Learning French: five short talk radio shows to improve your language skills
Improve your French comprehension with these quick, insightful broadcasts that can also be listened to as podcasts
Discover five engaging France Inter radio shows perfect for language learners
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France does great radio but listening to it can be a daunting prospect for a foreigner who is not yet fluent in the language. May I suggest that a good way to start is with a selection of chroniques (also called billets.)
These are segments given over to an extended personal comment or essay from an invited contributor. They are typically only three minutes long so you do not have to concentrate for long enough to get a headache.
If you listen to them as podcasts, rather than live, you will have the advantage of being able to choose a subject that interests you and perhaps you already know something about – meaning you will understand a lot more at the first take.
Some chroniques are also available as videos which makes them even easier to follow.
Read also: What are some good radio shows to learn about French culture?
Here are four recommended chroniques that form part of the morning show (Le 7/10) on France’s public talk radio station, France Inter and one other short programme on the same station that you may enjoy. Bonne écoute!
1. Géopolitique by Pierre Haski
If French domestic politics do not interest you, you might like these short broadcasts that explain what is happening in the world outside France. Haski, a veteran foreign correspondent, picks a topic in the international news; says why it is significant; and unpacks the complexity in a measured, objective manner.
2. Le billet de François Morel
Friday mornings. Morel is a well-known actor, director and screenwriter and he always has an interesting take on life. His witty and insightful essays cover an eclectic range of subjects – anything that takes his fancy – and they have been collected into books including Ca va aller !
Humour can be difficult to follow if it is loaded with cultural references and in-jokes, but Aram speaks clearly and makes good arguments in an amusing way. She tackles subjects of political and social relevance.
A cast of regular commentators is invited to deliver a point of view on a topic of the speaker’s own choosing. One guest once used the opportunity to explain how as a media personality she is often expected to comment on subjects she knows nothing about.
Generally, however this is a slot for informed comment and it is often used to give attention to an item in the news that might otherwise be treated as a soundbite.
12.45 daily. This is not a chronique but I include it here because it is a good, short programme to practise your French comprehension. It’s a ‘round France’ quiz broken up into 15 minute daily bites. The questions are about France and to do with general knowledge.
Read also: Films and series to watch in February to improve your French
