Useful links to authentic resources in French

These sites offer guidelines for the teaching of Heritage Languages, the latest research articles, information about Heritage Language Programs across the United States, and links to major resource centers (all websites in ENGLISH).

• National Heritage Language Resource Center
  • The NHLRC is a federally funded resource center. Above all the NHLRC endeavors to develop pedagogical approaches to teach heritage learners primarily by creating a resource base and by creating curriculum design.
• Curriculum Guidelines for Heritage Language Classrooms at the University of California
  • This is a report prepared by the NEH Focus Group in 2003. It covers such topics as instruction materials and teacher training for Heritage Language Classrooms.
• World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages (ACTFL website)
  • Thanks to the collaboration of several language organizations, ACTFL was able to create educational guides that orient and support learners with language acquisition. Targeting language learning in over 15 languages, the guides also place great emphasis on the importance of cultural competence within the context of language acquisition.
• Alliance for the advancement of Heritage Languages in America @ Center for Applied Linguistics
  • This alliance groups individuals and organizations interested in promoting Heritage Language development. It also supports citizens who use multiple languages in their professions. Find resources, forums, profiles of HL programs and information on conferences. If you are running an HL program, please complete the program profile for possible posting on the Alliance website! 
• National Foreign Language Center – University of Maryland
  • Read about the active series of steps the National Foreign Language Center has taken to help promote the development of Heritage Languages in the US, launching the Heritage Languages Initiative with the Center for Applied Linguistics. 

Learn more and keep up-to-date with francophone culture in the world. Below are links to general websites and websites that contain information on specific cultural activities. 

Africa

• Africultures
  • An exhaustive website about Africa’s vivid cultural life. Find references to African cultural events, from conferences to TV documentaries on African life. Limited access to Africulture’s journal (must have a subscription)—a fantastic source of articles covering African culture.
• A Literary Review from University of Pennsylvania
  • ENG. African Studies Center at University of Pennsylvania: Africa Access review of Children’s Materials. Find a vast array of children’s books in English.
• Biennale de Dakar
  • Also known as Dak-Art, the Biennale de Dakar is a major contemporary art exhibition held every two years in Dakar. The event mainly features contemporary African art.
• Conféderation Africaine de Football
  • The official website of African soccer. Includes news on the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
• Le Festival panafricain du cinéma et de la télévision de Ouagadougou (FESPACO) 
  • Film festival taking place every two years in Ouagdougou. The festival features works by African filmmakers and their films produced primarily in Africa.
• Le Festival Gnaoua et Musiques du Monde
  • Music festival held annually in Essaouira, Morocco.
• Wobebli
  • Fables, tales, and cultural and anthropological information about African populations.

Haïti

• Haïti-référence
  • Online resource covering Haitian culture, current events, history and more.
• Le Festival International de Jazz de Port-au-Prince (Le PAPJAZZ)
  • Supported by the Fondation Haïti Jazz, this annual music festival celebrates Jazz of all types.

Canada

• La Bibliothèque des Amériques
  • Organized by the Francophonie Center of the Americas, this online resource provides access to thousands of digital books.
• Le Centre de la Francophonie des Amériques
  • Under the auspices of the Government of Quebec, this organization strives to connect Francophone communities across the Americas.
• Québec Cinéma
  • Nonprofit organization that promotes quebecois film and filmmakers.
• Les Francos
  • Festival and organization that celebrates French language music.

United States

• France Today
  • ENG. France Today is an excellent source of information about Francophone events in the United States: festivals, exhibitions, conferences, concerts, films, literature, etc.

The following websites offer a variety of multimedia content well-suited to French language learners of all levels.

Film, TV, Video

• actuFLE
  • French lesson plans based around videos pertaining to current events and organized by theme.
• Apprendre avec TV5 Monde
  • Video-based lessons for those students wanting to go farther.
• Classe de Yoga
  • Yoga class for a calming bedtime routine with kids.
• Classe de Zumba
  • Quick Zumba workout in French.
• French films on Netflix
  • List of every French film and tv show on Netflix.
• Family-friendly French films
  • Links to kid-friendly French movies available on a variety of streaming platforms.
• French films for children
  • Selection of short films for children. Films are categorized by theme and genre.
• Online French Film Festival
  • Annula French film festival featuring 10 full-length movies and 10 shorts.
• Publicités
  • Hundreds of real photo advertisements, sorted by brands, to choose from and discuss in class with your students.
• TV5 Monde
  • International French channel. This link offers audiovisual activities in French suited for pedagogical use. 
• TV5 Monde : Comptines
  • French videos for kids and families organized by age.
• TV5Monde : Contes africains
  • A selection of short, animated African folk tales.
• TV5 : Kit d’enseignement
  • Lesson plans based on pedagogical videos produced by TV5.

Radio & Podcasts

• RFI – Radio France Internationale
  • Radio France Internationale (RFI). Radio news reports in French suited for pedagogical use. Great opportunity to hear news reports in simple French language – ideal for learners of French. Online listening and downloadable audio documents you can save on your computer for use in class.
• Contes de la Francophonie
  • Audio collection of stories from different francophone countries/.
• France Culture
  • Vast selection of podcasts in French and on every subject imaginable.
• franceinfo : Salut l’info !
  • French podcast about current events for children ages 7-11.
• French avec nous
  • Collection of classic tales in French followed by questions to help support comprehension.
• Okapi : ma vie d’ado
  • Francophone teenagers share their stories on a range of topics.
• Podcast français facile
  • French podcast produced by an educational website. Selections are categorized by level.

Reading

• BnF : Gallica
  • 150 French literary classics available free online. From Molière and Hugo to Dumas and Balzac, this site is a great resource for more advanced readers of French.
• Bibliothèque Réseau Francophone Numérique
  • Digital library that includes Francophone books from libraries in Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, France, Canada, Morocco, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar and Haïti.
• Boukili
  • Over 120 books in French for children ages 4 and up.
• Hachette
  • Hachette FLE offers free access for three months to its online digital collection for adolescent youth.
• Livres pour tous
  • List of over 6000 books in French available online for free.

The following organizations are all committed to the advancement of the global Francophone community. Many of them provide access to their own collection of resources devoted to education, culture, development and many other topics related to the Francophonie.

• OIF – Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie 
  • This is the official website for the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. It gives rudimentary, in-depth information about la Francophonie. A great way to keep up with la Francophonie.
• Fédération Internationale des professeurs de français
  • International organization committed to the promotion and instruction of French throughout the world.
• AUF – Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie
  • With over 600 member institutions of higher learning throughout la Francophonie, AUF carries five programs of research in the fields of linguistic diversity, democracy, new technologies in education, cooperation, and sustainable development.
• UN homepage in French
  • Access to all of the content provided by the United Nations in French.

These are sources of daily news, articles, reports, forums, blogs, etc., pertaining to francophone countries. These websites will provide you with authentic francophone material that will help your students understand today’s world.

Africa

• Jeune Afrique
  • One of the best reference sites of African news for adolescents. JeuneAfrique, a weekly magazine, publishes articles targeting a younger reading audience. By reading JeuneAfrique students will gain awareness of African political affairs.
• Afrology
  • News regarding socio-economic, political and development issues affecting the continent of Africa.
• TV5 Monde Afrique
  • News, reports, video, TV series with a focus on African countries.

Bénin

• 24 Heures au Bénin
  • Daily news coverage for Bénin.

Morocco

• L’Opinion
  • One of the principal sources of Moroccan daily news.

Canada

• Canoë
  • ENG. Canadian news, culture and society, people, cinema, art and literature.

France

• Le Monde
• Libération
• Le Figaro
• 1 jour 1 actu (Bite-sized news pieces fit for kids)

Haïti

• Grioo
  • Extensive news on African, Caribbean and French culture and society. World news from a francophone perspective. Biographies of important cultural and political characters throughout history.

• Haitian Times
  • ENG. Online edition of the weekly magazine.