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.

When the weather is nice, Parisians meet up on the riverbanks every weekend to dance, talk, and spend time with friends. For those who love dancing, there are free salsa, hip-hop, and Afro-Cuban dance lessons. It's a party!

Lionel takes us to the friendly Butte aux Cailles neighborhood in Paris. Its village-like atmosphere is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the capital. The Butte aux Cailles was formerly part of the small town of Gentilly before being attached to the city of Paris.

Lionel goes to the Louvre Pyramid, which was commissioned by former President François Mitterrand and designed by the architect I.M. Pei. Located in the Cour Napoléon (Napoleon Courtyard), the pyramid is one of the most famous selfie sites in the world.

Lionel talks about life under quarantine in France. All group activities are forbidden, and you can only go outside to walk your dog, go to the pharmacy, or shop for basic necessities.

Lionel talks about how the French people are doing after a month of confinement. He misses his hairdresser...

In this video, from the beginning of May 2020, Lionel talks about the various deconfinement measures taking place in France. The country has been gradually reopening throughout the month of May.

In May 2020, France entered its deconfinement phase. While the French people are no longer expected to obtain written permission for leaving their homes, they still have to exercise caution and wear masks in most public places.

Lionel describes the latest measures taken by the French government regarding the COVID pandemic. A curfew has been enforced in major cities in an effort to contain the virus.

Lionel tells us about the second lockdown this year in France. It's slightly different from the first one in that schools are now open.

Lionel tells us about the end of the second lockdown in France, which took place in mid-December. This, along with predictions of a third wave of the virus, has made French people agree on one thing: all this is very confusing!

Lionel talks about a very handy little word, le truc, that can be used for just about everything. And no, it doesn't mean "truck"!

Lionel gives a few pointers on telling time in French, including when to use the twelve-hour clock versus the twenty-four-hour clock.

Lionel shares a few tips on how to pronounce the u sound in French, which tends to be difficult for English-speaking learners. After watching the video, and with some practice, you'll be able to say words like tu (you) and mur (wall) with confidence.

Lionel shares a few tips on how to pronounce the French nasal sound on, which is a homophone, with multiple spellings.