Intermediate Lessons

In this lesson, lesson 111, we discuss the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by Irish voters. An event which dominated current affairs in Europe recently. This very complicated document, aimed at facilitating the functioning of the EU, will not come into force - at least not for now. So then, what next for Europe ?

The real race to the White House has begun, after a gruelling campaign for the Democrats. For now Hillary Clinton is out of the picture, leaving Barack Obama and John McCain to slug it out. In this lesson, lesson 110, let’s discover some vocabulary which will help us discuss what’s been happening in recent weeks.

In this lesson, lesson 109, our conversation centres on oil and, more significantly, the spiralling price of oil. Let’s discover some of the vocabulary we'll need in order to talk about prices that are going through the roof, investors, yield, alternative sources of energy, speculating, and more.

Kaleema, one of our listeners in the U.S., asked if we would talk a little about tennis and Roland Garros. That’s the topic for today’s lesson. We’re coming to the end of the 2008 tournament : let’s see what vocabulary and expressions would be useful to discuss what's been happening.

In this lesson we talk about a common physical condition which effects so many people : back pain. We’ll learn how to describe the pain and we’ll talk about the possible solutions to this problem. Should we visit our GP or our physiotherapist ? Let’s find out.

In this lesson, lesson 104, we'll discover the vocabulary required to go on a shopping trip for inexpensive jewelry. Sophie wants to buy jewelry which will go with her outfit. Let's hear how her conversation with Jean unravels. The conversation begins at the shopping centre. Jean is starting out on the shopping trip, too, but he may not stand the pace for long...

This lesson is in response to an idea from Brian living in the Hautes-Alpes who was taking some time out from working in his kitchen garden and wanted to know how to talk about vegetables, manure, compost and more … He also mentioned food shortages and high food prices. This is the subject of today’s lesson – lesson 103.

One of our listeners asked: 'How do you complain about poor service?' In this lesson we'll see how to say we didn't order something, how to say that food is cold, and how to talk about an error in the bill. It all happened during this outing to a restaurant.

Hard though it is to believe, we have reached our hundredth lesson since we first started in june 2006. so, in this lesson, why not talk about anniversaries... and learn how to never forget an anniversary again! let's start with a role-play between marc and sylvie ...

Zimbabwe is anxiously awaiting the results of presidential elections. robert mugabe, in power for the last 28 years, looks to be in trouble but shows no signs of giving up the reins of power easily. let’s hear a conversation in this intermediate lesson which sheds some light on mugabe himself as well as the challenges facing this country of southern africa. let’s start with a role-play between carole and thierry.