Introduction:

Understanding French can be quite a challenge, even if you can read the written language with comparative ease. To many English-speaking students, whole sentences in French sound like one long word. One reason for this confusion is that French pronunciation uses something called a liaison. Liaisons join the sounds of each word together, for example, if one ends in a consonant and the next one starts in a vowel. Furthermore, French is spoken very quickly. From the point of view of English-speaking students, French words sound very different from the way they are written.

• Speak as often as possible—even if you make mistakes

In my experience, this is much easier said than done. Speaking even though you know you may continually make mistakes is daunting and often frustrating. But there are some ways to do this without feeling embarrassed and discouraged at every turn. When you speak what you hear, it cements your understanding of the spoken word in a way that doesn’t happen when you simply just listen.

• Find a language partner or join a language exchange

It’s important to find a language partner to practice your conversation skills, but it’s also crucial to establishing strong listening comprehension. When you’re speaking with your partner, practice listening to what they say, and then ask questions—in French—if you don’t understand. Then repeat back what they say.

• Practice pronouncing unfamiliar words and phrases on your own:

Once you feel comfortable with it, go back to your language partner or use it in a conversation with a friend. Then you’ll find that you’ve nailed it and will understand it clearly when other people use it.

• Watch movies with French subtitles

Watching dubbed and subtitled movies is a great way to connect the words you hear to the written word that you have already learned. Especially when you’re starting the process of improving your listening, it’s hard to even grasp what the characters might be saying, leaving only the visual as a clue.

• Listen to French radio programs

Listening to French radio programs can be a serious challenge, since watching movies and having a conversation both give you a chance to watch someone speak and match their body language to their words. You have no such luxury with the radio. Is it truly a test of how much you know and don’t know.

• Take advantage of online listening resources

Le plaisir d’apprendre. Though this is mainly a beginner site—and completely in French—it’s filled with effective exercises for sharpening your listening comprehension. The comprehension orale (oral comprehension) section is divided into different parts: Rencontres (Greetings), Loisirs (Leisure Activities), Descriptions (Descriptions), Chiffres et nombres (Letters and Numbers), Dates et heures (Dates and times), and Activités quotidiennes (Daily activities).

• Keep learning vocab and grammar

As you continue to watch movies, speak constantly, and listen to the radio, you may forget the skill that started you on this journey in the first place: reading comprehension and writing. Remember that as you continue to hone your ears, it’s crucial to solidify your understanding of French grammar and keep learning new vocabulary.

• Practice active French Listening

One of the best ways to practice listening to French is too well….listen to French (shocking right?). But this doesn’t mean putting on some French music and listening to it in the background as you bake baguettes or sip wine. You need to practice active listening.

Get your hands on a recording of spoken French. You can use a movie, news broadcast, or podcast. You can even try subscribing to a French Youtube channel. Listen to a segment of the audio and do your best to write down what you hear.

• Practice pronunciation

Any problems you have pronouncing French words correctly will be reflected back in your listening skills. It’s hard for your brain to decipher and remember a sound (be it a letter or a word)that you don’t know how to make yourself. A good French accent will give you the ability to hear and pick out the otherwise unnatural (to a native English speaker) French sounds.

• Make French listening part of your routine

Now that you’ve started practicing active listening and pronunciation, make it a part of your regular French learning! I recommend that you allow a specific amount of time for each of your listening activities. For example, you might practice 10 minutes of active listening, followed by 10 minutes of practicing French vowels, and then 10 minutes of imitation practice with a French podcast.

• Listen and Read

This option is best for students who have a hard time understanding spoken French. Open up the words in a new window, and then start the sound file so that you can follow the words as you listen. This will help your brain make the connection between what you are hearing and what it means. This is similar to watching a French movie while reading the English subtitles. 

• Read First

Students who don’t feel up to the challenge of listening first might be better off doing just the opposite: Read or skim through the words first to get an idea of what it’s about, and then listen to the sound file. You can listen while reading, or just listen and then go back to the words to see how much you were able to pick up.

• Conclusion:

These tips will help you close any gap that might exist between your knowledge of the French language and your speaking abilities. Understanding native speakers may seem daunting at first, but with a little time and perseverance, you will see your abilities improve!

There’s an amazing new way to learn French! Want to see what everyone’s talking about!