4 posts tagged “france”
Tonight while searching around for different clips on YouTube and Daily Motion, we found ourselves on the homepage of INA. INA is the Institute National de l'Audiovisuel. INA claims to be "the first audiovisual archive center in the world and the first digital image databank in Europe." Through their site you can access 100,000 different broadcasts from radio and television.
You can begin exploring INA buy looking into one of many categories such as themes, personnalites, epoques, or programmes. We searched through the personnalities categories and found ourselves checking out clips about Renaud, Colette, Brel, and many others. You could also enter something into their search engine and see what comes up.
While you can watch or listen to most things for free, I believe you have to pay a fee if you want to download anything. For some longer clips you are only given a 10 minute extract.
A while ago, I had the goal of attending a French university. This goal is still very much alive in my mind but it has been put on the back burner for just a bit. However, one of the entrance requirements for foreign students is a certain level in French. Most universities, schools, and textbooks are moving towards categorizing levels based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). I am not 100% sure but I believe to enter into French university you should have at least a B2 level. This may depend on the university and what program you are entering into. My intention is to enroll into a program as a regular student not as a student of French as a foreign language.
Currently, you can take two routes. First, there is the TCF-DAP (and/or TCF). The TCF is the Test de Connaissance de Français. The TCF is open to anyone who would like to determine their level in French. The TCF-DAP is intended for those who wish to enter into the first cycle of French university. It seems that this test covers all of the CEFR levels in one exam, you progress through each level and in the end you have an idea of where you stand.
The other option is take a DELF/DALF exam. The DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) covers levels A1 through B2 of the CEFR and the DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) covers levels C1 and C2 with each level having its own individual exam. This is an official diploma from the French Ministry of National Education and is only for foreign students. This exam can be taken all over the world. Here are some subject examples.
Realizing that I was having trouble structuring my language learning, I thought it might be a good idea to revisit the CEFR levels in order to give myself a short-term goal. (The long-term is goal is to become fluent.) Also, if I have a diploma under my belt, I am all set to enter into French university when the time comes.
But I have no idea what my level is.
I picked up a book called Le Nouvel Entrainez-vous: DELF B1 to see how I did with the exercises. So far the oral comprehension exercises have been easy but I think that the written and oral production sections are not going to go so smoothly. I'll keep you posted.
Lastly, I am considering taking a correspondance/online class through CNED (Centre national d'enseignement à distance). Anyone can take classes through CNED and they offer courses to prepare for each level of the DELF/DALF as well as the TCF. The prices are reasonable and you have a tutor who works with you. For an extra fee, you can participate in forums and discussion boards with other students doing the same course.
Anyone have experience with this?
Even if you feel silly, singing in French is really helpful. I am a fan of the French artist Bénabar and I found a few videos on YouTube that are fairly easy to understand. Elles sont tellement drôle.
It was jr_fiction that inspired me to look around YouTube for french material. After searching for Bénabar, there were some links to some videos of Petit Ours Brun, a cartoon for children. This is great for learning French with its simple dialogues and subjecs. And from there I found tons of links to other videos in French. Amusez-vous bien!
Video: Show us a documentary or film based on a true story that really moved you.
Être et Avoir is the story of a one-room schoolhouse in the Auvergne. What strikes me about the film is that it isn't trying to send some sort of message about the death of country life or the novelty of this style of teaching. It simply lets you in on their world for one year. You watch as the children grow and change under the caring and strict hand of their teacher. The students range in age from 3 years old to 12 years old. The relationship between the teacher and the students is amazing and is something that I hope that I can achieve with some of my students. He has a real love and belief in their capabilities to succeed. And add to that the balance between instructing students just entering schools and other who are about to move on to secondary school.
I don't like giving away too much information about films. Let's just say that if you want to see beautiful french countryside, laugh at the humorous situations the students find themselves in, and enter into a rare world - check out Être et Avoir.
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