Understanding French as it’s actually spoken can be tough, but with the right techniques and practice, you’ll improve faster than you think. C’est parti !
1) How to Practice Understanding
Whether you’re traveling in Provence, working with French colleagues, or just chatting with friends from Paris, understanding fast-spoken French is key to fluency. Because French people speak fast and it’s best to practice before you drown in a conversation. Study spoken French as a different language from written French.
Better comprehension leads to more natural conversations, improved speaking skills, and greater confidence. You won’t be thinking about what they just said but about what you want to say next to keep the conversation flowing. French conversation is an art form.
a) Listening to authentic content
Immerse yourself in authentic French content like movies, TV shows, podcasts, and radio. Don’t stick to your textbook CDs forever or you’ll reach a C2 level without being able to have a conversation with a real French speaker. It’s better to struggle in the safe space of your living room than at the ticket counter of a Loire Valley Castle with 20 people behind you.
→ Watch ‘Amélie’ in French, listen to France Culture podcasts such as Les Pieds sur Terre, or follow French YouTubers such as Nota Bene or Fouloscopie or even Meta de Choc. Many podcasts now come with transcripts so use them!
Use subtitles at first when you’re watching a show or movie, you can even start with English ones then French then try without them. Repeat and mimic phrases you hear. You can even play a character.
b) Using Language Learning Apps
Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone offer listening exercises tailored to different levels. And even though you heard me several times criticize their lack of context, any tool that can get you to practice is a great tool.
→ Focus on listening exercises and repeat them regularly. I trust the algorithm to get you hooked. Use them for a month or two or a little more and move on to other more authentic resources.
c) Practicing with Native Speakers
Gather all your courage and engage in conversation with native speakers as much as possible. Even if you need to use your hands, Google Translate or switch back to English from time to time.
Use language exchange apps like ITalki, Tandem, HelloTalk, or join local French-speaking meetups.
→ Don’t be afraid to ask French speakers to speak slower or explain phrases you don’t understand. French people know French is hard, so if they agree to be your practice partner, they’ll be very indulgent. It’s also the perfect way to identify your weaknesses. Write them down!
A warning before we move on to challenges: don’t use the excuse of “I need a native speaker” to avoid practicing spoken French. I’ve tackled that in another video.
Click here to learn more:
Improving Your French Speaking Skills at Home (Comme une Française YouTube lesson)
2) Common Challenges and Solutions
“Fast-paced conversations can be overwhelming.”
→ Start with slow content and gradually increase the speed. Use the ‘half-speed’ feature available on many platforms.
Quickly move from your learners resources to authentic French media so you can familiarize yourself with specific spoken French grammar and eaten letters.
Remember: Spoken French is almost like a different language from written French. So be careful with French audiobooks because they are by definition written French read aloud. Rarely real spontaneous dialogue.
“Different accents and slang are worrying me.”
→ Expose yourself to various accents and regional slang. Listen to content from different parts of the Francophone world.
Quebecois French is very different from French from France. If you plan to move there, please forget about my channel and concentrate on their accent. I won’t be helpful here. Otherwise, worry less about accents in metropolitan France, they are way less different than in the UK or the US for example.
“I don’t understand context and cultural references.”
→ Learn about French culture through documentaries on Arte, news on France Inter, and cultural programs like Des Racines et des Ailes. This will help you understand context better.
A great tip I can personally give you is to keep your ears open to compare the kinds of spoken French between programs. This will help you really understand what I mean by updating your French to the 21st century.
3) Interactive Practice Session
Let’s practice together!
Let’s take a look at an extract from a previous 30-Day French Challenge, my special program where my community of students get a short challenge every day for 30 days. We focus on a fun cultural French topic, with a presentation, real-sounding dialogues, vocabulary analysis, games, ressources and more.
Click here to learn more: our 30-Day French challenge with Comme une Française
In the video lesson, you can listen to a part of the Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) challenge, with the following dialogue about Nice:
Géraldine : Ça te dirait d’aller à Nice ce week-end ? Mes parents m’ont dit que c’était super.
Géraldine: Would you like to go to Nice this weekend? My parents told me it was great.
Lucie : Ce week-end ? Eh mais ouais, carrément. On pourra profiter du soleil et se balader sur la Promenade des Anglais. Et manger une pissaladière !
Lucie: This weekend? Well, yeah, totally. We can enjoy the sun and walk along the Promenade des Anglais. And eat a pissaladière!
Géraldine : Ma mère m’a recommandé d’aller manger à “La Cantine de Mémé.” Et puis une rue piétonne bourrée de petits restos sympas, la rue Masséna.
Géraldine: My mom recommended eating at “La Cantine de Mémé.” And there’s a pedestrian street full of nice little restaurants, rue Masséna.
Lucie : Top. On devrait pouvoir trouver notre bonheur.
Lucie: Great. We should be able to find something we like.
Géraldine : Et moi, je veux absolument aller faire un tour dans les boutiques de luxe de la rue Paradis, histoire de se la jouer un peu jet-set.
Géraldine: And I absolutely want to check out the luxury boutiques on rue Paradis, just to feel a bit jet-set.
Vocabulary Review: Slang and Pronunciation
Ça te dirait… ? = Ça te dit… ? = Would you like… ?
Carrément = Bien sûr = Absolument = Sure, totally
Un restaurant = un resto (informal)
“Ya” (informal pronunciation) = Il y a = There is, there are
Je vais faire un tour. = I’m going to take a walk around, to visit.
Bourrée (informal) → Pleine = full (literally), or soûle, ivre = drunk (informal)
Une boutique de luxe = a luxury boutique, a high-end shop
Chicos (informal) = Chic / de luxe / luxueuse = classy, expensive, chic
Se la jouer = “Play it”, pretend to be, feel like (with pretension)
Histoire de se la jouer = Just to pretend, so that we can feel like…
4) How to Keep Improving, in the long run
→ Consistency is key. Practice listening daily, even if only for a few minutes.
That’s what my students love in my 30-day French challenge. 15 minutes of French with their morning coffee. It keeps the brain active and the French vocabulary fresh.
→ Mix it up. Use a variety of resources to keep your learning fresh and engaging.
For this, follow your heart: you love cycling: watch Le Tour de France in French and listen to L’Equipe podcasts. Love Art: watch D’art d’art and listen to podcasts from Le Louvre.
→ Stay patient and persistent. Understanding fast French takes time, but you’ll get there!
Comme une Française specializes in spoken French so you’re at the right place!
5) The Extra Mile: Resources and Recommendations
I recommend books with audio components, like ‘Easy French Reader‘ or ‘French Short Stories for Beginners‘. Or simply good French books on Audible with the book on your lap if needed. Honestly, I’m no expert in books for french learners so if you have recommendations, please share them in the comments!
Your turn now:
In the comments below, share your recommendation for a tool or technique or resource that you use for learning French. In French if you dare! For example, you can write: “Je regarde Lupin sur Netflix, en français avec les sous-titres en français.”
Or keep learning with our community: Join us on the next 30-Day French Challenge, starting soon!
À très vite!
See you very soon!
My dad is from Aveyron France where local dance is bourree, and JS Bach composed at least one bourree. Now I find out it’s slang for drunk?? Would appreciate any context here, or maybe I’m missing something here. Thanks.