French Please
French Please
French Please
The culture of all that is French starts here; and French is more vibrant, exotic, and colorful than you ever guessed. Exclusive interviews from French-speaking nations around the world are mixed in with short, fun, useful lessons for your French elucidation: every day and abroad. Use our request, respond, and repeat plan to grow and learn. Oui, you too.
Encore and Encore
"Encore" is what we say to request, encourage or beg a performer to return to the stage. Although we are using it in a sense that sort of means the same thing as it can in French, it is NOT used like this in French. In French, it is "bis!" So where does that leave the poor wanna be French speaker? Let us explore the ways together today; all that "encore" can be. You will be amazed! Our brand new, hope-filled (may travel begin again in earnest!) e-course is French Abroad! In one easy place, find all you need to know and know how to say to enjoy your next voyage! Check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected]
Mar 1, 2022
11 min
Underworld Crime, Film, Sports, Music, and Growing up in Quebec; with Charles André Marchand
Land of French, land of snow, what else do you not know about Canada and in particular, that bit of it that is Quebec? If you come from France, you learn of the Great Separation that almost was, the New France Quebec could have become, that there are bears and cabins in the woods, and great, peaceful expanses of wilderness. As a US citizen, I know almost nothing of the very European metropolis that is Montreal.  Today's guest brings us the music, literature, film, sports, and fine cuisine of this sliver of heaven in the north. Charles André Marchand, a gifted author, sports radio host at 91,9 Sports, journalist, interpreter, actor, and more, kindly agreed to sit down and chat with Thierry and me, and we discovered just how cool (how French for Thierry, how French AND North American for me) is the land of Quebec, and how much one life can contain. All three of us being fervent fans of being outdoors for ice-skating, skiing, and walks in the winter woods, we also connect over the weather. Join us for a rollicking walk through the quartiers of Montreal, football, history, and culture. Books by Charles André Marchand, first, his latest work of fiction, Arcade et Gail, Volume One, Les Amours Impossibles, and Volume Two, co-authored with Katherine Girard. I cannot wait to read these, a copy has been sent to me...merci!  His latest non-fiction works are two volumes of Pégre QC, a history of the underworld of Quebec which was simply fascinating, the most fast-paced non-fiction I have read in ages. These are in French, as are his earlier works, but if you are looking for a good audiobook to slow down and listen to, Pègre Quebec is a great choice.  Canadian music suggestions from today: Harmonium, Charles le Bois, Plume Latraverse, Fiori Seguin. The quartier of Montreal known also as N.D.G. for No Damn Good, is Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the newsletter below and the podcast, s'il vous plaît! Check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at frenchdialogues Angela's blog on France, language learning, travel, and everyday adventures: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/
Jan 24, 2022
1 hr 17 min
New Year and New...Resolutions?
Have you made and kept or maybe already made and broken your resolutions for this new year? Does anyone do that in France? A tiny episode all about the subject and its cultural implications here and abroad.  Our brand new, hope-filled (may travel begin again in earnest!) e-course is French Abroad! In one easy place, find all you need to know and know how to say to enjoy your next voyage! French from today: journal de femmes/feminine magazines, le premier mois/the first month, de l'année/of the year, jurer/to swear, promettre/to promise, prendre la décision/make a decision, faire une résolution/make a resolution. Next up, an interview on all things Canada; music, literature, and memorable criminal trials of Quebec. Join us for a wide-ranging conversation with Charles André Marchand, legendary sports radio host, author, and interpreter. Subscribe below to listen as soon as it comes out. Check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream Angela's blog on France, language learning, travel, and everyday adventures: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/
Jan 18, 2022
10 min
Christmas Eve Day and a Gift
This is the fourth and final episode in our series on the traditions for Christmas and more in France. I promised a gift that will go out to our newsletter subscribers (because you cannot publish a free thing this beautiful in the podcast notes!), so here is the link for signing up for the newsletter, in case you are not already a member of Commence le Dream: Sign up for our newsletter here! French from today's show: Le gui/mistletoe Le hou/holly La mousse au chocolat/does it need a translation?  Joyeux Noël/Merry Christmas!!! Our brand new, hope-filled (may travel begin again in earnest!) e-course is French Abroad! In one easy place, find all you need to know and know how to say to enjoy your next voyage! Check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream Angela's blog on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/ 
Dec 24, 2021
5 min
Hanukkah in France - Interview with Dominique Weiner
Our Holidays in France series continues with a special interview with or entretien avec Dominique Weiner. I am just tickled to have had the opportunity to speak with Dominique. She is a lovely human, an excellent French interpreter, and a friend, but a long-distance one that I do not know as well as I would like. Despite this, (malgré cela) she was kind enough to open up on a topic that is very private for much of the population in France, religion and her own Jewish traditions. Presenting...Hanukkah in France in the middle of a country celebrating Christmas. Merci, Dominique! who can be found on Linked In under: Dominique Stora-Weiner. French from today's show: Un cadeau de fin d'année (an end of the year gift, used in France rather than "a gift for Hanukkah") Bonne fête! (Happy holiday!)  Bonne année! (Happy New Year!) Hebrew from today:  חַג חֲנֻכָּה שָׂמֵחַ Happy Hanukkah!  As always, check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Sign up for our newsletter here! Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream Angela's blog on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/
Dec 20, 2021
20 min
Le Réveillon Christmas Eve
Episode 2 in our Holidays in France series. What happens in France on Christmas Eve?   French from today's episode: les huitres/oysters le saumon/salmon les rillettes de veau/veal dish la bûche de Noël/yule log dessert la messe de minuit/midnight mass En attendant/in the meantime Je vous souhaite une bonne fête/I wish you a happy holiday! If you are looking for more French, check out our lessons for home and abroad.  Our brand new, hope-filled (may travel begin again in earnest!) e-course is French Abroad! In one easy place, find all you need to know and know how to say to enjoy your next voyage! For families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French!  French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. Coming January 1: French Abroad: all you need to travel in style and confidence...in French!  For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes.  Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button.  AND Sign up for our newsletter here! Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream  (photos of la bûche de Noël, the dog, and more Christmas) Angela's blog on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: A Homeschool Story
Dec 16, 2021
8 min
Have yourself a Joyeux petit Noël
Want to know what happens in France for the holidays? We begin a 4-part series on Christmas and all of the fun that happens in December; decorations, food, fun, expressions, and even a little on Yule and Hanukkah.  French from today: Les fêtes de fin d'année: the holidays Noël: Christmas Samedi / Saturday Vendredi / Friday Le réveillon / Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve...the gathering part La veille de Noël / Christmas Eve Le sapin de Noël / Christmas tree La crèche / the Nativity scene (the word is also used for daycare centers for babies) Les chaussures / shoes (and only one is put out per person under the tree) If you are looking for more French, check out our lessons for home and abroad. For families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Sign up for our newsletter here! Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream Angela's blog on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/
Dec 8, 2021
9 min
Thanksgiving: le Jour de l'Action de Grâce
Happy Thanksgiving, we are grateful you are here with us: loyal listeners, friends, and family. Today we discover together what is known across Canada as the equivalent but different holiday there; Canadian Thanksgiving or le Jour de l'Action de Grâce. It was not always all Pilgrims and Native Americans all over North America. French from today's episode: La moisson/harvest La recolte/harvest La reconnaissance/gratitude Rendre grâce à Dieu/thank God As always, check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Sign up for our newsletter here! Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream Angela's blog on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/
Nov 25, 2021
5 min
1000 Bornes: a Game to Play for the Holidays at Home
As we continue our series on games, the topic of today's episode is "Le Mille Bornes". Race your kids and relatives to the finish line with this almost-vintage card game, dropping in helpful obstacles along the way, in French or in English, see below.  French from today's podcast: Types of cards:     Hazards / Attaques Out of gas / Panne d'essence Accident / Accident (ah yes, same word) Flat tire / Pneu crevé Stop / Feu rouge Speed limit / Limite de vitesse     Remedy / Parades Gasoline / Essence Repairs / Réparations Spare tire / Roue de secours Go / Feu vert End speed limit / Fin de limite de vitesse     Safety / Bottes Extra tank / Citerne Driving ace / As du volant Puncture Proof / Increvable Right of Way / Prioritaire     Distance cards / Cartes étapes 25 / vingt cinq 50 / cinquante 75 / soixante quinze 100 / cent 200 / deux cents As always, check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you, away from a screen. Delivered online, to be used face to face. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes speaking another language as natural and useful as your native tongue. You are already having a blast with French with Kids? Chouette! Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your ears, your vocal cords, and your life with French! French at Home: a Conversation  Be prepared for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Sign up for our newsletter here! Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream Angela's blog on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/
Nov 19, 2021
12 min
Le football ou football américain ?
Outside games are de jour as we enjoy the beautiful days of autumn here in the Midwest, but also inside ones, because our weather can include cold, rain and snow mixed in with the warmer bliss. In today's show, we discuss France's favorite sport, a card game and how to ask a friend to play with you, how to accept, and how to refuse. As always, check out our lessons for families: French with kids. We help you create the space, time, and connections that bring French alive chez you. Don't wait: speak today, the way that makes it natural and useful like your native tongue. You are already having a  blast with French with Kids? Add in one of the following to bring your couple into full French communication too. Fill your life with French! French from today's podcast: le football/le foot/soccer, on joue au foot?/want to play soccer/football?, pas maintenant, j'ai la flemme/not now, I am feeling too lazy, tu veux jouer aux échecs? do you want to play chess?/voudrais-tu jouer à la belotte?/would you care to play belotte (a card game)? oui, merci, avec plaisir/yes, thank you, that would be lovely, tout à l'heure, je digères/later, I am busy digesting.  Qui commence?/who's first? je suis le premier/I am first, qui a gagné? who won?/qui a perdu?/who lost? (This, in my Southern France view, would be for a game of pétanque out in the courtyard.) French at Home: a Conversation  Be ready for your next trip, do not wait one more day to "be ready".  Now is the time: learn and practice request and response together and unplugged. Course for those who perhaps spoke French once upon a time and need to refresh and reinvent the language. For beginners: French at Home: a Debut We walk you through it, request and response, short, to the point, and always relevant, building confidence, vocabulary, and the thrill of another language. Don't miss another episode, video, blog post, or special offer on classes. Subscribe to the podcast with the "subscribe" or  "follow"  button. AND Sign up for our newsletter here! Feedback? Requests? We would love to hear from you! Add to the comments below or send questions and comments here: [email protected] You can find us on Facebook and Instagram at commence_le_dream My blog on learning French: https://www.commenceledream.com/blog And on France, homeschooling, language learning and life: http://www.ahomeschoolstory.com/
Nov 12, 2021
7 min
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