What time is it? Ask the Verbarius clock, and in a very human-like manner, you'll get a different answer each time--though the right one every time: it’s either forty-five minutes past four, or fifteen minutes to five, or four forty-five, or a quarter to five.
English, German, Spanish, French and Russian are built-in available languages, with anything from Latin to Gaelic available via USB connection from your computer. Perhaps this could help you learn French, in addition to those podcasts, before you make that trip to Paris?
We love that the clock doesn't take itself too seriously, either, as the button for changing the language is the one on the right. 
Do you actually ask this thing the time? I think it would work great for my bedroom but would prefer to not wake my wife up asking my clock what time it is!