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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The free videos are only watchable if you are in United States or Canada :(
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!
@Ruben I believe that they are also available via youtube. Maybe you can try seeing them there.
Only available in US and Canada? So what the hell are you doing on the WORLD WIDE web?
Only available for US and Canada users…
This approach is not for everyone. They talk way too fast.
put your FUCKERS programs en in shit bathroom of your houses motherfuckers
Vicky, I could kiss you.
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
i just amor french in action especially mirrielle, and her little sis, marie.oui,oui,loves and kisses
Transcripts of the lessons would help us to learn the lessons! At least it would give us an idea of the action.
While not transcripts, you can buy the textbook and workbook, which are helpful supplements.
Can anyone tell me where to find the documents needed to do some exercises? I have a photocopied Texbook & workbook, but aside from the sole main document at the end of the lessons, I can’t find the documents 1A, 2 anywhere :(
Can you tell me where to find the documents needed to do some nexercises? I have a photocopied Texbook & workbook, but aside from nthe sole main document at the end of the lessons, I can’t find the ndocuments 1A, 2 anywhere :(
Thank you very much!nI thought they were in the Study Guide or some materials that I couldn’t obtain. Seems like I have to give up on those exercises :/
Thanks for this. Great approach. And yes, I’m in love with Mireille
whoever needs the transcripts, send me an email and I will gladly share this magnificent french course transcript, so you will understand even more.
Hi Dave, nWould you mind sending the transcripts? (Need your email.)
Hi Dave, I would appreciate the transcripts. Contact info? mine is jp***************@***il.com
Hi Dave, I would appreciate the transcripts. Contact info? mine is jp***************@***il.com
Hi Dave, I too would love to have the transcripts sent to me my email is ma*********@***il.com
Hi Dave, please send me the transcripts if still possible. I would greatly appreciate it. How do i get your email? Thanks in advance.
Dave. I would like the transcripts. How do I email you.
Mike
Dave, I, too, would love the transcript as well. I found some of the translations of some words/phrases (not verbatim) on what turned out to be an ad for Memorize.com, but I can’t find the remainder 50 lessons. I think that was a tease just to get me to sign up. I am most grateful to you for sending whatever you have. Many thanks.….
Hi Dave I would love the transcripts if you wouldn’t mind sending them to me. I’m not sure how to find your email address??
Just came across this discussion. I remember watching French in Action in the 80s and would love the transcripts, if they’re still available. Could someone provide the email address for Dave, please?
Me too Sue! did you manage to get hold of the transcripts? thanks, Mel
The video has always been the heart of the course, but it isn’t the course at all!!! Each video is actually the introduction to that lesson. The real learning comes when you follow the audio course. You MUST obtain the audio which, together with the textbook and 2 workbooks, Part I and Part II, breaks down the language very efficiently and teaches you all the constructions and grammar etc. AND, most importantly, improves your ear to where you can make the transition to real French programming, as I have. Used workbooks and textbooks can be purchased very inexpensively. The audio is worth every penny, far better than a couple years at university. The best thing about French in Action is that it is authentic French, and also that it gives you all the necessary tools to actually go to France, as I did, and talk intelligently. For instance, you will learn all about transportation in France, something that you will need!!!
And just having the transcripts are not enough. There is no English in French in Action, so you need the textbook, which gives you explainations and cartoon visuals which enable you to understand key constructions as you read. One of the foundations of French in Action is that translating can be a waste of time. Translate “Where the heck is she?”. You can’t, but you will learn the approprate construction if you have the materials and follow the course. And as I stated above, it is the audio course that will get your ear the where you want it to be.
Rob is correct. I purchased the audio course for $200. This is after taking a couple of night terms using the book and workbook and watching the videos. It helps tremendously in training the ear. One is able to go back and replay as many times as necessary so that the student can start speaking in phrases rather than words.
Hi Dave, I would appreciate the transcripts.
dstudnicka(at)web.de
bien
Can you download French in Action onto an iPac or Mac computer?
Thanks.
Fantastic!
Annenburg learning offers the entire series and many more free.
Annenburg learning offers the entire series and many more free.
Duplicate comment? that’s ridiculous.I’ve never posted here bevfore on any topic.
Screw it then.
Julie,
We don’t own the rights to these materials. We are simply pointing out that they are available for free on the Annenberg Learner website.
http://www.learner.org/resources/series83.html#
You might want to contact the Annenberg people to see if they can help you.
Best regards,
Dan
What is a waste of time is looking up words and idiomatic phrases because there is no translation. Therefore, the meanings are either ambiguous or wrongly understood (words in French that look like words in English but have totally different meanings). Cartoons just don’t cut it. Tons of time wasted on that.
how do I get the audio lessons. I have the book and work book,
Hello and Merci Beaucoup!
I Just want to download individual chapters, as I was able to do on my earlier Microsoft computer (now defunct). ow do I do this? At the moment, I need Lesson 47 and 48. With the new computer, I can’t find the right way to do this–or has the system changed?
Please tell where to find those audio course on the internet!
If you are using firefox browser then just download a VPN add on.
Hoxx vpn is a good one but other options are there. The you can view the videos even if you are outside U.S. and Canada.
Any VPN app should work as well.
If you want to download VoD videos from Learner.org,
You can simply get the Learner Downloader- Allavsoft to batch download Learner videos to MP4, AVI etc on Mac or Windows computer.
Yes, absolutely you’re right…
J’aime apprend le francais!
I can’t find the videos that corresponding to the third edition, which starts with Genese I and II.
Do they exist?
Hi Dave, do you still have the transcript of French in action videos? Please send to my email and thank you in advance.
Thanks
Abdul
no tried it on my macbook pro
I truly enjoy this show! I guess I am one of those cult followers because whenever I came across it on PBS, I could not look away! I studied French for 4 years in High School and 4 years University. Since I do not live in France, these shows kept me in practice. Great show!
Plzz share the course you have.. which you mentioned on above massage.
Feeling a bit rusty, I went to the Annenberg Learner site to watch a few episodes of French in Action. Although I could hear the audio, I could not get the video. Does anyone know if Yale and/or Annenberg have pulled the plug on FIA? I certainly hope not.
You can find some of the videos on YouTube.
How can I learn languages?
Provide free French learning videos
Hi Abdul,
Do you have Dave’s email or did he send you the transcripts? I would love a copy of them if he did.
Thanks—
Geoff
Would like access to French lessons
Hello Parviz, And so do I. Even after all these years. Did you ever learn French? Thanks for yourreply.
Hi Marsha … or anyone,
Is this thread still active? I would love to connect with another FIA learner.
I’m looking for the Audio CD’s or mp3 files for French in Action part 2. Anyone know where they might be found? Yale doesn’t offer them anymore. ;-(
okay
I agree with Rob’s prior comments that this is the best free beginning French language learning resource available. I also agree that in order to get the most out of the course you should do the exercises in the textbook and the workbook, and the audio exercises are essential. I have the audio exercises from a long time ago on cassette tapes!
I don’t know where you can get recordings of the audio exercises nowadays. I also subsequently purchased the the series on CD roms, but that does not have the audio exercises.
I have located a few of the audio exercises on line (lessons 4–14 only).
If anyone knows how to find the others please let us know. Thanks.
I live in Michigan US