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:
http://itunes.apple.com/fr/app/le-monde-fr/id294047850?mt=8
Le Monde android app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lemonde.androidapp&hl=en
Videos: all the videos from the lemonde.fr site
http://www.lemonde.fr/rss/videos.xml
‘Telezapping’: a review of the day’s newspapers in France.
http://www.lemonde.fr/podcast-ele-zapping.xml
Internet actuel (intermediate to advanced)
Accessible articles for French learners
http://www.vaninmethodes.be/cms_master/arcades/default.asp?webpageid=1773
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.
www.revue2presse.fr
News video
Le Petit Journal (advanced)
Daily 15 minute humorous take on the day’s news
http://www.canalplus.fr/c-divertissement/pid3351-c-le-petit-journal.html
TF1, le journal de 20h (intermediate to advanced)
35 minute daily prime-time news bulletin from one of France’s leading
broadcasters
http://www.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
http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/accueil_apprendre.php
Learn French while watching TV shows on different themes (gastronomy, travel,
comics, traditional professions...) and complete interactive exercises
http://www.tv5.org/TV5Site/enseigner-apprendre-francais/collection-33Bandes_dessinees_BDmix.htm
Discover French regions
http://cabouge.tv5monde.com/france/alsace/
Discover the French language’s presence around the world
http://www.tv5.org/cms/chaine-francophone/Revoir-nos-emissions/DestinationFrancophonie/p-23140-Accueil.htm
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.
http://www.canalplus.fr/c-infos-documentaires/pid2800-c-le-jt-decanal.html
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:
http://www.franceinter.fr/player
Ideas
Le Journal de la philosophie (advanced)
Get your daily 5-minute fix of what’s going on in the world of French philosophy.
http://www.franceculture.fr/emission-le-journal-de-la-philosophie
XML: http://radiofrance-podcast.net/podcast09/rss_12016.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: http://www.philomag.com/les-videos
Fancy playing an online philosophical game? http://www.philomag.com/jeux
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.
http://www.telerama.fr/
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.
http://www.grazia.fr/societe
Books
La FNAC (all levels)
Books are really cheap in France! Order them from FNAC and they send them to
Australia.
http://www.fnac.com/
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.
http://www.rfi.fr/lffr/statiques/accueil_apprendre.asp
http://www.rfi.fr/lffr/dynamiques/liste_fait_du_jour_archive.aspx
http://www.rfi.fr/lffr/pages/001/accueil_exercice_ecoute.asp
Audio bilingual series to learn French
http://www.rfi.fr/cours_de_francais/le_talisman_brise
Canal académie (Intermediate and advanced)
“L’espace apprendre” section of Radio France Internationale, especially
designed for French learners. Learn French while listening to thematic radio shows (Art,
Economy, Medecine,Sociology...)
http://www.canalacademie.com/apprendre/