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 list has been compiled by lecturing staff and sessional tutors in French at Monash University. For each resource there is an indication in brackets of the language level(s) for which it is appropriate. Please feel free to leave suggestions for further links in the comments box below and I will add them to the list. Enjoy!

News

Leading French daily newspaper

http://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

Accessible articles for French learners

http://www.vanin-methodes.be/cms_master/arcades/default.asp?webpageid=1773

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.

http://www.revue2presse.fr

News video

Daily 15 minute humorous take on the day’s news

http://www.canalplus.fr/c-divertissement/pid3351-c-le-petit-journal.html

35 minute daily prime-time news bulletin from one of France’s leading broadcasters

http://www.tf1.fr/jt-20h/

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-33-Bandes_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/Destination-Francophonie/p-23140-Accueil.htm

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-de-canal.html

Talk and discussion

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

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

 

Print and online magazine covering all aspects of philosophical inquiry. Premium subscription service offered, but lots of free content on the site.

http://www.philomag.com/

Good videos section: http://www.philomag.com/les-videos

Fancy playing an online philosophical game? http://www.philomag.com/jeux

Culture and film

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/

Although Grazia magazine in Australia is a celebrity/fashion tabloid, in France it has some interesting articles relevant to young people. Especially in its ‘Société’ section.

http://www.grazia.fr/

Books

Books are really cheap in France! Order them from FNAC and they send them to Australia.

http://www.fnac.com/

 

Learning French

Polar FLE (Intermediate to advanced)

Learn French grammar by following a French “detective” trying to solve a crime.

http://polarfle.com/

Cavilam en ligne (intermediate to advanced)

A wealth of online resources, including French song lyrics, French short videos…

http://cavilamenligne.com/

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

“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/

France in Melbourne, and Beyond

Alliance Française

Arguably the centre of all things French in Melbourne, sign up to the AF’s newsletter for more information on anything from the annual French Film Festival to their Christmas market: http://www.afmelbourne.com.au/

Alliance Française French Film Festival

The Alliance Française French Film Festival runs in Melbourne each autumn.

http://www.affrenchfilmfestival.org/default.aspx

FACCI

The French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry provides a wide range of events and services to the French-Australian business community.  In Melbourne, they have a strong group of young professionals for under 35 y/os.  Check out http://www.facci.com.au/ to find out more about membership or upcoming events.

L’église francophone de Melbourne

L’église francophone de Melbourne est une église chrétienne sans dénomination qui réunit ceux qui habitent ou visitent Melbourne : www.eglise.org.au

Le Petit Melbourne

Le Petit Melbourne printed guide is a free annual booklet listing French-related products and services in Melbourne and surrounding areas, in English.  It provides information on where to find everything from restaurants to museums, fine food to bars, markets to schools, caterers to photographers, bookstores to travel agencies…And now you can have a “piece of France in your pocket” with LPM’s brand new smartphone app!  www.lepetitmelbourne.com.au

Melbourne Accueil

Melbourne Accueil is a community group primarily for French ex-pats and their families, however they run regular events which you would no doubt be welcome to attend: http://www.melbourneaccueil.org/home

Melbourne French Theatre

Founded in 1977, Melbourne French Theatre is a non-profit incorporated association under the patronage of the French Ambassador to Australia. Presenting 2 plays a year and touring schools across Victoria, MFT’s mission is to cross-fertilise Australian and French-speaking cultures through theatre.  http://melbournefrenchtheatre.org.au/ Make the most of their very- reasonable student rates while you can!

Cinemas

Melbourne is a great place to keep up your French through French cinema!  See what your local (arthouse) cinema is currently screening.

Marseille, Capitale Européenne de la Culture 2013

In 2013, Marseille is host city for the European Capital of Culture.  Check out some of the many events being run…or attend some if you can!

http://www.mp2013.fr/