TV Series contain much more content than single videos. Successive episodes also tend to develop the same language structures and vocabulary. As the series develop, they establish characters and multiple story lines which engage you, and maintain your involvement over time.

 

As covered in Video Grading,

 

• • original English series (with French dubbing) can be managed from B2
• • original French series with standard language will be at C1
• • if informal, colloquial and dialect French is used, this will be at C2.

 

The use of subtitles will lower the grade by about one for: English subtitles for French-dubbed (from original English), and French subtitles for original, standard French.

 

For harder, original French, subtitles will lower the level down to C1, or B2 if the main source of the original difficulty is the dialect.

 

Sourcing Series

 

You can get a LOT of series on Netflix – which seems the best platform for language learning at the moment.

 

To find series with French language, go down to the bottom of your home page, then choose ‘Audio and Subtitles’. Then select ‘Audio’ (left box), then ‘French’ in the box next to it. Then look around until you see a series you might like.

There are LOADS of Netflix English language series with French dubbing (most of the recent ones it seems), and with English subtitles. They also keep bringing new ones in.

However, there are a lot fewer original-language French series. You may also be restricted in which subtitle language you can use. Interestingly, you can get more series if you have a VPN and make it look as though you are in France.

 

As discussed in Video Grading, either French or English subtitles can be effective. However,  if the level of the French spoken language is a bit of a stretch for you, and you use English subtitles, you may simply end up relying entirely on these. If possible, therefore go with the French subtitles.

It’s hard to search on Netflix for French series, as the search process is a bit basic, and they typically change the title to an English equivalent. The best bet seems to just put ‘French’ into the search box, and then go through what comes up.

Doing this, I have identified a number of original French series below. Every month they keep changing them, which means that you can usually find some new ones – although you may have also lost some favourites.

 

 

 

Netflix French language TV Series

 

Other Series

 

Apart from these, I have given just a few examples of series which I think it would be worth getting hold of. This partly because of their value for language learning, as they often develop rounded experiences which the characters participate in. However, some are just enjoyable; you should really watch series you are interested in, and search them out yourself. You should watch series to enjoy them, rather than as a language exercise.

 

The simplest way of getting hold of these is to buy them from Amazon France. They are delivered from France, so should match the specifications from their website. Make sure that whatever you buy has the correct language and subtitles.

 

 

English Series, with French dubbing

 

Friends. 10 seasons - about 80 hrs. € 49.99. E + F Subtitles. B2 no subs, B1 English subs.

Classic series.

 

Breaking Bad. 5 seasons - about 50 hrs. € 89.99. E + F Subtitles. B2 no subs, B1 English subs.

Really entertaining.

 

Sherlock. 4 seasons - about 18 hrs. € 33.59. E + F Subtitles. B2 no subs, B1 English subs.

Popular in France as well.

 

Downton Abbey. 6 seasons - about 52 hrs. € 84.00. E + F Subtitles. B2 no subs, B1 English subs.

Hugely popular.

 

 

French Series, standard French

 

Les Revenants 2 seasons - about 14 hrs. € 32.56. F Subtitles. C1 no subs, B2 French subs.

Spooky drama.

 

Les Hommes de l'Ombre. 3 seasons - about 10½ hrs. € 24.99. F Subtitles. C1 no subs, B2 French subs. Political drama.

 

Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie. First season. € 9.99. F Subtitles. C1 no subs, B2 French subs.

New take on the classic theme. Popular in France.

 

Clem. 8 seasons - about 52½ hrs. € 36.00. F Subtitles. C1 no subs, B2 French subs.

Long running French family drama.

 

 

French Series, harder French

 

Bureau des Légendes. 4 seasons - about 35 hrs. € 77.11. E + F Subtitles. C2 no subs, B2 French subs. Really involving French spy series.

 

Engrenages. 6 seasons - about 52 hrs. € 129.99. F Subtitles. C2 no subs, B2 French subs.

Police drama. The characters pull you in.

 

Un Village Français. 7 seasons - about 55½ hrs. € 71.99. F Subtitles. C2 no subs, B2 French subs.

The French during the occupation. Very realistic. They are still coming to terms with all of this.

 

Baron Noir. 2 seasons - about 14 hrs. € 31.00. F Subtitles. C2 no subs, B2 French subs.

Political thriller in France.