A new version of Français interactif is launching on the Pressbooks platform in Fall, 2026. This website will remain available but no further updates will be made.

Website Help

Français interactif textbook

Is there a textbook, CD, or DVD of the website?

  • The textbook (available from lulu.com or downloadable by chapter in pdf format) contains classroom activities that are integrated with the media on the website to form a complete first-year French curriculum. The media may be downloaded, but we do not make them available in CD or DVD format.

    The Français interactif website is intended to be used online. We do not provide a print version of the pages as they appear. You can print single pages according to your needs.

Where can I get the textbook?

  • Download the chapter PDFs from the website under the textbook heading of each chapter page (free!)
  • Download the chapter PDFs from the site map (free!)
  • Purchase the textbook in b/w or color from our lulu online store (not free, but inexpensive)
    (The newly revised textbook (2011) is now available from lulu and the new chapter PDFs are downloadable from the website. Previous versions of the chapter PDFs are available on the site map)


FI Website

Can I use the Fi website in my classroom?

  • All of our online materials are free of charge and intended for educational purposes. You can use the material provided that there is a reference to the original site. The textbook is also completely free and can be downloaded through the website.

Where can I get the Français interactif audio and video files?

  • Audio zip archives can be downloaded from the vocabulary and phonetics pages and all zip archives including the videos can be downloaded from the site map
  • Additionally we offer rss feeds which can also be accessed by clicking on the rss symbols on the vocabulary and phonetics pages. A list of rss feeds/iTunes podcasts is available on the site map


Entering Accented Characters

Different computer operating systems – MacOS X and Windows – offer differing approaches for entering accented characters. Techniques are explained below.

Windows PC

Method 1: Alt + key sequence

Make sure the Num Lock key is down. Hold down the Alt key while entering a number sequence on the keypad. Release the Alt key: you should see the accented character.

Number sequences for specific characters are listed in the character table below.

Method 2: Windows Character Map tool

Use the Windows Character Map tool – a small pop-up accessory that allows you to copy and paste special characters into any application (such as a web browser). On your Windows PC, access
Start Menu > Programs > Accesories > System Tools > Character Map

Click on and copy the character you need from the Character Map tool. Then, click back in the browser form field and paste the character (ctrl-v or 'Paste' via browser menu selection).

Apple Macintosh

Method: option + key [+ key]

Hold down the option key while entering the first letter of a sequence (e.g., option ` or option e).

Release the option key and enter the second character of the sequence (e.g., a, e, i, n, o, or u): you should see the accented character.

Exceptions: A few special characters (ç, ß, ¡) are produced by simply entering option + key. The ¿ character is produced by simultaneously entering 'opt shift ?'

Character Table

character Macintosh PC character Macintosh PC
à opt ` + a alt + 0224 ñ opt n + n alt + 0241
á opt e + a alt + 0225 ò opt ` + o alt + 0242
â opt i + a alt + 0226 ó opt e + o alt + 0243
ä opt u + a alt + 0228 ô opt i + o alt + 0244
ç opt c alt + 0231 ö opt u + o alt + 0245
è opt ` + e alt + 0232 ß opt + s alt + 0223
é opt e + e alt + 0233 ù opt ` + u alt + 0249
ê opt i + e alt + 0234 ú opt e + u alt + 0250
ë opt u + e alt + 0235 û opt i + u alt + 0251
ì opt ` + i alt + 0236 ü opt u + u alt + 0252
í opt e + i alt + 0237 ¡ opt 1 alt + 0161
î opt i + i alt + 0238 ¿ opt shift ? alt + 0191