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All-In-One French Mastery Pack
- 13 French courses
- 169 hours of audio
- 3.5 GB of course material
- Fast download speed
- 30-day money-back guarantee
One-time purchase · Lifetime access
French is a major international language that is spoken not only in France itself but also in many other parts of the world, including across large swathes of Africa.
However, if you have studied standard Parisian “Metropolitan” French, you are likely to have a shock when confronted by the French of sub-Saharan Africa for the first time since you will immediately notice some major differences, both linguistically and culturally.
French sits comfortably among the most popular languages in the world to learn, which means there is no shortage of resources for studying it – but there are fewer materials to turn to specifically for African French.
For this reason, when used alongside other study resources, this free online sub-Saharan French course can provide an invaluable introduction to the version of French spoken in that part of the world.
Although it might not be suitable for use as a primary coursebook, it can be used to complement your study, giving you an insight into the French of the region and the culture of the people who speak it.
Course Details
What are FSI FAST courses?
The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) is a branch of the US government responsible for providing training for diplomatic staff preparing for postings abroad, and a large part of this concerns language instruction.
At the core of this are what are known as Basic courses, intensive study programs designed to give students an in-depth knowledge of the target language in around six months.
However, for those unable to dedicate the necessary amount of time required for a Basic course, FAST courses were created to give students a grounding in the language before their postings.
At the same time, these courses were intended to give them some cultural knowledge about the countries where they were being sent.
FAST stands for “Familiarization And Short-Term Training”, and the emphasis is on being able to function in common situations in a practical way rather than in-depth mastery of the language.
These courses were specifically designed to be taught by an instructor, making them less suitable for autonomous study.
However, with such a wealth of written and audio resources, FAST courses can still be of value when adapted and used to complement other study materials.
What is FSI Sub-Saharan French FAST?
This FSI sub-Saharan French course consists of 38 lessons dealing with a range of situations that you are likely to encounter while living, working or traveling in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa.
The course was originally intended to be completed in around 40 five-hour days of study along with around 25 hours spent reviewing the material, making this a comprehensive introduction to the French of the region.
Although this course first appeared in the early 1980s and much of the material is now quite dated, it still contains plenty of useful information, making it a useful addition to your study resources.
How can you use FSI Sub-Saharan French FAST?
Since FAST courses were designed very much to be used with a teacher, trying to use this course as your primary coursebook is unlikely to produce the results you are hoping for.
However, when used alongside other study materials – or perhaps to supplement regular French classes you are taking – this free sub-Saharan French course can help you gain an insight into the language and culture of the region.
For example, you can use the recordings to work on your listening comprehension as well as to help your ear become attuned to the sound of this particular kind of French.
To get the most of these materials, you will need to be a little creative in working out how best to use them – but the chance to benefit from this comprehensive collection of free study resources will make it worth persevering.
Taking it further
Volume 1
Student Text
| Unit | Audio |
|---|---|
| Lesson 01 | Tape |
| Lesson 02 | Tape |
| Lesson 03 | Tape |
| Lesson 04 | Tape |
| Lesson 05 | Tape |
| Lesson 06 | Tape |
| Lesson 07 | Tape |
| Lesson 08 | Tape |
| Lesson 09 | Tape |
| Lesson 10 | Tape |
| Lesson 11 | Tape |
| Lesson 12 | Tape |
| Lesson 13 | Tape |
| Lesson 14 | Tape |
| Lesson 15 | Tape |
| Lesson 16 | Tape |
| Lesson 17 | Tape |
| Lesson 18 | Tape |
| Lesson 19 | Tape |
| Lesson 20 | Tape |
| Lesson 21 | Tape |
| Lesson 22 | Tape |
| Lesson 23 | Tape |
| Lesson 24 | Tape |
| Lesson 25 | Tape |
| Lesson 26 | Tape |
| Lesson 27 | Tape |
| Lesson 28 | Tape |
| Lesson 29 | Tape |
| Lesson 30 | Tape |
| Lesson 31 | Tape |
| Lesson 32 | Tape |
| Lesson 33 | — |
| Lesson 34 | — |
| Lesson 35 | — |
| Lesson 36 | — |
| Lesson 37 | — |
| Lesson 38 | — |
Volume 1: alternative audio
| Unit | Audio |
|---|---|
| Lesson 01 | Tape |
| Lesson 02 | Tape |
| Lesson 03 | Tape |
| Lesson 04 | Tape |
| Lesson 05 | Tape |
| Lesson 06 | Tape |
| Lesson 07 | Tape |
| Lesson 08 | Tape |
| Lesson 09 | Tape |
| Lesson 10 | Tape |
| Lesson 11 | Tape |
| Lesson 12 | Tape |
| Lesson 13 | Tape |
| Lesson 14 | Tape |
| Lesson 15 | Tape |
| Lesson 16 | Tape |
| Lesson 17 | Tape |
| Lesson 18 | Tape |
| Lesson 19 | Tape |
| Lesson 20 | Tape |
| Lesson 21 | Tape |
| Lesson 22 | Tape |
| Lesson 23 | Tape |
| Lesson 24 | Tape |
| Lesson 25 | Tape |
| Lesson 26 | Tape |
| Lesson 27 | Tape |
| Lesson 28 | Tape |
| Lesson 29 | Tape |
| Lesson 30 | Tape |
| Lesson 31 | Tape |
| Lesson 32 | Tape |
| Lesson 33 | Tape |
| Lesson 34 | Tape |
| Lesson 35 | Tape |
| Lesson 36 | Tape |
| Lesson 37 | Tape |
| Lesson 38 | Tape |