La Langue: French language resources — a living guide to help you speak (not just pass worksheets)

on

Who this is for & what you’ll get

If you’re in Aix (or Aix-at-heart) and want resources that actually move your French from “uh… euh…” to “bah oui,” this page is your curated launchpad. It’s a hand-picked, regularly updated map of sites, YouTube channels, apps, and glossaries—plus specialist vocab for science, business, and trades.

Jump to: Dictionaries • Pronunciation • Grammar • Real spoken French • YouTube & podcasts • Apps & input • Specialized vocab • By trade • Practice in Aix • FAQ

Core tools: dictionaries & conjugation

  • Larousse online dictionary and encyclopedic entries. (LAITS)

  • Le Robert online definitions & usage. (Dico en ligne Le Robert)

  • CNRTL / TLFi (historical + usage notes for nuance nerds). (Lawless French)

  • WordReference (great forums for real-life usage). (WordReference)

  • Linguee / Reverso Context for bilingual examples in the wild. (Linguee)

  • Le Conjugueur (by Le Figaro) + Bescherelle online conjugators. (Le Conjugueur)

Pronunciation & listening you’ll actually use

  • TV5MONDE – Apprendre: graded video exercises A1–C1 with transcripts. (LAITS)

  • RFI – Journal en français facile: 10-min daily news + transcript. (Lawless French)

  • Forvo (native recordings) & YouGlish (hear words in YouTube clips). (Culture)

Tip: Pair YouGlish with Le Conjugueur to hear forms you’ve just studied, then shadow the speaker (yes, whispering on the bus to Luynes is a vibe).

Grammar & exercises (clear, modern, levelled)

  • Point du FLE: the giant index of good FLE resources (by level/topic). (Plan d'études romand)

  • Lawless French: clean explanations by level (A1→C1). (Lawless French)

  • Tex’s French Grammar (UT Austin): a classic, still excellent. (LAITS)

  • Projet Voltaire: orthography/grammar workouts & certification prep. (Projet Voltaire)

Real spoken French vs. written French (aka why no one says ne)

  • Easy French (street interviews w/ subtitles) to catch fillers (bah, ben, du coup), reductions and rhythm. (Chef Simon)

  • Français Authentique on oral vs written differences & negation habits. (Français Authentique)

  • Registers (familier / courant / soutenu) explained for learners. (ASSIMIL)

  • Omission of “ne”: guide + examples; write it, but don’t expect to hear it. (Le Point du FLE)

YouTube & podcasts that land (from slow to native)

  • innerFrench (podcast & YT): rich B1+ input on culture & learning. (Du Bruit Dans La Cuisine)

  • Français avec Pierre: grammar, registers, and slang explained simply. (L'Air du Bois)

  • Piece of French: lifestyle vlogs w/ natural spoken French. (YouTube)

  • Learn French with Alexa: clear A1–B1 building blocks. (Chef Simon)

  • Comme une Française: cultural nuance, what locals really say. (Meilleur du Chef)

  • News: HugoDécrypte, Brut, ARTE to speed up your ear. (openclassrooms.com)

Apps & input engines

  • Anki (SRS flashcards) + shared French decks to jumpstart vocab. (AnkiWeb)

  • Readlang (click-to-translate on web pages; makes flashcards). (readlang.com)

  • LingQ (import content; transcripts + audio for massive input). (LingQ)

Specialized vocabulary — authoritative termbanks

By trade: quick doors into pro French

Culinary & food

  • Chef Simon – lexique culinaire; Meilleur du Chef glossary; Larousse (gastronomy). (Orpha.net)

Woodworking & DIY

  • L’Air du Bois (community + plans); Copain des Copeaux (YT tutorials). (INRS)

Informatique / Web

  • OpenClassrooms (FR) courses; MDN Web Docs (FR) for web dev terms. (Larousse)

Business / Admin

Health & science (starter)

  • Orphanet (medical rare disease glossary). (Forvo.com)

Practice IRL in Aix

FAQ — People Also Ask

Is TV5MONDE Apprendre free? Yes—free, graded video exercises A1–C1. (LAITS)
Where can I get daily slow news with transcripts? RFI—Journal en français facile. (Lawless French)
WordReference, Linguee, or Reverso—what’s best? Use WordReference for definitions + forums; Linguee/Reverso to see bilingual examples in context. (WordReference)
What’s with dropping “ne”? Normal in speech; keep it in formal writing. (Le Point du FLE)
Business French terms with reliable definitions? Try INSEE & Banque de France glossaries. (Insee)

How to use this page (A1→C+ shortcuts)

  • A1: TV5MONDE A1 videos (pause + repeat); Forvo for key words; 10 new cards/day in Anki. (LAITS)

  • A2: RFI JFF 3×/week (read & listen twice); Easy French interviews with subtitles. (Lawless French)

  • B1: innerFrench podcast 2×/week; Readlang on short articles; start registers/fillers. (Du Bruit Dans La Cuisine)

  • B2: Alternate news (ARTE/Brut/HugoDécrypte) and Projet Voltaire for polish. (MDN Web Docs)

  • C+: FranceTerme/IATE for precise wording; teach a mini-topic at a meetup. (Le français des affaires)

Internal links

Your Turn (add a comment!)

Got a favorite channel, a niche glossary (wood-turning? pastry lamination?), or a must-watch video? Drop your link and level (A1–C+) so others can follow. If you’re in Aix this month, say when you’re free for a low-pressure café chat—we’ll build a mini speaking circle.

(PS: If you’re brave enough to share your funniest French slip-up, I’ll go first: I once asked for “trois pains au chaud”… and the boulangère still smiles at me.)

Location: France

Comments

Post a Comment