For many people, aural or listening comprehension is one of the most difficult parts of learning French.
Reading French is perhaps the easiest, as you can see the words in their context and you have more time to figure out what the words mean. Speaking is not easy, but most students will have some level of vocabulary they can call upon, even if it is simply a Bonjour or au revoir.
Listening to French as it is spoken can be challenging. One of these challenges is time: For the learner, French native speakers seem to speak too quickly and many words are lost.
A second challenge is pronunciation: When reading you can see the whole word, but when listening speakers don’t pronounce all parts of every word while other words run together. Intonation can make words you recognize in writing seem very strange when spoken.
A third challenge: There just seems too much information. While you are processing the words you have just heard, you have to also be listening out for the ongoing stream of words.
The obvious answer to this problem is to get as much listening practice as possible. Even if you are not in a total French environment, there are plenty of listening opportunities on the Internet. One I’d like to particularly recommend is “Le journal en français facile” on Radio France International (RFI).
This daily news programme of current events, which uses relatively simple words and explains things in their context, is available on the RFI website, at the top of the Apprendre le français section.
The Journal package includes an audio file of about 10 minutes, which can be streamed online or downloaded, along with a script.
The Journal can be used in a variety of ways: You can listen to the audio one or more times and then read the script (probably the more challenging method). Or you can listen to the audio while reading the script. Alternatively, you could read the script and then listen to the audio. Whichever method you choose, engaging with the Journal will give you practice in listening.
While it is invaluable to have written text of the audio, in some places the audio differs from the script. This is partly because the presenters go off script and partly due to some segments being from field reporters. This actually makes for a good additional learning opportunity: Listen closely and try to fill in the missing text.
Another good thing about the Journal is that it relates to current news. If you are familiar with the news in English or other language, then it will be easier to understand the Journal.
Listen to the Journal as part of your daily routine and you will get at least 70 minutes of French each week – more if you listen to each edition several times.
Reading French is perhaps the easiest, as you can see the words in their context and you have more time to figure out what the words mean. Speaking is not easy, but most students will have some level of vocabulary they can call upon, even if it is simply a Bonjour or au revoir.
Listening to French as it is spoken can be challenging. One of these challenges is time: For the learner, French native speakers seem to speak too quickly and many words are lost.
A second challenge is pronunciation: When reading you can see the whole word, but when listening speakers don’t pronounce all parts of every word while other words run together. Intonation can make words you recognize in writing seem very strange when spoken.
A third challenge: There just seems too much information. While you are processing the words you have just heard, you have to also be listening out for the ongoing stream of words.
The obvious answer to this problem is to get as much listening practice as possible. Even if you are not in a total French environment, there are plenty of listening opportunities on the Internet. One I’d like to particularly recommend is “Le journal en français facile” on Radio France International (RFI).
This daily news programme of current events, which uses relatively simple words and explains things in their context, is available on the RFI website, at the top of the Apprendre le français section.
The Journal package includes an audio file of about 10 minutes, which can be streamed online or downloaded, along with a script.
The Journal can be used in a variety of ways: You can listen to the audio one or more times and then read the script (probably the more challenging method). Or you can listen to the audio while reading the script. Alternatively, you could read the script and then listen to the audio. Whichever method you choose, engaging with the Journal will give you practice in listening.
While it is invaluable to have written text of the audio, in some places the audio differs from the script. This is partly because the presenters go off script and partly due to some segments being from field reporters. This actually makes for a good additional learning opportunity: Listen closely and try to fill in the missing text.
Another good thing about the Journal is that it relates to current news. If you are familiar with the news in English or other language, then it will be easier to understand the Journal.
Listen to the Journal as part of your daily routine and you will get at least 70 minutes of French each week – more if you listen to each edition several times.
