Vivian Draper is a freelance writer, documentary film maker and broadcaster. She lives part time in Grenoble, and is a presenter on English Talk Radio 90.8FM Radio Campus Grenoble. You can listen to ETR every Wednesday at 1900 hours and every Sunday at 12h30. James Dalrymple interviews.

Grenoble Life: How did you come to be involved with the show on Radio Campus?

English Talk Radio: It was the idea of Bernard Picard, a colleague at Open House, The English Speaking Cultural Association, to put English on the radio in Grenoble. He had heard English on the radio in Annecy, and wondered why we didn’t have it in Grenoble. He did all the research, and ended up talking to Radio Campus Grenoble. Then he sent me an email …

GL: Who is your show for?

ETR: People who are interested in books, theatre, film, finance, travel, ideas. We also do local motion – what is going on in the schools and unis and business schools. For a city with 35,000 expats, 65,000 students, 9,000 of them foreign students, it is a super place to be communicating in English. Also, English conversation groups listen to maintain their English, mostly French people, so we have to be very clear and precise with our language. I have heard of two people who are trying to learn English from our show. Truly terrifying to think of.

GL: Is the show pre recorded and then edited?

ETR: We started off in 2005 with a live show, which went out at 1400 hours every Friday. We then realised that this was not a good time frame for most of our listeners, as they wanted to listen in their cars, or on their computers; so we asked to pre record, and go on air during drive time, 1900 hours every Wednesday, with a repeat on Sundays at 12h30. We still pretend we are live though, never stop and change anything – mistakes are part of our charm (laughs) … we are never edited, as far as I know.

GL: Do you work with a separate producer?

ETR: We work with a sound engineer – it can be Alexandre Hadade, who is the co-ordinator for 90.8FM, the boss man, or it can be one of the other technicians, depends who is available.

GL: What is the most difficult thing about presenting the show?

ETR: Timing. Timing is everything. We have thirty minutes to fill, and thirty minutes is a long time in radio time. No silences allowed; radio time is valuable, so we have to watch the clock, watch the script, watch the technician, watch the guests. It can be overwhelming. If the sound engineer is ringing a guest, and there is a problem, and we are expecting to talk to said guest, then we have to go into free fall, filler, talk about anything, everything, just to keep things going until the guest is available. Can be nerve wracking. That is why my favourite number is 29:54 – it means we came in under 30 minutes, and we didn’t cause any trouble for the next show, or the technicians.

GL: Do you have to work or study on campus in order to be involved in Campus Radio?

ETR: No. Anyone can present an idea to Radio Campus Grenoble, explain what they want to do, and see if the board thinks it a good idea. It does take up a lot of time though, so be prepared for that. You do have to join the association as well. Radio is 90% male, out of 50 shows on radio, less than 5 will be written, and presented by women. I would like to hear more women on radio. ETR is an all woman show – we even had a female technician for a time (laughs) … it was wonderful … we didn’t start out with that idea, it just happened, at least fifty percent of our guests are male – really … 90.8FM is a music station, so we are a little bit of an anomaly; however they are all so helpful to us, and make things work for us as ETR is a talk show. Go and see the Richard Curtis film, Good Morning England, working at 90.8 is exactly like that … (more laughing)

GL: Had you worked on the radio before Radio Campus?

ETR: I’m a freelance writer, specialising in politics, elections mostly, so I had interviewed people on the radio. Nothing like this though, if I am not prepared, or slip up, the whole show can come crashing down. Fortunately we have strong presenters – Kristine Minski who is our financial presenter has been with the show since 2005, Christina Menez who talks about China has been with ETR for two years now. They are always prepared, on time with their copy – ready to go. They are very professional, and we work well together. We also have an intern, it was Ingrid this year, who talks about what the students are up to. ETR is a team effort. No stars, no divas, lots of behind the scenes drama, though …

GL: Can you tell us about some memorable guests and experiences you have had during the course of the show?

ETR: Our guests are always wonderful, I’ll tell no tales, they are the pivotal part of ETR. They are always interesting, they make us laugh, and sometimes makes us cry. I think the best shows have been when we have several in studio guests, they start talking to each other, and we lose control of the show. That is fun. You didn’t ask me this, but I want to say, for all the hard work, working on ETR is great; we all enjoy doing the show so much. I think that comes through in our broadcasts.

GL: What do you do besides your work on Campus Radio?

ETR: Well, as I told you, I’m a freelance writer, that is my main job. I’m also a documentary film maker, working on my second film right now, so I’m away from Grenoble about half the time. Then there is the radio show. I’m also on various committees for volunteer work, under 5s food programme in Africa, literacy in Washington DC. Then there is my love of international literature, I belong to three book groups in Grenoble – books are my passion. Ideas, I’m very curious, I love to share ideas. I dislike the word exclusive, love the word inclusive. Having lived all over the world, I like the idea of sharing books, books bring people together. Quoting Anjana Chowdhury – ‘books can change your life’.

GL: Why did you originally come to live in Grenoble?

ETR: I came to Grenoble to finish a book, which I did, and then, like so many people, just stayed. I love the mountains, the multi ethnicity of Grenoble – inter cultural dynamics, multi cultural sensitivity, all very interesting to me.

GL: Have your activities on Radio Campus been affected by the recent student strikes and protests?

ETR: No. Not at all. The radio has kept going, no sit ins, no taking over the radio station, so our work has not been affected. However, we have talked about it.

GL: How does campus culture in France compare to your experience as a student in your native country?

ETR: Well, it is a long time since I was a student, if you don’t count my attempts to learn Chinese. I think students should protest, should care, should try to change things. Life should be messy and annoying sometimes, if it brings about change for the better.

GL: What advice would you give English speakers planning to come and live in Grenoble?

ETR: I don’t give advice. Thank you for this interview, Mr Dalrymple … (last laugh)

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