French connections

By FRANCE 24 English

A quirky, insider's guide to understanding France and the French, from the sublime to the ridiculous. Thursday at 1:45pm. And join us for French Connections Plus on the last Thursday

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FAQs about French connections:

How many episodes does French connections have?

The podcast currently has 203 episodes available.

French connections episodes:

July 17, 2020 An unusual summer for France's struggling tourism sector
It's the summer here in France, and despite the current pandemic, things are starting to open up in the hopes of boosting tourism. Many tourist sights from the Eiffel Tower to Disneyland Paris have cautiously reopened with strict hygiene rules. Meanwhile, with so many foreign visitors away, people working in the tourism industry are setting their hopes on French tourists. Can they make up for the losses suffered during the lockdown? We take a closer look in this edition of French Connections.
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7min
July 10, 2020 How will France celebrate Bastille Day during Covid-19?
Every year, France celebrates its national holiday – Bastille Day – on July 14. But this year's festivities are going to be very different due to the global pandemic. What's going to happen to the traditional military parade, fireworks display and fire station balls? Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot take a closer look in this week's French Connections.
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7min
July 03, 2020 French local elections and the 'green wave'
France’s environmental parties saw a surge in recent municipal elections, a success the local media are calling “the green wave”. The Greens captured a string of important large and mid-sized towns, including Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg and Besançon. Does this signal a deep change in France’s political landscape? Meanwhile,the second round was marked by a historically low turnout with just 40% of France’s electorate casting ballots.  Was this due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis or is it indicative of a crisis of democracy?
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7min
June 24, 2020 Life after lockdown: Exploring the 'new normal' in France
As France eases out of lockdown, people are heading back to their old ways of life, but these feel so unfamiliar. Though the places are the same, the way the French are supposed to navigate life is just different, whether it's wearing a mask or avoiding a kiss to say hello. What long-term impact are the coronavirus and the two-month lockdown going to have on French society? In this episode of French Connections Plus, Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot take a look at the "new normal" in post-lockdown France.
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12min
June 19, 2020 Colour-blind republic? France grapples with its own Black Lives Matter moment
The death of George Floyd in the US has unleashed protests in France. Demonstrators have expressed anger at racial injustice and police brutality, particularly toward minorities from France's former colonies in Africa. President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to be uncompromising in the face of racism, but has insisted France will not take down statues of colonial-era figures. Meanwhile, others are calling on the government to legalise the collection of statistics on race, religion or ethnicity. Is France, which likes to think of itself as a colour-blind republic, ready for change?
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8min
June 12, 2020 France after lockdown: Social distancing at the café
France is continuing to cautiously open up following a nearly two-month lockdown. In Paris, there's a welcome sense of normalcy as people once again fill the capital's famous café terraces. Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot explore how that works with social distancing rules. Also, the Eiffel Tower and cinemas are getting ready to re-open, but strict hygiene rules will apply there too. Finally, will the French be able to celebrate the cherished Fête de la musique music festival? Find out in this edition of French Connections.
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6min
June 05, 2020 'La' Covid-19: How coronavirus has affected the French language
In this week's French Connections show, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula continue to explore the long-term impact coronavirus is having on French society, starting with the language. According to the Académie française, the official guard dog of the French language, Covid-19 is feminine. What other new words and expressions have popped up in the wake of the pandemic? Meanwhile, as cafés and restaurants cautiously re-open, many French people are thrilled to return to a semblance of normalcy.
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7min
May 25, 2020 France's cultural industry eager to bounce back after lockdown
In France, the month of May is usually synonymous with the Cannes Film Festival. But this year, the world's biggest movie extravaganza did not take place due to the coronavirus pandemic. Whether it's cinema, theatre or music, all branches of France's prized cultural sector have taken a hit from the lockdown and it's unclear when things will improve. Facing harsh criticism from the artistic world, the French government recently unveiled a rescue plan. Will it be enough to save the country's prized cultural industry? Join us for this episode of French Connections.
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7min
May 15, 2020 Life after lockdown: Will the French kiss goodbye to 'la bise'?
As France slowly opens up after the lockdown, many are wondering about the long-term effects coronavirus is going to have on French society. One big question is "to bise or not to bise?" The "bise" is the traditional French way of saying hello with one or several kisses. As health and hygiene dominate the post-lockdown headlines, Florence Villeminot and Genie Godula discuss whether the French will kiss this cherished practice goodbye. Also, what are the French going to do with their cherished summer vacation? We take a closer look.
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8min
May 11, 2020 France under lockdown: Love in the time of Covid-19 and getting back to school
French is known as the language of love, Paris as the city of romance... but how have those things been affected by the coronavirus lockdown? Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot explore love and dating in confinement in this edition of French Connections, as well as some of the changes to expect after lockdown rules are eased. When and how are children going to start going back to school? And what's going to happen to the baccalaureate, France's infamous end-of-high-school exam?
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7min

FAQs about French connections:

How many episodes does French connections have?

The podcast currently has 203 episodes available.

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