Every language-learning professional will tell you that immersion is the best way to learn a language. By that, they don't mean immersing yourself in your studies, though doing so will help. The type of immersion they mean entails listening to it and using your new language to communicate every day. Reading and writing in your target language is vital, too.
Watching French films and French TV, including news in French, is a great way to improve your French language skills. But maybe you have already watched all the francophone films available on Netflix. And the news is too abstract or too fast for you to follow. Maybe you prefer to hone your French listening skills with podcasts and song lyrics; both excellent ways to tune your ear.
But you should also focus on written French and reading comprehension. For that, print media is the best. So Superprof presents tips on ways to improve your French while reading.
News in French for Beginners
Newspapers are a great way to learn about French language and culture. They cover a variety of subjects and include editorials so you can gain different perspectives on issues currently impacting native French speakers. From the articles to the obituaries and even the ads, you'll discover how this population uses French vocabulary to make the most salient points.
The best part is that unless you're reading French regional news, whatever French newspapers report on also features in English outlets. As long as you have a general idea of the topic under discussion, you can tackle articles in French with your dictionary and still understand the piece. For that, these outlets are the best.
The Classics Present French Newspaper Articles for Beginners
Le Monde is a daily French newspaper; it's one of the easiest French newspapers to find outside of France. Mind that you don't confuse it with the monthly Le Monde Diplomatique (”Le Diplo”), which concentrates on culture and foreign affairs. My mate, who is taking French lessons Sydney, has read articles from both outlets in their French class.
Le Figaro vies with Le Monde for international rack space. Founded in 1826, Le Figaro is the oldest French newspaper still in circulation. It gets its name from the 18th-century play French The Mariage de Figaro. Mozart composed an opera based on this satire on the over-privileged.
The daily newspaper Le Parisien is the most widely read in France. The national newspaper edition of Le Parisien is Aujourd’hui en France. Besides these, the French press offers regional and local newspapers. If economics and finance are your favourite topics, you can read the daily Les Echos.
Celebrity culture is as big in France as anywhere else in the world. To keep up with all the French celebrities, check out Paris Match. This 74-year-old publication stirred controversy a few years ago when it reported on French presidents' love lives. Paris Match isn't all sass though; you can read serious articles, too.
But if sass is what you're looking for, French print media doesn't lack satire. Le Canard Enchaîné, founded during the First World War, gets its name from a slang word for newspaper (canard). You should also know that 'canard', meaning duck, also means 'false press designed to trick the public' - lancer un canard. This paper features political cartoons as well as investigative journalism.
And then, there's Charlie Hebdo. This publication made headlines in 2015 for running a satirical cartoon of the prophet Mohammed. Le Hebdo caused quite an outrage in the Islamic community and prompted an attack that killed twelve staff members. But Hebdo isn't just about provoking outrage, these reporters delve deep into current issues, too.
Online News in French for Beginners
Rather than scrambling around, looking for French newspapers, you might prefer their digital versions. Many such outlets offer at least their headlines for free while others allow a monthly number of articles at no cost. Some ask for a voluntary donation and others allow you to read the beginning of the articles but only unlock the full article if you take out a subscription.
News sites often present short videos and additional content, offering more ways to learn colloquial French words and expressions. To immerse yourself in such, check out France soir, one of several daily online newspapers, which switched to online-only in 2014. La Tribune is an economics newspaper that went digital in 2012.
News in French for Beginners in Magazine Format
If you've no interest in reading about current events in a foreign language, you could subscribe to periodicals in French. Learn all about your favourite hobbies as French-speaking enthusiasts present them. Doing so will add a new dimension to the activities you're passionate about.
French Newspaper Articles for Beginners in Print Magazines
To get an idea of what French magazines are out there about your hobby, take a trip to an international press shop at the airport. French magazines present the same fare, generally structured the same way. You'll get a blend of new information, opinion pieces and in-depth dissertations, along with readers' letters and advertisements.
If you like science, Science&Vie has articles on innovations in all branches of science. This publication offers a kids' edition called Science&Vie Junior, which uses simpler language. Science-loving French beginners also appreciate science magazines for elementary school students (Astrapi) and pre-teens (Okapi). Both include comics and games in French.
Photography buffs might enjoy Chasseur d’images, which focuses on aesthetics and artistry. Photo is a magazine with technical information targeted at more advanced readers and photographers. Compétences photo is aimed at beginner photographers and reads more easily.
News in French for Beginners: Blogs and Podcasts
Contrary to popular belief, blogs are often about more than personal experiences. That means to say that bloggers don't just expound on the ennui of their lives, they discuss the subjects they're passionate about. Even better: they do so informally, as a stream-of-consciousness exercise.
As a beginner learning French, you can get in on the ground floor, reading French writing as native French speakers use the language - not the polished, for-publication version of French. Furthermore, you can select blogs about topics of interest to you, such as Un dejeuner de soleil, an easy-to-read food blog.
If fashion and beauty is your thing, check out Mercredie. It too is easy to follow; it uses easy vocabulary with a sprinkling of slang mixed in. The articles are short yet thought-provoking. Confidentielles gets our recommendation for the same reasons.
If you're more into tech, Presse-citron is the blog for you. The language is easy enough for the lofty topic it discusses and the articles are short. And if you need a pick-me-up at the end of a rough day, check out VDM. Here too, you'll find short, easy articles that follow a popular template.
Beyond News in French for Beginners
To broaden your horizons when learning French, why not read a book? Reading fiction prepares you for more complex narratives and introduces new words and phrases not necessarily used by reporters or journalists.
You might browse your favourite bookseller or library for books in French. Such a professional could help you decide which level reader you are and find suitable books. We'll do our part in recommending some titles, too.
French Newspaper Articles for Beginners: Le Petit Prince
You might scoff but this beloved tale indeed alludes to newspaper articles. Le Petit Prince is available in 38 languages, including English. You may even have read it. We've been reading excerpts of Antoine de St.-Exupéry's charming story in its original language in our French classes.
The language is simple and delightful; the book features short chapters usually not more than three pages long. Le Petit Prince is the ideal book for dreamers, philosophers and the young at heart.
News in French for Beginners: Candide
Le Petit Prince is fundamentally a social commentary, as is Voltaire’s Candide - albeit with more sarcasm. It describes the adventures of a naïve young man seeking a reunion with his lady love. Over the course of the novel, he confronts the harsh realities of the world. Although first published in the 18th Century, the language is not complicated and the book is fairly short, making it perfect for a break from reading the news.
French Newspaper Articles for Beginners: Les Trois Mousquetaires
Alexandre Dumas’ nineteenth-century classic tale of swashbuckling adventure is sure to enthuse. We follow young D’Artagnan on his yellow mare into the political intrigues of Paris with his inseparable new friends Athos, Porthos and Aramis. Each of the main characters has his own story, seamlessly woven into D’Artagnan’s love escapades. He makes a rash decision that forces him into a race against time to save the honour of the Queen of France.
In all three of these stories, the news drives several plot points. Whether you wish to keep current with today's news headlines in French or dally in the past with news that led to great thoughts and deeds, reading in French is the point of this all. As one Superprof who teaches French classes Melbourne insists: reading in French doesn't just help you learn French, it gives you whole worlds.
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