Cultivate your French : Slow French, at the right pace.

CYF 101 — mercredi 24 novembre 2021 — Rencontre avec Nathalie Valmary, la créatrice des carnets Louise Carmen

My friend Anne-Laure told me about the nice leather cover for notebooks that she had bought at Louise Carmen.When I saw it, I found it very nice, practical and above all well designed. It had all the details that notebooks lovers are looking for. 
I contacted Nathalie Valmary, who created Louise Carmen, and she agreed to talk about her notebooks for the podcast. 
This is a section of the interview. I’ve chosen specifically this part because Nathalie Valmary tells the story of her first leather cover. She had the idea during the trip around the world she did with her husband and their two daughters. It’s important to know how to tell a story in French, it’s part of the conversation. 
You can imagine Anne-Laure and I on the first floor of the boutique located in one of the famous passages parisiens, le passage du Grand-Cerf, where time is slightly different and the atmosphere so unique. 

My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France.

All the information about the transcript, notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

 

CYF 100 — mercredi 17 novembre 2021 — Un rayon de soleil : l’exposition David Hockney à l’Orangerie

Last Friday, I met with Françoise, a friend of mine. We are part of the same nordic walk group. We had planned to visit the latest exhibition of David Hockney’s work : A Year In Normandie at the musée de l’Orangerie. 
David Hockney painted a big fresque inspired by the change of seasons in his property in Normandy. He has also been inspired by the medieval work : la tapisserie de Bayeux that he found marvelous. I have also read that he had also been inspired by Claude Monnet’s Nymphéas which are right upstairs in the same musée. 
Today, you are going to hear Françoise talking about how she met with David Hockney’s work. We were having lunch at the WH Smith café, in front of the Jardin des Tuileries. 

All the information about the transcript, notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

CYF099 — mercredi 10 novembre 2021 — Les devoirs pendant les vacances

You are listening to Cultivate Your French podcast, ONE slow french episode every week. I hope you are well and happy.

My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France.

All the information about the transcript, notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

As many students, my three girls have homework to do during the holidays. Sometimes it’s hard to find the motivation when there are so many things you wish to do. But what will they remember from these holidays? I hope it will be the good moments. 

CYF 098 — mercredi 3 novembre 2021 — Halloween dans le Jura

We are on holidays in Jura. Last sunday, as you may know, it was Halloween. It’s becoming popular in France. And, I think, this year, a lot of people were expecting the children to knock at their door. Our three daughters were invited to join the two children of our owners for the Halloween walk in the village at night. First, Micaela didn’t want to go, but we convinced her to go : « Allez, Micaela, vas-y! ». I recorded the girls as they came back. 

You are listening to Cultivate Your French podcast One Slow French episode every week. 
My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France. 
All the information about the transcript,notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

 

CYF 096 — mercredi 20 octobre 2021 — Le philosophe à cheval

When we were travelling to Brittany, I heard on the radio Gaspard Koening. This philosopher was talking about his trip from Bordeaux to Rome with his horse Destinada. He followed the steps of a colleague from an other time : Michel de Montaigne. 

As Montaigne did, he kept a travel diary then he published a book out of it. 
Later that same day, we entered a nice bookshop in Paimpol where I found that very book « Notre vagabonde liberté ». I bought it and started to read it almost right away. I’m still reading it and as I was reading it, I met an acquaintance. Yes !  

 

You are listening to Cultivate Your French podcast One Slow French episode every week. 
My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France. 
All the information about the transcript,notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

 

CYF 095 — mercredi 13 octobre 2021 — Mercredis en musique

You are listening to Cultivate Your French podcast One Slow French episode every week. 
My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France. 
All the information about the transcript,notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

A long time ago, I used to tell you about our Wednesdays. The girls didn’t go to school on Wednesday mornings at that time. We used to go shopping at our local organic shop, La Biocoop. I remember Micaela walking and holding at the same time the double stroller in which Felicia and Lisa were sitting. 
Our Wednesdays are very different now. They are more school and music related! 

CYF 094 — mercredi 6 octobre 2021 — Mariage en Bretagne

Pietro and I went to Brittany last week-end. We were invited to one of my kung-fu friend’s wedding, Ophélie. In the morning, there was the « mariage civil » at the mairie; Then, later in the afternoon we arrived at the party that was taken place in a typical breton manoir. It was a rainy day, the photos with the family and friends were often interrupted by the rain. Finally, Ophelie threw her bride’s bouquet. Threw, well not exactly…

 

You are listening to Cultivate Your French podcast One Slow French episode every week. 
My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France. 
All the information about the transcript,notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

 

CYF092 — mercredi 22 septembre 2021 — L’Arc de triomphe emballé

Have you heard about the Arc de triomphe being wrapped in silvery blue fabric? 
It’s a temporary artwork from the artists (now dead) Christo and Jeanne-Claude. 
The Arc de triomphe as we usually see it disappeared under pleated fabric and red ropes. The artwork will be dismantled on October 3rd. On a sunny afternoon, I went there to have a look at this artwork. It’s strange. I don’t know yet what to think about it. The Arc de triomphe is a monument mainly related to wars, so maybe it’s like a pause in its history and the chance to see it differently. 
This episode is recorded on the spot! You can hear the furious traffic of this enormous roundabout that is La place Charles de Gaulle where is located the Arc de triomphe. 
I also tell you about how the press reacted in France about this wrapping!

My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France. 
All the information about the transcript,notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com

 

091 — Mercredi 15 septembre 2021 — 5 conseils pour travailler votre français avec le podcast Cultivate Your French

My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France.

This week, I answer to the following question : how to work your French with Cultivate Your French podcast? 
The podcast is not a class or a lesson, it’s like an audio blog in French. I share with you a small slice of my Life in France. The aim is to keep up with your comprehension of the French language or to simply improve it.

Cultivate Your French is half way through your textbook and France!

But the podcast can also be a very good tool to work on your French.

In this episode I share with you 5 tips to work on your French with the podcast. 
This episode is longer than usual and is dense on the subject of learning. I will read the text to you slowly, one time. 

090 — mercredi 8 septembre 2021 — La vieille dame qui faisait ses courses

Yes, this is La rentrée. My three girls are back to school, but as they are in lycée and collège their timetable changes from day to day. When they leave in the morning, they say « A tout à l’heure Maman! ». I have to quickly ask « A quelle heure? ». Sometimes it’s one hour later, sometimes 3 hours later, etc. 
Or they might not leave at all in the morning. For example, Lisa doesn’t go to the collège on Monday mornings. 
So, last Monday, she came with me to do some shopping at Monoprix. This is where we met La vieille dame qui faisait ses courses. 
You are listening to Cultivate Your French podcast One Slow French episode every week. 

My name is Laetitia, I’m French, I live just outside Paris and I share with you a small slice of my daily life here in France. 

All the information about the transcript,notes and photos is available at www.cultivateyourfrench.com