Intermediate Lessons
(Lessons are listed in groups of 10, with the newest lesson at the top. Click the page numbers below to navigate to other lessons. Use the 'Choose Lesson…' option in the right-hand column to go to a specific lesson. (The 'Choose lesson…' menu is visible only when you're logged in.))
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.
Lesson #: 202
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.
Lesson #: 201
The subject of this, our 200th lesson!, is the opioid crisis in the U.S. which has reached quite shocking proportions. How did it come to this? Let’s start with a conversation.
Lesson #: 200
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.
Lesson #: 199
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.
Lesson #: 198
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.
Lesson #: 197
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.
Lesson #: 196
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.
Lesson #: 195
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.
Lesson #: 194
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.
Lesson #: 193