Learn French with the news! This clip from 24 Aug’s Revue de Presse is 22 seconds long with 75 words. Quiz yourself: listen and transcribe what you hear.
Start quiz, type what you hear, then join the conversation.
Did you find this one challenging or easy? Did you hear something diffferent? What surprised you? What levels did you complete? Comment below and share what’s opening up for you with this quiz.
Image credit and read more about Jean Baptiste Alaize here: au.sports.yahoo.com.
Learn French with the news! This clip is from RFI’s Revue de Presse Française 24 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 24 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.
I’m tired
Let’s try something a little bit harder. I found this 5 minute round up daily from RFI. They have transcripts and dive into trending news items to discuss the headlines. It seems to be two guys going back and forth – rapidly.
In today’s episode, they’re discussing the Tokyo Paralympic games and the difficulty those athletes have in maintaining their participation economically.
As in other segments on this website, I’m not so concerned with the content. I love this because it seems to be broadcast French, Parisian and flawless. It’s often moving at a very quick pace, so words get truncated and shrunk.
In this clip, I’m hearing “Pendant ce temps” as a super fast pendanmps. The rest of the clip also proves difficult for my ear. Even for expressions I should know, like Washing the car.
How much are you hearing and understanding? Any suggestions for what we should change or add? Let us know.
The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
Pendant ce temps, les athlètes des autres nations, comme par exemple les Anglais, sont professionnels et concentrés uniquement sur leur performance. Jean-Baptiste Alaize a l’impression de ne pas pouvoir se réaliser comme un sportif à part entière. « Je n’ai pas fait tous ces sacrifices pour gagner mille euros par mois. À l’époque des Jeux de Rio, j’ai même lavé des voitures pour préparer la compétition. Aujourd’hui, je n’ai plus envie, je suis fatigué… »
Meanwhile, athletes from other nations, such as the English, are professional and focused solely on their performance. Jean-Baptiste Alaize feels he can’t fulfill his potential as a fully-fledged sportsman. “I didn’t make all these sacrifices to earn a thousand euros a month. At the time of the Rio Games, I even washed cars to prepare for the competition. Today, I don’t feel like it anymore, I’m tired…”.
Translated with Deepl.
What does “pendant ce temps” mean?
Pendant ce temps means meanwhile or during that time—used to describe something happening at the same time as another action.
Elle faisait la cuisine, pendant ce temps il mettait la table (She was cooking, meanwhile he was setting the table)
It’s neutral and narrative, often used to structure stories or events.
In France, it’s a staple in both written and spoken French, helping to signal parallel actions; in Quebec, it’s used the same way, though en attendant may sometimes appear instead in casual speech; in Francophone Africa, pendant ce temps is commonly used in storytelling or news-style narration, where it adds rhythm and clarity to time-based sequences.
What does “ne pas pouvoir” mean?
Ne pas pouvoir means to not be able to—used to express inability, impossibility, or prohibition.
Je ne peux pas venir ce soir (I can’t come tonight)
It’s neutral and essential, forming one of the most basic negative modal structures in French.
In France, ne pas pouvoir is used constantly in all contexts, with ne often dropped in casual speech (je peux pas); in Quebec, this dropped-ne usage is even more common in spoken French (chu pas capable can also replace it informally); in Francophone Africa, ne pas pouvoir is generally used in its full form, especially in formal or written French, though spoken use may simplify it depending on local French varieties.
What does “à part entière” mean?
À part entière means full-fledged or fully recognized—used to show that someone or something is considered complete, independent, or fully legitimate in its own right.
Elle est une artiste à part entière (She’s a full-fledged artist)
It’s formal to neutral, often found in writing, media, or respectful speech.
In France, it’s used to affirm inclusion or status (un métier à part entière – a real profession); in Quebec, usage is the same, especially in institutional or identity contexts (une nation à part entière); in Francophone Africa, à part entière often appears in political, cultural, or social discourse to assert autonomy, legitimacy, or full membership (un partenaire à part entière – a full partner).
What does “à l’époque” mean?
À l’époque means at the time or back then—used to refer to a specific period in the past, often with a sense of contrast to the present.
À l’époque, il n’y avait pas d’Internet (Back then, there was no Internet)
It’s neutral and common, found in both casual storytelling and historical reflection.
In France, it’s used frequently to talk about childhood, past decades, or social change; in Quebec, usage is identical, often evoking nostalgia (à l’époque des cabanes à sucre – back in the sugar shack days); in Francophone Africa, à l’époque often refers to colonial or post-independence periods, commonly used in speeches, education, or family storytelling to mark generational shifts.
What does “je n’ai plus envie” mean?
Je n’ai plus envie means I no longer feel like it or I don’t want to anymore—used to express that the desire or motivation for something has faded.
Je n’ai plus envie de sortir ce soir (I don’t feel like going out anymore tonight).
It’s neutral and emotional, common in both casual and heartfelt contexts.
In France, it’s often used in personal conversations to express emotional distance or fatigue; in Quebec, usage is identical, with a slightly softer tone in spoken French (j’ai pu envie in very casual speech); in Francophone Africa, je n’ai plus envie is understood the same way and often carries weight in emotional or moral discussions, signaling a shift in will or values.
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:
- Try a daily French quiz for bite-sized practice
- Get full access to our tools with the All Access Pass
- Learn how to make the most of our content in our guide, How I Use French IRL
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.
- Read More:
- True Beginner or A1 Learners: discover tips learning with podcasts at an introductory level.
- Discover all the podcast clips on FrenchIRL organized by level.
- 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.
What did you love about this?
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Good write-up. I absolutely love this site.
Keep it up!
Hey very nice blog!