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In my opinion, French listening practice should be your main focus when learning the language from day one. So forget about your textbooks and start to listen more!
At school, we’re first handed books and PDFs with loads of grammar exercises. At least, that was my case in France. As a result, I learnt English for over eight years and couldn’t understand anything when I moved to London!
Even living in the British capital, it took me a couple of years before understanding native speakers, if I’m fully honest. Why? I wasn’t working in English (as I was teaching French!), so it slowed down my progress. I kept reading a lot of content in English instead of focusing on my weakness — listening.
In my view, the best language learners are those who listen often and keep practising what they hear. Being exposed to a lot of audio input in French will produce better pronunciation and better speaking skills in the long term.
Ok, cool. Apart from the audios of your textbook — some are great, though — and depending on your level, what should you listen to?
1. Podcasts to Improve your French Listening Skills
There are loads of podcasts at the moment. They have become a very successful way of learning a language, and they’re also my favorite. They allow us to focus on the most difficult but valuable skill in French, aka listening practice!
Depending on your level, I have classified podcasts for beginners and intermediate learners and podcasts and radio stations for advanced learners (B2 and above). Levels B2 and above are normally aimed at native speakers, but you can use them if you’re an advanced learner.
I chose the most popular ones from among my own students and those I personally listen to. My advice is: you should get on your favourite app (Apple Podcast, Spotify, etc.) and browse. My taste is great 😀 but it could be different from yours, and that’s ok! The best way of learning is to enjoy what you’re doing, of course.
You can also try this listening practice activity about Emily in Paris, which I usually do with my B2 students to talk about TV series. It’s based on a daily show from the French radio France Inter.
2. Youtube Channels for French Listening Practice
Recently, I became a huge fan of the natural way of learning languages, initially promoted by Stephan Krashen. Nowadays, Steve Kaufman actively promotes this method on YouTube in many languages, including French.
It consists of receiving a lot of input in the target language, adapted to your level. The theory states that, like children, if you first receive a lot of content (input) adapted to your level, then you’ll be able to speak.
Grammar is not a focus in this teaching method. For instance, by receiving a lot of input, the learner understands how to speak in the past, present or future tense.
Many teachers have adopted this method and tell stories suitable to different levels without teaching grammar (or in a minimalist way). There are always pros and cons when using any learning method, so I would say that at a certain level if you don’t learn any grammar at all, you might keep making the same mistakes. Of course, people might understand you, but what you say will be simply inaccurate or outright incorrect, even though you’re getting your message across.
Here are some French channels created by teachers that follow the natural method, telling personal stories or doing vlogging, specifically adapted to intermediate learners :
- – Inner French: Hugo explains many cultural and societal aspects of life in France and comments on recent current events.
- – Alice Ayel, le français naturellement: Alice tells stories for beginners and broadcasts her conversations with her friends for advanced speakers.
- – Piece of French: Elsa publishes videos about the French language, vlogs about her life, speaks with her friends and family.
- – French comprehensible input: Luc tells stories in French about his life or shares his experiences, interests – adapted to all levels! He also teaches French by commenting on Emmanuel Macron appearances.
- – French in plain sight: Alex, a Brit living in France, explains his really valuable experience of learning French in Montpellier as well as his best tricks to master the French language.
3. Some Unmissable TV Series To Help You Learn While Having Fun
Nowadays, watching TV series is probably the most entertaining and popular way of practising your French listening skills. Here I have listed the most popular ones among my students :
- – Dix Pour Cent (Call my Agent), on Netflix, is a comedy that tells the adventures of actors’ agents in Paris and is simply hilarious. Some French actors are invited to play their own role in every episode. You can also check my video about spoken French based on the series.
- – Engrenage (Spirale). This French crime thriller series has been a huge success in the UK, broadcasted on the BBC and Amazon.
- – Au service de la France (A very secret service), on Netflix, is a comedy about the French Intelligence in the 60’s. I love how the series caricatures many stereotypical aspects of France. You can also take a look at my activity about this series here.
- – Plan Coeur (The Hook Up Plan), on Netflix, is another comedy about Parisian thirty-somethings ’ romantic lives .
- – Lupin, also on Netflix, has been an international hit in 2020 and the season 2 is about to be released. This thriller features Assane Diop, a gentleman thief who is determined to avenge his father for an injustice caused by a wealthy family.
- That’s the best content I can recommend to you at the moment. Choose one you love to start with. Don’t forget to apply my recommendations to listen actively – not passively!