Aural news pieces and announcements test your ability to extract factual details from French recordings. The exam asks you to identify key information and answer in the language or format required.
What to Listen For in News Bulletins
Short news reports give information about events. Listen for the topic, people, place, and time.
- The event: reports outline what happened, often using il y a eu (there was) or a annoncé (announced).
- People involved: reports often mention emergency services like la police (the police) or les pompiers (firefighters).
- Location: places are identified using towns (à Lyon), regions (dans le sud), or roads (sur l'autoroute).
- Time: time words like hier (yesterday) and verbs like sera fermé (will be closed) show timing.
Public and School Announcements
Public announcements (une annonce) give direct information or instructions in stations, airports, and schools.
- Greetings: announcements often begin with Mesdames et messieurs (Ladies and gentlemen) or Attention (Attention).
- Travel notices: listen for destinations (à destination de...), origins (en provenance de...), and platforms (le quai).
- School instructions: announcements give rules using il est interdit de... (forbidden to) or l'école sera fermée (school closed).
Key Vocabulary and Road Incident Terms
News reports and announcements frequently include incident terms and reporting verbs.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un événement | an event |
| un accident / un incendie | an accident / a fire |
| selon... | according to... |
| une voiture / un camion | a car / a lorry |
| un car / une moto | a coach / a motorbike |
| les pompiers | the firefighters |
| un blessé / blessé(e) | an injured person / injured |
| fermé / ouvert | closed / open |
Numbers, Times, and Listening Strategy
Numbers, clock times, and qualifying words carry key factual details.
- French numbers: soixante-dix means 70, quatre-vingts means 80, and quatre-vingt-dix means 90.
- Clock times: quatorze heures means 14:00 (2 p.m.); huit heures et demie means 8:30.
- Negatives: personne n'est blessé means nobody is injured; trois personnes blessées means three injured people.
- Listening strategy: follow the playback instructions. On the first listening, identify the topic and record answers. On later listenings, fill gaps and check details.
Key terms
- Les informations / les infos
- The news broadcast or bulletin.
- Selon
- According to; introduces the source of information.
- Les pompiers
- The firefighters or fire brigade.
- Dans le sud
- In the south.
- Jusqu'à midi
- Until midday or noon.
- Il est interdit de
- It is forbidden to.
Check yourself
What does the phrase 'selon les pompiers' mean in a news report?
According to the firefighters (or fire brigade).
What number is 'quatre-vingts' in French?
80.
What vehicle is 'un car' in French?
A coach (or bus).
What does 'le train à destination de Paris' mean in a station announcement?
The train to (or towards) Paris.