General

The arts

Click on les spectacles on the left-hand side to get to a list of some useful vocabulary related to the arts, and some information and links. For each word an illustrative sentence or a simple definition is given in French.

http://cr.middlebury.edu/public/french/Lexique//

Cinema, television, music and press in France

A really excellent text on cultural life in France from this American site for foreign learners of French. Students click on the speaker icon to hear the text read out. They must then fill in the gaps in the text from the audio. When they have completed the exercise they click on the red sentence at the top of the document and they will get a copy of the completed text. Alternatively, they can click on the red link straight away and just listen to the whole text while reading it simultaneously. The text is long, but is well worth working on, as there is a mine of detailed information in it.

After the main text students can click on the four photos of David to hear him answer some questions on themes related to those in the text. He speaks relatively clearly, so students can try to understand what he says from the audio first, before using the script option to get a transcript of what he says.

Next on the page comes a short text about BD, and then a little dialogue containing lots of colloquial expressions. Clicking on the red link after the table that follows (or the red link at the top of the page) will bring up a list of explanations in French for each of the expressions.

In the table that follows the dialogue students are given a list of French films that have been remade in America. They have to try to match up the titles. Clicking on the red link after the table gives the answers.

Finally there is a list of links that may be of interest to students about French culture.

http://www.cortland.edu/flteach/civ/cultur/cultur.htm

Arts and culture in France

The main text on this page discusses the history of the relationship of the French state to art and culture.

http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/france_829/decouvrir-france_4177/fr

The Louvre

Short article reporting that in 2005 the Louvre was the most visited museum in France and the world.

http://www.lesclesjunior.com/Actualites/Actus.htm?sku=ACT113717097013

Cultural interests depending on age and sex

Interesting table showing the cultural interests of people depending on their age and sex in 2004.

http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/chifcle_fiche.asp?ref_id=NATTEF05443&tab_id=3

Cultural interests depending social category

Interesting table showing the cultural interests of people depending on their social category in 2004.

http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/chifcle_fiche.asp?ref_id=NATTEF05445

Le Centre Pompidou

The official website of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Click on Français to get to the French version of the site.

http://www.cnac-gp.fr/Pompidou/Accueil.nsf/tunnel?OpenForm

Performances

On this site you can get information about all sorts of performances (music, theatre, dance, sports, family entertainment, arts and museums, tourism and leisure and cinema). Click on any of the categories on the left hand side to get to more detailed options and then follow the links to find prices, times, etc.

http://printemps.francebillet.com/index.do

Cultural diversity

Document from 2002 on how France sees itself promoting cultural and linguistic diversity at home and abroad.

http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/actualites/politique

Music/dance/theatre

Short paragraphs with some statistics related to music, dance and the theatre in France – towards the end of the document.

http://www.info-france-usa.org/fr/aaz/culture.asp

Maurice Béjart

Biography of Maurice Béjart. Links to other pages about his works, an analysis of his approach, the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, photos etc.

http://bejart.ch/fr/bejart/bio.htm

La Fête de la Musique

This short text describes the Fête de la Musique in June, and other musical festivals in France. Click on Musique (in red).

http://www.ambafrance-ca.org/kid/

Museums and monuments in France

Short paragraph with some statistics about museums and monuments in France – nearly at the end of the document.

http://www.info-france-usa.org/fr/aaz/culture.asp

Museums in France

A site with links to some of the museums in France. You can also type in the name of a museum and get information about it.

http://www.french-art.com/musees/index.htm

The Louvre

The official website of the Louvre museum in Paris.

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home_flash.jsp

Rodin museum

The official website of the Rodin museums in Paris and Meudon.

http://www.musee-rodin.fr/accueil.htm

Marcel Pagnol

Short text on Marcel Pagnol, written for children. To get to the document click on Junior Zone on the left-hand side, then Les dossiers, Les personnages and then scroll down and click on Marcel Pagnol.

http://www.radiojunior.com/index.html