Language Learning Resources: French

WordReference.com: This online dictionary will give you French-English translation or English-French translation. It will also conjugate any verb for you and has an online forum where you can look up or ask grammar questions. This dictionary is so helpful to have open while writing papers or reading assignments. There is a tab on WISE that links you to this site or you can go directly to: (www.wordreference.com/enfr/go).

• Quizlet - Quizlet's flashcard function can help you study for tests and learn new words. And the best part is: you don’t have to spend all that time and paper writing them down! Create flashcards or search Quizlet’s flashcard database. You can practice them online or download them to your personal computer. Studying just got way easier.
• BBC French - A resource that aids with contextual vocabulary, including audio pronunciation, games, and videos.

• Larousse: They have a dictionary, a synonym dictionary, and a conjugator. They have a quiz option as well!

• Frenchculture.org: The World of French Culture and Education in the USA
• Le Monde: French-language newspaper

• 1 jour 1 actu (1 day 1 news): They post one new story each day. Aside from written news, you can also find videos, podcasts and even games on a variety of subjects to make your learning even more engaging.

• Lingua: Readings are available for levels A1 (beginner), A2 (upper beginner) and B1 (intermediate). Accompanied by a few multiple-choice questions in French.

• Language Guide: Readings with audio are available; good for learning pronunciation and reading comprehension. If you scroll over sentences, it translates the sentence.

Bon Patron - Bon Patron is an online text editing database that Willamette subscribes to. What does this mean, you ask? It means Bon Patron will edit your essays for you! Simply copy your writing into the text box, click “Vérifier le texte,” and Bon Patron will check your spelling and grammar. Trust us, it’s much better than Word spell check.

To use *Bon Patron Pro, go to: willamette.bonpatron.com on any computer on campus. You can use the regular Bon Patron from your computer, but the LLC subscribed Willamette campus to a special Pro version with extra features. Taking even 10 minutes to check your paper, your grade will show the difference.

Check out the tutorial.

• Bescherelle – Write from Dictations: Here, you can listen to short audio recordings in French and fill in the correct words to complete the text. This is an excellent way to combine practicing listening and writing skills in French.

• Lawless French: This website has resources to help you write and type in French, there are resources about how to type in accents, French writing challenges, and combined listening and writing practices.

• RFI (Radio France International): A website with audio and script of French News.

• Le français façile avec RFI (French made easy with RFI): The French news service RFI offers a simplified daily summary of international news in both audio and text format on their website

• Kwiziq: Practice your French listening with two types of exercises: bilingual readers and dictations. You can pick based on your level of comfort. Bilingual readers are short articles that you can read and listen to at the same time. This type of exercise can be done when you don’t feel like typing.

• Coffee Break French: Coffee Break French is a spectacular podcast every French learner can use, regardless of their level.

Tutoring - Get essay help, ask grammar questions and practice your language skills with native French speakers! Click “Sign-up” on the left side of WISE to schedule an appointment with your language assistant.

Tex’s French Grammar:  A website with self-correcting grammar exercises, pronunciation audio and grammar tutorials.

French word processing in the DLS

The DLS at Willamette University, in Ford 101, is a Mac lab with 7 Macs.
Each computer also has Systéme D v.6.0, a writing assistance program for French.

Microsoft Word

PC Windows XP English (United States) Keyboard

1. Typing special characters: to type special characters in Microsoft Word, you must do it in two steps. The first step involves pressing the control key plus other keys simultaneously.

The second step is typing the letter you want. Here is a chart that explains how to type the
various characters:

á - control key + " , then a
à - control key + ~ , then a
â - control key + shift + 6 , then a
é - control key + " , then e
è - control key + %7e , then e
ê - control key + shift + 6 , then e
ë - control key + shift + ; , then e
ô - control key + shift + 6 , then o
æ - control key + shift + 7 , then a
ç - control key + < , then c

2. To use the proofreading tools to proofread in French, highlight the selection you want to proofread; then, go to the "Tools" menu up at the top, go to "Language," and click on "Set language. "Select" French (France)" from the dialog box that appears. Then click on "Spelling and Grammar" under the "Tools" menu to proofread the selection.

Macs, OSX English (United States) Keyboard

á, é, í, ó, ú: option + E + a, e, i, o, u
à, è, ì, ò, ù: option + ~ + a, e, i, o, u
ä, ë, ï, ö, ü: option + U + a, e, i, o, u
â, ê, î, ô, û: option + I + a, e, i, o, u
ç: option + c
Œ: option + q

OR

(Mac OS 9 only)

1. Click on the Apple in the top left of the screen.

2. Single click "Keycaps". A little keyboard will appear on the desktop.

3. Hold down the option key- the accents will apear.

4. Single click the accent you want.

5. Type the letter you want accented and it will appear in your document.

OR

Use this website: http://french.typeit.org