Introduction to AP® French Listening Practice
As an Anglophone learning French, it can be difficult to break into the world of actual French speakers to tune your ear and practice for the French listening exercises on the AP® French exam. Learning another language is difficult and French especially is not a language you usually hear walking around from day to day. A lot of us don’t even have a native French speaker as a French teacher. This is not to say we aren’t learning, but it can seem difficult to attune yourself to the French language being spoken if your only contact with it is during the lessons and activities of your French classes.
While it seems daunting, like you’re trying to break into an unknown and secret world of French pop culture, it’s not as scary as it seems. In fact, in learning to study for the French AP, you can find parts of French and Francophone culture that speak to you, revive entertainment you’re already familiar with and learn more about a language that 220 million people all over the world speak!
Tuning Your “French Ear”
When preparing for the AP® French listening exercises, finding authentic French audio and media to practice with can seem like a drag. There are millions of sources to sift through, and if most of your experience with French comes from the classroom, it can be overwhelming, to say the least. But what should be a comfort is that the easiest place to start is actually with what you already know!
Netflix et Chill
If you’re more comfortable starting off with subjects that are somewhat familiar to you, why not try searching for the French versions of your favorite shows on Netflix or streaming? In fact, Netflix has a whole section for foreign films, and they range from the stereotypical moody French dramas to accessible comedies like Les Intouchables. These movies and shows are obviously not redone with the actors speaking French; they’re French actors doing voice dubs, or authentic speakers. If you input English subtitles, you can follow along line by line and see that what the French actors are saying isn’t an exact translation but is paraphrased for more idiomatic French.
This process will help get you accustomed to hearing French and help you separate words and phrases (essentially the root of the test) in a way that is interesting to you personally and more helpful than finding less than authentic sources.
Tutorials and Clips
Once you’ve opened yourself into the world of French auditory content in practice for the French AP, you can take things further by doing a search for videos on topics that interest you. Pro tip: instead of searching the topic name and adding the phrase, in French at the end, conduct the search itself in French; i.e. vidéos pour apprendre à cuisiner, if you enjoy cooking, or vidéos des comédiens. If you search Google or Youtube in French, it’ll automatically return search results in the language you input. You can ignore the option to translate, and by that method make any lazy browsing into a savvy study session. You can even search videos related to other classes and get a lot of studying done at once!
See? French practice doesn’t always have to feel like work. Using the sources you already find entertaining and familiarizing yourself with their French relatives is not only a quick and easy way to get started, but it gets you accustomed to hearing French spoken with a regular cadence. That way you won’t have that panic moment on the exam when you didn’t understand any of the first listen.
Two Birds, One Stone
When searching for material for the French listening exercises on the AP, it can always help to get started with what you already know, but once you’ve dipped your toes in the waters of French audio you can dive deeper! French and Francophone culture comprise a whole part of the world you’re not exposed to on a daily basis. Studying for the listening section can be a way of broadening your horizons in unique ways, and also getting some valuable material for the French culture section as well.
There are video and audio clips to suit every taste, and the more you listen, the more you’ll be able to pick out the nuances of French and different French accents and focus on content rather than on deciphering speech. If you search for French news sites and radio broadcasts, you’ll be getting good practice for the listening section while at the same time learning about current events and culture in French society.
TvMonde, a French news outlet, even has a section with videos and clips to help you learn French! Radio France’s website has a plethora of video clips, radio shows, and podcasts as well. Some of them are talk shows, some are recordings of live music, and some are random clips. And hey, they even have traffic reports if that’s your thing. Even between those sites, there’s a huge amount of content to sift through. And won’t worry! You shouldn’t be discouraged if you have to pause every few seconds to process what is being said. After some time it’ll be easier to listen to longer sections and understand them immediately.
The World of French Pop Culture
In yet another type of cultural case study, you can search Youtube for French commercials. You’d be surprised at how different they are from their American counterparts, and they’re a similar length to what you’ll encounter on the AP. Try searching on Youtube for products you’re familiar with and seeing how the ads are adapted for the French audience. Not only is it a laugh sometimes, but it’s also an interesting window into French culture.
For example, Michelin (yes the tire company) is a French enterprise that has experienced worldwide success. But in France particularly, the Michelin man takes special significance as Le Bibendum, a friendly kids character you never knew existed. You’d be surprised what interesting things you can find with a quick Youtube search, and while they’ll probably give you some laughs, they’ll also help you prepare for the French in a way that’s interesting and doesn’t feel like you’re just prepping for another exam.
Last but not least, are French YouTubers. Seb la Frite is a good place to start because he speaks pretty slowly and will ease you into the language. So if your French ear is a little rusty, Seb can get you into the swing of things. Natoo is a good place to elaborate from there because her videos are focused more on optics and visuals. You don’t have to be one hundred percent in the swing of things to get what’s going on and over time it’ll get easier and easier to pick out every single word. Norman is another great name and as a bonus for us natural Anglophones he has English subtitles. Last, not least, have you ever heard of Cyprien? If not, Dépêchez-vous vers un ordinateur! These are all native French speakers with great talent, and watching their shenanigans will help you prepare for those listening exercises without even feeling like work.
General Practice and Tips
French listening practice is a task with an undeservedly tough reputation. To make prepping for the AP® a breeze as opposed to a tempest, why not pump yourself up with a good old fashioned playlist? If you’re into 90’s rap, Oxmo Puccino’s 365 days and other songs by him can be a mellow background to your study time. If you enjoy more amped up rap (that ranges from rap to electronic music), try Stromae. Carla Brüni’s melodic voice is a chill indie acoustic dream, and if you’re into the oldies, Edith Piaf will inspire you to get that 5 and go on to conquer the academic world!
Finding listening material for the exam doesn’t have to be a scary and arduous task, and a few general tips can honestly make it enjoyable. By searching for test prep material on your own, you’re already ahead of the curve. You didn’t learn English by poring over textbooks and review books, and especially when it comes to the listening section, the best way to learn is to relax and be creative. Set your phone to French and enjoy French Siri! Immerse yourself in the language, and find a way to make it fun! The listening portion of the exam can be a great way to test your proficiency and tune your ear.
If you’ve kept taking French up until this point, it’s safe to assume one of your goals is to be bilingual. Getting your ear accustomed to the French language is the best strategy for passing, and the surest way to being truly comfortable with your second language. Don’t stress, make it a part of your every day. It’s a quick road to a five, and with a little creativity, it can be fun as well!
Let’s put everything into practice. Try this AP® French Language practice question:
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