Canal Académie is a French-language Internet radio service with an academic focus. Listeners have access to podcasts of the CA weekly shows as well as free access to their médiathèque which provides access to their more than 2000 sound files. Broadcasts can be sorted by theme, shows and CA's choice of listening selections.
Type of Material:
Podcasts
Recommended Uses:
Independent use for those who wish to increase listening proficiency and cultural awareness.
Technical Requirements:
Media player
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Listening proficiency; cultural awareness
Target Student Population:
Advanced level language students and students in Francophone studies
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Advanced level language
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The themes, arranged in alphabetical order on the site are numerous and quite varied- from Africa to the Near East; from cinema, to literature and music, and from gastronomy to journalism and politics. Faculty members who seek authentic listening materials to add to their cultural units will be pleased with the quality and quantity of relevant topics. The sound quality is first-rate, the French is clearly articulated in a pace that will be accessible to advanced level students. The fact that the broadcasts may be used online or transferred to handheld devices make them portable and easy for students to review. Faculty members can create their own exercises to accompany the podcasts and to feature the aspects of the programs that they find most useful. There are wonderful programs on the members of the Academie Francaise, including Victor Hugo, Leopold Senghor, Jean Cocteau, Julien Green and many others. Additionally, users may find broadcasts in English and in German.
Concerns:
none
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
It would be rather difficult to find such high quality French podcasts elsewhere on the web, especially with such eminent scholars, authors and journalists. The self-directed learner could make great gains in listening comprehension while experiencing extremely high quality materials. These audio texts could also be used in a classroom setting, but would require pre- and post- listening exercises to facilitate the materials for intermediate-high level learners.
Concerns:
It will be very important for the faculty member to preview these materials before assigning them to students outside the classroom unless the students are advanced level listeners or native/heritage speakers.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The design of the page is impeccable. One can search by theme, according to the most recent, according to a particular radio program and by keyword. The audio qualit is excellent. It is easy to download the podcasts or to use them right from the site. The availability of other languages (English and German)is an added feature that will appeal to some users.
Concerns:
None
Other Issues and Comments:
No issues, the work is great. This site sets a high standard.
Creative Commons:
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