5 amazing tips to learn French with music
Looking to fit some language practice into your schedule but stuck for what to do? Why not introduce a little music into your day? Listening to music as a learning tool helps you perfect pronunciation while picking up all sorts of phrases, as well as introducing you to new tunes. Are you ready to give it a go?
Table of Contents
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Charts
Go into Youtube and search for top 40 France to give yourself a playlist to start with. Whether you want to first try to see if using music to practice the language with is for you, or you just want some French music to have on in the background, this is a great way to get to know new songs.
Once a song starts to stick in your mind, like Je Te Le Donne by Vitaa did for us, then you'll find yourself singing along, translating the lyrics, and correcting any pronunciation problems you have had up until now. If you can get the lyrics to a song in English stuck in your head just from being in traffic or taking your commute to work, then the same is true of French!
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Spotify
You probably already have a lot of playlists if you are a Spotify listener, so why not explore what is available from Spotify France? Picking up any new skill is about regular practice, so if you introduce a little French to your normal listening habits you're already making good progress.
Spotify is extra useful in this respect because once its algorithms have an idea of the kinds of things you like listening to, you'll get daily mixes and weekly recommendations. So you are never without new content. This is a great way to ensure your learning stays varied and lowers the chances of you getting bored.
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Taratata
Taratata is France's unique answer to all the live music programmes you are used to viewing at home. This show has been ongoing — with a few breaks — since 1993, showcasing the best in rock music both French and international. You will find backstage interviews and unexpected duets, and so many more ways to practice the language. Taratata is particularly useful for those who are interested in music as a subject and getting to hear some specific language from the industry — and of course for rock music lovers as well!
Lyric videos
Lyric videos are a great way to practice French because all you have to do is read and sing along! Think of it like your own private karaoke booth, or a fun way to practice with friends. The key to finding great lyric videos is to choose more popular songs, like Il Est Où by Algérino. So if you watch one version and aren't sure about the accuracy of the lyrics you can find plenty more to try instead.
As an added bonus that you will always get for viewing anything on Youtube, reading through the comments beneath the videos will give you even more French to practice with; though there is no way to guarantee the quality of that content!
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Translation
Since songs are only short they make great bursts of French perfect for translation. And to demonstrate just that, it's time for some French that is a little more… Canadian! Cœur de pirate is a popular musician from Quebec with an extensive back catalog for you to choose from. Give Combustible a listen; what words and phrases do you already know? Can you get the gist of what whole lines mean just from the context of those phrases and words?
Once you are confident, use the French lyrics beneath the video to check your understanding, and then if you're up to it, do your own translation. Use sites like Lyrics Translate to compare your own work to; you'll be an expert in no time!
Your learning experience is entirely unique to you, so what works for someone else might not be helpful for you at all! You might absorb French better by making a playlist for working out to at the gym or translating some of your favorite English songs into French. Whatever you choose, and however you go about it, we think you will agree that learning French with music is a great way to keep your interest alive and keep yourself motivated.