Our top 5 New Year’s resolutions for learning French
NYE is almost here, and it’s time to think BIG! What’s on your list for next year? Chasing dreams? Crushing goals? Mastering the most romantic language in the world maybe 🥐? If so, I’ve got you covered: here are the best resolutions to improve your French in 2025. Let’s dive in!
Resolution 1: To have fun and learn, French TV you must watch
Watching authentic Francophone shows is one of the best ways to combine business with pleasure. Find something you truly enjoy, and little by little you’ll expand your vocabulary, pick up new expressions, and even decode Parisian non-verbal communication.
Popular French movies to explore France from down under:
Are you a cinema enthusiast? Watching French movies is a great way to immerse yourself in the language and culture while having fun! Here’s a short list of must-watch Francophone films to get you started:
L’auberge espagnole - comedy;
Intouchable - comedy/drama;
Astérix et Obélix Mission Cléopâtre - comedy;
Le Comte de Montecristo - drama;
Le prénom - comedy/drama.
Bonus tip: Use subtitles to ease your understanding!
List of Francophone series to binge watch:
Love binge-watching? French series are perfect for long-term learning, and fit easily into your schedule (plus, they are shorter than movies - so no excuses 😉). Here’s a short list to explore:
Extra French - sitcom parody available on Youtube (for beginners);
Plan Coeur - romantic comedy;
Dix pour Cent - comedy/drama;
Lupin - thriller;
Un village français - drama/history.
➡️ You’ll find some of them on streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime…)
List of French TV shows to learn while having fun:
Not a big fan of fiction? You might enjoy these TV shows - there’s something for every taste 😁:
Le meilleur pâtissier and Top Chef - cooking shows;
Le monde de Jamy - science;
C à vous and Arte channel - cultural programs;
RDV en terre inconnue - travel;
Quotidien - news;
L’amour est dans le pré - reality TV: great for hearing different regional accents.
➡️ Most of them are available on Youtube!
Watch your favorite movie or series with French dubbing:
Did you know that France has a high-quality dubbing industry? You can watch your favorite movies dubbed by Francophone actors to improve your language skills! Pixar or Disney are usually easy to understand.
Same goes for American or English series with French dubbing (or from many other origins). Here are a few that are particularly well-dubbed:
FRIENDS - comedy;
Desperate Housewives - comedy/drama;
Les Frères Scott - teen drama;
Malcolm in the Middle - comedy.
Resolution 2: Listening to the most romantic language of the world often, you should
Another way to learn the language of Jean Dujardin while having fun is to listen to podcasts, music or the radio!
Listen to French podcasts:
Find a subject that interests you and simply Google: topic + “podcast français”. For example, try searching for: “science podcast français” or “développement personnel podcast français”.
Here’s a list of interesting podcasts to get you started:
“Les actus du jour” by Hugo Décrypte - news;
“Grand bien vous fasse” on France Inter (I used to listen to it quite often during the COVID era 😅) - society topics;
“Je t’emmène en voyage” by Alex Vizeo - travel;
“Celles qui osent” by Lucie Rondelet - inspiring women;
“Paradoxe” by David Laroche - mindset;
“Francophones Down Under” by me 😉 - raising a bilingual child.
Listen to Francophone music:
Find a song you like, then google the lyrics to see how much you understand! You can also explore French music playlists on Youtube or Spotify, or those of specific singers you enjoy.
Here are some ideas of Francophone artists to check out:
Rap: Bigflo et Oli;
Contemporary singers: Vianney, Zaho de Sagazan, Clara Luciani, Simple Plan, Mika;
French classics: Francis Cabrel, France Gall, Michel Polnareff, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour.
Listen to the radio:
A great way to immerse yourself in French culture is also to listen to the radio.
Whether you’re into news or cultural programs, these stations are great options:
France Inter;
France Culture;
France Info;
RFI.
If music is more your thing, you can check out these popular stations:
Europe 2 - Pop rock radio;
RTL2 - Pop rock radio;
NRJ - RNB, electro, rap;
Nostalgie - French classics.
Listening to the radio is also perfect for multitasking. Let it play in the background while you go about your day, no need to focus all the time!
Resolution 3: Write like Victor Hugo, you will
Do you like to write? Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) is an excellent way to boost your French skills. Here are some ideas of what you could do:
Take notes after your lessons: jot down new vocabulary and review it regularly to help it stick.
Capture vocabulary on the go: write down interesting words or expressions while listening to a podcast or watching a movie.
Want to level up? Try crafting an email to your teacher, a social media post in French, or even a short story!
Find a penpal and exchange messages regularly. 🌍
Resolution 4: Chat regularly with Francophones, you must
Friends, family, colleagues, your cat… You’ve tried, but let’s face it - finding a language partner can be rough!
Travel in France (or another Francophone country)
If you have the opportunity, this might be the best advice I can give you! Immersing yourself in a French-speaking environment is one of the fastest ways to boost your fluency! ✈️
If a trip to Paris isn’t on the cards right now, don’t worry! You can also find a slice of France right here in Melbourne (or wherever you live)! There are a lot of French expats who would be so pleased to talk to you.
➡️ Psst, for most major cities, there is usually a Facebook group for the “Froggies” expats. Try typing “les Français à Melbourne” (or any town you live in) - you’ll see!
Join a French conversation group
The more you talk, the more you learn! The key is to practice regularly, and a great way to achieve this is 🥁… to join a French conversation group!
It’s a great opportunity to meet new friends who share your love for croissants! Practicing with other learners is always very encouraging: we make mistakes, have fun and grow together 🏋️.
Here in Melbourne, we meet once every two weeks at the Kathleen Syme Library. But whether you’re in Carlton, or anywhere else, just google: "French Conversation Group" + your city, and voilà! You should find what you’re looking for.
➡️ Have a look at how our French conversation group here in Melbourne works. 😀
All by yourself…
Don’t have anyone to speak the language of the holy baguette with? No problem! Here are 3 ways to sharpen your pronunciation solo:
Sing along to your favourite French songs!
Read out loud from a French book - it’s a confidence booster.
Press pause during a movie or series, and repeat the lines - it’s called shadowing (I used to do this to practice my English!)
Resolution 5: Read in French once a week, you will
Want to boost your skills and dive into Francophone culture? Make reading part of your weekly routine in 2025! Here’s how to get started:
Switch your phone’s language to French;
Browse articles or newspapers from France;
Pick up a novel like Le Petit Prince - Les Misérables can wait for now (unless you’re feeling ambitious!)
➡️ Hey there, find a list of French resources here in Melbourne!
To sum up: Keep these new year resolutions to improve your French in 2025
👉 Watch Francophone series or movies you love.
👉 Listen to a podcast or radio show on a topic that excites you.
👉 Keep writing: take notes or send messages to your French-speaking pals.
👉 Chat with a Francophone at least once a week!
👉 Read something that you enjoy, whether it’s a blog article or a great story.
I hope all these resolutions will help you in your 2025 French learning journey. Don’t forget, regularity is key. 😉 I wish you a very happy new year!
Bonne année, et tchin-tchin! 🥂
🎁 Oh oh oh! Looks like Santa left a little gift to help you keep those resolutions all year long! Click HERE to unwrap your present. 🎉
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