linguistica

News in Slow French is a worthwhile addition to your language-learning routine, but it’s not without its flaws. The Good. Learning a language while reading the news keeps things interesting. The app lets you listen to the news in French while following along with a written transcript and it highlights key vocabulary with translations to build your vocabulary. With beginner, intermediate and advanced levels, you can challenge yourself as your comprehension improves. The Bad. The app’s functionality is basic and occasionally clunky. You can “download” lessons, but they won’t play without an Internet connection—a major flaw that defeats the purpose of offline listening. Forget about using it on a plane or out on a trail run. The Ugly. In classic French fashion, the podcast hosts love political commentary. Unfortunately, they have little grasp of U.S. politics and culture, and nearly every episode features one or two stories relying on vague sources to justify sweeping, inaccurate generalizations about Americans. Bottom Line. Despite its drawbacks, News in Slow French can be a helpful learning tool. If you can overlook the political bias, it’s an often-enjoyable way to strengthen your French comprehension.

One of my favorite ways to learn/listen to Italian! Keep it up! Only complaint is I wish there was more podcasts!

Always been a great podcast. The last release of the app has cured a lot of the problems and now it’s possible to download entire episodes for later listening.