Symbols of France: Marianne, the Flag, La Marseillaise and More
Visitors are often surprised by how many symbols represent France: a bust of a woman in every town hall, a rooster on athletes' shirts, three words carved above school doors.…
Lyon’s Festival of Lights: History, Traditions and 2026 Dates
Every year in early December, Lyon becomes a city of light. Facades, churches, squares and parks turn into glowing works of art, and hundreds of thousands of visitors stroll the…
The Angoulême International Comics Festival
Tintin, Astérix, Lucky Luke, Gaston Lagaffe, Titeuf: comics are part of nearly every French speaker's childhood. In France they are even called « le neuvième art », the ninth art.…
The Deauville American Film Festival: Hollywood in Normandy
Every year in early September, the small seaside resort of Deauville, in Normandy, rolls out the red carpet for American cinema. Hollywood stars, independent films and film lovers meet for…
Émile Zola and the Impressionists: A Friendship and a Fight
Émile Zola is known for « Germinal », « L'Assommoir » and « J'accuse… ! », his open letter in the Dreyfus affair. Fewer people know that before becoming a…
Édith Piaf: The Life and Songs of France’s Little Sparrow
More than sixty years after her death, Édith Piaf is still the voice of French song around the world. At the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in 2024, one…
Why Learn French? What Inspires Our Students
Since 2007, we have often asked our new students the same question: "What makes you want to learn French?" The answers are as varied as their backgrounds: a plan to…
Public Holidays in France: Calendar, Traditions and Vocabulary
In France, people start talking about « faire le pont » as early as May, and everyone knows the 14 July parade. Public holidays shape the year, the holidays and…
Reading novels in « easy French »
Learning French by reading novels, classics as well as recent titles, crime fiction or even short stories, is entirely possible. Books in « français facile » (easy French) are adapted…
The French Press: Freedom, Tradition, and Modernity
Reading the French press is about more than keeping up with the news. It opens a door to French debates, French humour and everyday life in France. For a learner,…
