When you first arrive in a new country there’s a lot to do! Ask anyone who has moved to France to give you an account of their first few weeks and you will most probably be regaled with a long account of struggling to get utilities connected, registering with doctors, putting kids into school, finding vets and working out where the nearest DIY store is.
But once the dust has settled and you start to find your feet, discovering what is happening on both a local and national level is absolutely key to settling in.
If your French is good enough, reading and listening to the news in French will help to make it even better, as well as giving you a good understanding of what is going on in France in terms of current affairs, or affaires courantes.
SURF THE WEB AND TUNE IN TO RADIO
Obviously you can opt for a printed newspaper but in terms of language learning, news websites definitely have an edge. The images, layout and diverse content mean that it is much easier to grasp the general gist of any one story and watching short news videos is a sure-fire way to improve your French comprehension while keeping yourself informed about what is going on in the world around you.
Franceinfo, Le Monde and Le Parisien are three of the best and if listening to the radio is more your thing, then try France Inter or LCI. Both of these also contain video content; besides, having the radio on in the background all the time is a wonderful way to improve your language skills with minimal effort.
If you prefer to hear your news in English then France24 is a great resource for both global and French-based news and will help you understand current affairs from a French perspective.
REGIONAL NEWS
Bu hikaye Living France dergisinin March 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Living France dergisinin March 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Guide To: Working For A Foreign Company
If your current employer is happy to let you continue working for them after you move to France, there are a number of rules and regulations to be aware of to ensure you stay on the right side of the law, as Catharine Higginson explains
On vintage soil
Life in the vineyards of Aude is a dream come true for Leicestershire-born Katie Jones who now successfully exports her wines back to the UK, as Brigitte Nicolas learns
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
What happens if you are buying a French property but can’t attend the completion meeting at the notaire’s office in person? Matthew Cameron explains how a power of attorney can be used and how it works
In safe hands
There can be few more unusual homes than the 11th-century Château de Clérans, situated close to the Dordogne river in the Périgord Pourpre region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE
Robin Ellis made his name as the original Captain Poldark but a diabetes diagnosis led the Tarn-based actor to add cookbook writing to his CV, as Richard Webber learns
My frugal France
Embracing modern technology could save you money and time on both the pleasures and essentials of life in France, says Laura Harley as she shares some of her favourite French apps
Hidden Talents
Moving to France enabled these three expats to switch off from busy careers and in turn discover new creative talents, says Gillian Harvey, who counts herself among them
Beauty to behold
With its legendary vineyards, charming old towns and rich gastronomy, Gironde is quintessential France at its best, as Alison Weeks discovers
AS SEEN ON SCREEN
A Dordogne town, a Charente city and a Pyrenean village all have a starring role in three new films hitting the big screen this year, joining a long list of French locations that have gone before them, as Vicky Leigh learns
A local's view
Trish and Mark Tyler run a beautifully restored chambres d’hôtes, set in six hectares of park and woodland near StÉmilion, which has a fascinating history