Learn French with the news. This clip from RFI’s Revue de presse is 10 seconds long and has 30 words. Take our transcription quiz, can you hear them all?
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Learn French with the news! This clip is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Française 23 Aug Episode. Listen and fill in what you hear below. Read more and find a translation below. Find the full episode here.
The above audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Française 23 Aug Episode. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to. The above is for educational purposes only. Find the full text and audio here or on Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts.
All the boxes were ticked
As today’s news article has an issue with the audio, I’m going back to 23 Aug episode of the news and this sentence.
In this segment they are discussing Josephine Baker who was in the headlines for Macron’s agreement to have her reburied in the Panthéon in Paris. While she will be allowed to be reburied there, her family has instead decided to erect a plaque only. Ultimately, they have decided to keep her body in its current resting place in Monaco. (According to Wikipedia, Aug 2021)
I was immediately struck by this phrase while going through the English translation – “All the boxes were checked”. It’s a forgone conclusion that I’ll need to use this kind of statement in the post. What a great turn of phrase. It’s absolutely something I might say and would love to say in French.
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The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
Toutes les cases étaient cochées pour qu’elle devienne une icône de la diversité française qu’elle avait poussée à son paroxysme en adoptant douze enfants de pays et de continents différents.
All the boxes were ticked for her to become an icon of French diversity which she had taken to its climax by adopting twelve children from different countries and continents.
The above text translated using Google Translate. Translation Link. The content in French is from RFI.
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Toutes les cases étaient cochées
devienne une icône
poussée
paroxysme
Why Listening to RFI and the News Helps You Learn French in Real Life
At French IRL, we believe anyone at any level can start to immerse in real world French, French: In Real Life. Real life conversation and scenarios bring the language to life and connects it with the world around us. There’s no better place to connect to the world than with the news.
This is why our RFI and News category is a powerful tool for anyone learning French: it blends current events, authentic speech, and everyday vocabulary into real, living French. We try to focus on positive news (or at least not dwell on all the dark things in the world). The opinions expressed in these news posts do not necessarily represent the opinions of the editors of this project.
Listening to French news—especially from sources like RFI (Radio France Internationale)—exposes you to native pronunciation, cultural context, and the way people actually speak. You’ll hear idiomatic phrases, formal French, regional accents, and natural sentence structures, all in a format that’s more engaging than a textbook.
Explore other ways to grow your skills on our site:
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Whether you’re a beginner looking for context or an advanced learner keeping up with French current affairs, RFI and news-based learning brings vocabulary and comprehension together—just like it’s used in real life.
Improving your French Listening Comprehension with Podcasts
On this site, fast spoken French is finally accessible to all levels. The tool break podcasts into short clips each set to transcription fill-in-the-blank practice. My favorite practice in class is always dictées. While they can seem overwhelming at first, the confidence boost and skills payoff for doing the work pays off. They’re perfect for anyone at any level, from advanced students to those just starting.
We use podcasts and our practice exercises to make it possible for anyone, anywhere to immerse in French with fun and ease. Join us and enjoy French, one short clip at a time. Let’s learn together!
Make the most of the site:
- Daily Podcast Listening: Start your day with a French podcast from our collection. Choose episodes that align with your interests to keep it engaging.
- Active Listening Practice: As you listen, try to pick out key phrases and vocabulary. Use our daily quizzes to test your understanding and reinforce learning.
- Repeat and Shadow: Listen to the same podcast segment multiple times. Try to mimic the pronunciation and intonation to improve your spoken French.
- Note-taking: Jot down new words or phrases you encounter. Review these notes regularly to enhance vocabulary retention.
- Reflect and Respond: After each episode, summarize the main points in French, either in writing or aloud. This helps in consolidating your learning and improving your expressive skills.
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- Top Tips: Here’s how I make the most of my own site.
I created the French In Real Life project because I wanted to understand more than just my teacher and youtubers who cater to learners. I wanted to understand the French I hear in France. I hope you can benefit as much as I have. Become a supporting member for access to all clips.
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