Check out these 6 clips of French in real life. All six are perfect for anyone just starting their French listening journey. Each is less than 120 words per minute. They are slow enough to follow along easily while still providing a sufficient challenge!
As we’re starting on our French learning journey, we can’t all expect to dive right into an episode of Dix Pour Cent and understand everything. You can try, of course, and it may soon prove to be overwhelming. I was surprised quickly with how fast the dialogue came and went.
And one of the worst things I do to myself when attempting to scale the mountain to fluency is make the ascent too steep with content that is just too out of reach. I believe we need to start with an easier hike, and then build up our fluency muscles.
That’s one of the reasons I created this site. I get to break content into manageable pieces. That of course is where the “bitesize” comes from. Still, those short clips can prove overwhelming for me and others. In fact, I often hear from learners on my site how even at 30% blank they’re still struggling to pick up words.
I get it. When that’s the case, the best option is to start with slower paced clips. Work your way up inside each clip with understanding more and more of the content, and then work up to faster and faster clips on the site. This will level the incline, so to speak, and let you start on Dix Pour Cent in no time.
Why Slow Listening Matters
First, let’s think about how slower listening can help you, dear French learner.
I still want us to focus on content that was created for native speakers. That is, after all, where any target language exists in the real world. It is not in teacher-led Youtube channels or in your textbook.
Starting with slower-paced content meant for native speakers is a great way to assist in three areas:
- Catch Pronunciations: Hear each syllable clearly.
- Understand Structures: Grasp sentence formations.
- Build Confidence: Feel good as you follow along.
You’re going to hear words that won’t be defined in English. This is French meant for native speakers, so they’re not translating or slowing down to make sure you got it. You’re going to hear grammar as it exists in the real world. And you’ll be building your confidence. You can understand French in real life, and every step is a step towards the summit of “mount fluency”.
So where should we begin?
Kids’ Songs: Your New Best Friend (no, really)
One area I love to focus on while learning any language is children’s songs. It might seem goofy. You’re not a kid anymore! (Or at least, that’s what you tell yourself.) You should be listening to the news or some influential podcast in French.
However, in order to get there, sometimes we have to think back to how children soak up their native language. They immerse. They make mistakes.They play, and they sing. Let’s take that on.
Start here with “Dans sa maison un grand cerf”
- Vocabulary Highlights:
- cerf
- la fenêtre
- frapper
- ainsi
- tuera
- me serrer la main
It may be a simple song about a deer befriending a hunted rabbit. Sure, but I still find myself thinking often of this song while speaking French. Even the other night at a ping pong tournament, we were told to “serrer la main” with our opponents and I immediately thought of this song. That’s the joy with kids songs, they’re catchy, true pop songs; and you’ll master vocab in the process. The catchiness of the song is what helps make the language stick. I stand by that, let’s see if you can’t hum to yourself next time you hear it in the real world. (“Me serrer la main!”)
Next up: Un, deux, trois
- Vocabulary Highlights:
- nous irons
- cueillir
- panier
- seront
- And, of course, the cardinal numbers to twelve!
I love this one because it’s the numbers. Yes, numbers.
Again, thinking of my time at the ping pong tournament just the other day, we were calling out our scores. Here I was, jetlagged, failing at ping pong, and having to keep track of scores in French. I often stumble with tracking the score in English. And in French, even simple numbers in the fast-paced back-and-forth became a jumble for me. The sweat was as much from my backend spin as the ever changing combo of digits up to 21.
Simple digits, you might say. But put them in real life. That’s why I love this song. How fast can you type up all the numbers to 10 in rapid-fire procession? Take on this clip and put your ear, brain, and fingers to the test.
Balades: Short Stories for Beginners
Ok, you say. Kids songs are nice and all, but let’s step it up a notch. I want to get to the news in French, after all. I hear you. You’re ready. The “Balades” series offers short stories that are still beginner-friendly. The creator is a French teacher and she created this series to help her beginner students level up. What luck that you’re here to take advantage of it in these two clips.
I’ve already pre-selected these based on their pace in words per minute. It’s not the fastest French on site, by any means. In fact, it’s among the slowest. Even if they’re less than 120 words per minute in French, they still offer great value.
Another benefit to jumping into these podcast clips is that you’re jumping into a conversation halfway. Typically in real life we have so many different cues to help us pick up on the meaning. Consider: body language, context, the full conversation, our own history with the speaker. These short clips from Balades will force you to enhance your ear based on simply what the speaker says. Practicing with these clips will let you pick up the context clues in speech. You’ll have to use the words in context rather than guessing what is being said based on what you know about the full conversation.
Both the following clips come from episode 3 of the Balades podcast, one clip near the start and one near the end.
Moi, mon préféré
- Vocabulary Highlights:
- la saison
- agrumes
- amer
End: Il était une fois
- Vocabulary Highlights:
- Il était une fois
- braves gens
Passerelles: Bridging to the Next Level
When you’re feeling more confident, “Passerelles” helps bridge the gap between beginner and intermediate levels. While a bit more advanced, this clip is still a slower paced clip. It clocks in at under 120 words per minute in French. This is the first clip of their first episode. It’s a great glimpse into what the show is like. This clip is definitely the slowest for Passerelles, but that doesn’t make it a cake walk.
Episode 1: Introduction
- Vocabulary Highlights:
- comme d’habitude
- réfléchisse
Some tips for Finding the Right Content
- Interest is Key: Choose topics you genuinely enjoy—food, travel, fashion, you name it. Use the search feature on this site to check for things that interest you. Something we’re missing? Email us to share.
- Stay Consistent: Regular practice beats cramming any day. Even a few minutes daily will make a big difference. Trying to pick up one word a day in regular listening practice will let you reap benefits soon. Every input your ear receives will feed into vocab, colloquial expressions, and pronunciation.
- Use Quizzes: They reinforce what you’ve learned and highlight areas to improve. We love our quizzes as a way to get real time feedback on what you’re doing. Any way that you can test in real time will help you. Other things to consider: vocab flash cards, a tutor / language partner, or any app that forces you to check what you think you’re getting (not just maintain a streak)
Test Your Knowledge
Each lesson in the Bitesize French project includes a quiz to help cement your new vocabulary and comprehension skills. Make sure to make the most of them—they’re like mini check-ups for your learning progress. One way I like to use the Bitesize French quizzes is by starting at a low percentage and working up, or vice versa. This will slowly tune your ear. You’ll get accustomed to hearing certain words in the context of the clip.
I organize the clips on site by podcast or source (like kids’ songs). I also tag them with their pace. Words per minute is a great way to think about your learning French. Here’s why I like it:
In French, with liaisons and fast pace, the words per minute in news and real conversations quickly pick up to over 230 words per minute. By comparison, an American news broadcast might be at 160 words per minute. By starting with sources that are slow, at 120 or so words per minute in French, you’ll be able to build some confidence to take on more and more challenging audio. And eventually you’ll be in the midst of real life off-the-cuff conversations. It all starts here, combine it with real life speaking to enhance all around!
Final Thoughts
Learning French doesn’t have to feel like climbing Mount Everest. With the right content at the right pace, you’ll find yourself picking up words and phrases faster than you thought possible. That is how I’m using this project and why I made it public for all learners. So go ahead, embrace the slower side of French learning, and most importantly, have fun with it!
