crew of the Orange Deux have done—breaking the previous world record.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Microcredit can make a big difference to people on welfare or those without good credit history. Case in point: this fifty-five-year-old man who succeeded in opening up his own pizzeria thanks to the help he received.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
One school is no longer serving chicken, claiming that children aren’t eating it when served due to fears of avian flu. The mayor is behind this decision – despite the protests of parents and chicken farmers – citing the “principle of precaution.”
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