Learn French by Podcast

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Learn French by Podcast is an exciting series of French lessons for everybody. Work with high-quality audio podcasts in your own time and at your own pace. Want to clarify some details? Something you couldn't quite understand? Then download comprehensive PDF Guides which elucidate all the finer points. Learn French the fun way.

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212 episodes

211: Les rénovations se paient cher … à moins que l’on ne les fasse soi-même!

This time, our lesson relates to a DIY job that frightens off a lot people, that is, laying tiles. Let’s start with a dialogue.

13m
Oct 31, 2023
210: ‘Que penses-tu de chatGPT? Faut-il en avoir peur?’

Since the launch of chatGPT in November 2022, everyone is talking about it. Some are in awe of its potential while others go so far as to say that it represents an existential threat. Let’s talk about this technological evolution in this lesson.

15m
Jun 08, 2023
209 : Vers une société sans argent liquide

It seems we are inexorably headed towards a cashless society. It is not uncommon now for some retailers to even refuse cash payments. What are the consequences of this development? Let’s talk about it.

13m
Oct 08, 2022
‘Les garçons ne pleurent pas’

In this lesson, we will hear Bertrand’s thoughts on a book he has just finished reading. But we are going to discover that the book’s title isn’t really true.

14m
Aug 01, 2022
207: J'ai eu le covid.

People were starting to feel invincible. After over two year’s of covid, they were saying to themselves: ‘it’s over – we can get back to normality’. But covid is still circulating. Let’s start with a conversation.

12m
Jul 16, 2022
206: De retour au bureau - à temps partiel

After nearly two years, we are seeing a gradual return to the workplace. Working from home – – has presented both advantages and disadvantages.

16m
Mar 05, 2022
205: Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt!

Some people are early-risers while others are night owls. In this lesson, we discuss an adage which makes the bold claim that people who fall into the first category are at an advantage.

16m
Dec 17, 2021
204: Prendre - un verbe polyvalent

One of our Beginner listeners asked about the English verb ‘to get’ which made us think about . ‘Get’ is just one of the many meanings of this multipurpose French verb, depending on the context.

7m
Jul 24, 2021
203: L'indice de réparabilité - un petit pas dans la bonne direction

This lesson centres on an interesting initiative which should see manufacturers pull up their socks when it comes to environmentally-friendly products. Let's start with a conversation!

17m
Mar 10, 2021
202: Ça pousse, ton jardin?!

One of our listeners asked that we would prepare a lesson with some gardening vocabulary and that’s what we did, over WhatsApp! We have lots of interesting vocabulary to learn – let’s start with a conversation.

15m
Aug 27, 2020
201: La covid-19 - une crise inédite

Our conversation this time is about something which has been central to our lives around the world since the beginning of the year. We are speaking, of course, about the coronavirus pandemic. Let's get started with a conversation.

28m
Jun 02, 2020
200: La crise des opioïdes

The subject of this - our 200th lesson! - is the opioids crisis in the U.S. which has reached quite shocking proportions. But how did it come to this? Let’s start with a conversation.

18m
Oct 23, 2019
199: ‘Les décroissants’, c’est qui?

Our conversation this time focuses on people who are referred to as ‘les décroissants’. But who exactly are ‘les décroissants’? To find out, let’s start with a conversation.

10m
Jul 20, 2019
198: Je viens chercher mon fils!

One of our listeners was taking up a position as a teacher in a pre-school in France and asked if we would put together some expressions and vocabulary that might be used in a dialogue between the teacher and a parent. Let’s consider one such conversation.

10m
Apr 19, 2019
197: Quand l’Afrique a gagné la Coupe du Monde

Our lesson this time goes back to a joke made by chat-show host Trevor Noah last summer, following the World cup. The only thing is, some people didn’t find his joke funny at all, not least the French ambassador in Washington. So what was it all about, again? Let’s start, as usual, with a conversation to put things in context.

18m
Mar 12, 2019
196: Le Président Macron réinstaurera le Service national

Our conversation this time focuses on President Macron's plan to reintroduce national service in France. Some people are wondering if he is the right man to decide on such matters, given that he himself is the first French president not to have done military service.

16m
Feb 28, 2019
195: La présidence Trump approche des élections de mi-mandat

The Trump presidency is nearing the mid-term elections in November. Mr Trump – arguably more than any other American president – has polarised opinions. Let’s talk about the first half of his mandate and what has being going on in recent weeks.

18m
Jul 27, 2018
194: France: la réforme de l'accès à l'université

Traditionally, French high school graduates have been guaranteed public university places, regardless of the grades achieved in their baccalauréat. This, however, has resulted in very high drop-out rates. It is hoped that, from 2018, proposed reforms will result in a more efficient means of access to university. Let’s talk about all this. C’est parti!

19m
Jun 25, 2018
193: "Que penses-tu du Brexit?"

Britain’s vote to withdraw from the European Union was widely controversial and continues to be so. Brexit – from a French perspective – is at the centre of our conversation this time. 

14m
Apr 04, 2018
192: Le transfer de Neymar : comment expliquer une telle outrance ?

The transfer of Brazilian footballer, Neymar, smashed all records in terms of the colossal sums of money involved. Are such sporting investments really justified? Let’s talk about that.

13m
Dec 22, 2017
191: “Je vais m’offrir un téléphone basique”

Our lesson this time was inspired by a recent article entitled “Have smartphones destroyed a generation?” A provocative title indeed, but one that got us thinking. C’est parti!

15m
Dec 02, 2017
190: Le phénomène Macron ... en marche!

Our lesson this time - for Advanced learners – focuses on the stunning rise to the French presidency of the youthful Emmanuel Macron at just 39 years of age. How, exactly, did he manage to pull off such a victory? Let’s discuss.

11m
Jul 11, 2017
189: Comment parler d’un accident de la route?

A listener wondered if we could do a lesson on the basis of a traffic accident. So that’s what we’ve done : we’ve simulated a discussion on the basis of a minor accident that did actually occur recently at our end. Let’s start with a conversation: then we’ll look closely at the vocabulary.

13m
Jun 26, 2017
188: Le retrait des États-Unis de l’Accord de Paris sur le changement climatique

The withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Accord on climate change caused consternation worldwide, not least as almost all countries signed up to its terms in 2016. Let’s talk about the decision of the U.S. administration to withdraw. We’ll discover how to make use of a whole range of interesting vocabulary. C’est parti!

19m
Jun 15, 2017
187: Un diplôme universitaire, cela en vaut-il la peine?

In some countries, particularly the U.S., a university education has become so expensive that some wonder if it is even worth going to college at all, any more. Let’s start with a conversation. Then we’ll come back and look more closely at some key vocabulary.

17m
Apr 21, 2017
186: "Est-ce que tu regardes quelque chose d'intéressant à la télé?"

It’s holiday season, a time of year when we might discuss a film or TV series we’ve seen. That’s the subject of our conversation this time. First, let’s talk about a French production called ‘Spiral’.

13m
Dec 21, 2016
185: Les récifs coralliens menacés de disparition

The coral reefs of the world’s oceans are in mortal danger but, as is often the case with environmental concerns, few people seem to appreciate that the dangers are imminent. That is the focus of our lesson this time.

15m
Nov 04, 2016
184: Les tablettes tactiles en classe: un 'canular' coûteux?

Digital tablets in the classroom were recently described as a 60 billion dollar hoax. Despite these strong words, it seems we’re on an inexorable drive to place a screen in front of every child in the classroom. But to whose benefit ? That’s the subject of our conversation in this lesson.

13m
Oct 25, 2016
183: La Norvège : 'un pays de cocagne'

This lesson is inspired by our having heard about Norway in Michael Moore’s latest satirical documentary. Now, no country is perfect but Norway certainly seems to have a lot going for it. Let’s start with a conversation.

13m
Oct 06, 2016
182: Les centres d’appel: ‘les ateliers de misère du 21e siècle’?

The title of this Advanced lesson may be controversial. After all, it is a fact that tens of thousands of people – some of whom have been lifted out of abject poverty – work in call centres around the world. However, questions one might ask are: what kind of work do call centre workers actually do? What kind of career prospects can workers realistically expect from such work? Béatrix talks of her friend’s experience in one such call centre. Let’s listen.

8m
Jul 29, 2016