French Listen-and-Read Religious Texts
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    I am starting to learn French, for my academic work.

    To help me get the sound of the language in my ear, I'm looking for audio recordings of French religious texts (Scripture and Liturgical texts) which can read along to. Videos with the text on screen are the best. Audio recordings, with a separate text somewhere are fine too.

    (I've tried Googling, but I end up with a lot of music recordings, which aren't that helpful right now.)

    NB: Since I don't read French currently, links to general resource sites in French, which I would need to dig through, aren't super helpful. What I'm hoping for people to do is like:
    - HERE (link) is a video recording of someone reciting the Creed in French, with the words on the screen.
    - HERE is an audio recording of Psalm XYZ in French, and HERE is the text from the same translation.

    THANKS
  • kevinfkevinf
    Posts: 1,191
    Go to notredamedeparis.org. Listen to the Sunday mass. Get the texts for the sundays at the website also.
    Ecoutez bien mon ami!
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • Richard MixRichard Mix
    Posts: 2,799
    My several experiences with Russian has been that the audio-only course enormously sharpened my concentration and started to uproot some bad pronunciation habits. Don't underestimate the subconscious near occasion to sin offered by french spelling! That said, you probably haven't much to learn from me about finding the creed on youtube.
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700
    Does this mean I have to brush up on my French so the next time we're "out on the town" we can talk in a language other than ecclesiastical Latin?
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    You can also watch daily Vespers from N.D. de Paris on the website of the KTO television service.
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    Does this mean I have to brush up on my French so the next time we're "out on the town" we can talk in a language other than ecclesiastical Latin?

    The academic thing was a lie. This is actually the only reason.
  • quilisma
    Posts: 136
    The Mass is broadcast every Sunday morning on Radio France Culture. Here's a link to last Sunday's Mass (23rd Sunday):

    http://www.franceculture.fr/podcast/5070725

    You can find the readings for the day here:

    http://www.aelf.org/office-messe?date_my=06/09/2015

    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • Randolph Nichols
    Posts: 398
    Adam,

    A helpful practice for me was to memorize the rosary prayers (they are available in French at Catholic Online) and to follow the daily rosary broadcasts from Lourdes on KTO television.

    Unfortunately French is such a complicated language it resists quick learning methods. You need a sustained programmed approach.

    If you already know some French grammar basics, Pimsleur is okay for mastering pronunciation and gaining the courage to test yourself in conversation. Its weakness is assuming adults learn in the manner of children. We don't. The best program in my opinion for adult learners is Fluenz (and not just because it was cofounded by a Harvard gal). Unfortunately it's bit pricey, but you might have some luck finding a copy at a local library.
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,700

    The academic thing was a lie. This is actually the only reason.


    I think we'll get less "looks" if we speak in a living language.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482

    I think we'll get less "looks" if we speak in a living language.


    That depends on whether or not we speak French in a Russian accent.
  • ViolaViola
    Posts: 411
    Can you get bbc websites on your side of the Atlantic? They have some excellent resources. I'm learning Spanish with their online course which is very good. For French check out www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/ Not religious texts, at least I don't think so, but very good to get a grasp of the language and hear it spoken.
    Thanked by 1Adam Wood
  • JPike1028
    Posts: 95
    If you are doing L-R, you need to know about www.lingq.com
    It is my go to site for language learning and how I learned/improved my foreign languages (I speak 4 languages other than English). The beauty of the site is you can upload audio and text to the site to study from. Additionally, gutenberg.org and librivox.com are good sites for finding source texts and audiobooks for free. If I recall St. Therese de Lisieux's book is on both in French.
    Thanked by 2Adam Wood canadash
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