This artist discovered her true calling: she collects driftwood and other found materials for her art. Her predilection is birds, all kinds of birds, that she paints to make signs or other creations for her clients. Her studio bears the tongue-in-cheek name of "La Dilettante," or "The Dilettante," which she is not by any means...

Daniel Benchimol takes us to Maisons-Laffitte, a town famous for its horse races and jockey training center, the largest in the Paris region. There are also opportunities to explore archaeological remains that have recently been discovered.

Sybille finally finds an opportunity to knock on the door of the stranger who has been spying on her for weeks. She braces herself and confronts the stranger.... Or is he a stranger? A pleasant surprise is in store for her.

Mélanie Laurent is a French actress and singer, among other things. In this live set, she sings two powerful songs, "Circus" and "Tango."

Daniel continues his visit to Maisons-Laffitte, home to many famous actors, authors, politicians, business tycoons, and others. According to Daniel, its villas are among the most beautiful in the Île-de-France region.

Lionel discusses the French government's recent decision to invoke Article 49-3 of the Constitution in order to push through a controversial labor bill without a parliamentary vote. He also gives a brief description of the differences between the two houses of the French Parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly.

In this video, you will learn the history of the French flag. Once it was completely white, the color of the French royalty, and now it's blue, white, and red. The French flag has recently been tainted with controversy by nationalist groups who have appropriated it as a symbol of their own causes.

Lionel tells us about the Seine's recent flooding, caused by severe weather conditions in Paris and surrounding areas. A statue of a French soldier below the Pont de l'Alma acts as an indicator of the river's water level.

In part three of our visit to Maisons-Laffitte, Daniel Benchimol reveals even more interesting facts about this city. The Maisons Castle, which epitomizes seventeenth-century French architecture, has been used for the filming of many famous movies, such as Love and Death, Dangerous Liaisons, Queen Margot, and many more.

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!

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.

Daniel Benchimol is in Maisons-Laffitte, also known as the "horse city." He tells us about the history of its famous racetrack, which boasts the longest straight line segment of any racetrack in Europe. And if horses aren't your thing, there's a campground where you can relax by the river Seine.

In this lesson, you will learn the difference between homonyms, homophones, and homographs illustrated with amusing examples. Challenge yourself by repeating the words that sound the same and see if you can spell them correctly. Good luck!

Lionel Brigeot takes us to the northeast of France to the town of Verdun, where the famous Battle of Verdun took place during World War I. Follow Lionel up the Victory Steps, commemorating the battle in which more than one hundred sixty-three thousand soldiers lost their lives.

Daniel Benchimol takes us to the Cour de l'Industrie (Industry Courtyard) in Paris. It used to be the site of a wallpaper factory that was destroyed in a fire and more or less abandoned. An artisan association decided to renovate the premises, which now house over forty artists and craftsmen. Be sure to visit the area on your next trip to Paris!