French Guide
Our online language tools
The LCC offers a range of software options to study languages and enhance learning languages. Here are some of the resources:
- Mango Languages (multiple languages; create your own account and use online)
- Rosetta Stone (multiple languages; create your own account and use online)
- Skritter (Chinese and Japanese; create your own account and use online)
More information on the language learning softwares can be found here.
Grammar Links
To better understand grammar, it can be useful to look at real examples of how a particular structure or word is used. A "concordancer" is a tool that lets you search for a particular word, phrase or pattern, pulling out example sentences from a database of texts (which might be news articles, novels, speeches, etc.).
A search engine, like Google, can also be a quick, easy way to investigate questions like "What's the right way to say this?" Limit your results by domain to a country where the language is spoken (e.g., websites that end in ".es" for Spain). The more correct or natural wording will usually generate more search results.
- Google Advanced SearchLets you specify language of results or the country code/domain to search within.
- WebCorpThis concordancer searches the whole web for text. You can limit by country or to particular domains (e.g., French news websites).
- CorpusEyeIncludes searches in Danish, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Esperanto, Romanian, Swedish, Icelandic, Faroese.
- PolyU Language BankOffers concordance searches in several languages, especially Chinese, English and Japanese.
- SACODEYL - European Youth LanguageDatabase of European teen talk in English, French, German, Italian, Lithuanian, Romanian, and Spanish, including search, videos of interviews and practice exercises.
Virtual Language Learning Communities
It's important to practice expressing yourself in your new language--saying what you want to say, outside of the shelter of the classroom. Do you like meeting new people? You might enjoy a language/conversation exchange, where you connect with someone (from around the world!) who speaks the language you're learning, and who is trying to learn the language you speak. The websites below can help you find a conversation partner.
If you decide to pursue a language exchange, please be cautious about sharing personal information, to keep your identity and your person safe. While some language exchanges turn into lifelong friendships, others fizzle out after the first meeting, so don't be disappointed if your exchange doesn't last. Be upfront with potential conversation partners about your expectations: How often/how long do you want to meet? How much time will you spend speaking in each language? Do you want your partner to correct your language? Do you want to choose topics or talk about whatever comes up?
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The MixxerA language exchange website hosted by an educational institution. Find conversation partners, then meet via Skype.
Fun Apps!
Here is a selection of fun apps that you can access online related to French:
Busuu is an app that provides courses for people who are interested in learning French
Coursera offers online courses from more than 170 universities and companies.
Drops provide vocabulary practice in more than 45 languages. It also has beautiful illustrations that would help you learn!
edX offers courses from more than 160 universities. Many have great language courses.
This is an app for learners who wants to listen to the news in French.
Memrise is a helpful tool to learn vocabulary.
Duolingo has grown quite a bit the past few years! New features include guidebooks with tips at the start of each unit and practicing reading and listening skills with short stories!
Media: Newspapers, Radio
Here is a selection of newspapers that you can access online related to French
Our library subscribes to one French-language newspaper: Le Monde (France)
You can read the latest issues in the library; older issues are available for you to read (or keep, for free!) in the LCC:
In addition, you can read Le Monde and many other news sources in French online:
- BBC Afrique (UK)
- ICA Radio-Canada (Canada)
- Le Courrier du Vietnam (Vietnam)
- Le Droit (Canada)
- Le Figaro (France)
- L'Essor (Mali)
- Le Nouvelliste (Haiti)
- Libération (Morocco)
- Tribune de Genève (Switzerland)
Podcasts
Here is a selection of podcasts that you can access online related to French.
Coffee Break French offers four different seasons that accommodate learners from the absolute beginner to the more advanced level.
News, arts, science, history, and more programs, episodes, and podcasts. NPR is similar to this French station.
InnerFrench provides episodes that are about 30 mins long on a variety of topics such as science, politics, and humanities.
This podcast is an excellent resource to learn everyday conventional French
A slow French talk show, but the host sometimes also explains difficult words in English.
Listen to the news in slow French to practice your listening skills.
A podcast designed to help learners with their listening comprehension. Laetitia would share her everyday life, living in Paris.
French politics with Roselyne Febvre and Jean-Marie Colobani at France 24 News.
This is another podcast that was made by the France 24 News. New episode every Friday afternoon.
Other Language Resources
Here are some additional resources that might help with your French learning journey:
This site offers grammar, vocabulary, and interesting articles about the culture that are very helpful to French learners.
This is an online magazine that offers games, exercises, and quizzes.
This is great for advanced speakers who are interested in exploring more about literature and grammar.
A webpage that offers an overview of French grammar.