In a country where English and French co-exist as official languages, becoming bilingual is both a practical skill and a way to feel more connected to Canadian life. But for many learners, traditional classroom instruction doesn’t always reflect the way people actually speak across Canada—from the slang of city streets to the soft rhythms of small-town conversations.
The Mauril app offers an alternative. Free to use and developed in partnership with CBC/Radio-Canada, the app invites users to strengthen their English or French language skills by listening to real Canadian voices in action—on screen, over the airwaves, and in everyday settings.
Instead of grammar drills and textbook dialogue, learners are immersed in short videos and audio clips pulled directly from CBC and Radio-Canada’s rich archive of television, news, documentaries and podcasts. Think of it as language learning through cultural immersion, without ever leaving your living room.
Language learning through listening
At the heart of Mauril is a focus on listening comprehension. Users watch or listen to a clip—say, a segment from a documentary or a scene from a series—and then answer questions to check their understanding. Each clip is accompanied by exercises that help build vocabulary and reinforce context.
The learning is self-paced, and the content is curated to match different language levels, from beginner to more advanced. It’s designed to meet learners where they are and help them develop a stronger ear for natural speech, regional accents and everyday expressions.
For newcomers to Canada, in particular, this kind of practice can make a difference—not just in learning the language, but in tuning in to the nuances of how it’s actually used.
Reflecting Canada’s cultural landscape
One of the app’s strengths lies in the diversity of its content. Because Mauril pulls from media created for and by Canadians, it naturally includes a wide range of voices, perspectives, and regional flavours. Learners don’t just study a language—they encounter the people and places that shape how that language lives and evolves.
This exposure to informal and formal registers, different speaking speeds, and real-world topics gives learners a more grounded sense of what communication looks like in Canadian life.
In and out of the classroom
While Mauril is designed for individual use, it’s also finding its way into classrooms. Teachers of English and French as second languages are using it to supplement more traditional lessons, bringing a dynamic, media-rich experience to their students.
The app’s companion website includes a section specifically for educators, with tips on how to use the tool to support language development. For instructors looking to incorporate more real-world materials into their curriculum, Mauril offers a simple entry point.
Access without barriers
Part of Mauril’s appeal is its accessibility. Available on phones, tablets, or computers, it’s a learning tool that fits into people’s lives, whether they’re studying on a commute or brushing up during lunch breaks. And because it’s free, it removes one of the common barriers to quality language learning.
It’s also non-linear—users can come back to a clip as many times as they like, revisit old content, or skip ahead to something new. It’s flexible and user-directed, rather than locked into a fixed program.
More than just language
At its core, Mauril is about more than improving fluency. It’s about helping people feel more at home in the language they’re learning, whether that’s English or French. By hearing how Canadians actually speak—and what they talk about—learners gain a stronger sense of cultural familiarity, not just linguistic ability.
For a country built on diversity and duality, a tool like Mauril offers a practical way to bridge understanding. It’s not just about mastering grammar—it’s about joining the conversation.
