listen to french practise listening with French miscellaneous pieces level advanced AS/A2 Miscellaneous Page 1

Video	Files	Description
	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 !
	ANousRepublique.avi ANousRepublique.srt ANousRepublique.doc ANousRepublique.mp3	Listen carefully to the bit where he says that handicapped people - presumably blind - should be able to right-click on an image to hear an audio account of what the image shows !
	Amadeus.avi Amadeus.srt Amadeus.doc Amadeusmp3	This is very representative of what I'm trying to offer as Level 2 clips. It's reasonably clear, but it doesn't give you every word separately as happens with documentary voiceovers. The brain has to fill in the gaps
	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.
	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' !
	Zygel.avi Zygel.srt Zygel.doc Zygel.mp3	Anglophones tend to describe the French voice as 'nasal'. Not true, it has the mellow resonance of a cello. Listen to Jean-François Zygel !
	PierreBachelet.avi PierreBachelet.srt PierreBachelet.doc PierreBachelet.mp3	I don't normally include songs because you can always get the words off the Internet, and they are not very good transcription exercises. So this is just for the pleasure of the songs...
	MuseeToulouse.avi MuseeToulouse.srt MuseeToulouse.doc MuseeToulouse.mp3	*Laurence Piquet's diction is perfect. If you have a tendency to 'roll' the French 'r' as if you were permanently in a chanson* by Piaf, listen to this lady**
	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
	Art.avi Art.srt Art.doc Art.mp3	As is often the case with surrealist theatre - Ionesco is the great example - the dialogue Level-1. But when the voices speed up ... the we have to work a little.
	8Journalistes.avi 8Journalistes.srt 8Journalistes.doc 8Journalistes.mp3	You should have no difficulty following this Level-1 extract. I include it because we don't often have examples from television of this well-written formal French
	Churchill.avi Churchill.srt Churchill.doc Churchill.mp3	Discussions are very good sources of 'incoherent language', of false starts, repetitions; and also, rapid speech, people speakin g one on top of another. But this one isn't too bad. A Level-2
	Barnaby.avi Barnaby.srt Barnaby.doc Barnaby.mp3	The dialogue is always very clear, but the fast-paced action lends a little difficulty, making it a Level-2
	FE-GuyGeorge.avi FE-GuyGeorge.srt FE-GuyGeorge.doc FE-GuyGeorge.mp3	A wide range of voices, but the extract is clear enough. Christophe Hondelatte's voice is rapid. It's a solid Level-2 extract
	JeuDeLaMort1.avi JeuDeLaMort1.srt JeuDeLaMort1.doc JeuDeLaMort1.mp3	The rule of gold is that when educated people get excited, their voices blur. Level-3
	ArmeeAir.avi ArmeeAir.srt ArmeeAir.doc ArmeeAir.mp3	One of the reasons for the lasting success of Michel Drucker is that recognisable voice which can be crystal clear from the cockpit of a Mirage, or familiar when interviewing people - and much less easy to follow
	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
	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.
	UnSoirZygel.avi UnSoirZygel.srt UnSoirZygel.doc UnSoirZygel.mp3	This is a Level-1 in terms of listening. But turn the subtitles off the first time through and just listen to the quality of his voice. The orchestra's not bad either...
	AD_Dentiste.avi AD_Dentiste.srt AD_Dentiste.doc AD_Dentiste.mp3	The patient, Isabelle, has exactly the sort of voice that we are training our ear to follow. I couldn't pick up her very last comment precisely. Can you ?
	Mentaliste.avi Mentaliste.srt Mentaliste.doc Mentaliste.mp3	A moderate Level-2, because entertainers of this type take care to make sure that they are understood.
	FemmePolicière.avi FemmePolicière.srt FemmePolicière.doc FemmePolicière.mp3	Although the (horrified) interest here is the story, it also makes a good listening exercise
	Antigone.avi Antigone.srt Antigone.doc Antigone.mp3	A Level-1, and you know what I always say... It's a good idea to have the subtitles switched off by default on your video software
	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
	Appel18juin.avi Appel18juin.srt Appel18juin.doc Appel18juin.mp3	It's a level-1, but there is a range of voices in this short piece
	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...
	DH_Guerre.avi DH_Guerre.srt DH_Guerre.doc DH_Guerre.mp3	I chose this as a Level-1 piece - so that I could say as always - Switch the subtitles off first time !
	ES_AloeVera.avi ES_AloeVera.srt ES_AloeVera.doc ES_AloeVera.mp3	Most of this is very much Level-1. Until perhaps the couple at the end who farm the plant.
	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.
	Tosca.avi Tosca.srt Tosca.doc Tosca.mp3	A range of voices here, but quite clear and a modest Level-2
	SousSoleil.avi SousSoleil.srt SousSoleil.doc SousSoleil.mp3	It took me a while to make this transcription - not so much catching the words, but looking up the special name references on the Internet. Names are a real problem.
	Zygel.avi Zygel.srt Zygel.doc Zygel.mp3	The informal nature of this clip means that while most of the words are clear, occasionally they dip below the threshold of comprehension
	CommentPringles.avi CommentPringles.srt CommentPringles.doc CommentPringles.mp3	*This is a Level-1. However, listen to the line that starts Qu'on les appelle. What is that at the end ? I couldn't pick it up. Can you ?*
	Télématin.avi Télématin.srt Télématin.doc Télématin.mp3	There are a few places where a word or two escapes, but the real challenge here is to decipher place names, and names of people
	C'estdans l'air-Histoire.avi C'estdans l'air-Histoire.srt C'estdans l'air-Histoire.doc C'estdans l'air-Histoire.mp3	It is the voice at the end that poses a little challenge. However, although rapid, the diction is mostly clear, and where it is not one can infer the content. A decent level-2.
The extracts refer to the classes of 'Sixième' and 'Cinquième'. You may find this diagram useful - I can never remember what these names mean
	CommentCalfeutrage.avi CommentCalfeutrage.srt CommentCalfeutrage.doc CommentCalfeutrage.mp3	Lots of vocabulary but a modest level-2 in terms of difficulty. Always some difficult moments, though. Very often the sound comes to our ears distorted, and it is the context that enables us to understand
	HommesViennent.avi HommesViennent.srt HommesViennent.doc HommesViennent.mp3	It makes a good listening exercise this, because Paul Dewandre speaks very clearly, but sometimes very fast. It allows us to practice following rapid speech without the extra problem of clarity. Level-2.
	CommentBateauFibre.avi CommentBateauFibre.srt CommentBateauFibre.doc CommentBateauFibre.mp3	I think it will be useful to describe a very common problem that cropped up in this extract. I suggest you download the mp3 or the avi; but not the doc or srt for the moment. I'm going to describe what I found, in the hope that it will help you At 54 seconds into the piece the voice-over seems to say 'On commence par construire le seture' The voice is very clear, there is a slight emphasis on the le, but unfortunately there is no such word as seture. In this situation one tries to imagine from the context what the word could be, one can enter the sentence into Google, which often obligingly corrects the spelling, one looks up pages relating to glass fibre boat building. No luck... And it is very frustrating. When speech is rapid, or unclear, or there is background noise, we can excuse our inability to understand. But when it is completely clear... So I typed up the rest of the piece, and then came back to this moment. Finally I thought that perhaps it wasn't le but l' followed by a vowel. And so it proved. I won't give you the solution - try it for yourselves. Or perhaps you won't find that passage difficult ! Let me know...
	CommentSaladiers.avi CommentSaladiers.srt CommentSaladiers.doc CommentSaladiers.mp3	Apart from the vocabulary this is one of the easier ones - a level-1. However there are a few places which made me ponder. When he speaks of the defects in the wood, I thought that it had to be noeud but I heard a d at the beginning. What do you think ?
	OrthographeMaths.avi OrthographeMaths.srt OrthographeMaths.doc OrthographeMaths.mp3	There is a great variation in difficulty here. The voice overs, as always, the mathematicians who speak quickly, the young people. And how interesting it is that these young folk who have such difficulty writing their language have no problems at all when it comes to following a modern film...
	SardouQuestion.avi SardouQuestion.srt SardouQuestion.doc SardouQuestion.mp3	Notice what a difference it makes when the microphone is close to the mouth in a studio setting. Even though it is unscripted and Sardou speaks very informally, it is still a level-1 I think
	PierrePerret.avi PierrePerret.srt PierrePerret.doc PierrePerret.mp3	It's a level-1, because Perret takes care to ensure that we pick up the words. Having said that, the last verse confused me, so please tell me if you think I went wrong. At the end he says, instead of wearing the veil Allez-vous-en mettez les voiles We would say 'Take wing...'
	CommentPompe.avi CommentPompe.srt CommentPompe.doc CommentPompe.mp3	I think we'll call this a level-1. The vocabulary is not very specialised - just the occasional word - and the voice is clear. Pity about that horrible music though...
	MichelBerger.avi MichelBerger.srt MichelBerger.doc MichelBerger.mp3	There are a whole range of voices and songs here, so it is an excellent mix at round about level-2
	Guérisseurs.avi Guérisseurs.srt Guérisseurs.doc Guérisseurs.mp3	A good example of a clip which I start transcribing thinking that it is a level-1, because of the voice-over. Then I get to the voices of the unhappy ex-disciple, the aggressive Jean-Michel Bataille, and the slightly nervous practitioner. It's the sound quality of these interviews that makes it difficult, the technique of many modern films with the microphone well away from the person talking to give a realistic quality. So - Level-3
	CommentSèche-linge.avi CommentSèche-linge.srt CommentSèche-linge.doc CommentSèche-linge.mp3	Most of this extract is straight-forward. But ... is the word for the 'agitators' in the drum really 'sellette'? The sense sort of fits, but it doesn't quite sound right. What do you think ?
	E=M6 Mémoire.avi E=M6 Mémoire.srt E=M6 Mémoire.doc E=M6 Mémoire.mp3	This is a good example of a gentle level-1 which suddenly gets difficult. The young husband interviewed on the subject of his marriage will gain no prizes for good diction, I fear.
	CommentChangeur.avi CommentChangeur.srt CommentChangeur.doc CommentChangeur.mp3	I won't repeat the things I've said before about this series. Always good value for money.
	Mitterrand.avi Mitterrand.srt Mitterrand.doc Mitterrand.mp3	Educated, moderately paced voices. A good Level-1
	E=M6_Images.avi E=M6_Images.srt E=M6_Images.doc E=M6_Images.mp3	There is an enormous difference in this clip between the voice-over, which talks to us as if we were children, and the professional photographer, whose voice is trendy and rather indistinct.
	Réveillon.avi Réveillon.srt Réveillon.doc Réveillon.mp3	The chat show format makes for rapid and indistinct speech - we have to persuade our brains to infer what is being said rather than relying on every word being pronounced distinctly as if written down. It comes... but slowly. It's a level-3
	CommentMoutarde.avi CommentMoutarde.srt CommentMoutarde.doc CommentMoutarde.mp3	This one is relatively easy. There is always, however, some vocabulary which is unfamiliar and tests the ear.
	UnDosTres.avi UnDosTres.srt UnDosTres.doc UnDosTres.mp3	My theory is that you get this sort of crystal clear dubbing when the dubbing actors haven't the time to do any more than read the words and get the lip-sync approximately right. But it means that French TV is full of dubbed series that are ideal for training the ear. A solid Level-1
	CDASarkozy.avi CDASarkozy.srt CDASarkozy.doc CDASarkozy.mp3	The extract starts with a very good example of Sarkozy's style of speaking - rather different from the ponderous French tradition. It is followed by an expert who speaks fast and informally. It is not difficult to follow the gist - but the detail can be difficult to pick up.
	CommentTrainsMiniatures.avi CommentTrainsMiniatures.srt CommentTrainsMiniatures.doc CommentTrainsMiniatures.mp3	As always, clear diction, but the opportunity to recognise some new vocabulary by the sound rather than by the written word.
	Publicités.avi Publicités.srt Publicités.doc Publicités.mp3	The problem is not so much the voices, which are usually quite clear, but the vocabulary, which, especially for the cosmetic products, can be quite difficult to follow
	E=M6Alopécie.avi E=M6Alopécie.srt E=M6Alopécie.doc E=M6Alopécie.mp3	There is always a wide range of voices in these piece... the voice over, which tries to be young and trendy, the experts. And then the interviews in the road, which can be very difficult to disentangle.
	CommentCouteau.avi CommentCouteau.srt CommentCouteau.doc CommentCouteau.mp3	As always, articles in metal requiring a lot of working offer varied technical vocabulary. This is a good example.
	Y'aQueLLaVéritéQuiCompte.avi Y'aQueLLaVéritéQuiCompte.srt Y'aQueLLaVéritéQuiCompte.doc Y'aQueLLaVéritéQuiCompte.mp3	Even the voice over is difficult here, because very intimate and breathy. And of course emotion always makes voices less clear - as when the young wife starts to speak. Level-3 I think
	L'affaire DSK.avi L'affaire DSK.srt L'affaire DSK.doc L'affaire DSK.mp3	Apart from the intrinsic interest, because of the speed at which the anchor man speaks, a good listening exercise.
	CommentBilles.avi CommentBilles.srt CommentBilles.doc CommentBilles.mp3	Some specialised vocabulary here, as always in this series
	E=M6Animaux.avi E=M6Animaux.srt E=M6Animaux.doc E=M6Animaux.mp3	A good level-2 exercise this, with a mix of voice-over and 'real' voices.
	RuyBlas.avi RuyBlas.srt RuyBlas.txt RuyBlas.mp3	Historical fiction, clear enunciation. It's a joy to have this as a Level-1.
	E=M6_20ans.avi E=M6_20ans.srt E=M6_20ans.txt E=M6_20ans.mp3	As always, a good mixture of voice-over and live interviews, in setting which often offer background noise.