9 Of The Best Podcasts For Learning French
Want to fit French listening practice into your life? Try one or two of these podcasts for French language learners, which range from podcasts for French beginners all the way to French immersion podcasts and courses.
Podcasts are great for language learning, because you can listen anywhere, discover new voices, and find great teachers at a low cost.
Do you ever find it difficult to fit French listening practice into your life?
Do you want to understand native French speakers?
Podcasts are a great way to add a little French listening practice into your day-to-day life. They are free, and can accompany any part of your day: driving a car, washing your dishes, doing laundry, working out, reading, and more.
Need to kickstart or refresh your French grammar so you can understand these podcasts even better? Don’t miss my course Finally Get It in French Grammar!
Quick Primer: How Do Podcasts Work?
If you’re curious about podcasts, but not quite sure how they work, here’s what you need to know:
You can subscribe for free to podcasts on your phone, tablet, or computer
If you use an iPhone or iPad, go to the Podcasts app. If you’re on a Mac, use the itunes directory
On a PC or Android device, try the Stitcher app for a quick and easy start
Subscribing means you’ll always have the latest episode ready and waiting for you as soon as it’s published
French is a great language for learning by podcast. There is a big selection, so I’ve gone and selected 9 of the best shows for you to discover.
Need to kickstart or refresh your French grammar so you can understand these podcasts even better? Don’t miss my course Finally Get It in French Grammar!
Beginner Level
FrenchPod101.com (InnovativeLanguage)
FrenchPod101 from InnovativeLanguage covers any level you can think of from basic to advanced French. With enticing titles and interesting themes for each episode, you’ll never get bored.
The dialogues are presented by engaging presenters and the hosts Céline (a native speaker) and Sam (a fluent speaker) cover both cultural and grammatical aspects clearly and concisely. On the website you can sign up for the premium content to access spaced repetition flashcards, PDF lesson notes, and a community forum for a subscription fee.
The lovely people at Easy Languages bring us a global phenomenon of language learning videos on YouTube. In their podcast of the same name, you’ll hear friendly, relaxed conversations. You can join their Patreon membership to get full transcripts and additional worksheets.
If you want to find out more, here is my interview with the founders.
Learn French By Podcast is a bilingual podcast in English and French. It's presented by two hosts, one French speaker speaks in French and one English speaker who explains what the French speaker said. The audio is very clear and easy to follow and the format is great for beginners and intermediate learners. It eventually progresses from basic conversations to intermediate and advanced-level dialogues about a variety of everyday topics. PDF guides are available on the website.
Intermediate/Advanced Levels
News in Slow French is an intermediate level podcast. This podcast covers world news, grammar, and expressions and slows down all the dialogue to make it easier to process what you hear. Every episode breaks down a point on grammar and vocabulary.
On the News in Slow French website there are transcripts for each episode, plus added resources and quizzes on French grammar, expressions, pronunciation.
One Thing In A French Day describes the daily life of author Laetitia in France. Each podcast episode covers different events in her life such as going to the bakery, shopping, going to the gym, seeing friends, among others. Her French is spoken very clearly and crisply at a regular speed and her words is easy to understand. Laetitia publishes articles every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I certainly recommend this one for intermediate and advanced learners of French!
This podcast by Radio France International (RFI) is a show that is designed for intermediate and advanced learners of French. It's a genuine news broadcast from the French radio station, but read a little slower so you can become comfortable listening to French.
The episodes each have the most important news of the day in just 10 minutes (great for those who don’t have a lot of time in the day!) and come with a free online transcript.
The Français Authentique podcast is great for upper intermediate and advanced learners of French. It’s total immersion combined with lots of interesting topics and explains idiomatic and colloquial expressions. It is the companion podcast to the popular French learning website Français Authentique by Johan Tekfak.
Jonan is not just a super likeable host, but he also invites you to join his life and adventures by talking about them in French.
French Video Resources
Yabla is a video-based learning platform with bilingual subtitles and integrated dictionaries. The subtitles are interactive, which is a really cool concept! Check out how Yabla works in detail by reading my full review.
Yabla is great for all levels from basic to advanced. There is a free French podcast available with plenty of videos to watch.
Great French Audio Courses
Coffee Break French, a podcast from Radio Lingua Network, combines French language lessons with a lot of useful information about French food, culture, French speaking countries, and so on.
My favourite part of the podcast is the chemistry between relaxed and charismatic host Mark from Scotland (who is fluent in French) and French learner Anna from Scotland. The segments are also great: Cultural Correspondent has great cultural advice, and Grammar Guru discusses grammar in a clear, easy-to-understand way.
Advanced Learner Tip: Native French Podcasts
The easiest way to access native French language podcasts is to go to iTunes and switch your country setting to “France”, “Belgium”, “Switzerland”, “Canada”, or any other French-speaking country.
There’s no restriction on your switch, and you’ll be able to access all podcasts in the same way that listeners from France can. One of my favourites is Whisperos, a native French podcast getting into every little detail about Game of Thrones.
How to Learn More French
For more tips that will help you learn the French language, check out my special blog page for French learners.
This article was updated on 9 August 2022.
Field Report: Three Strategies You'll Wish You Knew When You Hit a Wall Learning a Foreign Language
When you’re feeling stuck and making no progress in language learning, frustration can rob all the fun. But with these 3 strategies, you’ll easily find your way back to a more positive approach and keep going on the path to fluency.
Thank you to Cher Hale for this guest post.
I sat at my desk and stared at the screen.
The Chinese characters seemed to taunt me as I wrote their literal meaning in English to grasp why one character went after the verb here and after the subject in so many other cases.
After five minutes, I sighed, rolled my eyes at the Mandarin language, and moved on.
Four months prior I would’ve let frustration take over.
In fact, when I was learning Italian, frustration was the reason why I stopped lessons, and if it weren’t for my commitment, I would not have reached the level where I’m at now.
With Mandarin I find myself running into the same frustration, but instead of wanting to quit, I feel more at ease and motivated to tackle the language again.
What inspired that difference?
What did I learn in six months that changed my view of frustration?
When I’m not learning Mandarin or writing for the Italian site, I’m usually reading an academic paper (or watching Doctor Who) – most notably from the Modern Language Journal. On one of my most recent linguistic explorations, I stumbled across a linguist named Stephen Krashen from the University of Southern California.
He talks about the Comprehension Hypothesis, which suggests “we acquire language and develop literacy when we understand what we hear and what we read” (Krashen, 2014).
This means that what comes in – books, audio, and lessons – are more important than what goes out – speaking and writing.
There is more to this theory, so if you’re interested, read this interview from Language Mastery.
3 Ways to Reduce Frustration in Language Learning
1) Understand that you don’t learn grammar concepts, phrases, or vocabulary until you’re ready to learn them.
This point comes from Krashen, and it’s interesting to note how representative this point is of life.
How many times have you gone through difficult situations and only learned the lesson after the third time?
The lesson was there and had been waiting for you all along. You only needed to develop to a certain level to absorb it.
So when it comes to grammar, know that you won’t learn certain concepts until you’re ready.
You can try hard to memorize usages and nitpicky rules, but studies suggest you need to be at a certain level first.
Like the famous polyglot, Kató Lomb, paraphrased from the original German:
One learns grammar from language, not language from grammar.
(Original German: “Man lernt Grammatik aus der Sprache, nicht Sprache aus der Grammatik.” – Toussaint and Langenscheidt)
While this might sound depressing (because you can’t game the system and memorize everything), it’s actually liberating.
What this means for you: When you encounter a difficult concept or don’t understand something, seek an answer. If it’s still not connecting, LET IT GO.
You might not understand it today, but I guarantee that as you continue learning, it and one hundred other invisible things, will become visible. It will be frustrating, but you’ll be more at ease when you let yourself off the hook after honouring that this is how our minds work.
2) Drop boring textbooks, and pick up content that interests you.
Some might argue with me, but I think you can use interesting, relevant content in your target language no matter what level you’re at.
For example, Lomb, the polyglot mentioned earlier, used a Russian novel to learn Russian. She never went to a class and learned rules. She used what she had – a compelling novel – and worked through it.
What this means for you: Find a book, a television show, a magazine, or even memes online that you’re interested in to integrate into your learning schedule.
Don’t have a schedule or know what to do each day? Read this: 5 Steps for Planning a Productive and Successful Language Learning Week
You can also learn techniques for how to read books here : “You Assume They Don’t Have Chick Lit in Polish”, our discussion on reading on the Fluent Show
My final point is that the more background knowledge you have on a topic, the easier the content will be to acquire, so use content you’re familiar with AND enjoy.
3) Stop EVERYTHING, and be honest with what is and what is not working.
Humans are creatures of habit – both good and bad.
Out of routine, we use a technique to learn and keep doing it even though we recognize we’re not learning from it anymore.
Then we get confused because we know we’re supposed to be learning everyday, but we’re not sure what we should be doing that actually works.
At this point, many of us fall off the wagon…but that doesn’t have to be you.
What this means for you: Look candidly at the techniques you’re using.
Questions to ask are:
Am I using a material that I hate or find boring?
Am I studying at a time when I’m unfocused or tired?
Am I still using a technique from when I was a beginner that is no longer serving me as an intermediate learner?
Then, take out a sheet of paper and make three columns.
My worksheet for what works and what doesn't!
Column I: What I l love doing to learn in (target language)
Column II: What I dread doing
Column III: What I want to try doing
Write 4-5 items per column.
Look at column II and either find creative ways to make them fun or let them go.
Make plans for trying the activities listed in column III.
This can be tough if we think that memorizing 10 words a day is “supposed” to help, but give it a try. Letting go of things you hate or find boring will reduce frustration and invite more joy into the process.
The strategies people claim have been effective for them may not be effective for you. Try them out, and if they haven’t proved themselves within a month, wave goodbye.
Remember, in this process you are the most important person, so make the best decisions for you.
How to Decide Which Languages to Learn Next
Got a whole bucket list of languages to learn, and no hope of ever getting it all done? Fear not! Here are some simple ways to help you streamline that list and re-focus on learning what you need without distraction.
Do you have a long list of languages to learn in your life?
Feel like you started a language years ago and now you're stuck learning it forever?
If you need help with choosing your language list, I've got tips to help you streamline all your options.
You can listen to my best tips on the Fluent Show episode below:
How do I decide what to keep and what to omit from my languages list?
Language learner Sheela got in touch with me to ask the following question:
I would love to get your thoughts and advice on how to narrow down or simplify my ' to learn ' languages list!
How do I decide and know what to keep and what to omit, from my languages list?
I feel moreover, if I have studied the language in the past, I am obligated to 'keep' it on the list. Is it okay to let go of some languages and concentrate on others, you think?
What an interesting question! Language choices are a regular polyglot dilemma, but it's not every day that a learner grapples with how to clean up i.e. how to reduce the languages on their list.
What To Consider When Choosing A Language To Learn
Here are a few helpful thoughts when you are working on that list of languages to add to your "lifelong homework".
You're Destined To Leave Something On The Table
With over 7000 languages spoken by humans on planet Earth, one thing is clear: There is not enough time to learn them all.
Even a very accomplished and focused learner who has accumulated way more languages than most of us can imagine doesn’t usually go far above 50. So in other words: We’ve got to make friends with the idea that we’ll miss out in life, and we’ll have to leave a little bit of language on the table.
It's Possible to Have Different Target Levels for Different Languages
Some people differentiate when it comes to language levels and ambitions. We can dabble in more languages (say up to 40 hours) than we can start learning (say 100+ hours), that’s natural. And this can feel like a serious choice to make.
The question only you can answer is what you are expecting to gain from learning your target language.
If you want to feel accomplished, hold conversations, feel like you are adding a useful tool to your list of skills, then dabbling in a language can feel more frustrating than fun. But if you’re preparing for a temporary trip or you’re curious but not committed, by all means have that fun play with a language.
It's Possible To Re-Learn a Language You've Studied Before
We forget languages we’ve learnt, but not entirely. This is especially true if you have learnt several languages from a similar language family, but it applies to all. For example, I remembered completely forgotten Russian words in Croatia, and I can still muddle through Spanish for 15 minutes even though my last straight up lesson was 10 years ago.
For more information about re-learning a forgotten language, check out this Fluent Show episode.
Before I go into a few more tips in relation to this week’s question, I want to address a really great point that Sheela makes in her email, which is that there is no rule that says…. This is RIGHT!
There is no rule that determines how you go about learning your languages, what your list looks like, and how you make your choices. You're not getting it wrong.
3 Steps for Choosing Your Languages Without the FOMO
Here are a few options for getting more clarity in your list:
- Allow yourself a dabble in some languages and choose only one or two big focus languages in a year. (why not try the beautiful Welsh language for a little spin next time? I've got a mini course to help you with that!)
- Focus on the languages that are most relevant to your life right now. This could be because you have travel plans, people to speak to, or you’re simply drawn to a special language.
- It is ok to let go of some languages. Trust that re-learning in the future will be easier than expected.
One final thought to help you feel like you're not missing out on a language:
Most people I know have a pretty long bucket list, but very few squash it all into a short period of time.
I don’t know your age, but there’s a good chance you have at least 20, maybe even 40 or 50 years left in life to learn languages. Consider the many polyglots who are in their 60s and 70s, and still adding languages.
We have so much more time than we think!
Have You Ever Kicked A Language Off Your To-Learn List?
I'd love to hear how you deal with your "language list" if you have one. Get in touch if you want to share your story!
9 of the Best Podcasts for Learning English
Learning English with podcasts is so easy - you can find millions of shows online. But which ones are great for learners at any level? In this article, I’ll give you the 9 best shows for English learners who want to polish their English language skills.
There are podcasts in American English and in British English, so have a look and see what you can discover.
What would you do if you could easily understand spoken English?
Would you finally watch your favourite films or TV series without worrying so much about subtitles? Maybe you’d be able to travel without feeling anxious or even study abroad in an English-speaking country. Imagine just being able to order a beer at the pub with some new friends, buy a big slice of New York pizza, or attend a BBQ on a beach in Australia.
There are lots of ways understanding English could help you achieve your dreams and finally allow you to feel comfortable during real conversations with native speakers. The only question is: how do you find the time to practice your English listening skills?
Podcasts are a great way to add a little English listening practice into your day-to-day life. They are free, and can accompany any part of your day: driving a car, washing your dishes, doing laundry, working out, reading, and more.
The Fluent Show
In addition to the English podcasts you’ll find in this article, make sure you sign up to our newsletter, where we discuss languages, learning methods, and how to live a multilingual life. Click here to listen and subscribe.
Quick Primer: How Do Podcasts Work?
If you're curious about podcasts, but not quite sure how they work, here's what you need to know:
- You can subscribe for free to podcasts on your phone, tablet, or computer.
- If you use an Apple computer, iPhone or iPad, go to the Podcasts app. If you're on a Mac that does not have the Podcasts app, use the iTunes directory.
- On a PC or Android device, try the Stitcher app for a quick and easy start.
- Subscribing means you'll always have the latest episode ready and waiting for you as soon as it's published.
The 9 Best English Podcasts for English Learners
In this article, you’ll find:
- British English Podcasts
- American English Podcasts
- Podcasts with both British and American English
- English Video Resources
- Story-Based Shows and Business English Podcasts
- A Special Tip for Advanced Learners
British English Podcasts
This podcast by English teacher Michael is fun and friendly!
Start with this episode, an interview with Kerstin (that's me!), where we talked about how I learnt English to native level myself, how I worked on my English accent, and what you can do when you're struggling with English.
What's better than practicing your English with real English converesation? In this podcast, hosts Abigail and Audrey get together for a chat in English. One is from England and one is from Australia!
American English Podcasts
If you’re after real conversations about interesting topics rather than language lessons, Conversations with Kate is a great resource. Host Kate invites both native and non-native English speakers from around the world as guests to help learners become familiar with different accents as well as learn about people, language, and travel.
Start with this episode, in which I visited Kate to introduce the Women in Language conference.
Looking to improve both your business English and your everyday English? All Ears English Podcast covers business topics as well as English grammar, expressions, American culture, and even IELTS (International English Language Testing System) specific topics.
The website also has short summaries for each episode. Subscribers can also get access to full transcripts.
Recommended episode: 3 Study Tips for the IELTS exam
British and American English Podcasts
EnglishClass101 from InnovativeLanguage covers everything from basic through advanced English. The episodes are exciting and immersive. You’ll easily find a large variety of topics, including both American and British culture, idioms, and even business-related episodes.
The dialogues are presented by engaging hosts in a clear, concise way covering many grammatical features and cultural topics. On the website you can sign up for premium content to access spaced repetition flashcards, PDF lesson notes, and a community forum.
English Video Resources
Yabla is a video-based learning platform with bilingual subtitles and integrated dictionaries. The subtitles are interactive, which is a really cool concept! Check out how Yabla works in detail by reading my full review.
Yabla is great for all levels from basic to advanced. There is a free English podcast available with plenty of videos to watch.
Story-Based and Business English Podcasts
This podcast series from the British Council follows conversations that take place between hosts Tess, Ravi, and their guests as well as the activities of a fictional student, Carolina. These episodes on on the longer side, ranging from 20 to 35 minutes, but they’re split up into sections so you can pause if you need to.
Complete transcripts are available for each episode. Plus, the website offers short quizzes to test your comprehension and practice exercises.
For those who are motivated to improve their English for business reasons, Business English Pod covers everything from sales and communication to presentations and job interviews.
Episodes are easy to understand and contain an explanation of the topic along with some cultural tips. These explanations are followed by conversational dialogues as well as explanation and practice sections. Members can also access PDF transcripts, online quizzes, and additional lessons.
Advanced Learner Tip: Native English Podcasts
English learners who are looking for something a bit more interesting and immersive might prefer to check out podcasts intended for native speakers. If that’s the case, try searching through popular English podcasts for something that sparks your interest, like true crime podcasts, TED Talks, or podcasts that keep you up-to-date on pop culture.
There are also a few public radio stations that offer apps you can explore, including BBC Sounds, SBS On Demand, and NPR. These apps offer a wide variety of English podcasts to make your search a bit easier.
Five Things You Can Shout When Germany Is Playing Football
German football chants, football vocabulary and party tips for German learners who are getting ready to watch a match. From “Schiri” to "Grillparty”, we’ve got all you need when Germany is playing football.
I am not into club matches, but I go all in when the football (soccer) World or European Cup rolls round. For a German living in England, I am unabashed in my support of die deutsche Elf ("the German eleven" - if you don't know that a soccer/football team has 11 players, this is not your article!).
Want to learn some German for yourself? Be sure to check out this German course I created with the team over at StoryLearning. There’s a free 7-day trial so you can test the course risk-free!
I have my team jersey on order, I may even drink beer, and I am totally ready to go and support both the men’s and the women’s teams in our quests to the next win.
Are you getting ready to watch a German football (soccer) match yourself?
You can enjoy more than pretzels! Make it more fun and authentic with these German things to shout at your screen when Germany is playing football at the world cup, European cup, or Nations League.
Schiri!!!!
Schiri stands for "Schiedsrichter" (referee) - there is of course a feminine version of this job title ("Schiedsrichterin"), but to make it easier on everyone to pronounce and holler at the screen, Schiri is the one to use.
This is one to shout out with passion whenever you hear the ref's whistle, favourably if it's an unfair decision or a foul. Don't forget to pronounce those exclamation points.
Deutschland vor, noch ein Tor
A classic chant that every German schoolkid can produce. Often you'll hear this one with a particular player's name instead of "Deutschland" - for example we could name Germany's lone striker Miroslav Klose: Miro vor, noch ein Tor!
Before you shout this one with passion though, wait until Germany's got the first goal in: noch ein translates to "another".
Das war kein Abseits!
Do you know your offside trap? Yes, me too. Every woman has had to learn this to prove her worth, in some kind of misogynist conspiracay of football fans...but I digress! Abseits (neuter) is the German word for offside, and this phrase is a great one to say with a knowing nod when you're out in the Biergarten with your friends.
Die Spieler sind schwach wie Flasche leer
Deutsch ist schwer, by now you probably know that, right? German isn't the easiest language to master, but the key thing is to get your message across. No football coach ever did a better job of this than Giovanni Trappatoni in the 90s, when he went on a beautiful rant at a Bayern Munich press conference.Die Spieler sind schwach wie Flasche leer ("the players are weak like bottles empty") might not be grammatically right, but it is the perfect reaction when you think your team really needs to kick into gear.
What proof that you don’t need perfect grammar to express true emotion..
Das Runde muss ins Eckige
I used to have this on my favourite t-shirt many years ago and always wore it with pride. "The round thing must go into the square thing" is a classic quote from German football hero Sepp Herberger. Along with his other famous "Der Ball ist rund und das Spiel dauert 90 Minuten.", the quote represents Germany's no-nonsense approach to football. Our team isn't known for beautiful arty moves like the Brazilians - but hopefully it will get the job done!
Next Level: 13 Useful German Football Words
Fachsimpeln (playing the expert) is a hobby no one can resist entirely, and watching sports among friends is no exception. When you're among your friends and everyone is playing armchair pundits, listen out for some of the following words to help you keep up:
Der Anstoß - kick off
Die Schwalbe - dive (when a player feigns injury)
Der Stürmer - striker
Der Verteidiger - defense player
Das Mittelfeld - mid-field
Der Elfmeter - penalty
Der Eckball - corner
Der Freistoß - free kick
Das Foul - foul
Verlängerung (in der Verlängerung) - extra time
Ich bin für Deutschland. - I'm supporting Germany
Wie steht es? - what's the score?
Der Pokal - cup (in a sporting context)
More Tips for Soccer-Loving German Learnesr
So you’re all in for the full tournament and want to host a German fan party? Perfect! Try these 3 tips to get the best match atmosphere today.
Get The Grillparty Started
Football World Cup and European Cup tournaments take place in the summer - perfect timing for millions of Germans to open up Balkonien (balconia - a German word for "holidaying at home") and invite their friends round for a BBQ and viewing party.
For the best German Grillparty, you need a venue (garden, allotment, balcony, public BBQ area), a TV to watch the match, some meat (despite the vegan trend, Germans tend to be non-veggie), salad and veggies, and a good supply of drinks. No need for spicy sauces - German foods are rarely hot and spicy.
Learn Some Football Quotes
Football coaches and football players are people who are often asked for their opinions, and every now and then produce a piece of wisdom second to none. You can find many quotes attributed to German coaches on this Spiegel.de page. From Der Ball ist rund und das Spiel dauert 90 Minuten, to nach dem Spiel ist vor dem Spiel, you won't need to be fluent in German to join in with your football-crazy friends this summer.
Eliminate Risk and Follow the Favourites
Germans are a risk-averse bunch. The classic British tradition of supporting the underdog is puzzling to many of them. Why go for anything but the most promising option? So if you want to get with the German mentality as a football supporter, reserve a soft spot for the most likely tournament winners.
I wish all your teams good luck in the competition. Let's hope Gary Lineker is right:
Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.
And if you want to get into the mood with a German course, why not check out my tips for learning German?
Good luck and remember to put the round thing into the square thing!
Want to Learn the German Language?
German is a beautiful language with history and charm. And did you know that YOU can easily learn it, too? Check out my German Uncovered online course, created in collaboration with the incredible team over at StoryLearning.
Struggling with listening? Discover realistic tips, challenge prompts, and the best tools for improving your listening skills as a self-guided language learner