# Can listening to the radio in a foreign language help you to learn it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 4, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563 "2014-11-04T00:55:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/1 "2014-11-04T00:55:31Z")
I’m trying to improve my French, which I’ve neglected for years, and have finally found some dedication. If I listen to French radio (just talking - no music) how helpful could it be? Of course it’s not intended as a primary means of learning, but what about just listening and trying to pick out words, considering the pronunciation, etc. in bed or at my desk when I’m supposed to be working? I don’t want to waste my time on it if it’s pointless. Has there been any research on this? Anecdotes would also be interesting. ETA: I suppose, once you get to a certain level of understanding, listening to people speaking is always going to help with your language skills. My level of understanding is such that I doubt I would understand much of French radio at all, but if I can catch the context and get a bit lucky I might be able to get the vaguest of gists. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/2 "2014-11-04T01:04:36Z")
I find listening to the news very helpful, because I generally have some context for what they are speaking about and there is generally a fair sprinkling of proper names and international words to help. On the other hand, it is depressing, because while I can always understand the newsreader, quotes from regular people are often incomprehensible. (Canadian French.) ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/3 "2014-11-04T01:14:01Z")
If you’re at the stage where you have difficulty picking out words, I think that would be quite frustrating. If you can already pick out a good number of words, it can help. I may be wrong though and would appreciate if you could try it for a few days and report back. The way I learned English was mainly by watching sitcoms because they’re light stuff with visual support that gives you quick rewards for comprehension. Routine rench comedies are not really up to anglosaxon levels. French comedies of higher quality are likely to be a bit much. Drake, Yeah, Quebec French might be a bit much. I suppose it’s like trying to learn English by starting with Scottish/Irish English. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/4 "2014-11-04T01:22:07Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Yeah, Quebec French might be a bit much. I suppose it’s like trying to learn English by starting with Scottish/Irish English. Radio Canada is very easy to comprehend, but if they play a clip or a call-in from outside of Montreal, it’s hopeless. I’d say I understand about 90% of what the Radio Canada employees say and about 25% of what the rural farmers who call in say. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/5 "2014-11-04T01:33:25Z")
if you have some background with said language, I suppose it could. If you have very little (or no) comprehension of it, I can’t see how it’d help. There’d be no way for you to figure out the context in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/6 "2014-11-04T01:33:47Z")
It certainly isn’t going to hurt to listen to French audio of any sort. I think it really does help train your brain to hear the sounds and cadence of the language. If you can get meaning that’s even better, and your comprehension will continue to improve. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/7 "2014-11-04T02:15:05Z")
Have you heard of News in Slow French? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/8 "2014-11-04T03:02:41Z")
Try watching TV with the subtitles on. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/9 "2014-11-04T03:11:52Z")
It helps me, but once I’m at a certain level. How much of French visual media do you understand without subtitles? If the answer is “about none”, radio will just frustrate you; if it’s at least at “I can’t repeat what they say but I get the gist of it”, then it can be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/10 "2014-11-04T08:08:30Z")
Yes it helps, even with little previous exposure. There are news sections with quite restricted language, such as the weather forecast or traffic reports. It helped me internalize the somewhat unconventional systematic of French numbers. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/11 "2014-11-04T11:34:43Z")
Helpful responses so far, thanks. For those asking (rhetorically or not) about my level of comprehension, I’m really not entirely sure. I often surprise myself with my level of vocabulary (perhaps seeing a word I had completely forgotten I knew) but also sometimes surprise myself by discovering gaps in my knowledge of basic French. But understanding French in radio quality, at native speeds with no opportunity to ask for clarification, is going to take much more than just vocabulary. I have considered watching French TV with subtitles, but was looking for something I can do at times when I can really just listen. My own anecdote: I know music can be helpful. I only really studied German for two years at school, but I’m sure listening to Rammstein and Kraftwerk has been a big help in keeping me from forgetting everything. Unfortunately, I don’t like much French music that’s actually in French… > [@Doctor\_Who](#): > > Have you heard of News in Slow French? I hadn’t. I’ve just been reading about it, and it looks great. I’m glad to see there are transcripts - that will really help. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/12 "2014-11-04T12:28:28Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I find listening to the news very helpful, because I generally have some context for what they are speaking about and there is generally a fair sprinkling of proper names and international words to help. > > On the other hand, it is depressing, because while I can always understand the newsreader, quotes from regular people are often incomprehensible. (Canadian French.) +1 ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/13 "2014-11-04T14:36:30Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Radio Canada is very easy to comprehend, but if they play a clip or a call-in from outside of Montreal, it’s hopeless. I’d say I understand about 90% of what the Radio Canada employees say and about 25% of what the rural farmers who call in say. When I lived in Newfouindland, I often couild not understand talk show callers in English. One caller said he was from Prawn Cove. I figured out later he was from Upper Island Cove. Imagine some poor immigrant trying to learn English that way. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/14 "2014-11-04T14:38:01Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Try watching TV with the subtitles on. This. Actually, even without subtitles TV is going to help a lot more than radio (and, probably, shows more than news) because you will be able to see and guess at a lot of what they are talking about. Nothing can beat actually trying to communicate with people who speak the language (but not your language), however. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/15 "2014-11-04T15:01:58Z")
Can you mix in some time to read written French, such as a French-language newspaper’s site? That may help you to build / recall vocabulary & will reinforce, albeit indirectly, the learning you’re getting via the audio channel. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/16 "2014-11-04T15:03:22Z")
I’m studying Spanish, not French, but what helps me greatly is watching Spanish-language movies with Spanish subtitles that match up what I’m hearing with what I’m reading. This is more effective for me than listening to Spanish radio because having to read the subtitles gives me less opportunity to start daydreaming like I usually do while listening to Spanish radio. Plus when I’m reading the subtitles while they’re speaking, I’m less likely to mis-hear what they’re saying. Also, I’m more effective at comprehension when I can read their lips while listening to what they’re saying, in Spanish and in English. English-speaking movies dubbed in Spanish with Spanish subtitles aren’t as effective because more often than not what I’m reading doesn’t match up nearly as closely than the Spanish-language movies do. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/17 "2014-11-04T15:05:41Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Can you mix in some time to read written French, such as a French-language newspaper’s site? > > That may help you to build / recall vocabulary & will reinforce, albeit indirectly, the learning you’re getting via the audio channel. I do that as well in with Spanish-language newspapers, and I’ve noticed that my vocabulary has grown considerably, since they often times use fancier words than what I hear in everyday conversation. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2014, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/18 "2014-11-04T23:05:26Z")
I used to live where I could get a French Canadian TV station that played interesting movies late at night. Picked up quite a bit for someone with no inherent language ability. But I would never pretend to try and speak it. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2014, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-listening-to-the-radio-in-a-foreign-language-help-you-to-learn-it/703563/19 "2014-11-05T00:01:57Z")
The question in the OP isn’t “would listening to French TV/movies be more effective than listening to French radio/audio” but rather “would listening to French audio help me?” The answer is yes - although if you’re just starting out that help will be minimal.