meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

408: How 3-Years of French Language Classes Elevated My Experience While Visiting France

The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

Shannon Ables

Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education

4.7944 Ratings

🗓️ 13 August 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The journey of learning anything new, putting in the hours, the practice, and progressing in a controlled environment eventually must make its way into the real-world to ensure any confidence we have gained is sound.

Over the past three years, as many TSLL riders and listeners of the podcast know, I enrolled in French language classes (12 in total) with Washington D.C.'s Alliance de Français through their online classes. Completing through FR 204 (B 1.3) in February of this year, I had met my goal and set about heading to France in March, not having been there since 2022 when upon returning home I enrolled in these classes. As a way to keep me focused, inspired and determined, I told myself to complete all 100 and 200 level classes before I could return.

My learning journey was shared in a 9-part series consisting of podcast episodes and blog posts, and you can view all of them here. Those posts/episodes include detailed grammar and vocabulary lessons and really step into the language learning process. Today's episode is less concrete French language conversation and more about the experience of being in France having the language more comfortably accessible in my cognitive toolbox.

Whether you are in the middle of your French language journey, just beginning or well-advanced along the road of proficiency, may today's episode convey reassurance that your investment of time and money will be worth your efforts in more ways than you might imagine possible.

Let's take a look at how the two week trip unfolded with the French language in use.

View the detailed Show Notes for episode #408 here - https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast408 

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Welcome to the simple sophisticate, where in 2014, this podcast premiered.

0:08.9

And now in its 11th season, the show continues to focus on the same principles it was founded upon,

0:15.0

the art of living a life of quality over quantity.

0:18.8

Topics range from creating an everyday life you love living,

0:22.2

strengthening mindfulness practices, building a capsule wardrobe,

0:26.1

preparing seasonally delicious meals,

0:28.4

traveling and exploring France and Britain,

0:30.9

and living life to the fullest without breaking the bank,

0:34.5

because living well really is quite simple. I'm your host, Shannon Ables,

0:40.1

and whether you're listing on your commute, exercising, working in the garden in route,

0:44.7

or returning from that dream destination, or sitting down with a hot cuppa or a cafe

0:50.5

au lae, thank you for tuning in. Let's get started.

0:58.8

Bonjour and Buené vu. Welcome to episode 408 of the simple sophisticated podcast, and I welcome

1:07.2

you in French because today's episode is being aired during the Simply

1:11.8

Luxurious Life's 10th annual French week.

1:14.5

And yes, this is a French-inspired podcast episode this week.

1:19.1

So what are we talking about?

1:20.4

We are concluding the multi-year nine post-episode series that has carried us through the language learning journey of French.

1:31.4

And as many of you know, I've had a few of that nine-part series.

1:35.2

I've turned them into episodes and they shared with you what I learned in French class so

1:40.1

far.

1:40.5

But now, no, the language journey is not done.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Shannon Ables, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Shannon Ables and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.