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Daniel_Prevost_Moncuq.avi
Daniel_Prevost_Moncuq.srt
Daniel_Prevost_Moncuq.doc
Daniel_Prevost_Moncuq.mp3
Daniel_Prevost_MoncuqMe.mp3
Here is a short piece from Daniel Prévost Le village de Montcuq. Prévost was part of Jacques Martin's team on the television show Le petit rapporteur, and here he milks the unfortunate name of this village for all it's worth
Les Revenants.avi
Les Revenants.srt
Les Revenants.doc
Les Revenants.mp3
Les RevenantsMe.mp3

Here is Les revenants a film by Robin Campillo which takes the standard horror theme of people coming back from the grave - but here in a society which wants to treat them humanely and decently. A very French preoccupation, and a good film

Policiers.avi
Policiers.srt
Policiers.doc
Policiers.mp3
 

More than 60 years after the catastrophe of 1940, French society is increasingly willing to take a painfully honest look at this period. Full marks to them. This clip will make you take a deep breath I think

Bouteille.avi
Bouteille.srt
Bouteille.doc
Bouteille.mp3
 

I just have to admit that I have a weakness for romantic American films dubbed into French. And the French dubbing actors are magnificent. This is a good example

RevueDePresse.avi
RevueDePresse.srt
RevueDePresse.doc
RevueDePresse.mp3
RevueDePresseMe.mp3

From the France 2 breakfast show Télématin, hosted by William Leymergie

Dracula.avi
Dracula.srt
Dracula.mp3
Dracula.doc
The first film clip this month is an American-made 'Dracula'. Everything I always say about anglo-american films dubbed into French applies - they are where you need to start if you like films. French films are far, far too hard.
EchappéesBelles.avi
EchappéesBelles.srt
EchappéesBelles.mp3
EchappéesBelles.doc
This is the Département d'Ardèche and a small town,Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, which evidently risks suffocating under its own success. But all is well. Nature is preserved.
ChevallierLaspales.avi
ChevallierLaspales.srt
ChevallierLaspales.mp3
ChevallierLaspales.doc
It's the speed of the enunciation that makes this difficult. Don't worry about it. Read through the text, play it with the subtitles. Then try it without
Subjonctif.avi
Subjonctif.srt
Subjonctif.mp3
Subjonctif.doc

SubjonctifMe.mp3
 Start by watching this clip with the subtitles turned off. Try to get the gist. See if my version helps. Read the text. Then with the subtitles. Finally without.
AR3.avi
AR3.srt
AR3.mp3
AR3.doc
 Anne Roumanoff is perhaps the leading French stand-up comic of today. Her Radio Bistro sketch features a slightly sozzled lady who holds forth on the characters of the political scene. She actually speaks quite clearly, but very fast. And, in order to enjoy the humour, you have to know something about the people she is lampooning.
Publicité.avi
Publicité.srt
Publicité.doc
Publicité.mp3
These are very difficult. The pace of the voices is fast, the style informal, the vocabulary often very modern. Note however - they are designed to be easily understandable by native speakers !
CommentViolon.avi
CommentViolon.srt
CommentViolon.doc
CommentViolon.mp3

Comment s'est fait - Violon

The specialist vocabulary in this piece is difficult to grasp. The word lousse isn't even in Le Grand Robert. Anyone know it?

Raynaud-4.avi
Raynaud-4.srt
Raynaud-4.doc
Raynaud-4.mp3
This shows exactly why comedy is the hardest listening exercise. We follow the boy reasonably well, but it's the father who has the punch lines!
FindingNeverland.avi
FindingNeverland.srt
FindingNeverland.doc
FindingNeverland.mp3
I selected this clip as a dubbed British film with formal dialogue. But the vocabulary makes it difficult
FrancoisePanafieu.avi
FrancoisePanafieu.srt
FrancoisePanafieu.doc
FrancoisePanafieu.mp3
This is a highly educated woman speaking very informally and under a certain stress. She actually speaks very clearly, but the speed and choice of language make it quite difficult
RDevosOuiDire.avi
RDevosOuiDire.srt
RDevosOuiDire.doc
RDevosOuiDire.mp3
The verb Ouïr,says Devos, is very difficult to conjugate. This is a Level-3. It's what makes learning to listen to French so worthwhile
Sirima.avi
Sirima.srt
Sirima.doc
Sirima.mp3
I don't think there is anything I can say about this
JC.avi
JC.srt
JC.doc
JC.mp3
In fact, Jean Carmet is not at all typical of French stand-ups. His humour is what the Americans call 'dead-pan'. And it's beautifully conceived and written. With - if I am not mistaken - an imperfect subjunctive ?
Brigitte.avi
Brigitte.srt
Brigitte.doc
Brigitte.mp3
This is evidently Level-3. As always, see what you can pick up without the subtitles, then enjoy with. Even with the text the double entendres  may make you ponder a bit !
ChagrinFiscal.avi
ChagrinFiscal.srt
ChagrinFiscal.doc
ChagrinFiscal.mp3

Full of idiomatic expressions, this sketch "Où l’amène-t-on, la France?
Où nous mènent-ils?
Qui on gêne?
 

Ouvrard.avi
Ouvrard.srt
Ouvrard.doc
Ouvrard.mp3

Although the speed of this patter song makes it a Level 3, notice how clear is the diction of this music hall entertainer !
 

Experiences.avi
Experiences.srt
Experiences.doc
Experiences.mp3

In between the scientific bits from the presenter, the conversations show well what we're trying to get the ear to pick up - the style of idiomatic French. Not easy.

Lafesse.avi
Lafesse.srt
Lafesse.doc
Lafesse.mp3

Obviously, it's a Level-3. But once you've picked up what he's getting at, you laugh

Fantômas.avi
Fantômas.srt
Fantômas.doc
Fantômas.mp3

This is a Level-3 because of the sound quality which is of its time. It's not too difficult, though. Keep the subtitles switched off at first!

RobinDesBois.avi
RobinDesBois.srt
RobinDesBois.doc
RobinDesBois.mp3

I expected this to be a Level 2, perhaps less. In fact it makes quite a difficult listening exercise. The better the dubbing, the harder the film is to follow. This is very well done.

20HPACSadultere.avi
20HPACSadultere.srt
20HPACSadultere.doc
20HPACSadultere.mp3

When I prepare subtitles, I don't leave 'holes' as I do on the sonsenfrancais transcriptions. However, there are places in this extract where my ear fails. Look out for them, and see if you can correct my version !

LasVegas.avi
LasVegas.srt
LasVegas.doc
LasVegas.mp3

The dialogue is fast and supposed to be idiomatic. But in fact it's a sort of transatlantic French, nothing like as difficult as the real thing. Still a Level-3, though

TM091113.avi
TM091113.srt
TM091113.doc
TM091113.mp3

What makes the first half difficult to follow is not just the speed, but also the incoherence of the presentation. Hang on in there, though. By contrast, the second half offers some challenges of vocabulary, like 'qui en fit et ses supports et ses suppôts' !

LeBonheur.avi
LeBonheur.srt
LeBonheur.doc
LeBonheur.mp3

I quote this because it gives us a chance to exercise our ears on the sort of muttered dialogue that passes for realism nowadays. It's a Level-3, but note that it's very easy to follow. We don't have trouble guessing what's going on, do we ?

20HUltragauche.avi
20HUltragauche.srt
20HUltragauche.doc
20HUltragauche.mp3
I think we'd better make this a Level-3 because of the commentary both in the street and the studio which is really quite challenging
AnneRoumanoff6.avi
AnneRoumanoff6.srt
AnneRoumanoff6.doc
AnneRoumanoff6.mp3
Obviously this is a good Level-3. Like the great Coluche, Roumanoff's voice slurs, and she often adopts the voice of the France d'en-bas. Super listening practice.
ToulouseLautrec.avi
ToulouseLautrec.srt
ToulouseLautrec.doc
ToulouseLautrec.mp3
The voice of the journalist is not only fast, but at times quite indistinct, and of course, the lady talking to camera in the film has the music to contend with. But this is exactly what the ear has to learn to decipher.
TF120H-Identite.avi
TF120H-Identite.srt
TF120H-Identite.doc
TF120H-Identite.mp3
As well as posing a problem for the French, the question of identity/immigration is interesting for us. The voices in this piece - rather hard to follow - are also very much French voices 
LeZèbre.avi
LeZèbre.srt
LeZèbre.doc
LeZèbre.mp3
Lhermitte's voice is fast, but very clear. Getting used to this rapid delivery is an important step in listening to French. Level-3, obviously
ObjetScandale.avi
ObjetScandale.srt
ObjetScandale.doc
ObjetScandale.mp3
Compare the French of the voice-over with the interview with Gainsbourg or the police sketch. The voice-over is pretty much like written French. The other is contextual, coded, the French of everyday life. Listen to it carefully, and see if you can correct the parts where my ear went wrong.
TF120HPiratage.avi
TF120HPiratage.srt
TF120HPiratage.doc
TF120HPiratage.mp3
As so often with this type of piece there are some very difficult moments. I'm going to rank this Level-3.
TF120HFraude.avi
TF120HFraude.srt
TF120HFraude.doc
TF120HFraude.mp3
The defrauded employer, the fraudster, even the security expert give us something to think about. Is it, perhaps the effect of stress on the voice ? I think this is actually Level-3 !
MaculinFeminin.avi
MaculinFeminin.srt
MaculinFeminin.doc
MaculinFeminin.mp3
Given that Magdane 'swallows' his words, speaks quickly... why is this reasonably comprehensible ? The quality of the sound recording perhaps ? It's still a Level-3, evidently
StarWars.avi
StarWars.srt
StarWars.doc
StarWars.mp3

Interesting that as soon as pronunciation deviates from Paris standard we're foxed. Where on earth did these guys learn their French?  And are they part of the Francophone community ?
Level 3 and a bit

Sarko.avi
Sarko.srt
Sarko.doc
Sarko.mp3
Nicolas Sarkozy - according to the satirists - speaks a very relaxed French. There were a few places where I had to guess what he was saying. It's pretty clear, but Level-3
DavidCopperfield.avi
DavidCopperfield.srt
DavidCopperfield.doc
DavidCopperfield.mp3
This is typical of the sort of passage that gives no difficulty when you listen to it 'live', because the ear just skips the hard bits. But when you make a transcription, it isn't enough to pick up the general idea  of what Mrs Gummidge says, you have to try to unravel the speech.
TF120HGaspillage.avi
TF120HGaspillage.srt
TF120HGaspillage.doc
TF120HGaspillage.mp3
When I started these pages I assumed that news items were going to be the Level-1 'norm'. In fact, although the voice overs are always very clear, it is the comments of the man in the street - in this case the down-and-out in the street which we want to pick up. And that is not at all easy
Apocalypse.avi
Apocalypse.srt
Apocalypse.doc
Apocalypse.mp3
There is considerable linguistic interest in this piece. The presenter speaks very quickly, but very clearly. You often have to pick up the sense of what he says without necessarily catching every word. And the chilling series of  prophecies make for some nice formal French
TF120HJeux.avi
TF120HJeux.srt
TF120HJeux.doc
TF120HJeux.mp3
This is a Level-3, obviously. There were moments where I had to leave gaps, and no doubt there are places where I got it wrong. But look, it's exactly the sort of thing we're learning to follow !
PeterPan.avi
PeterPan.srt
PeterPan.doc
PeterPan.mp3
The voices of children are always the hardest to decipher, but these are very polite children ! I couldn't pick up the verb in the sixth line which I replaced by 'écrit'. Can you ?
TempsOtages.avi
TempsOtages.srt
TempsOtages.doc
TempsOtages.mp3
Interesting on the linguistic level, this extract, because a couple of the people being interviewed speak very very indistinctly. This will exercise your ear at level-3
20HClandestins.avi
20HClandestins.srt
20HClandestins.doc
20HClandestins.mp3
The gentleman who represents the PME is the perfect example of the Frenchman who 'swallows his words'. Let's give him a Level-3
PriseDirecte.avi
PriseDirecte.srt
PriseDirecte.doc
PriseDirecte.mp3
Andrés speech poses quite a little problem, doesn't it. We'll make it a Level-3
JeuDeLaMort1.avi
JeuDeLaMort1.srt
JeuDeLaMort1.doc
JeuDeLaMort1.mp3
The rule of gold is that when educated people get excited, their voices blur. Level-3
LivreDePoche.avi
LivreDePoche.srt
LivreDePoche.doc
LivreDePoche.mp3
Some pretty difficult voices, with the fuzzy sound quality of the epoque. I missed bits here and there. Level-3
AnthonyKavanagh.avi
AnthonyKavanagh.srt
AnthonyKavanagh.doc
AnthonyKavanagh.mp3
Compared to other comics, Kavanagh's diction is amazingly clear. However, his vocabulary is trendy, and of course he speaks fast. A level-3
TF120HPesticides.avi
TF120HPesticides.srt
TF120HPesticides.doc
TF120HPesticides.mp3
The voice-over one understands as one does words on the page - each word separate and distinct. Understanding what the farm-worker says is a matter of context, of cultural clues - and of guess-work
GrippeA.avi
GrippeA.srt
GrippeA.doc
GrippeA.mp3
It's a good exercise, because this guy speaks very clearly, and very fast. After acquiring basic vocabulary, learning to follow fast clear speech is the next step
FemmesOmbre.avi
FemmesOmbre.srt
FemmesOmbre.doc
FemmesOmbre.mp3
We have a nice range of voices here. These ladies speak quite clearly, but it is far from the French of the news announcer. We'll call it Level-3 I think
ObjetsGuerre.avi
ObjetsGuerre.srt
ObjetsGuerre.doc
ObjetsGuerre.mp3
The expert is one of those who, his mind fixed on his historical speciality, has difficulty with the rules of syntax. We'll have to make it a Level-3 for that reason
AlexMétayer.avi
AlexMétayer.srt
AlexMétayer.doc
AlexMétayer.mp3
What is remarkable is the clarity of Métayer's voice. It's a Level-3 of course, and the 'accident scene' is not easy to follow - but compared to Coluche ....
TF120HViolEcole.avi
TF120HViolEcole.srt
TF120HViolEcole.doc
TF120HViolEcole.mp3
A wide variety of voices. As always, emotion breeds incoherence (and bad grammar).There is plenty of emotion here. Level-3
FaitsDivers.avi
FaitsDivers.srt
FaitsDivers.doc
FaitsDivers.mp3
The voices of Christopher, his mother and the huissier make this a Level-3
Philosophie.avi
Philosophie.srt
Philosophie.doc
Philosophie.mp3
The pedagogic point here, is that when the content of what is being said is abstruse, we have difficulty following the words. The brain has to interpret the sense, and it overloads.
TF120HHopital.avi
TF120HHopital.srt
TF120HHopital.doc
TF120HHopital.mp3
Linguistically this is interesting. As always, emotion clouds the voice, and the voices here are variously guilty and indignant. Apart from the voice-over I'd say a Level-3
Voyante.avi
Voyante.srt
Voyante.doc
Voyante.mp3
I would not normally post this here - the voice of the clairvoyant puts it towards the top of the sonsenfrancais site. However, this fascinated me. The clairvoyant has to mutter mysteriously and unintelligibly, hasn't he ? It's all part of the act.
TF120HCybercriminels.avi
TF120HCybercriminels.srt
TF120HCybercriminels.doc
TF120HCybercriminels.mp3
I think we'll make this a Level-3 because of the disguised voice of Harry the Hacker. Tests the ear, doesn't it ?
FaitesEntrerAppât.avi
FaitesEntrerAppât.srt
FaitesEntrerAppât.doc
FaitesEntrerAppât.mp3
The background music in this extract, coupled with the speech of the first policeman and the witness, makes this a Level-3 piece, where we have to infer what is being said rather than distinguishing each word separately
RestosDuCoeur.avi
RestosDuCoeur.srt
RestosDuCoeur.doc
RestosDuCoeur.mp3
 At a certain level of difficulty we have to infer what is being said, rather than picking up each word distinctly. We pick up the general sense, and then fill in the detail. Don't take my text as gospel !
TempsColonies.avi
TempsColonies.srt
TempsColonies.doc
TempsColonies.mp3
It's a level-3 in many places. See if you can tell where I've gone wrong - and try to do better ! Email me the results.
FrançaisLibres.avi
FrançaisLibres.srt
FrançaisLibres.doc
FrançaisLibres.mp3
The voices of old people, and the voices of children are always a challenge
E=M6Fraicheur.avi
E=M6Fraicheur.srt
E=M6Fraicheur.doc
E=M6Fraicheur.mp3
The voice-over isn't so difficult, although irritating. The technical expert though - !! Level-3
QuestionMaison.avi
QuestionMaison.srt
QuestionMaison.doc
QuestionMaison.mp3
It's pretty comprehensible until the man starts sticking it on the wall in the last two minutes. Level-3 from there on...
TF120HMémoire.avi
TF120HMémoire.srt
TF120HMémoire.doc
TF120HMémoire.mp3
Of all the clips on this site, this one perhaps best demonstrates that understanding what we hear is largely the effect of interpretation by the brain of linguistic and cultural cues

Take, for instance the doctor who speaks of la panne de mémoire. In fact what I hear is la plan...

Level-3, but this is - as always - what we're are aiming to master

20HProstitution.avi
20HProstitution.srt
20HProstitution.doc
20HProstitution.mp3
This is a Level-3. The voices of the ladies are by no means as difficult to follow as they might be - given the nature of the piece. But it's a good work-out for the ear
VousVoir.avi
VousVoir.srt
VousVoir.doc
VousVoir.mp3
The different voices are fascinating. Folliot has the burr of the South. The army personnel speak - like army personnel. Not easy, but exactly the sort of thing we want to learn to follow.
DianePoitiers.avi
DianePoitiers.srt
DianePoitiers.doc
DianePoitiers.mpg
Note the enormous difference between the voice-over and the other voices. Why are they so difficult ? It's a Level-3
GrosMots.avi
GrosMots.srt
GrosMots.doc
GrosMots.mp3
I will content myself here by repeating the warning. Very, very bad language. Do not download if that offends you