Fun Ways to Better Your French
OK, we’ll admit it: learning French can feel like a real chore at times.
To help lighten the mood, we’re giving you tips and tricks to make the task a bit easier, so that learning can be both a fun and cultural experience!
1. Watch French Movies and TV Shows
Learning a language via entertainment like watching a new series or film can add a layer of fun to all that time spent learning with textbooks, or up in class.
Check out streaming platforms like Netflix offer a wide variety of options en français for you to explore.
One show we personally liked? Dix Pour Cent, a series that follows the lives of talent agents for the biggest French actors and comedians, who are real and play themselves throughout the show. In English, it’s known as Call My Agent!
Some jokes and puns have a particular je ne sais quoi which may a bit trickier for non-francophone speakers to get, but this series gives you a nice look into the the world of French cinema.
There’s four seasons in total, and was a major success on French television. It even kickstarted the career of actress Camille Cotin, who’s since gone on to play roles in American films.
We also recommend watching Lupin, also on Netflix, starring the famous French actor Omar Sy. The show is inspired by the actions of the fictional character Arsène Lupin, and runs for three seasons.
In it, we follow the adventures of protagonist Assane Diop, who wants to avenge his father’s tragic death by going after the family responsible,, and expose their crimes.
This show is jam-packed with action, with a lot of the shooting having been done in Ile-de-France. You may catch famous landmarks like the Louvre in the first few episodes, but have a watch for yourself and see!
Chris from our team recommends the 2017 film Le sens de la fête. In this comedy, we follow the adventures of Max, in charge of organizing a couple’s wedding party. But things don’t quite go according to plan…
A classic example of your typical French comedy.
2. Plan a Board Game Night with Friends (en français !)
Board games offer a great combination of spending a good time with friends, while also exercising your brain and strategy know-how.
Many French board games can help improve your language skills all while being in a chill environment. A nice getaway from all those grammar lessons, eh?
Some games like Time’s Up require you to express yourself, and learn up on some French characters.
Don’t have any board games at home? Pas de soucis, we’ve got you covered.
Paris has many bars à jeux (“gaming bars”) where you can both play and enjoy a nice drink at the same time. Some popular spots include Le Cocon Ludique in the 3rd arrondissement, La Revanche in the 12th, and many more.
3. Use Apps to Meet Locals
Lastly, the best way to better your French is by chatting with locals, bien sûr ! This may seem a bit intimidating in a city like Paris, but one way around this is by using apps that help facilitate language exchange.
One good option is Tandem, which is free to use and allows you to chat with strangers via texting and video calls to improve in the language of your choice.
If you prefer chat it up in person, try Meetup, an app designed to help you find specific groups of people in your town—for example, via any hobbies or interests that you’d like to share in. This, in turn, allows you to go out and embrace the unknown.
Bonne chance, et amuse-toi bien !
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