Open Educational Resources and French

1. French OER 1 (Carrasco, Zahedi, and Parrish) (CC BY-NC 4.0)

French OER 1 is an open textbook designed for first-semester French students with no prior coursework in French. The text covers the French language and French-speaking cultures with an emphasis on developing communicative skills and basic grammatical structures. It was developed through the ASCCC OERI program by authors at Palomar College and Chabot College.
The book is organized into six thematic units: greetings and self-introductions (Unité 1), university life and classroom vocabulary (Unité 2), family relationships and identity (Unité 3), weather and leisure activities (Unité 4), city navigation and giving directions (Unité 5), and home and neighborhood routines (Unité 6). It is well suited for community college first-semester French courses, including online, hybrid, or face-to face formats.
Key Features

• Six thematic units covering core beginner-level topics
• Integration of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural content
• Designed for students with no previous French coursework
• Developed through the ASCCC OERI program, native to LibreTexts

Ancillaries

French OER 1 ADAPT Open Course (LibreTexts ADAPT)
This ADAPT open course provides interactive homework assignments aligned with French OER 1 (Carrasco, Zahedi, and Parrish). The course supports the development of communicative skills and basic structures for beginning-level French students with no prior coursework. ADAPT integrates with Canvas, allowing assignment scores to transfer directly to the Canvas gradebook and providing students with structured, self-paced practice to complement in-class instruction.

2. French OER 2 (Carrasco, Zahedi, and Parrish) (CC BY-NC 4.0)

rench language and French-speaking cultures. The text maintains a continued emphasis on developing communicative skills and basic grammatical structures, combining in-class instruction with self-paced study in the Foreign Language Laboratory. It was developed through the ASCCC OERI program by authors at Palomar College and Chabot College.
The book picks up where French OER 1 leaves off, organized into six thematic units: food and dining (Unité 7), past events and narration (Unité 8), childhood and youth (Unité 9), the environment and our planet (Unité 10), education, careers, and the future (Unité 11), and travel (Unité 12). It is well suited for community college second-semester French courses, including online, hybrid, or face-to face formats.

Key Features

• Six thematic units building on first-semester French foundations
• Continued integration of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural content
• Designed as a direct sequel to French OER 1 (Carrasco, Zahedi, and Parrish)
• Developed through the ASCCC OERI program, native to LibreTexts

Ancillaries

French OER 2 ADAPT Open Course (LibreTexts ADAPT)
This ADAPT open course provides interactive homework assignments aligned with French OER 2 (Carrasco, Zahedi, and Parrish). The course supports the continued development of communicative skills and basic structures for second-semester French students. ADAPT integrates with Canvas, allowing assignment scores to transfer directly to the Canvas gradebook and providing students with structured, self-paced practice to complement in-class instruction.

3. #OnYGo (Blattner, Dalola, and Roulon) (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

OnYGo is an innovative, multimodal first-year French e-textbook covering a full two-semester beginning French sequence. Authored by Géraldine Blattner (Florida Atlantic University), Amanda Dalola (University of Minnesota), and Stéphanie Roulon (Portland State University), it integrates task-based, multiliteracies, and communicative approaches throughout. The book is organized into nine hashtag-themed chapters (identity, social circle, travel, appearance, food, city life, celebrations, home, and digital life), each built around authentic resources including TikToks, music videos, ads, and restaurant menus. #OnYGo takes an explicitly DEI-forward approach, depicting French speakers of diverse backgrounds across five continents, and has been praised for setting a new standard in inclusive, culturally authentic first-year French instruction. Also available in LibreTexts: #OnYGo

Key Features

• Google Docs-based e-textbook with full PDF download available
• Nine thematic chapters covering a complete first-year sequence
• Extensive use of authentic multimodal resources throughout
• Explicitly DEI-forward; treats French as a pluricentric, multicultural language
• Native to the authors’ website; also available via LibreTexts

Ancillaries

• Homework, exams, lesson plans, and syllabi are available upon request via the #OnYGo contact page.

4. Français inclusif: An Interactive Textbook for French 101 (Hoye, Devereux Herbeck, et al., 2022) (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Français inclusif: French 101 is Level 1 of a four-semester inclusive French curriculum celebrating the diversity of the Francophone world, created by the Department of World Languages at Boise State University (2022). The series was a finalist for the Open Education Awards for Excellence in Open Reuse, Remix, and Adaptation. Well suited for community college first-semester French courses, including online, hybrid or face-to-face formats.

The book contains four thematic modules: Bonjour! (greetings, numbers, classroom vocabulary), Me voici! (identity, family, hobbies), Les vacances (weather, seasons, Francophone destinations), and L’identité (descriptions, personality, daily routines). Each module includes interactive flashcards, grammar exercises, a cultural reflection assignment, a presentational assessment, and an “Allez plus loin” enrichment page.

Key Features

• Fully interactive with embedded H5P flashcards, grammar exercises, and comprehension activities
• Emphasizes 21st-century skills, inclusivity, and Francophone diversity
• Available as EPUB, Digital PDF, Print PDF, and Common Cartridge for easy LMS import
• Instructor materials available upon request via the textbook’s introduction page

5. Français inclusif: An Interactive Textbook for French 102 (Devereux Herbeck, Hoye, et al., 2022) (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Français inclusif: French 102 is Level 2 of a four-semester inclusive French curriculum created by the Department of World Languages at Boise State University (2022). Well suited for community college first-semester French courses, including online, hybrid or face-to-face formats.

The book picks up at Module 5 and contains four thematic modules: Bon appétit! (food shopping, café and restaurant culture), La ville (city vocabulary anchored in Montréal, Dakar, and Pau across three continents), Les fêtes (seasonal celebrations), and Chez moi (home vocabulary and household tasks). Each module includes interactive flashcards, grammar exercises, a cultural reflection assignment, and a presentational writing and speaking assessment.

Key Features

• Continues directly from Français inclusif: French 101 with consistent structure and module numbering
• Module 6 uses three Francophone cities across three continents, foregrounding Francophone diversity
• Fully interactive with embedded H5P flashcards, grammar exercises, and comprehension activities
• Available as EPUB, Digital PDF, Print PDF, and Common Cartridge for easy LMS import
• Instructor materials available upon request via the textbook’s introduction page

6. Français interactif (Kelton, Guilloteau, and Blyth, 2019) (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Also available via the COERLL repository: Français interactif (Fourth Edition)

Français interactif is an award-winning first-year French curriculum developed at the University of Texas at Austin through COERLL and in continuous use since 2004. Well suited for community college first-year French courses, including online, hybrid or face-to-face formats.

The curriculum is built around 320 authentic videos following American students in Lyon alongside native speaker interviews, integrated with phonetics lessons, over 600 pages of online grammar with self-correcting exercises, verb conjugation tools, and diagnostic grammar tests. A downloadable textbook of classroom activities is available as a free PDF or low-cost print-on-demand via Lulu. A companion resource, Tex’s French Grammar (laits.utexas.edu/tex/), provides a full standalone reference grammar with audio and self-correcting exercises, also licensed CC BY.

Key Features

• 320 authentic videos featuring American students in Lyon and native French speaker interviews
• Over 600 pages of online grammar lessons with self-correcting exercises and audio dialogues
• Companion resource: Tex’s French Grammar (CC BY), a full standalone reference grammar
• Downloadable as a free PDF or low-cost print-on-demand via Lulu

7. Liberté (Angelo and Remy) (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Also available in LibreTexts: Liberté (Angelo)

Liberté is a first-year college French textbook covering a full two-semester sequence in 12 chapters, authored by Gretchen Angelo (CSU Los Angeles) and Emmanuelle Remy (Pasadena City College). Adopted by over 30 colleges and high schools in the US and internationally, it is well suited for first and second-semester French courses. Each chapter includes communicative activities, thorough grammar instruction, phonetics, and a lab worksheet. A particular strength is its attention to Francophone diversity, presenting French as a language of many cultures beyond metropolitan France.

Key Features

• Complete first-year sequence (Chapters 1-6 for first semester, Chapters 7-12 for second semester)
• Communicative approach with grammar, activities, phonetics, and lab worksheet in each chapter
• Available as a free PDF or low-cost print-on-demand via Lulu
• Professor’s edition with additional materials available upon request; audio available to adopting institutions
• Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 allows adaptation and commercial use with attribution; derivative works must use the same license

Ancillaries

A Canvas Commons course for Volume 1 created by Emmanuelle Remy is publicly available, including instructional videos, in-class activities, and quizzes ready to import into Canvas or other LMS formats: Liberté Volume 1 – Canvas Commons

8. Chapeau! First-Year French (Dinneen and Kernen, 1989) (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Also available in LibreTexts: Chapeau! First-Year French (Dinneen and Madeleine)

Chapeau! is a first-year college French textbook covering a full two-semester sequence, originally published by Wiley in 1989 and now openly licensed through KU ScholarWorks (University of Kansas). Authored by David A. Dinneen (University of Kansas) and Madeleine Kernen (Southwestern Missouri State University), it takes a principled, grammar-focused approach aligned with ACTFL proficiency guidelines, including French-English and English-French glossaries and an effective index.

Faculty should be aware that this is a 1989 resource and reads accordingly especially when referencing to francs, no internet vocabulary, limited communicative activities, and minimal visual content. It does not incorporate contemporary Francophone diversity or DEI considerations. It may serve best as a supplementary grammar and vocabulary reference alongside more contemporary materials.

Key Features

• Complete first-year sequence with grammar explanations in English and bilingual glossaries
• Grammar-focused approach aligned with ACTFL proficiency guidelines
• Originally a Wiley publication, now openly licensed via KU ScholarWorks and LibreTexts

1. French OER 3 (Carrasco and Zahedi) (CC BY-NC 4.0)

French OER 3 is an open textbook designed for third-semester French students transitioning to the intermediate level, authored by William J. Carrasco and Shahrzad Zahedi at Palomar College. The text continues the study of French language and Francophone cultures with an emphasis on communicative skills and more advanced grammatical structures. Well suited for community college third-semester French courses, including online, hybrid or face-to-face formats.

The book is organized into six thematic units (Unités 13-18): technology and communication, health and wellness, health and medicine, holidays and celebrations, the stages of human life, and human relationships. A distinctive feature is the dedicated pronunciation section within every unit, alongside integrated idiomatic expressions (expressions imagées) and grammar structures including the subjunctive, conditional past, and future anterior.

Key Features

• Six intermediate-level thematic units building directly on French OER 2
• Dedicated pronunciation sections and idiomatic expressions in every unit
• Authored at Palomar College, native to LibreTexts

Ancillaries

• French OER 3 — ADAPT Open Course (LibreTexts ADAPT)
  Interactive homework assignments aligned with French OER 3, integrating with Canvas for direct gradebook score transfer.

2. French OER 4 (Carrasco and Zahedi) (CC BY 4.0)

French OER 4 is an open textbook designed for fourth-semester French students completing the intermediate level, authored by William J. Carrasco and Shahrzad Zahedi at Palomar College. The text continues the study of French language and Francophone cultures with an emphasis on communicative skills and more sophisticated grammatical structures. Well suited for community college fourth-semester French courses, including online, hybrid, and face-to-face formats.

The book is organized into six thematic units (Unités 19-24) centered on the arts and Francophone diversity: the arts broadly, literature and poetry including African literatures, media arts and argumentation, French cinema and the Festival de Cannes, art and the city with a focus on Paris, and diversity in the Francophone world. The final unit’s attention to linguistic and cultural diversity across Quebec, Belgium, Switzerland, and Africa makes this a strong choice for courses with a Francophonie component.

Key Features

• Six upper-intermediate thematic units building directly on French OER 3
• Strong Francophone cultural content including African literatures and regional French varieties
• Grammar structures include the passé simple, passive voice, causative faire, and present participle
• Authored at Palomar College, native to LibreTexts
• Licensed CC BY 4.0 the most permissive license in this series, with no NonCommercial restriction

Ancillaries

• French OER 4 — ADAPT Open Course (LibreTexts ADAPT)
  Interactive homework assignments aligned with French OER 4, integrating with Canvas for direct gradebook score transfer.

3. Avant-Première : Intermediate French Through Films (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Avant-Première : Intermediate French Through Films is an open textbook designed for third-semester college French students, organized around recent French and Francophone films. Each unit integrates vocabulary, grammar, cultural analysis, and intercultural awareness, enabling students to engage critically with cinematic texts. Authored by Caren Barnezet Parrish and Aurélie Chevant-Aksoy at Chabot College and Santa Monica College. Well suited for community college third-semester French courses, including online, hybrid, and face-to-face formats.

The book is organized into four film-based units: Le Petit Prince (Unité 1), La Cage dorée (Unité 2), La Brigade (Unité 3), and Elle l’adore (Unité 4), each supplemented by curated readings, multimedia activities, and interactive grammar exercises. A distinctive alternative to traditional grammar-based third-semester texts for programs emphasizing cultural engagement and communicative competence.

Key Features

• Film-based structure using recent French and Francophone cinema as the primary instructional text
• Vocabulary, grammar, cultural analysis, and intercultural awareness integrated within each unit
• Authored at Chabot College and Santa Monica College, native to LibreTexts

Ancillaries

Avant-Première : Intermediate French Through Films — ADAPT Open Course (LibreTexts ADAPT)
Interactive homework assignments aligned with Avant-Première : Intermediate French Through Films, integrating with Canvas for direct gradebook score transfer.

4. Avant-Première : Advanced French Through Films (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Avant-Première : Advanced French Through Films is an open textbook designed for fourth-semester college French students, organized around recent French and Francophone films. Each unit integrates vocabulary, grammar, cultural analysis, and intercultural awareness, enabling students to engage critically with cinematic texts. Authored by Caren Barnezet Parrish and Aurélie Chevant-Aksoy at Chabot College and Santa Monica College. Pairs directly with Avant-Première : Intermediate French Through Films as a two-semester sequence. Well suited for community college fourth-semester French courses, including online, hybrid, and face-to-face formats.

The book continues unit numbering from the intermediate volume with four film-based units: L’arnacœur (Unité 5), Première année (Unité 6), La Fine fleur (Unité 7), and Visages Villages (Unité 8). The film selection spans romantic comedy, drama, and documentary genres, introducing students to a wider range of registers and supporting more nuanced language use and critical analysis.

Key Features

• Film-based structure using recent French and Francophone cinema as the primary instructional text
• Diverse film selection spanning romantic comedy, drama, and documentary genres
• Continues unit numbering directly from the intermediate volume
• Authored at Chabot College and Santa Monica College, native to LibreTexts

Ancillaries

Avant-Première : Advanced French Through Films — ADAPT Open Course (LibreTexts ADAPT)
Interactive homework assignments aligned with Avant-Première : Advanced French Through Films, integrating with Canvas for direct gradebook score transfer.

5. Français inclusif: An Interactive Textbook for French 201 (Devereux Herbeck, Hoye, et al., 2023) (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Français inclusif: French 201 is Level 3 of a four-semester inclusive French curriculum created by the Department of World Languages at Boise State University (2023). Well suited for community college third-semester French courses, including online, hybrid or face-to-face formats.

The book picks up at Module 9 and contains four thematic modules: Les médias et communications (media consumption and narrating in the past), Mode, forme, et santé (fashion and wellness), Les études (academic life), and La vie professionnelle (the world of work). A strong emphasis on 21st-century skills is reflected in tasks asking students to create podcasts, write blog posts, and engage with Francophone media platforms.

Key Features

• Continues directly from Français inclusif: French 102 with consistent structure and module numbering
• Strong 21st-century skills focus with tasks involving podcasts, blogs, and digital media in French
• Fully interactive with embedded H5P flashcards, grammar exercises, and comprehension activities
• Available as EPUB, Digital PDF, Print PDF, and Common Cartridge for easy LMS import
• Instructor materials including an implementation guide available upon request via the textbook’s introduction page

6. Français inclusif: An Interactive Textbook for French 202 (Devereux Herbeck, Hoye, et al., 2023) (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Français inclusif: French 202 is Level 4 and the final volume of a four-semester inclusive French curriculum created by the Department of World Languages at Boise State University (2023). Well suited for community college fourth-semester French courses, including online, hybrid or face-to-face formats.

The book picks up at Module 13 and contains four thematic modules: L’amour et l’argent (relationships and finances), Les voyages et les transports (travel and itinerary planning), La planète (the environment and global issues), and L’art et l’expression (art and cultural expression). Each module contains four to five parts covering vocabulary, grammar, interactive exercises, a cultural reflection assignment, a presentational assessment, and an “Allez plus loin” enrichment page.

Key Features

• Completes the four-semester Français inclusif series with consistent structure and module numbering
• Fully interactive with embedded H5P flashcards, grammar exercises, and comprehension activities
• IPA (Integrated Performance Assessment) materials available to instructors alongside slide decks and homework checklists
• Available as EPUB, Digital PDF, Print PDF, and Common Cartridge for easy LMS import
• Instructor materials available upon request via the textbook’s introduction page

7. Le pont: From Intermediate to Advanced French (Weatherley et al.) (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Also available in LibreTexts: Le pont: From Intermediate to Advanced French (Weatherley et al.)

Le pont: From Intermediate to Advanced French is an open textbook designed to bridge the gap between intermediate and advanced French proficiency, authored by a team at the University of Kansas and published through KU Libraries. It directly targets a common challenge: students arriving at advanced courses with grammatical gaps, particularly those who bypassed earlier instruction through exam credit. Developed using a flipped classroom model with student feedback and peer review. Well suited for courses bridging the intermediate-to-advanced transition following a second-year French sequence.

Thematic chapters cover education, family and community, contemporary life and media, ecology, and narration, each integrating grammar review, vocabulary, reading, and communicative activities alongside strong Francophone cultural diversity content.

Key Features

• Specifically designed to address grammatical gaps in students transitioning to advanced study
• Thematic chapters integrating grammar, vocabulary, reading, and communicative activities
• Strong emphasis on Francophone cultural diversity throughout
• Developed using a flipped classroom model with student feedback and peer review
• Available via KU open textbook platform and LibreTexts

8. Histoires d’Avenirs: Science-fiction pour le cours de français niveaux intermédiaire et avancé (Dolidon and Roulon) (CC BY-NC)

Also available in LibreTexts: Histoires d’Avenirs (Dolidon and Roulon)

Histoires d’Avenirs is an open textbook built around nine French science fiction short stories, designed for intermediate and advanced learners as well as native speakers wishing to deepen their knowledge of modern French science fiction. Authored by Annabelle Dolidon and Stéphanie Roulon at Portland State University via PDXScholar. Written entirely in French; well suited for second-year French or upper-division reading and culture courses.

An introductory chapter covers the historical foundations of the science fiction genre, followed by nine story-based chapters each taking a holistic approach combining stylistic, linguistic, and intercultural analysis, with activities covering reading, interpretation, conversation, research, and oral presentations.

Key Features

• Nine French science fiction short stories with an introductory chapter on the history of the genre
• Holistic approach integrating stylistic, linguistic, and intercultural analysis
• Written entirely in French; appropriate for courses taught in the target language
• Available via PDXScholar (original source) and LibreTexts

9. Grammaire Ouverte: Approche pédagogique pour le niveau avancé (Law, 2022) (CC BY)

Also listed in the Open Textbook Library.

Grammaire Ouverte is an advanced-level pedagogical grammar of French, written entirely in French and designed for upper-division college students. Authored by James Law at Brigham Young University and adapted from COERLL’s Tex’s French Grammar, it was translated into French, reorganized thematically, and substantially expanded for advanced learners. It is well suited as a reference grammar or course text for French grammar and composition courses.

The book covers 28 thematic chapters organized around nouns and pronouns, modifiers, verbs, and transformations. Each concept is introduced inductively through a public-domain French literary excerpt, supported by authentic corpus examples, notes on dialectal and stylistic variation, and comprehension quizzes. The text presents French in its full variety without privileging any single dialect as a standard.

Key Features

• 28 thematic chapters covering advanced French grammar comprehensively
• Inductive approach using public-domain literary excerpts to introduce each concept
• Notes on dialectal and stylistic variation throughout; no single dialect presented as standard
• Written entirely in French; appropriate for courses taught in the target language
• Licensed CC BY allows full adaptation and reuse with attribution

1. Résumer, Synthétiser, Argumenter (Clamageran and Gezundhaj) (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Also available in LibreTexts: Résumer, Synthétiser, Argumenter (Clamageran and Gezundhaj)

Résumer, Synthétiser, Argumenter is an open textbook targeting a specific and often underdeveloped competency: academic reading and writing in French. Designed for advanced FSL students (third- or fourth-year level), it was authored by Sylvie Clamageran and Henriette Gezundhaj at York University and published via eCampus Ontario. Written entirely in French; well suited as a supplementary resource for advanced conversation, composition, or French for academic purposes courses.

The book is organized into five sections: core content, interactive exercises, grammar points (Points de langue), logical relationships (L’expression des relations logiques), and cultural elements. It integrates self-correcting exercises throughout and is accessible across computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Key Features

• Targets advanced academic French skills: summarizing, synthesizing, and argumentation
• Multimodal and multiplatform with integrated self-correcting interactive exercises
• Dedicated sections on grammar points and logical connectors for academic writing
• Written entirely in French; available via eCampus Ontario and LibreTexts

2. Le Littéraire dans le quotidien (Luks) (CC BY)

Also available chapter by chapter via Google Drive (linked from the COERLL page above) and listed in the Open Textbook Library.

Le Littéraire dans le quotidien is an open textbook designed for a transdisciplinary approach to reading and writing at the first- and second-year levels of college French. Authored by Joanna Gay Luks at Cornell University with support from COERLL at UT Austin, and published in a publicly accessible Google Drive for easy remixing. Best suited for students with some foundational French; works well for second-semester French courses and beyond seeking to integrate literary reading and academic writing.

Each chapter is built around authentic literary and everyday genres ( poetry, travel writing, memoir, blog posts, and letters) with close reading activities and a scaffolded writing progression. Cross-references Français interactif for grammar support, making it a strong companion resource alongside any first- or second-year French curriculum.

Key Features

• Transdisciplinary reading and writing approach using authentic literary and everyday texts
• Well-scaffolded writing section with independent and peer-editing activities
• Available via publicly accessible Google Drive for easy remixing; print-on-demand via Lulu
• Licensed CC BY allows full adaptation and reuse with attribution

1. Let’s Chat! French: Conversation Activities (Bourque-Labbé, Hoye, Blythe, et al.) (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

Let’s Chat! French is an open collection of nearly 100 classroom-ready interpersonal speaking activities for novice and intermediate French learners. Not a standalone textbook, but a supplementary activity resource designed to work alongside any primary course text. Created collaboratively by faculty, staff, and students at Boise State University through the Pathways Project (2022). Works equally well in in-person, online, and hybrid formats.

Activities are organized by proficiency level (novice through intermediate) and by format, spanning topics including free time, food, daily routines, health, the environment, and art. A Thematic Table of Contents with vocabulary, grammar, and content tags makes it easy to locate activities aligned to existing curriculum. Native-speaker audio and video are integrated throughout.

Key Features

• Nearly 100 interpersonal speaking activities organized by proficiency level and format
• Thematic Table of Contents with grammar and vocabulary tags for easy lesson planning
• Includes native-speaker audio and video integrated into activities
• Supplements any primary French textbook; not a standalone course text
• Available via Pressbooks; also listed in the Open Textbook Library

2. CITOYEN.NE.S: Conversation en Français (Dolidon, 2021) (CC BY-NC 4.0)

CITOYEN.NE.S is an open textbook designed for the intermediate/advanced French conversation course (third- or fourth-year level), authored by Annabelle Dolidon at Portland State University (2021, updated 2022). Built around diversity, inclusivity, and equity, it engages students in practicing French while questioning and participating in the world around them. Written entirely in French; well suited for courses taught in the target language.

Five thematic chapters build on students’ prior knowledge rather than revisiting first- and second-year vocabulary, each integrating authentic resources including films, songs, literary excerpts, and a bande dessinée. Distinctive features include consistent use of écriture inclusive and substantive engagement with France’s colonial history, the Atlantic slave trade, and Francophone diversity beyond metropolitan France.

Key Features

• Five thematic chapters targeting intermediate/advanced conversation skills
• Consistent use of écriture inclusive and explicit DEI focus throughout
• Authentic multimodal resources integrated into every chapter
• No glossary by design; encourages independent vocabulary strategies
• Instructor manual and answer key available upon request at dolidon@pdx.edu

1. Sons et lettres: A Pronunciation Method for Intermediate-level French (Walton, 2018) (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Sons et lettres is an open textbook designed to train students to hear and produce the sounds of French and recognize the spelling patterns that represent them. Authored by Stephen Walton at Portland State University via PDXScholar (2018). Well suited as a supplementary phonetics resource for second-year French or any course where pronunciation instruction is a priority, and flexible enough for beginning through advanced levels.

The text is built on the premise that French spelling is more regular than it appears to English speakers, with short focused lessons covering vowels, consonants, nasal vowels, liaison, enchaînement, and prosody. IPA symbols are used throughout with a full reference chart in the appendices. An integral part of the method is the companion website (sons-et-lettres.com), providing listening and speaking exercises keyed to each lesson.

Key Features

• Focused pronunciation method covering French grapheme-to-phoneme correspondences
• IPA used throughout with a full reference chart; companion website integral to the method
• Flexible enough for beginning through advanced use; works well alongside any primary textbook
• Authored at Portland State University via PDXScholar; also listed in the Open Textbook Library

2. Comprendre et se faire comprendre (Miller, 2025) (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)

Also listed in the Open Textbook Library.

Comprendre et se faire comprendre is an open textbook supporting a college-level pronunciation course for intermediate learners of French, focused on the phonetic system of international French. Authored by Jessica Sertling Miller at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (2025). Well suited as a dedicated phonetics course text or supplementary pronunciation resource for second-year French courses.

Each chapter integrates interpretation, presentation, conversation, and cultural content while exploring diverse Francophone regions including Cameroon, Tahiti, Louisiana, Haiti, and Canada. IPA is used throughout, with embedded audio and video resources and printable lecture slides accompanying each unit.

Key Features

• Dedicated phonetics and pronunciation text for mid-intermediate learners
• Integrates all modes of communication alongside explicitly diverse Francophone cultural content
• IPA used throughout; embedded YouTube lectures with printable slides accompany each unit
• Published via University of Wisconsin Pressbooks (2025); listed in the Open Textbook Library

3. FREN 140: Basic French Pronunciation (Carrasco and Zahedi) (CC BY)

FREN 140: Basic French Pronunciation is an open course text designed for a standalone French pronunciation course at the beginner to intermediate level. It was authored by William J. Carrasco and Shahrzad Zahedi at Palomar College and is native to LibreTexts. It pairs naturally with the French OER 1-4 series by the same authors, though it can be used independently alongside any first- or second-year French curriculum.

The text is organized into 17 chapters covering the full range of French phonetics: an introduction to written versus spoken French, consonants (introduction, double and combined consonants, consonants that change pronunciation), vowels (introduction, the letter E, simple vowels, vowel combinations, nasal vowels, open versus closed syllables), prosody (linking syllables, liaisons, rhythm and melody), intonation variations, and a wrap-up with additional resources.

Key Features

• Comprehensive coverage of French phonetics from consonants and vowels through prosody and intonation
• Designed for a dedicated pronunciation course; also works as a supplementary phonetics resource
• Authored at Palomar College by the creators of the French OER 1-4 series; native to LibreTexts
• Licensed CC BY the most permissive license, allowing full adaptation and reuse with attribution