Getting the Most out of Free French Media
Please find below a list of audio, video and text resources on the web to help you follow your interests in French news, politics, culture and society. The text in green gives you an idea of the language level for which each resource is appropriate.
News
Le Monde(proficient to advanced)
Leading French daily newspaper
www.lemonde.fr/
Le Monde iphone app:
Le Monde androidapp:
Videos: all the videos from the lemonde.fr site
‘Telezapping’: a review of the day’s newspapers in France.
Internet actuel(intermediate to advanced)
Accessible articles for French learners
Revue de presse (all levels)
A daily update of all the front covers of magazines and newspapers in France, organised in different categories and with links to each publication’s website.
News video
Le Petit Journal (advanced)
Daily 15 minute humorous take on the day’s news
TF1, le journal de 20h (intermediate to advanced)
35 minute daily prime-time news bulletin from one of France’s leading broadcasters
tf1.fr/jt-20h/
TV5 monde (all levels)
The “langue française” section of TV5 monde, especially designed for French learners.
Learn French while watching short TV shows on current affairs and complete interactive exercises
Learn French while watching TV shows on different themes (gastronomy, travel, comics, traditional professions...) and complete interactive exercises
Discover French regions
Discover the French language’s presence around the world
Le JT de Canal+(all levels)
This news bulletin is quite short and very clear - it’s a good one for the lower levels of proficiency.
Talk and discussion
Radio France Inter (proficient/advanced)
Radio France Inter has a great selection of recorded interviews and discussions of both news-related and cultural topics. You can listen to them online here:
Ideas
Le Journal de la philosophie (advanced)
Get your daily 5-minute fix of what’s going on in the world of French philosophy.
XML:
Philosophie magazine(proficient to advanced)
Print and online magazine covering all aspects of philosophical inquiry. Premium subscription service offered, but lots of free content on the site.
Good videos section:
Fancy playing an online philosophical game?
Culture and film
Télérama(proficient to advanced)
Telerama has reviews of films and shows on in France. It is an interesting read to get up to date on what is on in France, as is a good guide of what to look for if you are interested in French film.
Grazia
Although Grazia magazine in Australia is a celebrity/fashion tabloid, in France it has some interesting articles relevant to young people. Especially in its ‘Societe’ section.
Books
La FNAC(all levels)
Books are really cheap in France! Order them from FNAC and they send them to Australia.
Learning French
Radio France Internationale(Intermediate and advanced)
The “langue française” section of Radio France Internationale, especially designed for French learners. Learn French while listening to short radio shows on current affairs.
Audio bilingual series to learn French
Canal académie(Intermediate and advanced)
“L’espaceapprendre” section of Radio France Internationale, especially designed for French learners. Learn French while listening to thematic radio shows (Art, Economy, Medecine,Sociology...)