Listening to podcasts on a daily basis is an excellent strategy for practising French at an intermediate or advanced level. Unlike traditional courses, podcasts allow you to immerse yourself in the language in a natural way, getting used to pronunciation, idiomatic expressions and different French accents. There’s nothing easier than listening to them while walking, cleaning or relaxing. It’s hardly surprising that they’re growing in popularity and that platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcast and Youtube are enjoying unprecedented success.
By opting for podcasts, you can :
- Improve your listening comprehension by listening to authentic conversations.
- Learn vocabulary and common expressions used in everyday life.
- Work on your pronunciation by repeating certain passages.
- Deepen your cultural knowledge of France and French-speaking countries.
- Improve your fluency by exposing yourself to different linguistic contexts.
If you’re looking for the best podcasts to improve your French with transcription, here’s a selection adapted to your level.
Authentic podcasts in French with transcriptions (for French speakers)
These podcasts are not designed specifically for learners, but they are ideal for those at intermediate or advanced level who want to discover authentic French-language content. Please note that the pace is natural and therefore relatively fast. You have to accept that you won’t understand everything, and little by little your ear will get used to it.
Le Podcast RFI Savoirs – Journal en français facile
A Radio France Internationale news podcast designed to help listeners follow world news in French. Each episode is accompanied by transcripts available on the official website. It’s an excellent choice for those who want to stay informed while improving their understanding of French. The format of the episodes is short and clear, making them easy to listen to even if you don’t have a lot of time.
Le Podcast Euronews in French
Euronews offers news podcasts in French with transcripts available online. Ideal for getting to grips with journalistic vocabulary and international topics. Each episode covers a news topic in depth, allowing learners to acquire specific vocabulary while following current news. The short format of the episodes (between 2 and 4 minutes) makes them a practical resource for quick and effective everyday learning.
Le Podcast Avec Philosophie – France Culture
A cultural podcast that explores major philosophical issues with experts and in-depth analyses. Transcripts are available via the France Culture website. Each episode lasts around an hour, allowing you to explore the subjects in depth and acquire a rich intellectual vocabulary.
Le Podcast Grand bien vous fasse – France Inter
Une émission qui aborde des sujets de société, de bien-être et de psychologie. Parfait pour enrichir son vocabulaire sur des thématiques variées, avec des transcriptions disponibles en ligne. Les épisodes durent en moyenne 50 minutes, idéals pour approfondir des sujets et écouter des échanges argumentés.
Best Podcasts in 2025 for learning and practising French with transcriptions (specifically for learners)
The FeelGoodFrench podcast 🎙️ (Intermediate to Advanced levels)
It’s our baby, our very own podcast. It had to be on the list 😉 If you haven’t heard of it yet, it’s a podcast that combines learning French, personal development and coaching mindset. Each episode explores authentic conversations, tips for learning to speak fluently and inspiring topics for improving your French while working on your well-being. Transcripts are available to help you follow along. 👉 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or even Youtube.
The InnerFrench podcast (Intermediate to Advanced levels)
An ideal podcast for those who want to understand French without stress. Hugo, the creator of the podcast, speaks slowly and clearly on a variety of topics and provides full transcriptions. He takes a natural approach, telling captivating stories. Each episode lasts between 30 and 45 minutes, which leaves plenty of time to explore a subject in depth without being overwhelmed by too much information.
The podcast Français Authentique (Intermediate level)
A natural approach to learning French, with explanations of the language and culture. Each episode is accompanied by transcripts available on the official website. The episodes vary in length, from 10 to 30 minutes, so you can learn according to your schedule. A natural approach to learning French, with explanations of the language and culture. Johann, its creator, explains concepts in a simple and motivating way.
The podcast Français Facile (Intermediate level)
A podcast aimed at students of French, with dialogues and audio exercises accompanied by transcriptions available on the official website. Most episodes are short (between 5 and 15 minutes), making them easy to listen to every day. Each episode is designed to reinforce learners’ grammatical and lexical comprehension.
The Coffee Break French podcast (Intermediate to Advanced level)
A podcast that teaches French in a progressive way, with well-structured lessons and transcripts available for each episode. The episodes are generally short (15 to 20 minutes), making them perfect for efficient listening during a break or a commute. Ideal for those who want to learn French step by step.
How can I use podcast transcriptions to learn French effectively?
Transcriptions are a powerful tool for optimising your French language learning. There are many ways of using them, but I will share here the method I use with my students:
1️⃣ Listen a first time without the transcript: Try to understand the gist of the message and take notes on what you understand.
2️⃣ Listen a second time with the transcript: Read as you listen to identify any words you didn’t understand.
3️⃣ Note down new vocabulary: Look out for new expressions and find out what they mean.
4️⃣ Repeat aloud: Repeat certain phrases to improve your pronunciation and intonation.
5️⃣ Listen again without transcription: Test your progress and try to understand more details each time you listen.
By applying this method, you will strengthen your listening comprehension and your ability to recognise French structures naturally. Your progress in French will be meteoric.
Conclusion on the benefits of podcast transcriptions
Podcasts with transcriptions are an effective and immersive way to improve your French, combining listening comprehension, vocabulary acquisition and fluency. By following the transcripts, you will strengthen your listening comprehension and your command of the language.
Start today with the FeelGoodFrench podcast and discover a fun and motivating approach to improving your French. Click here to listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and improve your French with confidence!
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