Immersion is the best way to get your hears used to a foreign language and to learn natural, authentic sentence structures and expressions. If you can’t visit a country where the language you’re learning is spoken, there are other ways to immerse! For example, you can find videos in any language on Youtube and watch them for free. In this article, I share how to easily find videos of interest in French (or any other language) and get recommendations in the language you like.
Hey, did you know all my articles are available in French? I you’re trying to improve your French reading, I advise you to read the original French-only version first, and use the English version as a support if needed. Please note the English version is not a literal translation !
Create an account dedicated to watching videos in French
The first step to receive video recommendations in French without having to specifically search for them every time is to create a secondary account, and use it only to watch videos in French (you can repeat this step for every language you’re learning, if there are several of them).
To do this, click on the icon of your profile, select “Change account”, then “Add an account”, and create a new one. You’ll be able to easily switch without logging out and in, by just clicking “Change account” in the future.
Search for your first videos in French
Then, you have to let the Youtube algorithm know what to recommend on that account. To trigger this, you’ll have to search for a few channels in French and subscribe.
In this context, I recommend looking for authentic content published for native speakers in priority, because channels teaching a foreign language often rely on English as an intermediary language.
This can confuse Youtube’s recommendations algorithm. If you watch educational videos that mix French and English, I’d advise to watch them on your primary account.
To find authentic French channels to practice comprehensible input, here’s the step-by-step approach:
- Think of a few topics you’re interested in (your passions, leisure activities, interests…) and list them.
- Look for their translation in French, if you don’t know it yet.
- Use those as keywords in the Youtube search bar.
- Choose a few videos that seem interesting and add them to your Watch later list, and subscribe to a few channels.
That’s it! Thanks to the videos your saved and channels you subscribed to, Youtube will now recommend similar content (with similar topics and in French).
You might have to repeat this from time to time, if you notice the recommendations tend to get further from your interests, or if you get many recommendations in other languages.
It’s important to use that account only for immersion, so you don’t confuse the algorithm.
Why not watching educational videos to immerse in French?
Those educational channels often use English as an intermediary language (either to explain some grammar, or just to offer and translation). If you want to practice immersion, you need content that is 100% in French without intermediary language. In addition, educational videos never use a language that is exactly the same as the one used in “natural” contexts, it’s often spoken slower, simplified and better articulated.
Both types of channels are useful in order to learn French, but it’s important to be aware of their differences.
I advise to watch educational videos on your usual account, and to watch 100% authentic French content (made for natives) on your dedicated account.
I advise to watch educational videos on your usual account, and to watch 100% authentic French content (made for native speakers) on your dedicated account.
Should I start French immersion as a beginner?
Yes, but you have to accept you wont understand it all. I think it’s still useful because it gets your hears used to the language (its rhythm, intonations…) early on, even if you just put those immersion videos as a background while doing something else.
That’s why both educational and authentic native videos are useful when learning French: educational videos are available in different levels and teach you vocabulary, expressions… and help getting better at understanding the language, while immersion videos get you used to the natural way of speaking.
A few native French speaking Youtube channels suggestion
Those are some Youtube channels that I watch as a native French speaker:
- Chibi dans les orties : book reviews
- Dirty Biology : scientific popularization dedicated to biology (fauna, evolution, anthropology…)
- Dr Nozman : scientific popularization
- Coline : lifestyle, fashion, beauty, travel…
- Culture Quizz : quizzes and trivia in French
- Iznowgood : ethical fashion, sustainable clothing, organic beauty, vlogs
- MisterJDay : analysis of French ads, politics, news… with a very humorous (and sarcastic) tone
- Arte : coverage of various society topics
- Brut : modern news media on various society topics, in short format (usually 5 to 20 minutes)
- Here’s another article with channel recommendations : Chaînes Youtube pour améliorer son français, check “Chaînes Youtube authentiques”
I also publish video games playthroughs to explain some vocabulary and expressions in French on Youtube, please check it out and subscribe to see future releases:
How to find time to watch immersion videos in French?
It’s not easy finding time for immersive listening, but be aware it’s not necessary to always be totally attentive when you do so. Even playing them in the background while doing an activity that doesn’t require too much brain power (indoor cycling, cooking, stretching, cleaning…) helps your hears get used to the language, and with time you’ll start to pick up words and sentences without even trying!
You should alternate focused and passive sessions to get the best results and make the best use of your time (but don’t skip breaks from time to time, so you don’t get bored or overwhelmed).
What about podcasts?
You can probably use the same technique to get recommendations in French on your favorite podcast app (and on most content platforms, like social networks). If the service or app allows you to create several accounts with one login (like Instagram does), you can use those accounts to consume content in different languages. In other cases, you might have to create a separate login, or accept that your recommendations are in mixed languages.
If think it’s better to have separate accounts, because it helps you choose when you want to practice the language, and when you’re on a break. Also, if the French content is mixed with the one in your primary language, you might start skipping it unconsciously because it’s easier to read content in your native language.
