The audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Mondoblog. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to.
The above audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Mondoblog. The above is for educational purposes only. Find the full audio here.
on ne sait même pas
The content on this site has been predominantly “Hexagonal“, or from France. I want to expand to Francophones globally. Today’s content comes from RFI’s Mondoblog, from a speaker in Togo, West Africa.
Please share your thoughts below. What’s opening up? Was this challenging? What was a new word for you? Comment below.
The snippet in English
Find a translation of this snippet here, how much of this did you hear?
Mais personne ne nous dit : « Mets ça dans ton CV ! »
Et nous, on ne sait même pas comment en parler.
Alors qu’en vrai, chaque expérience compte.
Même réussir à organiser un exposé en groupe, sans se disputer, c’est de la gestion de projet.
But nobody tells us, “Put that on your CV!”
And we don’t even know how to talk about it.
But in real life, every experience counts.
Even managing to organize a group presentation without arguing is project management.
Translated with Deepl.
What does “ne sait même pas” mean?
Ne sait même pas means doesn’t even know—used to emphasize a lack of knowledge or awareness, often with surprise or criticism.
Il ne sait même pas où ça se trouve (He doesn’t even know where it is).
It’s conversational and slightly emphatic, highlighting ignorance or detachment.
In France, it’s widely used in informal speech to express disbelief or mock frustration; in Quebec, same usage, sometimes softened with pantoute (not at all) in spoken French (il sait même pas pantoute); in Francophone Africa, it’s often used in storytelling or commentary, adding emotional or dramatic weight (il ne sait même pas ce qu’il fait là – he doesn’t even know what he’s doing there).
What does “Alors qu’en vrai” mean?
Alors qu’en vrai means whereas in reality or but actually—used to contrast what people think with what’s truly happening.
Tout le monde croit qu’il est riche, alors qu’en vrai il a des dettes (Everyone thinks he’s rich, whereas in reality he has debts).
It’s informal and conversational, often used to introduce truth behind appearances.
In France, it’s common in everyday speech, especially among younger speakers, where en vrai adds a casual tone; in Quebec, usage is similar, though en réalité might be more frequent in formal contexts; in Francophone Africa, alors qu’en vrai is widely used in spoken French to highlight contrast or reveal what’s really going on, often with expressive storytelling flair.
What does “gestion de projet” mean?
Gestion de projet means project management—the planning, organization, and execution of a project from start to finish.
Elle travaille dans la gestion de projet pour une entreprise de construction (She works in project management for a construction company).
It’s formal and professional, widely used in business, tech, and engineering.
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?
Comment below with your feedback about learning with the news! Tells us what you think. Send a note or leave a comment below. We appreciate the feedback. Also, we’re always looking for partners to build this site and grow the content available.
The audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Mondoblog. We do not own this content, nor do we pretend to. The above audio sample and transcription is from RFI’s Mondoblog. The above is for educational purposes only. Find the full audio here. on ne sait même pas The content on this site has been predominantly…
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.
