French
Online Extensive Reading and Listening Programme

Online Radio

Once you have gained confidence and want a bigger challenge, you ought to also make use of the radio sites which offer excellent opportunities to really test your listening skills. Try the France Inter site, the main French public radio equivalent of the BBC. The advantage of this site is that it offers short and authentic French audio materials updated on a daily basis.

• Click on http://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/chro/liste/. This will take you to a list of short radio reports (chroniques) that are normally no longer than 5 minutes in length on a various range of subjects.
• Each report offers an introduction of its content, some with a full script. Try 'L'édito' and click on "(ré)écouter" on the top right-hand side. This two-minute daily broadcast is also archived for 180 days. Please note however that not all ‘chroniques’ offer a full transcript especially if they contain interviews, nor do they all offer such an extensive archive access.
• Once you feel more confident listening to the radio, try more substantial programmes by consulting ‘La liste des émissions’ and selecting from a wider range of subjects according to your own interests. If you like or study History your might be interested in 2000 ans d'Histoire, a 30-minute daily program archived for 30 days.
• If you like the news but find it daunting to listen to on the radio, there is also Le journal en français facile specifically designed for learners of French on RFI. You can listen with the script if you wish and there is also some listening exercises available to help you consolidate the language.