Would you like to improve your French vocabulary and listening skills but aren’t sure how? Are you tired of practicing with repetitive language drills? Are you looking for something more engaging? Let me ask you: Have you considered using Netflix as a tool to learn new French words? You may object that your French level is not high enough, but with the right method and tools, it’s definitely possible!
In this article, we will show you how you can use Netflix as a way to improve your French vocabulary, using the TV show La Forêt (The Forest) as an example. Plus, you will discover a new, innovative way of language learning, how about using an all-immersive Jolii language learning app that can take the burden of learning off your shoulders? Exciting! Let’s get started!
3 Reasons Why Netflix Improves French Vocabulary for Aspiring Language Learners
Learning a language with its vocabulary should be an enjoyable experience, not just because we want you to have fun, but because studies show that our brain retains information much better when we engage in enjoyable experiences. This is due to the fact that during pleasant activities, our brain produces dopamine, which aids in memorization.
Leaving the science aside, let’s move to the practical part. Here are three reasons why you should consider including Netflix as an immersive method in your french language-learning journey focusing on getting to know the meanings of French words:
- Exposure to real conversations in context.
Authentic content is the best way to learn, as it reflects what people actually use in everyday life. Learning with context not only improves your understanding but also enables you to better memorize and retain words and expressions.
- Choose what you truly enjoy.
Are you into romantic comedies, science fiction, or documentaries? With Netflix, you are free to select what you enjoy watching and learn from it while binge-watching. For this article, we have chosen for you the show La Forêt (The Forest), a gripping thriller perfect for learning French fast. To get a full experience and exposure to the Forest, download Jolii app so you can work yourself for a better understanding of the vocabulary words used in the scenes with their contextual and literal meaning
- A comprehensive learning experience.
Netflix offers a completely immersive experience, with visuals, audio, and subtitles for reading comprehension. With Jolii, you can go even further: you can study grammar from the transcript, add subtitles in two languages simultaneously, and practice speaking and writing through the integrated chatbox. Sounds too good to be true? Download Jolii today and see for yourself!!
Learn French Vocabulary With La Forêt (The Forest) On Netflix
Plot Summary of La Forêt
In La Forêt, a sixteen-year-old girl named Jennifer disappears in a forest close to her village in the Ardennes, Belgium. Captain Gaspard Deker leads the investigation with local cop Virginie Musso, who knows the girl well. They are helped by Eve, a lonely and mysterious woman who had a traumatic experience in the same forest when she was young. The suspense and emotional dialogues make this TV show an ideal way to enrich your vocabulary and learn new, useful French expressions that you can later use in real-life situations.
Basic Crime Vocabulary With Audio to Understand the Trailer
Before watching the trailer of La Forêt, we recommend you make sure you have mastered the following French vocabulary. These words and verbs will help you understand the specific French terms used in the trailer. Some of these might be new to you, as they are all specific to the context of crime dramas and thrillers.
We know that French pronunciation can be tricky at times, which is why we have included audio clips for you! You can click on words or sentences, listen to their pronunciation, and try repeating them. With Jolii, you can go a step further and practice pronunciation by recording your spoken words and receiving instant feedback.
| Word or Verb | Examples in context |
| La disparition (The disappearance) | La disparition du chien a inquiété toute la famille. (The disappearance of the dog worried the whole family.) Il enquête sur la disparition d’un tableau célèbre. (He is investigating the disappearance of a famous painting.) |
| Le flic (slang for le policier) (the cop) | Le flic a interrogé les témoins après l’accident. (The cop questioned the witnesses after the accident.) Un flic surveille l’entrée du bâtiment. (A cop is watching the building entrance.) |
| Agresser (To assault) | Elle a été agressée en pleine rue hier soir. (She was assaulted in the middle of the street last night.) Il a agressé un passant sans raison. (He assaulted a passerby for no reason.) |
| La piste (The lead/trail) | Les enquêteurs suivent une nouvelle piste. (The investigators are following a new lead.) Cette piste peut résoudre le mystère. (This lead can solve the mystery.) |
| Le commissariat (The police station) | Il est allé au commissariat pour porter plainte. (He went to the police station to file a complaint.) Le commissariat est situé au centre de la ville. (The police station is located in the city center.) |
| Soupçonner (To suspect) | Elle soupçonne son voisin d’avoir volé son vélo. (She suspects her neighbor of stealing her bike.) La police soupçonne un gang local d’être impliqué. (The police suspect a local gang of being involved.) |
| Retrouver (To find) | Nous espérons retrouver notre chat perdu rapidement. (We hope to find our lost cat quickly.) Elle a retrouvé son portefeuille dans le taxi. (She found her wallet in the taxi.) |
| L’enquête (The investigation) | L’enquête sur le vol continue. (The investigation into the theft continues.) Les journalistes ont publié les résultats de leur enquête sur la corruption. (The journalists published the results of their investigation into corruption.) |
Learn French with the trailer of the Forest on Netflix
Let’s now watch the trailer of La Forêt! From the trailer you can already get a sense of the suspenseful atmosphere you will find in the series. The trailer shows parts of dynamic scenes that keep the tension high.. We recommend you watch it a few times to understand it well. You can also adjust the speed to 0.5x or 0.75x to better understand individual words.
More Vocabulary to Learn French From French Crime Dramas
Apart from the vocabulary found in the trailer of The Forest, there are many more French words and sentences that are essential to fully understand French crime dramas like La Forêt. Below is a comprehensive list of the basic words and verbs that will come in handy while watching La Forêt or any other French crime show in French.
| Vocabulary | Examples in context |
| L’alibi (The alibi) | L’alibi du suspect a été vérifié par la police. (The suspect’s alibi was verified by the police.) Elle a présenté un alibi solide lors de l’interrogatoire. (She presented a solid alibi during the interrogation.) |
| Le criminel (The criminal) | Le criminel a été arrêté après une longue chasse à l’homme. (The criminal was arrested after a long manhunt.)Ils ont identifié le criminel grâce à des témoignages. (They identified the criminal through witness testimonies.) |
| Le crime (The crime) | Le crime a choqué toute la ville. (The crime shocked the entire town.)Ce crime a laissé la communauté dans l’angoisse. (This crime left the community in fear.) |
| L’indice (The clue) | L’indice trouvé sur la scène du crime a conduit à une nouvelle piste.(The clue found at the crime scene led to a new lead.)Ils ont trouvé un indice important dans la chambre du suspect. (They found an important clue in the suspect’s room.) |
| Le mobile (The motive) | La police cherche un mobile pour le crime. (The police are looking for a motive for the crime.)Le mobile du crime reste mystérieux. (The motive of the crime remains mysterious.) |
| Le suspect (The suspect) | Le suspect a été vu près de la scène du crime.(The suspect was seen near the crime scene.)La police a interrogé le suspect pendant des heures. (The police interrogated the suspect for hours.) |
| Le témoin (The witness) | Le témoin a vu quelqu’un s’enfuir de la scène du crime. (The witness saw someone flee from the crime scene.)Les témoins ont donné des informations cruciales à la police. (The witnesses provided crucial information to the police.) |
| La victime (The victim). | La victime a été retrouvée dans une ruelle. (The victim was found in an alley.)La victime a été transportée à l’hôpital après l’incident. (The victim was taken to the hospital after the incident.) |
| Verb | Examples in context |
| Arrêter (To arrest) | La police a arrêté le suspect après une longue enquête. (The police arrested the suspect after a long investigation.)Ils ont arrêté le criminel en possession de preuves. (They arrested the criminal with evidence in his possession.) |
| Douter (To doubt) | Il commence à douter de la version des événements. (He is starting to doubt the version of events.) Elle n’a jamais douté de son innocence. (She never doubted his innocence.) |
| Fuir (To flee) | Le suspect a fui avant que la police n’arrive. (The suspect fled before the police arrived.)Elle a fui la scène du crime en courant. (She fled the crime scene running.) |
| Interroger (To interrogate) | Le détective a interrogé le suspect pendant des heures. (The detective interrogated the suspect for hours.)La police a interrogé plusieurs témoins pour obtenir des détails.(The police interrogated several witnesses to get details.) |
| Résoudre (To solve) | Ils doivent résoudre ce mystère avant qu’il ne soit trop tard. (They need to solve this mystery before it’s too late.)Les enquêteurs espèrent résoudre l’affaire rapidement. (The investigators hope to solve the case quickly.) |
| Tuer (To kill) | Il a été accusé de tuer son frère. (He was accused of killing his brother.)Elle a juré de venger la mort de son ami et de tuer le responsable. (She swore to avenge her friend’s death and kill the culprit.) |
Need a quick way to find contextual meanings of words like le témoin or le suspect ? Jolii’s AI-powered dictionary has you covered. With Jolii, you can look up words and their meanings, save them, and practice with engaging exercises tailored to your level.
Best Netflix Crime Shows To Watch On Netflix For Improving French Accent
If you enjoy watching La Fôret, you will surely also like the following French crime shows that can help improve your French:
- Lupin: Inspired by the classic Japanese anime Lupin the Third, the main character, Assane Diop, plans to steal an expensive diamond necklace. The show is perfect for vocabulary building related to crime and the French language in general, especially Parisian accents.
- Criminal: France: This intense crime drama takes place mainly in a police interrogation room in Paris. The entire story revolves around the questioning of suspects, giving you exposure to fast-paced conversational French in a high-pressure setting.
- Marseille: A political drama about corruption and power fights involving the mayor of the French port city of Marseille. This show is another great opportunity to learn colloquial expressions and casual French.
Conclusion
Why settle for repetitive drills when you can learn French vocabulary in an immersive and fun way? Watching The Forest or any other Netflix show is a unique opportunity to learn real French in context. Through authentic dialogues, you will get in contact with new French words and phrases that you could hardly find in any French textbook!
Are you ready to uncover a new way of learning languages? Download Jolii today, choose your favorite series, and enjoy the show!
FAQS:
Q: Can I learn French by watching French movies?
A: Yes! Shows like The Forest provide authentic language exposure, allowing you to learn real French in context. Pairing watching French movies with using the Jolii app will take your French to the next level!
Q: Is the Forest Netflix show famous in France?
A: After its debut in 2017 on Belgian and French TV, The Forest has indeed achieved considerable success in the French-speaking world. The mini-series debuted on Netflix in 2018, transforming it into a worldwide success.
Q: What language is the Forest on Netflix originally?
A: The original language of The Forest is French. While most of the cast speaks standard French, some actors speak regional variants such as Swiss and Belgian French, making it a perfect occasion for you to improve your listening skills!
Bonus: Vocabulary and Listening Practice.
It’s now time to practice! Below, you will find a conversation in French between a police officer and an inspector, from which eight words have been removed.
Instructions
- Read the list of French words and make sure you understand them.
- Read the text and try to insert the words in the correct order.
- If you have trouble, you can check the English translation provided below.
- When you’re done, click here to check your answers: (audio clip).
| French Vocabulary Témoins, piste, indice, crime, commissariat, alibi, victime, suspect |
| Conversation in French Policier: On a retrouvé un foulard sur la scène du 1. _________. C’est un 2. _________ important qui pourrait appartenir à la 3. _________. Inspecteur: Bien. Est-ce qu’on a des 4. _________? Policier: Non, personne n’a rien vu. Pour le moment, le mari de la victime est le 5. _________ principal. Inspecteur: Et son 6. _________? Il a été vérifié ? Policier: Pas encore, mais il est ici au 7. _________. On l’interroge en ce moment. Inspecteur: Parfait. Cette 8. _________ pourrait résoudre l’affaire. Continuez. |
| English translation Police officer: We found a scarf at the crime scene. It’s an important clue that might belong to the victim. Inspector: Good. Do we have any witnesses? Police officer: No, no one saw anything. For now, the victim’s husband is the main suspect. Inspector: And his alibi? Has it been checked? Police officer: Not yet, but he’s here at the police station. They’re questioning him right now. Inspector: Perfect. This lead could solve the case. Keep going. |
