French Language Resources

Why Learn French?

French is a widely used language

French is the 5ᵗʰ most-spoken language after Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish and Arabic.
There are 300 million French speakers worldwide.

French is an international language

2nd most-used language in diplomacy, particularly European and multilateral diplomacy, after English
Official UN language
Working language of the European Union and the African Union
Official language of the Olympic Games together with English

French is a modern language

4th most used language on the Internet, which now brings together over 4 billion users
3rd most used language in business (the Francophone area now accounts for over 15% of global wealth)
2nd language of international information in the media

French is a living language:

2nd language in terms of learners in the wor
125 million people study French around the world
Half a million French teachers outside France

It is one of the rare languages to be taught in the education systems of every country.

Information courtesy of France Diplomatie

A Special Invitation from our friends at Alliance Française du North Shore

AF DuPage members are able to pay the same rates as AF du North Shore members for their fall classes.

Brush Up Your French with AFduNS member and instructor Ann Koller. Wednesdays, 4:30-6 pm

Conversation Avancée, for those who speak French at an advanced level. Tuesdays, 5–6:30 pm

Each course is $150 for AF du NS and AF DuPage members, $165 for non-members. Please visit the link below for more information.

Find out more

New: Régions de France Mini Course

Presented by Alliance Française du North Shore

The Alliance Française du North Shore now offers the "Régions de France" mini-course, open to those who speak French at intermediate and advanced levels. Beginning March 20, the three Session I classes will take place on the third Saturday of the month, from 10:30 AM to noon.

Travel virtually to France and explore highlights of three regions: Côte d'Azur (March 20), Franche Comté (April 17), and Normandie (May 15). Meet local experts who will speak to you en direct from France about their locale. Discuss in French the regional traditions and local culture with these French natives.

French-language and culture specialist Gigi Olmstead will open each class and guide the conversation.

This mini-course is open to members of the AFduNS and the AF de DuPage, as well as to nonmembers. The cost is $45 for AFduNS and AF DuPage members; $60 for nonmembers. Please submit your registration by March 17. Click for the course description and a printable registration form, or click here to register online. Questions? Write to education@AFnorthshore.org.

For the foreseeable future, classes will be held online with Zoom. Enrollment is limited to 12 students per class. Register now to ensure your spot.

Meet Instructor Gigi Olmstead

Join an interview on Zoom on Saturday, March 6, at 10:30 AM with Education Chair Tim Rogus and Gigi to learn about the course and her approach to teaching. Those who join us will have the opportunity to ask questions in French and English.

College of DuPage - Spring 2021 French Classes Online

Elementary French, Intermediate French, and Conversation & Composition II courses are being offered online at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, IL.
Tuition rates for these classes are now the same for in-district and out-of-district students.
Contact program chairperson Mirta Pagnucci at pagnuccim@cod.edu for more information.
Download the flyer

Online resources for continuing to study French while practicing social isolation:
My French Film Festival: https://www.myfrenchfilmfestival.com
High Five French: https://rlneducation.com
Duolingo Podcast: https://podcast.duolingo.com/french
Lawless French: https://www.lawlessfrench.com/
News in Slow French: https://www.newsinslowfrench.com/
Tex's French Grammar: https://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/gr/index.html
Coffee Break French: https://radiolingua.com/coffeebreakfrench/
Comme une Francaise: https://www.commeunefrancaise.com/
BBC Languages - French: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/
French Today: https://www.frenchtoday.com/featured-blog-articles/
Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/enroll/fr/en/Learn-French
Yabla: https://french.yabla.com/ (free for 15 days)
Frantastique: https://www.gymglish.com/en/frantastique
Franceinfo: https://www.francetvinfo.fr/
Les Petits Citoyens: https://lespetitscitoyens.com/ (aimed at children but good for beginner-intermediate learners)

Put a Little French in Your Life

French Streams: A weekly selection of the best of French cinema: https://telescopefilm.com//frenchstreams

The Cultural Services of the French Embassy has put together a list of the best of recent online French cultural offerings: https://frenchculture.org/books-and-ideas/11279-immerse-yourself-french-culture

Five ways to take a virtual trip around France: https://www.thelocal.fr/20200326/five-ways-to-take-a-virtual-trip-around-france

Tons of art books from the Guggenheim museum:
https://archive.org/details/guggenheimmuseum?&sort=-downloads&page=3

A whole bunch of free e-books provided by FNAC:
https://bit.ly/2QNWWrX

More e-Books en français at Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/languages/fr

Bunch of free movies:
http://www.openculture.com/freemoviesonline

Philharmonie de Paris online:
https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/fr/la-philharmonie-s-invite-chez-vous

A bunch of concerts everyone is missing out on right now:
https://www.arte.tv/fr/arte-concert/

And to bring a little brightness to your day, here is a YouTube playlist of some of Charles Coulon's favorite French songs. Check back often for new songs.