🎙️ Episode 7 : La Chandeleur et Mardi Gras🎙️

Crêpes, carnaval et traditions expliqués simplement 🥞

🎙️🎙️ In this episode of Le French Vocal, I take you along to discover a very well-known French tradition… but one that’s often misunderstood: La Chandeleur—and how it’s different from Mardi Gras!

I explain:

what La Chandeleur really is
why it takes place every year on February 2
the origins of this celebration and its symbolism of light
why people eat crêpes on that day 🥞
how the French celebrate La Chandeleur today, simply, with family

I also help you stop confusing La Chandeleur and Mardi Gras—two celebrations that are close on the calendar, but very different in spirit. As always, I share personal memories, childhood anecdotes, and a very simple crêpe recipe passed down in my family:

🥞 Mix: 6 eggs, 500 grams of flour, 1 liter of milk, 1 tablespoon of melted butter, and a pinch of salt.
Pour one ladle of the batter into a well-heated pan, let it cook for a few minutes, then flip the crêpe and let it brown on the other side. 🥞

💬 Question for you: Is there a celebration in your country that’s somewhat similar to La Chandeleur or Mardi Gras? Do you have a childhood memory connected to this kind of tradition?
👉 Reply in the comments—I love reading your messages!

⭐ If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating, a review, or a comment on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favorite listening platform. It’s the best way to support Le French Vocal.

📌 Want to get the activity sheet that goes with this episode? Leave your email address using the form above ⬆️.

🎙️ Episode 6 : Ma semaine typique 🎙️

Plonge dans le quotidien d'une française

🎙️ In this episode, I invite you to spend a typical week with me, through routines, organization, and family moments. Discover how my week as a French teacher is structured — from calm Mondays to family-filled weekends, including “off” Wednesdays and lighter Fridays.
You’ll also learn small details about everyday life in France, unique habits, and personal anecdotes that make daily life feel so distinctive.

🔹 On the agenda:
Monday: a gentle start
Tuesday: the machine is up and running!
Wednesday: the “off” day
Thursday: productivity and creativity
Friday: rituals with my students
Weekend: family time and outings

💬 What about you? How would you describe your week in three words? Share your answers in the comments — in French, of course!

CHAPTERS:
0:00 – Introduction
1 – Monday – easing into the week, nice and slow
2 – Tuesday – the machine is up and running
3 – Wednesday – the “off” day… well, almost
4 – Thursday – staying focused, no giving up
5 – Friday – the energy drops… but the heart is full
6 – The weekend — family time
7 – Conclusion

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you enjoyed this one, leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or your favorite platform.

✨ Want the activity worksheet for this episode? Leave your email in the form up there ⬆️.

This activity sheet is designed to accompany an episode of Le French Vocal, de Parlons French, a podcast that helps you learn French in a different way, based on real situations and French culture.
It includes guided activities to:

• Expand your French vocabulary

• Understand expressions used by French speakers in everyday life

• Improve your listening comprehension naturally

Designed for learners from B1 to C1, it helps you practice French actively, naturally, and progressively—either on your own or in a group setting.

🎙️ Episode 5 : L'apéro en France 🎙️

Tout comprendre de ce rituel français

🎙️🎙️ Apéro isn’t just about having a drink before dinner.
It’s a moment in its own right, a social ritual, and a very French way of slowing down, getting together, and sharing time with others.

In this episode of the French Vocal from Parlons French, I take you inside the French apéritif: what people eat, what they drink, what they say… and, most importantly, what this moment reveals about French culture.

Whether you’re learning French or simply curious about everyday life in France, this episode will help you better understand the vocabulary, expressions, and cultural codes connected to the apéro.

Apéro or apéritif: what’s the difference in French?

When and why the French have apéro

Typical drinks: from wine… to Pontarlier

French-style snacking and apéro must-haves

A personal story about homemade guacamole and a traditional Mexican stone mortar

An impromptu apéro or an apéro dînatoire: two very French vibes

The unspoken social rules of the French apéritif

Why apéro is, above all, a moment of connection and conviviality

To go further, sign up at parlonsfrench.com and leave your email address to receive the activity worksheet linked to this episode, which includes:

• key vocabulary from the episode,

• useful expressions related to apéro,

• short practice exercises,

• the homemade guacamole recipe,

• an additional simple recipe to help you prepare your own apéro.

If you enjoyed this episode:

• subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss any future vocals,

• leave a comment or a rating—it really helps the podcast grow,

• share this episode with friends who are learning French or who love French culture.

Thank you for being here, and enjoy listening.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction: apéro vs. apéritif
01:10 – Apéro as a French cultural ritual
02:30 – What do people drink at apéro? A regional anecdote
04:00 – What do people eat at apéro? Homemade guacamole
05:30 – Apéro dînatoire: when apéro replaces dinner
07:00 – What apéro reveals about French culture
08:00 – Question for listeners and closing

✨ Want the activity worksheet for this episode? Leave your email in the form up there ⬆️.

This activity sheet is designed to accompany an episode of Le French Vocal, de Parlons French, a podcast that helps you learn French in a different way, based on real situations and French culture.
It includes guided activities to:

• Expand your French vocabulary

• Understand expressions used by French speakers in everyday life

• Improve your listening comprehension naturally

Designed for learners from B1 to C1, it helps you practice French actively, naturally, and progressively—either on your own or in a group setting.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you enjoyed this one, leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or your favorite platform.

🎙️ Episode 4 : La Galette des Rois 🎙️

Bien plus qu'un gâteau français

🎙️ The Galette des Rois: More Than Just a French Cake 🎙️

In this episode of Parlons French – J’te fais un vocal, I take you into the heart of a classic French tradition: the Galette des Rois.

You’ll discover:

• The origin of the Galette des Rois and Epiphany

• Essential vocabulary for talking about the galette (fève, crown, tirer les rois…)

• The French ritual around the galette

• The different types of galettes depending on the region (frangipane, brioche, Franc-Comtoise galette)

• Implicit social rules that the French don’t always explain

• And most importantly, how to use the galette to build connections with French people, whether with neighbors, colleagues, or new acquaintances

👉 And if you want to try a regional specialty, here’s an easy and delicious Franc-Comtoise galette recipe.
If you want to explore recipes from all French regional specialties, check out my full blog post!

Enjoy listening, and above all… enjoy your galette 👑

Chapters:

1. What exactly is the Galette des Rois?

2. Essential vocabulary around the galette

3. The ritual: how it actually happens

4. Galette or brioche: a regional story

5. Social rules (that aren’t always explained)

6. The galette: a perfect tool for building connections in France

7. Conclusion
   

✨ Want the activity worksheet for this episode? Leave your email in the form up there ⬆️.

This activity sheet is designed to accompany an episode of Parlons French – J’te fais un vocal, a podcast that helps you learn French in a different way, based on real situations and French culture.
It includes guided activities to:

• Expand your French vocabulary

• Understand expressions used by French speakers in everyday life

• Improve your listening comprehension naturally

Designed for learners from B1 to C1, it helps you practice French actively, naturally, and progressively—either on your own or in a group setting.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode! And if you enjoyed this one, leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or your favorite platform.

🎙️ Episode 3 : Le Nouvel An des Français 🎙️

Réveillon, voeux et bonnes résolutions

✨ New Year the French Way: Eve, Wishes, and Resolutions ✨

Hi, it’s Estelle! In this episode, I take you straight into the heart of New Year celebrations in France. We talk about New Year’s Eve, the importance of food and wine, the stroke of midnight, exchanging wishes and resolutions, and spending January 1st with family. I also share my personal anecdotes: the moments I love with my friends and children, and the amazing party we had with the French community in Michigan in 2024.

You will discover:

• French traditions (kissing under the mistletoe, hierarchy of wishes, New Year messages)

• How to celebrate New Year’s in a small gathering or with family

• The importance of respect, friendliness, and good cheer
  

✨ Keywords:
New Year, New Year’s Eve, French traditions, wishes, resolutions, French culture, food and wine, France

✨ Chapters:
00:00 Podcast Introduction
00:39 New Year’s Eve in France
04:49 January 1st: Traditions and Resolutions
07:51 New Year Memories and Personal Reflections
09:09 Conclusion

✨ Want to get the activity worksheet for this episode?
Leave me your email below to receive an exclusive worksheet every week along with
the new podcast episode. This activity worksheet is designed to accompany an episode
of the podcast Parlons French – J’te fais un vocal, a podcast that helps you learn French in a different way, through real-life situations and French culture. It offers guided activities to expand your French vocabulary, understand expressions used by native French speakers in everyday life, and naturally improve your listening comprehension.
Designed for learners at B1 to C1 level, it allows you to practice French in an active, natural, and progressive way, either independently or in a group.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed this one, feel free to leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite listening platform!

🎙️ Episode 2 : Noël en France 🎙️

Traditions françaises et souvenirs de famille

✨ 🎄 Christmas Special – French Traditions and Family Memories 🎄

In this special Christmas episode, I take you with me into the heart of French Christmas traditions, but most importantly… into my own Christmas. I share how, for over 40 years, Christmas has unfolded exactly the same way in my family:
Christmas Eve dinner, shoes under the tree, opening presents on the morning of December 25, big family meals, visiting relatives’ homes, the famous Christmas envelopes… and even mulled wine at the Christmas market with my childhood friends.
Through personal anecdotes, I show you French culture as it is truly experienced: simple, warm, family-centered, and full of little habits that don’t always appear in books.

🎧 This episode is perfect if you are learning French (B1 to C1 level) and want to:
– better understand French Christmas traditions,
– expand your vocabulary with everyday French expressions,
– discover French culture from the inside through an authentic story.

✨ Keywords:
Christmas in France – Christmas traditions – French culture – Learn French – Authentic French – French podcast – B1 C1 level – learn French – Intermediate French

✨ Want to get the activity worksheet for this episode?
Leave me your email below to receive an exclusive worksheet every week along with
the new podcast episode. This activity worksheet is designed to accompany an episode
of the podcast Parlons French – J’te fais un vocal, a podcast that helps you learn French in a different way, through real-life situations and French culture. It offers guided activities to expand your French vocabulary, understand expressions used by native French speakers in everyday life, and naturally improve your listening comprehension.
Designed for learners at B1 to C1 level, it allows you to practice French in an active, natural, and progressive way, either independently or in a group.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed this one, feel free to leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite listening platform!

🎙️ Episode 1 : La cuisine des français, un art de vivre

✨ In this episode, I share through my daily eating habits the French approach to food. We’ll talk about breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner, while highlighting the importance of family meals and culinary traditions. I also discuss the central role of cheese in French cuisine!

✨ Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
1:04 – French breakfast
2:54 – Lunch: culture and habits in France
4:14 – Afternoon snack
4:44 – Dinner
6:26 – Cheese, of course!
7:10 – Conclusion

✨ In this episode, we'll talk about :
French cuisine, meals, traditions, breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, cheese, culture, eating habits, learn French, FLE, easy French, authentic French, French podcast

✨ Want to get the activity worksheet for this episode?
Leave me your email below to receive an exclusive worksheet every week along with the new podcast episode. This activity worksheet is designed to accompany an episode of the podcast Parlons French – J’te fais un vocal, a podcast that helps you learn French in a different way, through real-life situations and French culture. It offers guided activities to expand your French vocabulary, understand expressions used by native French speakers in everyday life, and naturally improve your listening comprehension.
Designed for learners at B1 to C1 level, it allows you to practice French in an active, natural, and progressive way, either independently or in a group.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed this one, feel free to leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite listening platform!

🎙️ Episode 0 : Introduction 🎙️

Qui suis-je et pourquoi ce podcast ?

✨ In this first episode, I introduce myself and share my journey as a language teacher, my experiences abroad — especially in the United States — and how they’ve shaped my life and identity. I also talk about my return to France and the cultural differences I noticed. I explain the goals of my podcast, which aims to share authentic life moments and personal stories.

✨ Chapters:

00:00 Introducing Estelle and her background
02:57 Life in the United States and its impact
05:39 Returning to France and reflections on identity
08:16 Podcast goals

✨ In this episode, we’ll talk about:
Authentic French, podcasting, life abroad, teaching, culture, identity, family,
stories, travel, learning French, France

✨ Wanna receive the worksheet associated to this episode ?
Leave me your email below to receive an exclusive worksheet every week along with
the new podcast episode. This activity worksheet is designed to accompany an episode
of the podcast Parlons French – J’te fais un vocal, a podcast that helps you learn French in a different way, through real-life situations and French culture. It offers guided activities to expand your French vocabulary, understand expressions used by native French speakers in everyday life, and naturally improve your listening comprehension.
Designed for learners at B1 to C1 level, it allows you to practice French in an active, natural, and progressive way, either independently or in a group.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed this one, feel free to leave a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite listening platform!