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Is Skam France good for learning French?

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Only if you are advanced, or want a real test. Skam France shows Paris high schoolers in short daily-life episodes full of teen slang, and it is about as close to how young French people really talk as a scripted show gets.

Level
Advanced
Format
Drama
Year
2018
Episodes
122
Length
about 22 min each
From
France tv slash

Why it works for learners

The original format released short clips between episodes, and even full episodes run only about 22 minutes, so you can fit it in anywhere. Friendships, parties and arguments keep the language personal and spontaneous-sounding. Each season follows a different character, so a new voice arrives without a whole new world. Text messages also appear on screen in the story, giving you written casual French with its abbreviations to read at the same time.

What makes it hard

Slang, verlan, swallowed syllables and mumbling are the norm, and classroom French will not prepare you. Slang also ages, since the show began in 2018. Teen conversations often leave things unsaid, and the topics include sex, identity and mental health.

How to use it

Start from season one with French subtitles if you can find them. Replay a single short scene until you can catch most words. Note slang and verify meaning before using it. Read the on-screen messages aloud to decode the spelling.

More for French learners: our French guides.

Keep it where you'll see it

Save Skam France and log every episode or chapter toward your French hours. Free for one language.

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