Summary

Welcome to Free Language's whirlwind tour about learning French online for free. This is the third video screencast about learning languages for free. See all of them here.

This video will take you through some top essential resources for learning French for free online. View the links below the video to access the resources highlighted in this video.

Here we cover places to find general resources, where to get learning materials, finding plenty of content online to expose yourself to the language and recommend the FrenchPod podcast for audio on-the-go as well as community atmosphere.

French exercises, kid's games, interactive tools, news sources, radio stations, Web TV... it's all here. Enjoy!

Screencast Video

Helpful Links for this Screencast

General Resources

http://freelanguage.org/french
http://www.uni.edu/becker/french31.html
http://www.mindzeit.com/learnspeakfrenchlanguageonline.php
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/index.html
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/index.html
http://frenchpod.com

Radio and News

http://sites.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/accueil
http://www.rfi.fr
http://www.listenlive.eu/france.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/tv
http://www.france24.com/fr

Kids, Activities and Games

http://lexiquefle.free.fr
http://www.hello-world.com/resource/free.php

Summary

From beginner to advanced levels, FrenchPod101.com is an excellent, all-around online environment for learning French. The Pod101 platform, method and technology provide the necessary tools to get you immersed in the French language and achieve the goals you desire and/or require.

Since FrenchPod101.com is web-based, you can access your personal French Learning Center from anywhere, and it's really easy to download the podcasts and put them on your mp3 player (iPod, Zune, etc) or mobile phone to take them with you for practice and learning on the go.

One of the most important things when learning a language is good content - and FrenchPod101.com has this, and a steady flow of it. This constant flow of fresh content regards cultural aspects of French you will want to know, interesting tidbits about navigating in French society (whether on vacation or living abroad), practical information about getting by and much more.

Your French Learning Center brings together audio podcast lessons, lesson notes and checklists, transcripts, PDFs, video lessons, vocabulary training with flashcards and quizzes plus a French dictionary, grammar bank, a verb reference and plenty more.

And if you enjoy asking questions and learning from and helping other learners, a forum is available for all users.

It's simple to try it for free and upgrade if it works for you.

From Website

At FrenchPod101.com, our goal is to make learning the French language easy and fun, while also incorporating culture and current issues into our lessons. We believe that the more you speak, the quicker you learn, so we have designed our program to get you speaking right away. Situational French is heavily stressed, and our team role plays various situations to demonstrate the proper form of French to use when speaking with friends, customers, executives, and so-on. Knowing the proper form to use separates good speakers from great speakers.

FrenchPod101.com was developed with the hope of showing the world how fun and easy learning French can be. Here at FrenchPod101.com, we truly believe that learning can be fun, while at the same time convenient. We know how busy you are and that each day brings unexpected surprises. That is exactly why we bring the lessons to you and let you decide when they start.

Our innovative, fun, and easy to use language learning system is designed to get you speaking and interacting from the very first lesson. Learn French at your own convenience and pace with short, effective, fun daily lessons and a comprehensive, state-of-the-art Learning Center that provides you with the tools to take your French to the next level! Our interactive learning system consists of free daily audio podcast lessons, accompanying PDF materials, a Premium Learning Center, and a vibrant user community.

Our Method

FrenchPod101.com offers a unique learning experience that cannot be found in conventional classrooms. In addition to offering lessons that can be completed on your own time, we approve all of the content we release through a government certified French teacher. Here are just a few of the revolutionary advantages of our method:

Exposure to native speakers and many different kinds of voices and speaking styles…

FrenchPod101.com aims to have you speaking French after just one lesson! Our lessons focus on pronunciation and listening comprehension, so that you can start practicing what you learn from our professional teachers. Inside the PDF you will find the necessary tools for reading comprehension, and thorough explanations of phrases and key grammar points, in addition to segments on cultural insight. To address speaking practice, we have state-of-the-art software to allow you to record your own voice so you can compare your pronunciation to our teachers and continue to refine your speaking skills.

When all the aspects of FrenchPod101.com are put together, this program provides students of French with ultimate self-study learning course. In addition, we often provide conversations between three people to more closely simulate real-life situations.

Fresh, up-to-date content...

Many French teachers who live overseas have been out of the country for a long period of time and can be “out of the loop” on current words, culture, etc. This is another major gap that we fill. Lessons are carefully crafted to include current events, words, celebrities, and so-on. This is very dynamic content.

Borderless education on-demand...

We also fill a definite demand in remote locations. Our lessons provide you with a mobile classroom, as we bring you French on Demand. French lessons wherever you may be.

FrenchPod101.com offers our listeners a unique learning experience that delivers cutting-edge, dynamic content to be accessed at your convenience. With the inclusion of our lesson notes and Learning Center, we offer a full solution that provides the material, guidance, exercises, and testing to really make the knowledge your own. And it doesn’t even stop there - our vibrant and extremely helpful community provide each other not only quick answers to questions, but also give each other a sense of encouragement and motivation that is often lacking.

We focus on French, and French only...

Just French! All we do is French. FrenchPod101.com is not a generic package language learning course, such as some of the other big name language learning programs out there. Many other programs “scale” their solutions across several languages, simply recycling the same material over and over - the same pictures, the same conversations, just in a different language. But each language is unique, and at FrenchPod101.com we pride ourselves on developing a system that’s only about the French language and French culture!

One stop studying...

Have you ever found yourself lost on the information highway? Sometimes it’s like trying to drink from a fire hose! Hundreds of bookmarks, all with varying levels of quality and credibility. You finally find a great site, but it only updates once a year! FrenchPod101.com offers users one stop studying. The learning center has been carefully designed to provide you with the resources you will need to take your French to the next level.

Visit FrenchPod101.com.

Summary

Apple recently released a new section of the wildly popular iTunes Store available through their iTunes software. This new section is called iTunes U, and collects podcasts from numerous universities and colleges to make them available for free download to your iPod or other mp3 player, mobile/cell phone, etc.

One of the sub-sections of iTunes U is (note: you need iTunes for this link to work) specifically for languages and language education - yay!

Currently there are 60 podcasts (probably more by the time you read this) available regarding both learning foreign languages as well as general topics regarding language in general. Many of these podcasts are called OpenCourseWare, considered Open Learning materials released in the Public Domain. This means they can be used truly freely by teachers and educators without worries about copyright issues - a big plus! Be sure to look at the license for each podcast to make sure of the licensing.

The podcast-based current courses available through iTunes U are English (Medieval and ESL), French, German, Greek, Japanese, Hebrew (various), Italian (Language and Theater), Romanian, Spanish (various) plus Language Technology and Lectures, Interviews, Clubs, Lectionary at Lunch and Storytelling Colombian Style. There are many more, too.

This is really exciting to see at this professional education level. Of couse, add this to the 982 language podcasts in the "regular" (non-iTunes U) iTunes store and that makes over a whopping 1,000 language-related podcasts for download through iTunes - all free. :)

Watch the iTunes U intro video below to learn more about this new feature:

From iTunes U

iTunes U puts the power of the iTunes Store to work for colleges and universities, so users can easily search, download, and play course content just like they do music, movies, and TV shows.

Always in session.

iTunes U delivers easy, 24/7 access to educational content from hundreds of top colleges, universities, and educationally focused organizations across the country. And it’s accessible to anyone with a Mac or PC.

Learning to go.

Students can sync iTunes U content with any iPod or iPhone, so they can go right on learning while they grab a meal, walk to class, or work out at the gym.

Keeps them motivated.

Engaging students on their home turf, iTunes U offers audio and video that make subjects more vivid than any printed page ever could.

Open-minded.

iTunes U lets schools open all or part of their content to the public, from parents to alumni to anyone with a love of learning.

Find out more about iTunes U.

Summary

FrenchPod represents the beginning of a new era for all the folks on the Praxis Language team. Things are cooking in Shanghai!

Praxis Language bases its products on combined Web-based and mobile learning. Community, fresh media content, talented course design team, array of web-based tools for practice and review. A unique combination of media and method, it's no wonder thousands are using FrenchPod every day.

Be sure to check out the free resources available to visitors. You can sign up for an account today to start making real progress immediately.

The success of ChinesePod, ItalianPod and SpanishPod, Praxis's podcast-driven, socially enhanced, user backed language-learning phenomenon is maturing elegantly.

From Website

FrenchPod is a language training service designed around your needs, rather than the traditional constraints of language schools and publishers. Technology solves these problems and can make the learning of a new language easier.

We take the best pedagogical approaches of the classroom, layer in the community features of the social web and tailor a customized learning pathway for each student.

Use FrenchPod as a replacement to classroom-study or to make better use of classroom time.

At the core of our service are four main study activities:

Listen

There are many ways to listen to FrenchPod lessons, making learning French as flexible and convenient as possible. If you like to study at your computer, you can listen to the lesson via the built-in Flash player on the site. Click the “Play” button, slip on your headphones or turn up your speakers, and learn.

To learn on the go, download the MP3 – either from the download links on the site or via your personalized RSS feed – and listen to it on any MP3-compatible software or device (in iTunes, on your iPod, etc.). You can even burn the MP3 to a CD and listen to it in a regular CD player.

Review

Once you’ve listened to each lesson, you need to review to ensure that the material is firmly cemented in your head. First, download the Lesson PDF, which contains the dialogue, a translation, and both key and supplementary vocabulary, and read along with the podcast. After that, come to FrenchPod.com and take advantage of the myriad of online review tools available. Pour over each line of the dialogue, looking up unfamiliar words and listening to line-by-line audio. Dig deeper into key vocabulary with expansion sentences, which put important words into varied context to get you a better idea of how they are used. Finally, complete the lesson exercises to ensure that you really know what you’ve learned.

Practice

Language is about communication, and once you’ve learned something new you need to practice using it in real communication. Guided and Executive users have individual teachers that provide critical insight into the language and opportunities to practice French with a native French speaker. In each practice session, you can expand and broaden your French in a friendly, stress-free way with a counselor that is familiar with you and your learning goals. Your counselor will help you identify and eliminate problem areas, and let you strengthen your French communication skills.

Reinforce

At the end of your learning cycle each day, you should come back and reinforce the material you’ve learned both from today’s lesson and previous lessons. Each period of reinforcement will create a stronger foundation upon which future learning will be built. Use the flashcards and concentration game to make sure that you remember the vocabulary you’ve learned from previous lessons. Review your vocabulary list, identify words you’re not sure about, and look them up in the FrenchPod dictionary. Skim through the Grammar Guide to identify structures with which you’re unfamiliar and find lessons that cover those points. Finally, take the Listening Test occasionally to see the improvement that your hard work has earned you.

Visit FrenchPod.com

Summary

The LingQ language-learning platform is among the most intentionally-created foreign language education products available. Developed by reknowned polyglot linguist Steve Kaufmann and company, LingQ is an excellent way to learn French using materials you choose yourself!

In fact, this is where LingQ excels as an educational platform because students can import any license-free content they want to base their lessons around. This means that the students decide what subjects and topics they wish to learn about based on professional needs and/or personal interests.

The particular podcast highlighted in this article is FrenchLingQ, a roughly weekly podcast with mp3 audio content for French language learners. Transcripts of the podcasts are available through LingQ, and can also serve as learning content themselves.

One additional advantage of the LingQ system is that for a single subscription, you can use their web-based platform to learn ten languages (and growing) including Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish.

From Website

What is FrenchLingQ?

First of all, the name itself (which is pronounced French Link) needs a little explaining. The first part, “French”, is fairly obvious since we teach French. LingQ is the name of our online learning system which you can find at LingQ.com. At LingQ you’ll study many different languages in a fun, community atmosphere. The “Ling” in LingQ comes from TheLinguist.com the people behind LingQ. Lastly, the “Q” is important because it forms the speech bubble in our logo and throughout our site and because it makes “lingq” sound like “link” (we think!) which is what our system does for you.

At FrenchLingQ...

. we LingQ you to a world of real French content
. we LingQ you to our revolutionary learning tools
. we LingQ you to a community of fellow French learners

Our podcasts may contain interviews, articles, or audiobook excerpts but are most often just general conversations in French. We will usually talk about topics of general interest. Please do send us feedback and topic requests. We’re always happy to hear from you.

After you listen to the podcast, sign up for a free account at LingQ and study the full transcript using LingQ's revolutionary learning tools.

At LingQ, you may also want to submit writing for correction or join live 1 on 1 and group discussions with our tutors. Plus you will find thousands more podcasts with transcript. Come and find out what LingQ is all about!

Of course, even if you don’t decide to become a member, you can continue listening to the podcasts as long as you like.

Visit LingQ.com

Summary

From the creator of the very popular Latinum Podcast for Learning Latin comes a new podcast for learning French via total immersion.

This podcast is new and fresh and is very well done. The high quality lessons explore different topics and provide the learner with grammar and vocabulary info.

Excellent podcast!

From Website

A practical method for learning to speak, read and write French.

Learn French through Total Immersion. Download our free lessons to your MP3 player, and soak yourself through with the sounds of spoken French. Its the only way to rapidly acquire fluency. We offer free lessons in spoken French,with a downloadable pdf textbook, using a well known learning system that will rapidly give you command of the language.

Subscribe

Subscribe to the Fancy French Podcast.
Subscribe to the Fancy French Podcast via iTunes.
View Fancy French Podcast Feed on Free Language.

French Language Resources

• French
  • Learn French
    • Babbel Integrated French Language Learning Platform with Website, iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad Application, Social Networking, More
    • Babbel.com Virtual Flash Card Language Share Site with French Learning Tools
    • BBC Afrique News in French
    • BBC Language French
    • Busuu Social Language Exchange Partner Community plus Multimedia Photo-Audio Lesson Archives and Video Chat Interface
    • CaféBabel.com Café Babel Local European News Magazine in French
    • DailyFrenchPod Advanced Lessons Podcast
    • DailyFrenchPod Beginner Lessons Podcast
    • DailyFrenchPod Intermediate Lessons Podcast
    • DailyFrenchPod Video Podcast
    • DigitalDialects.com French Language-Learning Games and Activities
    • Download Free FSI French Language Courses
    • Easy French Poetry Podcast
    • Fancy French Podcast
    • Find and Reserve a French Study Abroad Program or Language School Free Online: Paris, France, Provence, Nice...
    • french.about.com French Learning and Teaching Resources
    • French Learning Center
    • FrenchLingQ.com French LingQ Podcast
    • FrenchPod101.com Learn French Podcast with Audio+Video Lessons, Flashcards, Quizzes, Cultural Info, Learning Center
    • FrenchPodClass Podcast
    • FrenchPod Podcast with Free Educational Resources and MP3 Audio
    • French École French for Beginners Podcast
    • Learn about the French Language at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
    • Learn French by Podcast
    • Learn French Wikibook
    • Lille Podcast
    • Loquella Listen, Read and Speak French Using a Free Online Language Tool
    • Online French Flashcard System, Text Analyzer, Vocabulary List Manager with Audio and Dictionary
    • RFI Slowly-Spoken News in French Podcast
    • Rocket French Language Audio and Software Course from Rocket Languages
    • Rosetta Stone French Language Software Level 1
    • US Foreign Service Institute French Free Audio Lessons Downloads
    • World Nomads iPod French Language Podcast