How to Improve your French as an Advanced Learner

How to improve your French when you’re an advanced learner

Do you speak the language of baguettes and macarons almost fluently? If so, congratulations! You’ve probably come a long way to get here. At this stage, you might be wondering: how can I keep improving?

I’ve taught many students at B2 and C1 levels, and trust me—they’re never “done” picking up new things! So fasten your seatbelts: I’m about to share some tips on how to improve your French as an advanced learner! 🐓

Keep having conversations in French regularly

Pay attention when talking about new topics

Even at a higher level, speaking with Francophones remains crucial. Why? Because it’s in these exchanges that your French truly solidifies—and your confidence grows.

Since learning never stops, each conversation topic can introduce you to new words and expressions. For example, let’s say you start talking about rugby or tennis: you might pick up very specific vocabulary related to sports and rules! 🎾

You don’t necessarily need to travel to do this—creating opportunities to interact in French in your daily life is key. For example, you could do this with a tutor or Francophone friends living in Australia.

Pay attention to non-verbal cues

Speaking with a native also gives you the chance to observe and mimic their intonation, gestures, and speech rhythm. In France, people have a distinctive body language, and I often tell my students that copying it can really help make them “step into the role” and make their French sound smoother. 

For example, when the citizens of the wine-and-cheese country want to show that someone is crazy or has a ridiculous idea, they might point to their temple 🤨👈. They might also add a tiny hand flick while saying “bof…” There are so many little gestures and quirks like this (check out this video for more!) At an advanced level, you can start noticing them and incorporating them into your own speech!

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Read more sophisticated French material to advance language skills

Incorporate French media to your daily routine

Read demanding texts

Whether it’s novels, essays, or articles in the press, reading sophisticated material will definitely help you advance your language skills. If you’re not a big reader, start with comic books like Tintin or Astérix et Obélix—don’t underestimate them, they contain a lot of specific vocabulary 😉. 

Then move on to books that are just below your level, and gradually challenge yourself with more complex ones. You could even pick a book you’ve already read in English! The key is to choose stories that captivate you, so reading stays enjoyable. Avoid forcing yourself to read something that bores you.

➡️ Pssst, feel free to check out our French Book Club! 📚

Watch French content actively

The same advice applies to video content: series, movies, documentaries, or humorous sketches—anything that’s authentic French material can be useful! For upper-intermediate and above, watching Francophone comedians is a great way to catch wordplay, pick up cultural references, and feel the rhythm of the language. 📺

Follow French news and current affairs

If you’re interested in current events, following the news is a good way to improve your French skills as an advanced learner! You can read online newspapers on many websites for free (Le Nouvel Observateur, France Info, le Parisien, some articles on Le Monde), watch news programs, or follow YouTube channels like Hugo Décrypte. Watching world news from a French perspective can also be very enriching on a personal level. 

➡️ Subscribing to newspapers like Le Monde could be a great motivator to read more regularly in the language of Molière!

Read a French newspaper regularly

Expand your vocabulary and explore the subtleties of the language

Thanks to the two previous steps, you can finally move beyond vocabulary lists. At this stage, new words and expressions no longer come from memorisation, but from real-life situations. 

You don’t need to actively look for it—it will come to you through media and conversations. You’ll naturally pick up more nuanced idiomatic expressions, uncommon turns of phrase (maybe even verlan!) as you interact with native speakers.

That said, one habit remains important: take notes. Jot down the expressions that catch your attention, and make a conscious effort to reuse them later. This is how passive knowledge becomes active, confident French!

To sum-up: how to improve your French as an advanced learner

• Keep having regular conversations with French speakers, and stay curious about new topics (and body language!) 🗣️

• Expose yourself to demanding content: books, news, films, and other authentic media 📖📺

• As you do so, pay attention to nuances, idiomatic expressions, and less common turns of phrase 🎯

• Write down the expressions that catch your attention and make an effort to reuse them 🖋️

By applying these tips, you’ll see that there’s always more to discover to become fluent. At B2 or C1 level, it’s all about the nuances of the language! 😉 How about you? What are your strategies for learning French at an advanced level? Let us know in the comments!

➡️ Are you an intermediate learner looking to reach an advanced level? Check out this article!