In every French learner’s journey, there comes a point when they realise that listening to French is really difficult. It’s a very quickly spoken language with lots of liaisons, expressions, phrases, and unique vocalics (like, what does it mean when a French person sucks air behind their teeth?). To understand all these nuances, plus improve your listening and pronunciation skills, you’ll need resources to listen to. That’s where podcasts can help! Find out how to learn with podcasts, and the top 10 shows to try out when learning French.
Why Learn with Podcasts?
Podcasts are one of the greatest inventions of our time. They’re like super-specific radio shows with fewer restrictions imposed by networks, can be about anything, can be any length of time, and are available whenever you want to listen. In terms of language learning, they’re one of the most valuable tools.
When learning any language, there are four main skills to master:
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
For French, specifically, listening is one of the most difficult skills. The way French is spoken is very fluid and sounds quite different from how it is written (especially from an English perspective).
Honing your listening skills is crucial for improving your fluency and understanding of the language and culture. Podcasts also help you improve your writing and speaking skills as you absorb words, phrases, grammar, and syntax while listening!
So, what are some of the best podcasts you can start using today to practice listening to French? Let’s find out!
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Best Podcasts for Learning French
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of podcasts in French available online. Exploring the world of French podcasts can be exciting and overwhelming!
Just like discovering podcasts in English, you will be able to navigate and find more niche ones over time. Language learners benefit the most from French podcasts designed for them. Especially if you’re a beginner or intermediate learner, your best bet is to stick with instructional and demonstrative productions.
Advanced learners can explore a bit more, dabbling in shows with faster speakers and more native intonations and vocabulary. Eventually, one might be able to listen to French podcasts about things like culture, travel, cinema, games, science, history, news, and more, just the same as they would en anglais!
In this list, we have gathered some of the top most popular and effective podcasts for learners of all levels to improve their listening skills.
1. Coffee Break French
One of the most popular language learning podcast series in the world, Coffee Break French has been running for over a decade, so there is an enormous backlog of episodes to practice with. It’s consistently recommended among the top best French podcasts for beginners.
Lessons start with absolute beginner concepts, like “Comment ça va”, and advance as you go through them in order, like a course.
The Coffee Break website also offers some text-based supplementary material, like notes from each episode, so you can practice and review thoroughly. Beginner episodes are conducted in English and French, so you can follow along with reasoning and explanations as you gain your foundations.
Learn with friendly host Mark and co-hosts like Anna, Max, Hélène, and Pierre-Benoît as you advance in your lessons.
Short, easy lessons that evolve and increase in difficulty over time.
Beginner to intermediate
Any podcatcher app, YouTube, CoffeeBreakLanguages.com or app
2. French Your Way
Although the podcast ended a few years ago, there is an immense backlog of useful lessons to explore. French Your Way focuses more on explaining grammar and other aspects of French, rather than vocabulary and passive listening. Much of the podcast is in English, since it’s teaching about French in a way that requires in-depth explanation. For learning the basics, it’s a great way to level up your skills!
Want to learn more with Jessica? You can also listen to her newer podcast, French Voices, which is an interview-style show that highlights interesting people, places, and history (suitable for intermediate learners)!
Learn more about grammar, phrases, and expressions in a primarily English format
Beginners
Any podcatcher app, YouTube, FrenchYourWay.com.au
3. News in Slow French (Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Option)
News in Slow is another long-standing series with lots of episodes for learners of all levels to enjoy.
The concept of the podcast is simple: use contemporary news topics to teach useful vocabulary while also demonstrating grammar, syntax, and pronunciation. Listeners can choose their level and practice with targeted styles. The beginner series also includes transcripts, so you can follow along and review for better learning!
Level-appropriate news program for French learners
All levels
NewsInSlowFrench.com or app, YouTube
Podcast transcripts are extremely useful! Reading along with the audio is one way to improve your listening and reading at the same time. If you have an editable word document or PDF, or a printed version, you can also make notes about vocabulary, sentence structure, pronunciation, and more!
4. Little Talk in Slow French
Brush up your French while learning about news and other topics with Nagisa! She speaks about current events, travel, culture, and other interesting topics in clear and slow-paced French. She helpfully includes explanations of new concepts to help listeners understand context.
Transcripts are available for free on Patreon, so you can read along as you listen!
Interesting topics about current events with explanations
Beginner, intermediate
Any podcatcher app, YouTube, Patreon (free transcripts)
5. InnerFrench
Listen along with direct and dialogue-style episodes about interesting topics related to French and France. Host Hugo, occasionally joined by cohost Ingrid, presents intermediate-level episodes that teach the listener through demonstration, while conveying pertinent cultural information. When you create a free account on their website, you can also gain access to transcripts and follow along with the audio.
Monologues and dialogues about current trends, news, and pop culture
Intermediate
Any podcatcher app, YouTube, InnerFrench.com
Discover more online learning resources for French!
6. Easy French
Listen to in-depth episodes in a friendly, approachable style, featuring listener contributions and different segments. Hélène and Judith create a light atmosphere while talking about different topics in a conversational way for more exposure to natural French. Transcripts are available on Patreon for paid supporters.
Conversational-style podcast about different topics that helps listeners learn expressions, phrases, and slang.
Intermediate to advanced
Any podcatcher app, EasyFrench.fm website, Patreon (paid)
7. French Blabla
This approachable podcast combines interesting topics with different grammatical and usage lessons. Caroline speaks clearly, but at a more natural pace than other podcasts for complete beginners. It’s a great way to exercise your listening skills! A few transcripts are available on the French Blabla shop (hosted on ko-fi), but most of the transcripts are for paid subscribers.
Quick lessons about different topics
High beginner, low intermediate
Any podcatcher app, FrenchBlaBla.org, ko-fi (paid, transcripts)
8. Madame à Paname
Although it seems Mme Marion no longer makes episodes and her website may be under-maintained, her backlog of podcasts and videos is still a valuable resource for learners. Discover interesting topics in French culture, pop culture, and history, as well as learn more about expressions and grammar.
Her YouTube videos are also a great complementary resource for more listening practice, as well as learning lip-reading and non-verbal cues in French.
Keep a good French translator website handy when studying with podcasts!
Explainer episodes about interesting topics
Intermediate
Any podcatcher app, YouTube
9. Passerelles
Created by a passionate French teacher who believes that students need to listen to learn, each episode is a short story that combines listening practice and vocabulary. Perfect for intermediate learners to improve their fluency, or for advanced learners who want to pick up more vocabulary, the show covers topics like slice-of-life, culture, travel, and more.
It uses a gentle, aesthetic, almost philosophical approach that makes it unique from most other intermediate French podcasts. Transcripts are available for free on Substack.
Cosy, thoughtful stories about interesting topics.
Intermediate, advanced
Any podcatcher app, YouTube, Substack (transcripts)
10. Transfert
For ultimate listening practice, try Transfert, a podcast about real stories submitted by listeners. It’s not a French learning podcast, it’s just a French podcast! You’ll be able to listen to real French speakers speaking naturally as they convey des histoires en français.
A real French podcast for French speakers about interesting stories
Advanced
Any podcatcher app, slate.fr/audio/transfert/
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How to Use Podcasts
Now that you know which podcasts to download, you might be wondering how to get started. Here is a little guidance about how to begin downloading and listening to these podcasts (and any others you find!), as well as how to use them as learning tools.
Where and How to Download
If podcasts are new to you, or you’re used to simply searching on Apple Podcasts or Spotify but want a different option, here are some tips for utilising podcasts.
What is a “podcatcher”?
Almost all podcasts can be found across various platforms; only a few will be limited to a specific platform, like Spotify, Amazon, or Apple Podcasts. For podcasts available in multiple places, you can simplify your collection by downloading a “podcatcher” app like Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, or Overcast. Then, you can subscribe to multiple podcasts that are usually hosted in many different places all at once.
Typically, you can simply search for the podcast in the podcatcher app, subscribe, and download episodes.
Discover the top apps for learning French.
How to Practice French with Podcasts
To use podcasts as effective study material, there are a few techniques you might want to utilise. Build a study plan or routine for maximum benefits. Listening is best improved through continuous exposure over time, so shorter sessions that occur every day or multiple times per week are more effective than longer sessions once per week or less.
Shadowing
For pronunciation practice, try listening carefully to a sentence in the podcast and then repeating it exactly the same way as the speaker said it. You’ll develop your pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. The goal isn’t to “get rid of” your natural accent; it’s to ensure you’re saying the words as they are meant to be pronounced.
Improve your skills even more with French lessons online.
Passive listening
Simply have the podcast playing while you do another activity, like washing the dishes, exercising, or driving. You don’t have to be listening intently. The purpose is to get your ears used to hearing French sounds. This will make it easier for you to pick out individual words later on.
Active listening
Try sitting down with a notebook and doing different exercises with your podcasts. Here are a few ideas to try while listening:
- Write all the stand-out words that you already know
- Write all the words you don’t know, then look them up (make flash cards for even more practice!)
- If the transcript is available, follow along while you listen
- Try listening once without the transcript, and then again with the transcript to see if you missed anything
- Write down one sentence (en anglais ou en français) to summarise after each minute (or five minutes, or section, etc) of the podcast
- Write down any questions that come to mind while you’re listening
If you need to keep your hands busy while you listen, do a simple activity like tidying the house or going for a walk. Keep a small notebook handy or use a notes app on your mobile to complete these exercises.
These are the main ways to learn with podcasts. When you practice regularly, over time, you’ll see big improvements in your listening skills, as well as your vocabulary, and even your pronunciation! If you use transcripts or even transcribe the podcasts yourself, you’ll also improve your spelling and get better at understanding how to construct sentences in writing.
Learning French can be tough, but podcasts are a great resource for making it a little easier.
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