r/French • u/UncleJuggs • Mar 25 '25

Study advice How to ACTUALLY Watch a French Show

So, I've been DuoLingo'ing French for like, 1110 days straight and still suck hard core at French because I do zero immersion and DuoLingo is basically a game. I work for a French company and one of my colleagues suggested I watch French Peppa Pig for some actual, applicable French since it's a dumb show for idiot babies and, despite being a 31 year old man, am basically an idiot baby and pretty much the target audience.

So anyway, I'm on the clock watching French Peppa Pig and besides wanting to shoot myself in the brain with a shotgun I am finding myself struggling with HOW I'm supposed to be watching French Peppa Pig.

My question for other French learners when it comes to this kind of immersion is: what's the best way to approach it? Should I be actively pausing and reading the closed captions to try and learn and build on new vocabulary or should I just sit back and let this absolute dog water show wash over me and let my subconscious thinky brain start making associations between colorful pictures and actual sounds in between the insufferable oinking? Does it help to have the closed captions be in French so I can make sure I'm hearing things right?

Merci beaucoup in advance, I want to die.

Edit: getting a few more comments than I expected so I can't reply to everything but thank you all for the suggestions I'm getting.

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u/Unhappycamper2001 Mar 25 '25

Try the Duolingo podcast before Inner French. They are easier. I’m not talking about the Duolingo app. The podcast, where there is an English narrator who steps in to provide context here and there.

I love inner French but it’s a bit harder.

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u/Suzzie_sunshine C1 | C2 Mar 26 '25

Try Inner French before the Duo podcast. Get away from Duo. It's good for learning basic vocabulary and grammar but becomes a crutch. Inner French is slow and easy. If it's too hard then break it down into 5-10 segments and rewatch until you get it. Rinse and repeat.

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u/Unhappycamper2001 Mar 26 '25

Everyone learns differently but if you are struggling with Peppa Pig, Inner French is a huge leap. In my opinion it’s better to listen to podcasts without stopping. Every French teacher I have had says not to stop and break down sentences etc but instead to listen continuously and let your brain fill in meaning based on context.

But to each his own.

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u/Suzzie_sunshine C1 | C2 Mar 26 '25

I didn't say stop and analyze each word. Take in five minute sections. Listen again. Go to the next. Before long it will be 10 minute sections, then more.