Talking France

Why fewer foreigners are becoming French and how to solve France's second home quandary?

This week we start off with some explosive news from France before we hear why authorities on a picturesque island off France's west coast are offering second home owners thousands of euros for their properties and look at why houses have become so expensive in places like the famous Il de Ré.And we'll look at how speed cameras are getting flashier in France and try to understand why everyone, in rural parts of the country especially, hate them to the point of burning them down.We'll also explain why there's been a big drop in the number of foreigners becoming French, but why there's been a big rise in the number of Americans moving across the Atlantic to set up home in France.And we'll help you reveal the animal in you by teaching you some must-know French expressions...Host Ben McPartland and I'll be joined by the team at The Local France, Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and John Lichfield. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is France becoming less child-friendly and what's at stake in spring's local elections?

Up this week we'll look at what's at stake in the upcoming local elections in France and whether French voters really care. And we'll look ahead to the French presidential election to see whether anyone can unite the left... and whether French voters really care.We'll also look at why kids have been banned from some first class trains in France and whether France, on the whole, is less child-friendly than other countries. We'll hear about the move in the country to avoid American tech companies and indeed other US brands and we'll look forward to some of the best and most bizarre festivals in France this year. Stay with us to hear the strangest sound we've ever heard on Talking France.And we'll see whether us French learners should really be aiming to speak like Edith Piaf.Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France - Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and our politics expert John Lichfield.You'll find many more articles about France at The Local.fr Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Americans in France talk of shame and explaining the strange noises the French make

This week we'll look at whether the French government will survive long enough to enjoy the weekend and find out what the French make of all this budget bedlam that's been going on far too long, especially when the world seems to be lurching towards a crisis.And speaking of that crisis, we'll look ahead to where these mounting tensions between France, Europe and Donald Trump will lead too, and we'll hear from our American listeners in France as to how they are impacted by it all.We'll also look at how bad a plague hazing is at French universities and get a view on how different the drinking cultures is between French and British students.And are open fires in cosy homes in rural France soon to be a thing of the past?And we'll explain some of the weird and wacky noises you'll hear the French make.Host Ben McPartland is joined this week by the two Emmas : Pearson and Albright and the one John: Lichfield that is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it time for France to channel De Gaulle and stand up to the US?

This week on Talking France we look at the reasons so many landlords in France get away with renting out hovels - even though there are supposed to be laws against it.We’ll look at just how safe skiing is in France these days given 6 people, including one Briton, were killed in avalanches over the weekend.And we’ll look at why France’s leaders are being urged to channel their “inner De Gaule” and stand up to the United States.And we’ll learn how to talk about the cold weather like a real French person. Host Ben McPartland is joined by the team at The Local France Emma Pearson, Emma Albright and politics expert John Lichfield. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France takes fight to social media giants and how Les Clooneys became French

This week we’ll discuss the big talking point in France at the start of January 2026, which  is just how did George Clooney and his wife Amal and their kids become French citizens?George doesn’t seem to be a full time resident in France, nor by his own admission does he speak French very well, nor is he married to a French national, so how did he do it? We’ll find out and look at some of the reactions to Monsieur George Clooney getting a French passport.We’ll also look at the strikes that are starting to pile up at the start of the year, hear about the French government’s plan to ban young teenagers from accessing social media sites and help you learn some key French strike vocab and importantly how to pronounce it. For this new series of Talking France, well it’s a combination of the old and the new, the old, well that’s host Ben McPartland and Emma Pearson The Local France’s editor and John Lichfield our politics expert. And the new, well we’ve got a new member of The Local France team, she’s also an Emma - Emma Albright. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.