French Lessons in Saint Paul

Rosetta Stone

Would you like to put your French into practice after your lessons with Listen & Learn are over? Then, you’ll be happy to know there are countless resources that will enable you to use your French on your phone. One of them is the app Rosetta Stone, where you will find a ton of videos featuring real-life conversations in French. By watching them at various points throughout the day, wherever is easy and convenient, you can improve your contextual vocabulary and listening skills, making your language learning more natural and realistic. Though the app isn’t free, the monthly subscription is very affordable. Try the app here!

Duolingo

If you are a language learner looking for options to put your skills into play, Duolingo is a must: it is one of the most popular language-learning apps available for Android and iOS. The app offers learning tips and exercises for 26 languages, including French, with a focus on vocabulary development. Words are categorized into different groups (like Food, Family, Animals, etc.) and these are presented in contextual phrases. You’ll also be challenged to use them in different sentences and can listen to how to pronounce them correctly. If you want to enjoy some extra features, you can pay $9.99 a month for Duolingo Plus. Download the app here!

Hello Talks

Would you like to speak with French native speakers using a cell phone app? Then, download Hello Talk, an app that joins more than 15 million people looking to practice foreign languages together. You can try it for free for a month and then decide if you want to pay for their monthly subscription. Their system is quite simple: you teach your native language to native French speaker, who will teach you their language, in turn. This way, both of you will be exposed to real-life speech and cultural exchanges of your target languages. You can interact with others using text, voice recordings, and calls. Download Hello Talk here!

Cyprien

Cyprien Iov, also known as Monsieur Dream, is a popular French YouTuber and comedian with more than 15 million subscribers! Cyprien creates hilarious videos with subtitles in over 10 languages, including English. This makes this YouTube channel a great option even for beginner language learners looking to increase their listening skills with real-life materials. Some of the topics he touches upon include ads versus reality, school, being a geek, and living alone. He speaks quite quickly at times but uses simple vocabulary, so it’s a nice option for anyone who wants to improve their French while having a good time. Subscribe to his channel here.

Norman fait des

Want to have some fun while watching content in French and improving your listening comprehension? Then, you should definitely subscribe to Norman fait des vidéos YouTube channel. He’s the third-most popular French YouTube channel (based on the number of subscribers) with videos that have over 34 million views! He focuses on topics like bilingualism, popular brands, animals, and video games, producing short sequences of less than 5 minutes. And the best part is that they have subtitles in Japanese, English, and French, so no matter your proficiency level, you can enjoy Norman’s videos! Subscribe to his channel here.

Antoine Daniel

Unlike other popular French Youtubers’ videos that cover random topics, Antoine Daniel’s channel has a clear focus. The content explores different countries’ traditions, like Japan, Spain, or Russia, analyzed from a humorous point of view; so, this is a great option for those looking to have some fun while improving their French. Just consider that this YouTuber speaks quickly and uses lots of slang, so it might be a bit challenging to understand at first. But don’t let this stop you: use English subtitles until you advance your French proficiency! Subscribe to his channel here.

Euronews

Euronews is a European TV channel headquartered in Lyon, France, that has been broadcasting for almost 30 years. Tune in to find programs about culture, technology, news, and even soap operas (original or dubbed) in French. It covers these topics from a European perspective and you can watch it on TV or live stream via their website or YouTube channel. You’ll never run out of fresh content, which you can continually use to build upon your learning. And if you want to improve your reading skills, you can also read many of their articles online. Watch Euronews here!

France 24

If you are looking for a channel that covers the news from a French perspective, then you can watch France 24. This Paris-based TV channel was specifically created for people living outside of France. Follow the headlines in real time with the latest news bulletins or via their live stream service, or replay their programs by paying a monthly subscription. Their reporters usually speak in a very clear and articulate manner, so it isn’t too difficult to understand what they are saying and a great way for learners of all levels of French to expand their vocabulary and cultural awareness. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter to know more. Watch France 24 here!

BFM TV

BFM TV is the most-watched French TV channel in the country, dedicated to news and weather forecasts. With BFM being so popular (it has more than 10 million viewers every day!), it can be watched online and from anywhere in the world. Their journalists tend to enunciate clearly, which is ideal for both beginners and intermediate students, so don’t hesitate to watch BFM to improve your listening skills! Similarly, their online articles are very well-written, with appropriate use of grammar and elevated vocabulary; so, reading these articles will be helpful to take your reading skills to the next level. Watch BFM TV here!

Kids United

There’s no better way for children to learn a language than through real-life materials, like movies or songs. So, why not expose them to beautiful music, like that of Kids United? This is a French band of 6 children, formed to support UNICEF in 2004. Their first album, Un monde meilleur (A better world), features hits about peace, love, and the importance of family. The tunes are catchy and repetitive and the vocabulary is simple, so your child will have no problem learning the lyrics while enjoying great music in French! Click here and subscribe to their channel!

Petit Ours Brun

Looking for classic tales to tell your children, so you can share quality time together while they improve their French skills? Petit Ours Brun (Little Brown Bear) is a successful series of illustrated stories that follow Claude’s (a little brown bear) adventures. With a bird as his companion, Claude discovers the world around him, having fun with other animals in the forest and learning new things with the help of his parents. The series is not only great for kids to learn everyday vocabulary in French, but it’s also nice and fun way to teach values! Listen to the stories here!

T'choupi

T'choupi is a series of children's literature books perfect for kids who are just starting to learn French. It follows the adventures of a young boy who has a penguin as his pet. The penguin is a bit different from the animal in reality. Instead of a beak, it has a round orange clown-like nose and its wings have thumbs, resembling human hands. Every episode features a different theme, such as professions, colors, or animals, so the cartoon is fun way for your kids to acquire basic, everyday vocabulary in French. Watch the series here!