Best French Podcasts to Improve Your Listening

Podcasts for beginning, intermediate, and advanced French

What's the hardest of the four Language skills to learn?

Did you say listening? In actual fact, many experts say that writing is the most difficult to master!

However, when we write Language, we can take our time. In conversation, there's no time to pause and do research! So even though listening is not the most difficult of the four skills, it can be the most intimidating one.

To overcome this apprehension, Language learners need to add some listening exercises to their practice sessions as much as possible. One of the most popular methods is to listen to Language podcasts.

And while podcasts are a fantastic way to do this, they’re just one of many tools that can help improve your Language. For a full guide to other essential resources—including books, apps, and online communities—check out Essential Language Resources and Tools for Practice.

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Why Learn Language With Podcasts?

Podcasts allow you to listen to real spoken Language rather than the choreographed conversation sometimes found in TV and movies. There are also endless free podcasts available, letting you choose the difficulty and topic that suit you.

Upper advanced learners may enjoy listening to Language podcasts that aren't designed for learners. This Language media will be full of complex vocabulary as well as natural elements of speech like humour, stumbling over words, and mistakes.

If that's too advanced for you, then try podcasts specifically designed for Language learners. These range in difficulty and subject, but we'll tell you all about the most popular ones below. Plus, all of them are free!

Beginner Language Podcasts

For real but simple Language, try Easy Language. Their podcasts—and YouTube videos!—range from interviews on the streets of Paris to podcast-style slow conversation. Even intermediate learners can benefit from these videos, though most are best suited for beginners.

Intermediate Language Podcasts

LanguaTalk is an online language learning company with hundreds of Language tutors. But they also offer LanguaTalk Slow Language: podcasts designed for A2-B1 learners. Each episode is roughly 20-30 minutes long and has an interactive transcript attached, as well as a helpful vocabulary list!

For a shorter burst of information, try the Daily Language Pod. These podcasts recite a news story twice in slow Language. Then, the speaker explains the meaning of the words and phrases used, in case you didn’t catch them. While the concept is simple and the episodes are short, it’s full of intermediate-level vocabulary.

For realistic daily Language, try Language Voices. This podcast interviews people from different walks of life. Because there’s not just one speaker but a different interviewee every time, it’s a great way to familiarise yourself with different accents and vocabulary. While the podcast is free, you have to pay to read the transcripts.

Advanced Language Podcasts

 

Français Authentique podcasts are designed for advanced speakers or upper-intermediate speakers looking to improve. The topics range greatly, from social philosophy to pop culture, so they will introduce learners to lots of new vocabulary. Transcripts of the content are also free!

Every weekday, Grand Reportage uploads Language documentary-style podcasts covering topical issues. The vocabulary used is specific to the issues, helping advanced learners broaden their knowledge. Plus, each podcast has an article attached, so you can read the content as well.

If you’re less interested in the news but want to understand the issues Language people are discussing, try Inner Language. This podcast covers subjects you would expect to see on Buzzfeed rather than in The Telegraph. It’s a great option if you want to keep up with the ever-evolving modern language. Plus, you can get a transcript of the episodes by creating a free account.

Free Language Listening Exercises

Whatever your Language level, there are podcasts out there specifically designed to help you improve. While some have vocabulary lists and transcripts, they don't have tools to check your comprehension. If you're looking to really test and improve your listening skills, we've got just the thing!

Our listening exercises present you with Language audio clips, then check how well you can understand and transcribe them. And you can filter by level to find the right ones for you!

For access to all our free listening exercises, sign up for a free Kwiziq account now!

 

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