What to watch to learn French
Everything 2 working French teachers told us they would actually put in front of a learner, with a note on why each one works and the level it suits.
19
Recommendations
2
Teachers
Picked by
These come in two halves. The first ones are made for French learners, so the speech is slower and clearer; the rest is what French people actually watch, for when you can already follow a normal conversation.
See Ines Lluch del Campo’s picks
Easy French
Street interviews in Paris and around the French-speaking world, subtitled in French and English, so authentic speech stays followable.
Beginner-Intermediate
Français avec Nelly
Nelly teaches French to foreigners in Paris and uses her episodes to unpack the language and the culture behind it, one short lesson at a time.
Beginner-Intermediate
Little Talk in Slow French
Nagisa holds relaxed conversations in deliberately slow French, built purely to train your listening ear.
Beginner-Intermediate
Piece of French
Elsa talks about everyday life in France slowly and clearly, with subtitles, so you pick up the French people really use instead of textbook lines.
Beginner-Intermediate
Journal en français facile
RFI's daily world-news bulletin, read in slow, simple French and published with a full transcript you can read along with.
Intermediate
Laura Travelbook
Laura paints her days in watercolour and narrates them softly, calm and unhurried French that's easy to follow while you watch her sketch.
Intermediate
Learn French with Elisabeth — HelloFrench
Elisabeth teaches French the way it's actually spoken, the fast, swallowed version you hear in conversation but never in a course book.
Intermediate
Iznowgood
A French couple living as digital nomads, talking ethical fashion and more conscious everyday choices in casual, conversational French.
Intermediate-Advanced
Les Artisans de Demain
Camille and Illiès travel the world filming short documentaries about people building something meaningful, with narration in clear, well-paced French.
Intermediate-Advanced
Libre et Sauvage
Reflective vlogs on nature, slow living and consuming less, filmed in the French countryside at a gentle, thoughtful pace.
Intermediate-Advanced
SleepingBeauty
Marie is one of France's best-known wellness creators: recipes, skincare and slow-living vlogs in relaxed, natural French.
Intermediate-Advanced
Picked by
If I had to learn French from scratch, these are the shows, YouTube channels and podcasts I'd start with. You don't need to understand every word. Just keep listening. The more French you hear, the more natural it will start to feel.
See Marion Sokhi’s picks
Coffee Break French
Short lessons built around one useful thing at a time, with a learner in the room asking the questions you'd want to ask yourself.
Beginner
Easy French
Ordinary people answering questions on the street, with French and English subtitles running, so you hear how the language sounds outside a classroom.
Beginner-Intermediate
News in Slow French
The week's news read at a pace you can actually keep up with, and every episode comes with a transcript to read along.
Beginner-Intermediate
Piece of French
Elsa slows her French to a pace you can hold on to, and spends it on everyday life in France rather than textbook situations.
Beginner-Intermediate
Français Authentique
Johan explains everything in French and never falls back on English, which trains you to stay in the language instead of translating.
Intermediate
Lupin
Omar Sy's gentleman-thief thriller, plotted tightly enough that you keep following the story even when the French runs ahead of you.
Intermediate-Advanced
Plan Cœur
A Paris friendship comedy carried by fast, slangy dialogue, the register you'd hear from friends your own age rather than on the news.
Intermediate-Advanced
Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!)
Agents at a Paris talent firm talking over each other at full speed, about as close as television gets to standing in a French office.
Advanced
Frequently asked
What can I watch to learn French?
Ines Lluch del Campo of French Mood with Ines recommends Easy French, Français avec Nelly, Little Talk in Slow French and Piece of French, 19 teacher-chosen picks in total. Each links out to where you can watch or listen, with a note on the right learner level.
What shows can I watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime to learn French?
Marion Sokhi, who teaches French at Learn French with Marion, recommends Lupin, Plan Cœur and Dix pour cent (Call My Agent!). These are all TV series and films, so you will usually find them on Netflix or Amazon Prime. Each one links out to where to watch it, with a note on the level it suits.
What are the best podcasts to learn French?
Ines Lluch del Campo, who teaches French at French Mood with Ines, recommends Français avec Nelly, Little Talk in Slow French and Journal en français facile. Marion Sokhi, who teaches French at Learn French with Marion, recommends Coffee Break French, News in Slow French and Français Authentique. Each one links out to where you can watch or listen, with a note on the level it suits.
What are the best YouTube channels to learn French?
Ines Lluch del Campo, who teaches French at French Mood with Ines, recommends Easy French, Piece of French, Laura Travelbook, Learn French with Elisabeth — HelloFrench, Iznowgood, Les Artisans de Demain, Libre et Sauvage and SleepingBeauty. Marion Sokhi, who teaches French at Learn French with Marion, recommends Easy French and Piece of French. Each one links out to where you can watch or listen, with a note on the level it suits.