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EspañolFrench belongs to the group of Romance languages, the ones derived from Latin, and it is the fifth most spoken language in the world. Everyone sees it as the language of love, characterized by a particular, distinctive accent, full of musicality. It is also considered very elegant and refined, and it is not by chance related to gastronomy, fashion and dance.
Despite being widespread, French is not easy to learn, especially for those who don't already speak another Romance language: complex grammar rules, challenging phonetics and pronunciation and extensive use of accents will probably cause some difficulties for you. But don't worry, we'll give you some very useful (and at the same time fun) tips to facilitate the process of learning and improving your language skills.
Do you want to start learning French in an engaging, practical way which will not bore you? Do you want to immerse in the world of French culture through an interactive process? Continue reading and discover great ways to learn a new language in a fun way that combines pleasure with usefulness.
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HideImprove your French by podcast: expand your vocabulary and develop your listening skills
When you want to speak a new language, it is essential to know the main words and understand what your interlocutor is communicating to you. A useful and effective method to improve your listening skills and expand your vocabulary considerably is definitely the podcast. A podcast is an original audio content, usually in episodes, that can be played through internet sites or specialized platforms.
Are you wondering why podcasts are so useful for learning a language? Through this technology you'll be able to choose the topic that interests you the most, in order to improve your language skills and general culture, while keeping yourself entertained at the same time. Besides, you'll be able to enjoy audio contents whenever and wherever you want, so that you can make the most of your free time.
Finally, you'll be able to take advantage of some practical benefits of podcasts: for example, you'll be able to slow down the audio to make it easier to understand, or use transcripts in the original language in many platforms.
If you don't have any idea where to start, we've collected some of the best podcasts for you to learn French and have fun at the same time:
- "Parle francais avec Fluidité": in this podcast Fabien, a French teacher, talks about topics such as geography, history, and French culture, as well as tips to help you learn the language more easily. It's great for improving your knowledge and it's suitable for all levels. You can find free transcripts in French on the website.
- "Coffee Break French": the format of this podcast is based on 15-20 minute lessons, the length of your coffee break. You can find material suitable for any level, from "Absolute beginners" to "Upper advanced". Podcasts are also available on Spotify, Google Podcast, iTunes.
- "One Thing In A French Day": podcast created by a French girl in 2006 that now has more than 2000 episodes. Every week, 3 new episodes are released. They are short (about 5 minutes) and tell about daily events in the life of a girl in Paris. Thanks to this podcast, you can learn typical French expressions and sentence structure. Available also on platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts etc.
Learn French by movies and TV shows
If you are a fan of movies or TV series and at the same time want to broaden your French language skills, why not combine both? Watching movies or TV series in French will allow you to learn the language in a very stimulating way. Choose the genre you like and get involved in the storyline to have an entertaining and not at all heavy learning process.
This combination is perfect because it will allow you to listen to conversations between native speakers, get used to pronunciation, learn new idioms, and finally, immerse in French culture while comfortably sitting on your sofa.
If you want, you are free to start with your favorite series, but we strongly recommend that you watch content in the original French language using subtitles as support. Here are some of our suggestions for you:
- "Lupin": TV series inspired by the character Arséne Lupin created by Maurice Leblanc, the main character is a gentleman thief. The events take place in Paris and all the actors are French, it is very useful to learn new terms in French (even slang) and to train your ears.
- "Dix Pour Cent (Call My Agent!)": through this TV series you will learn a lot of cultural information about the French entertainment world, indeed, the plot is about an agency that manages the rights of stars and in each episode a different star acts. This is a great opportunity to improve your listening and comprehension skills.
- "Plan Coeur": this series follows the lives of three young Parisian girls and is very useful for learning the youth and family language. There are also many slang words. The plot is not complex, and it is easy to understand its development.
If you are a movie lover and would prefer to learn French through this format we can recommend you some movies in original French language:
- "Kirikou et la Sorcière": it is an animated adventure film directed by Michel Ocelot. Although the film designed for at children, it can also be enjoyed by adults. The language is simple, the images accompany the viewer in understanding and the vocabulary focuses on themes such as emotions, family, nature. Set in Africa, it tells the story of a child who must save his village from a witch.
- "Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amelie": one of the most popular French films in recent years, tells the story of Amélie, a girl whose goal is to help other people find happiness. The movie is set in France and is perfect for people with an intermediate level of French.
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Books to learn French and improve your vocabulary
Reading is a great way to learn a new language, because you can find the rules that are usually written in grammar books. Reading allows you to memorize new words, assimilate idiomatic phrases, and even expand your personal culture in an easy and fun way. To maximize your potential, you should find a book that interests you and is suitable for your level of French, plus, you should be consistent: you can keep your book handy and take advantage of every free minute to use it.
If you want to start learning French and combining education with fun while reading, but you don't know any books to start with, here are some suggestions for you:
- "Le Petit Prince": a great classic of French literature, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It's a children's book, so reading it won't take much time, but it will allow you to grow your vocabulary with difficult words. It talks about a child who travels in the universe, it is perfect for both beginner and intermediate levels.
- "Astérix et Obélix": this comic book is perfect for intermediate learners, there is extensive use of informal and colloquial language, but at the same time serious themes regarding society are covered. It tells of the daring adventures of two funny men born in Gaul.
- "Vingt mille lieues sous les mers": book written by Jules Verne in 1870, is a classic of French literature. Suitable for those who have a beginner or intermediate level. It talks about three visitors who explore the underwater world thanks to Captain Nemo and his submarine called Nautilus. Advice: do not give too much importance to the archaic and too technical terms that are present in the novel.
- "Madame Bovary": if you have an advanced level of French, this book, written by Gustave Flaubert in 1856, may be perfect to further improve your skills. It is not an easy read, but compared to other classics, the plot is not complex: it talks about a woman who is disappointed by the monotonous and provincial life. Through this book you will be able to expand your vocabulary thanks to the numerous dialogues.
Songs to learn French and improve your pronunciation
You can use your passion for music to learn a new language, since the lyrics of the songs are full of vocabulary and idioms and, besides expanding your vocabulary, they can help you improve your French pronunciation.
Learning French through music is certainly an enjoyable and fun activity, but these are not all the advantages. It's easy to listen to your favorite songs anywhere and at any time of the day, the engaging rhythm of the music will make it easier for you to memorize, with lyrics and translations easily available on the internet.
To get the most out of this method of learning, it's important to listen to what you like. Below you'll find great recommendations of songs suitable for different levels of French:
- "Indila - Dernière Danse": slow song with a very clear and easily understandable vocal, perfect for those who want to learn French.
- "ZAZ - Je Veux": words and phrases normally found in a conversation are used, the language is clear, and the words well pronounced.
- "Joe Dassin - Champs Elysées": song with a nice rhythm that you won't easily forget, easily understandable words due to the slow pace of the song, ideal for beginners.
- "Pink Martini – Sympathique": slow song with simple words, use of present tense verbs, seems designed for a French class.
Are those ways useful?
By following the recommendations you have just read, you will improve your skills in many areas (pronunciation, vocabulary, listening and grammar), regardless of your starting level and through activities that are anything but boring. You will be able to use your free time to learn steadily while having fun and being entertained at the same time.
To learn the new language effectively, however, your learning activities must be supported by French lessons, through which you can practice and receive useful feedback. On coLanguage you have the possibility to take French lessons with a qualified teacher, you can choose between online or in-person, in both cases your lessons will be customized according to your needs. In addition, to further improve your skills, we recommend that you practice your French in group classes, where you can talk to other students like you through interactive and engaging conversations.
What are you waiting for? Start combining our learning tips and French lessons now for faster and more effective improvement.