Strengthening Canada’s Bilingual Future: New Investments in Francophone Immigration
Canada’s bilingual identity is a key part of its heritage. Supporting French-speaking communities outside Quebec
Alex Darin
Listening to French can be challenging. With its tricky phonology, including liaisons, silent letters, and homophones, French can feel overwhelming for learners. However, with the right tools and strategies, you can steadily improve your comprehension and enjoy the beauty of the French language.
Watching or listening to content on subjects you already know eliminates the need to figure out the context, allowing you to focus purely on the language. This could be podcasts and YouTube channels on cooking, sports, beauty and grooming, travel, animals, movie reviews, or shopping.
Why It Works:
• No context confusion: You can concentrate on the words and phrases.
• Faster learning: Familiarity with the topic boosts comprehension.
• Better retention: Repetition of vocabulary strengthens memory.
Here’s a curated list of some of the best resources:
Coffee Break French: Short, structured lessons for all levels on basic topics.
Duolingo French Podcast: True stories in simple French, with English commentary. Full transcripts are available.
Little Talk in Slow French: Short “articles” from a native French speaker in which she explains more difficult words in English. Transcripts are included.
Franck Ferrand Raconte: Stories about random historical figures, told by a presenter with a pleasant voice. The duration of the videos is 20-30 minutes.
Easy French: Interviews with native speakers in normal speech pace with subtitles in French and English. They cover fascinating topics such as whether the French prefer coffee or tea, popular exercise habits, what determines wealth in France, frequency of alcohol consumption, and more. Learn about French culture and sharpen your listening skills.
Hugo’s InnerFrench: Great for beginners; Hugo speaks slowly and clearly, making it easy to understand. Try listening to each episode twice and then read the transcription. You can understand about 90% of his podcast when he talks about general things and about 50% when he reads books (because of the specific vocabulary).
“Extra French”: A series reminiscent of “Friends,” designed for French learners.
ARTE: YouTube channel with interesting documentary videos about traveling and culture of different countries
Science Étonnante: For science enthusiasts, this channel breaks down complex topics in French.
France24: Live news, ideal for those who want exposure to current events.
Pay attention to children’s cartoons, audiobooks – these are great resources for beginners. Choose materials in which the French speak in natural but understandable language. Combine audiobooks with their text to improve listening and reading at the same time. Devote at least an hour a day to these activities and you will see noticeable improvements.
1. Memrise: Features videos of native French speakers using real-world phrases. Offers both free and premium options, with interactive drills to reinforce vocabulary. Develops listening comprehension by exposing you to real accents and natural speech patterns. Quickly improves your ability to understand spoken French in various contexts.
2. Tandem: Connects you with native French speakers for text, voice, and video exchanges. You can practice listening, speaking, and conversational skills in real-time.
3. Beelinguapp: Allows you to listen to audio stories in French while reading parallel text in your native language. Offers a variety of topics, from beginner to advanced levels. Strengthen audio comprehension and reading skills simultaneously.
4. Duolingo: Offers interactive lessons with audio, matching exercises, and quizzes. Builds vocabulary and listening skills gradually. Ideal for daily practice in bite-sized chunks.
5. LingQ: Provides access to thousands of hours of French audio content, such as podcasts, audiobooks, and videos, with interactive transcripts. Highlights and saves unknown words for review later. Encourages immersive learning by combining listening, reading, and vocabulary practice.
6. Speechling: Offers audio-based lessons where you can record yourself speaking and get feedback from native tutors. Focuses on pronunciation and listening comprehension. Enhances both your listening and speaking accuracy.
7. FluentU: Turns real French videos (movie trailers, music videos, and news) into interactive lessons. Subtitles are clickable, allowing you to explore unfamiliar words and phrases.
8. Busuu: Combines structured lessons with listening exercises and opportunities for native speaker feedback. Includes audio recordings and interactive dialogue practice. Focuses on practical, everyday conversations.
9. Yabla: Provides authentic French videos with interactive features like slow playback and clickable subtitles. Focuses on real-life content, such as interviews, documentaries, and news clips. Sharpens listening skills with engaging content.
10. LingoPie: Offers French TV shows, movies, and videos with interactive subtitles that allow you to pause, translate, and learn. Includes spaced repetition tools for vocabulary retention. Boosts comprehension by exposing you to natural speech and cultural nuances.
Not sure where to start? Check your current level of French with a free test from eTalk School! Take the test now to find out your strengths and areas for improvement.
Try the 10-second method: Listen to 10 seconds of a video or audio recording several times, write down what you think you hear, and then compare it to the transcript. This practice will sharpen your ear for pronunciation and help you distinguish homophones.
Watch with subtitles: Turn on French subtitles to match spoken words with their written form.
Shadowing: Listen and repeat after the speaker in real time. This improves pronunciation and fluency.
Slow-paced content: Opt for slower-paced political debates, such as Géopolitis or C dans l’air on YouTube.
Background immersion: Play French audio or video while cooking, cleaning, or relaxing to acclimate your ears to the rhythm of the language.
Learn French with eTalk Online School: Personalized lessons, expert instructors, and tailored courses to meet your goals—whether for conversation, exams, or listening skills.
Why Choose eTalk?
• Flexible scheduling to fit your lifestyle.
• Expert instructors who prioritize your learning style.
• Trial lessons to help you experience the difference firsthand.
Start your journey to mastering French by signing up for a trial lesson today!
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