If you are learning French and are on the look-out for some
engaging video to watch, then “Extra French” could be a good option to check
out.
The 13 part series -- produced in the early 2000s by
UK-based Channel 4 Learning – is set in an apartment in France. French women
Annie and Sacha share the apartment and are visited frequently by their neighbor
Nico.
One day Sacha receives a postcard from her American pen pal,
Sam, who announces that he will be coming to stay. Sam does his best to
communicate with his basic French, leading to a certain amount of frustration
among his French friends and some amusing situations.
 |
| Sam gets to know his new French flatmates. |
“Extra French” is very much in the style of the US sitcom
“Friends” and as such is quite engaging on several levels. While the acting is
a little over-the-top, this is actually helpful for language learners as it serves
to dramatize and emphasize the spoken communication.
Topics covered in the episodes include shopping, looking for
work, holidays and sport.
According to the Channel 4 Learning website, the series is
aimed primarily at 14-16 year olds, but is also of interest to older students. Adult
learners, up to and including A2 level, may also find it a useful resource.
“Extra French” is readily available on the Internet,
including YouTube, and sometimes features French sub-titles. Another option is the Wisconsin Media Lab website, part of the Wisconsin’s public broadcasting system, where all of the
episodes are in one place.
Interestingly, the series is also available in German,
Spanish and English, with each language series following a similar story line and
shot on the same apartment set. The different language series feature different
actors, with the exception being the actor who plays Sam, who appears in the
French, German and Spanish episodes.
Teachers’ notes, including transcripts, are available on the
Channel 4 Learning website for the French, German and Spanish programmes.
Happy viewing!
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