The Advanced Audio Blog is a series entirely in French, spoken at natural native speed and covering French culture, current events and much more! In Season 4, Mike will tell you about some popular tourist destinations and regions in France, French holidays and more. The transcript of each audio blog can be found in the comments section of each lesson.
| Lesson # |
Title |
Topic |
Summary |
Cultural Fact |
Vocab |
| 1 |
The French City of Lights |
Paris |
Location, population, history, beauty, tourism |
Social unrest |
fleuve
ville
floue
révolte
guerre
chef-lieu
gravement
commerce
malgré
épargner |
| 2 |
Where to Find the Very Best French Food |
Lyon |
Location, harchitecture, history, culture, gastronomy |
Auguste and Louis Lumière, inventors of cinema |
vignoble
lieu de naissance
soie
lutte
chute
fondée
carrefour |
| 3 |
It's Nice to Visit This French City! |
Nice |
Location, population, tourism, architecture, climate |
The English Walkway |
surnom
frontière
commune
principalement
(en) hommage (à)
bord de mer |
| 4 |
You'll Find France's "Gigantic and Delicate Marvel" Here |
Strasbourg |
Location, population, architecture, history, religion |
The Notre Dame Cathedral |
rive
avoisiner
parlement
profondément
témoins
maison à colombages
vestige
édifice |
| 5 |
Nantes |
Nantes |
Location, population, history |
To reunify with Brittany? |
côtes
partager
cible
château
héritière
épouser
léguer |
| 6 |
Bordeaux |
Bordeaux |
Location, fame for vineyards, history, grape types |
Rock band Noir Désir |
peuplé
âge d'or
accroître
producteur
chiffre d'affaire
premier cru |
| 7 |
France's Most Besieged City, Lille |
Lille |
Location, population, etymology, history of besiegement, modern renewal |
Cut-price market |
marécages
garnison
assiégé
déclin
secteur tertiaire
quartier d'affaires
pôle universitaire |
| 8 |
Quench Your Thirst for France in Rennes |
Rennes |
Location, population, history, status as City of Art and History, architecture, landmarks |
Trans Musical Meetings |
tribu
rempart
parlement
reconstruit
incendie
fusées de détresse
notoirement |
| 9 |
A French Gourmet's Delight, Dijon |
Dijon |
Location, population, history, development since the French Revolution, tourism, delicacies |
Dijon mustard |
fondations
époque
nécropoles
s'effondrer
puissant
concours |
| 10 |
Joan of Arc's City in France, Orléans |
Orléans |
Location, population, status as City of Art and History, history, Joan of Arc |
New Orleans |
scéllé
destin
conserver
sacre
livrer
procès |
| 11 |
Celebrate New Year's Eve in France |
New Year's Eve |
How to celebrate: big dinner party w/ champagne and foie gras, kiss under mistletoe, noise on the streets, gather on Champs-Elysée or under Eiffel Tower, eat King Cake (later, on Epiphany)
| The President's New Year's wish |
réveillon
dîner de fête
aube
gui
fêtards
chars
transmettre
Bonnes résolutions |
| 12 |
Eating French King Cakes on the Day of Epiphany |
Epiphany |
Date and significance of the holiday, how to celebrate: eat King Cake, hide a charm inside one cake, crown whoever gets it King or Queen |
The frangipane (almond-filled) King Cake |
racine
païenne
de façon notable
Galette des Rois
partager
Fève (de galette des Rois)
symboliquement
désigner |
| 13 |
Feast on Crêpes at This French Festival |
Candlemas |
Date, purpose, history; how to celebrate: carry a lit candle home (formerly), eat crêpes (now) |
The gold coin custom |
autrefois
commémorer
les ténèbres
chandelle
flambeau
cièrge
lointain
ancré |
| 14 |
Get Fat During Mardi Gras in France |
Mardi Gras |
Date (relative to Easter); how to celebate: eat like crazy (plenty of crêpes) and revel in the streets before Lent |
Mardi Gras in New Orleans |
a lieu
Carême
fait référence
suspendues
s'abstenir
retirer
se déguiser
défiler (dans la rue) |
| 15 |
Have You Experienced the First Day of April in France? |
April Fools' Day |
How to celebrate: stick a paper fish on someone's back; history of the holiday |
Public hoaxes |
plaisanterie
canular
se rebiffer
chambouler
tour pendable
congénère
profiter de cette occasion |
| 16 |
Why Are You Hiding That French Egg? |
Easter |
Dates (variable with the moon); how to celebrate: paint, hide, and hunt eggs |
Real-life golden eggs |
Pâque
varier
pleine lune
renouveau
cueillette
subsister
vider
remplir |
| 17 |
Do We Have to Work on Labor Day in France? |
May Day/Labor Day |
Date, paid vacation, history |
Lily of the valley |
jour férié/chômé
salariées
dénomination
consacré
conservé
apparition
revendication
tourner au drame |
| 18 |
Music Day in France |
Music Day |
Date (summer solstice), history, concerts |
International popularity |
à travers
événement
Tenu
Publique
au delà
avoir lieu
s'être répandu
espaces publiques |
| 19 |
Celebrate France's National Day with Fireworks and Parades |
National Day |
Date, history, parade, controversy |
Federation Day |
donner lieu à
défilé
feux d'artifices
Parlementaires
promulgée
personnalitées politiques
controverse
peloton |
| 20 |
Honor the Departed on All Saints' Day in France |
All Saints' Day |
Date (and settlement thereof), distinction from All Souls' Day, grave visit, historical "spud holidays" |
Halloween |
d'où
confondre
soulager
défunt
cimetière
la récolte
patate
jadis
l'âme |
| 21 |
The Louvre: France's Multicultural Art Headquarters |
The Louvre |
History, holdings |
Theft of Mona Lisa |
caractériser
forteresse
remodeler
répartir
prendre
le relai
consacrer
civilisation
antiquité |
| 22 |
Notre Dame Cathedral: A Shining Legacy of Medieval Europe in France |
Notre Dame Cathedral |
History, layout, depictions |
What's happened at the cathedral |
témoignage
rosace
démolir
apparence
en raison de
rénovation
anticléricalisme
promulguer |
| 23 |
Eiffel Tower: National Landmark of France |
The Eiffel Tower |
History, true designer, location, construction, offerings, key events |
From eyesore to icon |
mesurer
commémorer
légende
concepteur
ascension
niveau
effectuer
cesser |
| 24 |
Pere Lachaise Cemetery: Paris's Most Fascinating Home of the Dead |
Pere Lachaise Cemetery |
Most visited cemetery, WWI memorials, location, history, motivation for construction (fear of corpseborne disease) |
Famous residents |
repos éternel
quartier
environner
agrémenter
brigands
édifier
hospice
expulser |
| 25 |
See French Artistic Masterpieces at the Musee D'Orsay |
Musee D'Orsay |
Location, history, holdings, concerts |
What's on each floor |
héberger
créations
contenir
collections
impressionnistes et postimpressionnistes
également
explorer
nudité
nocturne |
