Learn French with YouTube: 10 Très Magnifique Channels
This summer, all eyes were on Paris, with the Olympics being the event of the year. Naturally, the French language was in the spotlight. Not only does it sound incredibly charming, it’s also one of the most widely spoken languages in the world (in 5th place, to be exact).
Starting your French learning journey can be daunting. There are so many methods and resources out there. But you don’t need expensive books or courses, YouTube is an excellent medium for learning French, and there are so many awesome channels to choose from: plus it’s completely free to use. In this post we share 10 YouTube channels you can watch to make your French très magnifique!
rounded proficiency in French.
Français Authentique
The channel is run by Johan Tekfak, a native French speaker with a background in language teaching and engineering. Its main focus, as its name suggests, is authentic communication in French, with videos entirely in French so that the experience is immersive.
Johan’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the “Français Authentique Method,” its most important elements are listening to comprehensible input, repetition, and consistent practice. His lessons are designed around real-life contexts, such as music and everyday situations, promoting natural and intuitive language learning.
A standout feature of Français Authentique is the cultural elements in each lesson: Johan shares personal anecdotes and cultural tidbits, immersing learners directly into French life and customs. This approach not only makes the lessons more engaging, but also helps learners really get to know the language and connect with it.
Study French with Français Authentique on Ling here.
French Mornings with Elisa
This is a great channel for beginner to intermediate learners. It’s hosted by Elisa, another native French speaker, and focuses on more practical language skills and everyday communication. Elisa is a very captivating teacher and speaks slowly and clearly, making it easy for learners to follow along.
Elisa’s videos go beyond language instruction, as she finds ways to enrich them with elements of French culture. She often takes the viewer on trips to French locations in vlog-style videos, or suggests French books for them to read. Her channel is a fantastic way of learning French first-hand, and this type of learning ensures that you will master the language in no time.
Study French with French Mornings with Elisa on LingQ here.
innerFrench
InnerFrench, created by Hugo Cotton, is an excellent resource for intermediate French learners seeking more immersive and natural language exposure. Hugo’s videos are entirely in French, and his speech is deliberate and clear to make understanding easier.
In a podcast style, he explores many interesting topics, from French culture and history to everyday life. This approach helps viewers expand their vocabulary naturally while simultaneously improving their listening skills.
What sets InnerFrench apart is that it helps learners move beyond textbooks to real-world fluency, and is therefore a great way to build confidence and competence in French.
Study French with innerFrench on LingQ here.
Learn French with Any YouTube Video!
There are tons of videos to study in the LingQ French Library, but you will of course want to discover your own videos on YouTube. No need to stick with videos that talk about French either, the world is your huître (oyster)! Here’s how to create lessons with any YouTube video with the LingQ Importer.
Step 1
Download the LingQ Importer browser extension (available for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox). Once you have it, add it to your toolbar.
Step 2
Open your favourite YouTube video, select the LingQ extension and click import. Done! Now you can read and listen while translating the French words and phrases.
Learn French with FrenchPod101.com
If you’re just embarking on your French learning journey, the FrenchPod101.com channel offers a big variety of content to suit your needs, with hours upon hours of engaging content. It mostly covers the essentials, including the fundamentals of grammar and common vocabulary, making it perfect for new learners.
But it’s not limited to basic skills: FrenchPod101.com also emphasizes pronunciation, reading, and speaking. The channel also offers more specialized videos covering specific purposes such as Business French.
Video lengths vary, spanning from brief 3-minute lessons to extensive 8-hour sessions. So, whether you only have a few minutes to spare on learning French or a full day, FrenchPod101.com has you covered.
Learn French with Alexa
Meet Alexa Polidoro, a native speaker of French and teacher of the language. On her channel, Alexa publishes a wide range of videos that primarily focus on conversational French and also cover essential grammar and vocabulary. Her content caters to learners of all levels, from beginners to more advanced students.
Alexa’s teaching style incorporates a fresh sense of humor, making her lessons fun, enjoyable, and engaging. Besides her engaging lessons, Alexa also focuses on practical learning by incorporating quizzes and exercises in her videos. This helps learners consolidate their learning and leads to deeper understanding of the French language. Her holistic approach ensures that learners will eventually reach a well-rounded proficiency in French.
StreetFrench.org
StreetFrench is hosted by Charlie, an American living in Paris. It focuses on real-world language use, with videos featuring street interviews, practical phrases, and colloquial expressions to help you enhance your French comprehension.
Charlie brings a fun twist to learning through a series in his channel where he teaches French through series and films. His most recent examples include learning French through the popular series Lupin and the film Amélie – really fun, right? You can create lessons with shows and movies on LingQ too. Find out more with this post.
Charlie’s method of teaching French is thoroughly immersive and engaging and his attitude open and friendly. He helps the learner enhance both comprehension and fluency in an authentic, relatable way, and so makes for an excellent resource to master French in a practical context.
Piece of French
Hosted by the charming Manon, Piece of French is an authentic way to learn the language through the eyes of a native speaker going about her everyday life. Through vlogs, stories, and interesting conversations, Manon provides learners with a real-world language experience.
Manon’s friendly and approachable style, combined with her focus on natural spoken French, creates a welcoming learning environment. Piece of French is the perfect channel for those looking for a fun way to better their French skills and gain confidence in the language.