Nobody says, “I don’t like music”. Pretty much everyone likes music. People might have different musical preferences, but most people like a good catchy song. Another great thing about music is that it’s a great tool to learn a language. If like me, you’re not that much of a textbook teacher, then incorporating music into your lessons is a no-brainer. Your students will definitely enjoy this engaging way of learning.
What are the benefits of listening to music in French?
On top of being a ton of fun, there are many benefits to adding tunes to your French curriculum:
Teaches new vocabulary and helps students retain it
Gives a taste of French culture
Brings a sense of community to the group of students
Motivates learning
Helps with pronunciation
How can you incorporate music into your French class?
Try incorporating music on a designated day each week. What if you picked a different artist for each French-speaking country every Friday? You could start class by having a music video playing as your students enter class. Once class begins, you could discuss the lyrics and the cultural elements of the video as a quick warm-up to get students immersed in the language.
Another way to incorporate music into your lessons is to choose a song according to the theme that you’re working on. For example, Le Lundi au Soleil by Claude François is a perfect way to learn the days of the week. In this song, he says what he wishes he could be doing on a Monday. After listening to it, ask your students what they would like to be doing on a Monday. Going to the beach? Eating pizza? What about the other days of the week? Songs are great conversation starters.
Have you ever thought of asking your students to write their own songs? Put students in small groups and have them work together to create a song. Give them a list of words to use in their song or a theme to follow. You can even have a little talent show and allow students to perform. This is very entertaining and allows students to practice speaking and writing in French.
Here are 10 Easy French Songs for your French Beginner Students
Le lundi au soleil by Claude François.
Do you know Cloclo? Claude François is one of our most beloved French singers. His song Le lundi au soleil (Monday in the sun) will help your class to learn more about the days of the week. I have a special podcast episode about Cloclo that comes with an activity packet. Yay! Listen to it here.
Je Veux by ZAZ
Zaz is a French singer with a singular tone of voice. Her anti-consumerist “Je veux” is always a hit with my kids. The melody is super catchy and is great to teach “express wishes” and the verb “vouloir”.
Elle Me Dit by Mika
Our beloved Mika is half Lebanese, half British. He has been a coach on the French version of the TV show The Voice and a fan favorite for many years. The song Elle me dit can be used to teach about the future tense and some easy slang.
Champs Elysées by Joe Dassin
Joe Dassin was a French-American singer. His Champs-Elysées song would surely spark a conversation about the most beautiful avenue in the world. It is also a fun way to learn/review the past tenses in French.
Sympathique by Pink Martini
Super popular song to share with your students. It’s a great starting point to learn about the negation in French, as the song goes “Je ne veux pas travailler, je ne veux pas déjeuner”. Multiple versions on YouTube include the lyrics. Ready for some karaoke?
La Liste by Rose
I probably listened to this song one million times as a teen. Rose’s diction makes it super easy to understand for beginners. The song is about all of the things she would like to do with her loved one. A fun activity would be to have your students make their own list of things they enjoy doing with a friend.
Une Vie by Ycare
Okay, so I have to say that this one makes me cry. Hopefully, you won’t have a classroom full of sobbing kids if you decide to give it a listen. Ycare talks about the different stages of life with beautiful lyrics and an intense melody. It is perfect to introduce age, review numbers, and study daily life verbs.
Camélia Jordana - Non, non, non
In her song, Camélia is heartbroken and refuses to go out with her friends. She is comfortable in her misery and keeps telling them that she doesn’t want to do any of the things they offer. The music video is super entertaining, and the song will get stuck in your head forever. You’re welcome.
Le pouvoir des fleurs by Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy
This is a great song for Earth Day or any time of the year you want to promote peace and eco-consciousness really.
Ma philosophie by Amel Bent
Amel Bent’s most successful song topped the charts in France and Belgium in 2004. The message is about inclusion and respecting our differences. It is a modern classic of French culture.