I happened across a great site yesterday – News in Slow French! A fantastic site with current news articles and accompanying (slow) audios!
They exist in many languages – Linguistica 360 Inc. publishes them in French, Spanish, German and Italian, but I also found similar sites in Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese and others.
The site has a free Demo Episode, and for to access their other (weekly) episodes there is are subscriptions available at different levels of service, payable monthly or annually.
Benefits of Using News In Slow French
I found the service to be a great way of getting regular, reliable audio and transcript support to support your listening and reading learning, for several reasons:
- the issues are in the media, so you are probably already familiar with the content,
- the articles are relatively short, so you can do one a day, and it will only take between 5 – 20 minutes, depending on your level of French, to listen and absorb and ensure you understand the whole story,
- with both slow and normal speed audios, the service is going to be flexible to your ability as it improves,
What Is Included In The News In Slow French Subscription?
An episode includes 4 separate stories of current affairs taken from the media in the previous week.
At the entry level of subscription each story has an online transcript which can also be downloaded as a pdf, and an audio file playable on the site (at slow or normal speed) or downloadable as an mp3 file.
Also each week for those paying for the premium service there is:
- a grammar point, with dialogue (including online and downloadable transcript and audio) and lesson,
- a list of expressions including a lesson and dialogue with transcripts and audios,
- a pronunciation exercise, including the ability to use your computer’s microphone and record yourself speaking, then listen back to compare yourself to the audio provided,
- 2 quizzes on the grammar point in the lesson.
Cost of Subscription for News in Slow French
The cost, starting at around £5 per month for online access, and just under £30 per month for the full service, represents a reasonable investment in your language education.
Conclusion
Delving into the world of “News In Slow French” offers a unique and effective approach to language learning.
With the option to read and listen online, the service provides a flexible and accessible way to enhance your French skills.
Embrace the opportunity to immerse yourself in the richness of the French language at your own pace.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, “News In Slow French” caters to a spectrum of learners.
Take the next step in your linguistic journey and experience the benefits firsthand.
Sign up today and open the door to a world of language learning
tailored to your needs.
Bonne chance!
Cate is a language enthusiast sharing her language learning journey here. Apart from her native English (albeit 'Strine'*!), as an adult she has also learned Auslan (Australian Sign Language) to approximately a C1 level, Dutch to around B1/2, French to around A2, and has a smattering of other languages.
B.A. (Anthropology/Marketing), Grad. Dip. Arts (Linguistics), Grad. Cert. Entrepreneurship & Venture Development, (CELTA).
Auslan Interpreter (NAATI), and general Language Nut.
*For more information on 'Strine', visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strine