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Sadly, Comcast cable keeps messing with my channel lineup. As a result, I no longer receive one of my favorite programs, Journal de France (the news in French). It’s really great to get different perspectives on the news from around the world. It’s also a great way for me to keep up with my French.
Until now, I’ve been getting my news from the BBC world news, Journal de France, and CNN (many thanks to the MythTV project for powering all my time shifting needs). The news in the US has really gone to hell. It’s nearly impossible to get a somewhat unbiased reporting of the facts without all the yellow journalism. I thought that the blogging revolution would have kept the traditional media straight but it seems they it has gotten worse. Every other day, the news reports that something has happened and 100,000+ people are dead. Later in the day, the real numbers come out and it’s more like a few hundred. They seem to just try to capitalize on fear, hysteria, and misery.
Due to my unhappiness with the news, I try to get my information from a variety of sources – one of which is now unavailable to me. If anyone knows of a good French language podcast of the news, please let me know. I’m desperately in need of an additional source.
I wouldn’t say natively, but I understand the meaning of everything and 80-90 percent of the words. It also depends on the newscaster as some speak really fast. It’s a great way to increase your vocabulary with “proper†words. Sometimes I pick up an expression here or there from a song or something – to call it slang would be quite generous. The news is definitely a safer place to learn from.
Fluently French?
I had no idea that Eric’s linguistic capabilities included the ability to understand, natively, French News TV.