French in Action: Cult Classic French Lessons from Yale (52 Episodes)

in Language Lessons, Yale | November 17th, 2011 10 Comments

During the 1980s, Pierre Capretz, a Yale professor, developed French in Action, a French immersion program that featured textbooks, workbooks, and a 52-episode television series. Aired on PBS, the television series gained a devoted following and, years later, a 25th anniversary celebration at Yale asked the question: Is it fair to say that French in Action now has a cult following?

You can watch French in Action for free online at the Annenberg Learner website. (Scroll down the page to find the videos.) The program follows the adventures of Robert Taylor, an American student, and Mireille Belleau, a young French woman. And each 30 minute episode provides a context for learning new words and expressions. (A couple of episodes generated a little controversy, we should note.) The show is conducted entirely in French.

French in Action appears in our collection of Free Language Lessons, which now offers primers in over 40 languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Italian and beyond.


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  1. Ruben says . . . | November 17, 2011 / 1:16 pm

    The free videos are only watchable if you are in United States or Canada :(

  2. jennie w. says . . . | November 19, 2011 / 4:55 am

    Loved these videos. I still have my textbook that went along with the series. It was so scandalous to my high school self that Mireille would go braless!

  3. Vicky says . . . | December 9, 2011 / 8:21 am

    @Ruben I believe that they are also available via youtube. Maybe you can try seeing them there.

  4. Sean says . . . | December 13, 2011 / 11:05 am

    Only available in US and Canada? So what the hell are you doing on the WORLD WIDE web?

  5. Tormentilla says . . . | April 11, 2012 / 1:37 pm

    Only available for US and Canada users…

  6. Gene says . . . | May 22, 2012 / 7:50 pm

    This approach is not for everyone. They talk way too fast.

  7. john doe says . . . | May 28, 2012 / 7:04 pm

    put your FUCKERS programs en in shit bathroom of your houses motherfuckers

  8. Derp says . . . | August 18, 2012 / 3:47 pm

    Vicky, I could kiss you.

  9. Parviz says . . . | January 8, 2013 / 10:17 am

    TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
    I love to learn French language a.s.a.p. and this is all I want to do.

    Regards
    Parviz

  10. germiles says . . . | February 3, 2013 / 11:10 pm

    i just amor french in action especially mirrielle, and her little sis, marie.oui,oui,loves and kisses

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