News in Slow French
News in Slow French is a partly free French podcast for beginner to advanced learners (A1–C1). Well made and steady, but slow news is a long way from real speech; pay for Full Access or not at all.
Checked October 2026 on the official site ·
News in Slow French reads the week's news in French at a learner's pace, with separate tracks for beginner, intermediate and advanced, plus grammar and expressions segments. The public podcast feed is free; transcripts, quizzes and the grammar course need Full Access at $22.90 a month, while Audio Only at $6.90 a month gives you the audio without transcripts. A 7-day free trial is offered. It suits a learner who likes current affairs and wants a weekly routine. It does not prepare you for conversation: news read slowly sounds nothing like people talking, and there is no annual plan.
| Type | podcast |
|---|---|
| Level | A1–C1 (beginner to advanced) |
| Price | From $6.90/mo; Full Access $22.90/mo |
| Free to use | Yes, at least in part |
| Transcripts | Paid |
| Real-speed French | No |
| Taught in | French, English |
| Where | Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iOS, Android, Website |
Verdict: Well made and steady, but slow news is a long way from real speech; pay for Full Access or not at all.
Listed in
- French podcasts for beginners
- Intermediate French podcasts
- Advanced French podcasts
- French podcasts with transcripts
- French podcasts on Spotify
Related podcasts
- Journal en français facile (RFI): The best free daily news habit, with a synchronised transcript every day.
- HugoDécrypte: The daily news French people actually listen to; B2 and up only.
- FrenchPod101: A huge structured library for beginners; the free podcast feed is just a sampler.
Deeper dive
A longer guide on this topic from French with Amélie: read the guide.