Mauril: The Free CBC App to Learn Canadian English and French

Textbook English and French rarely sound like the people you meet at work in Canada. Accents, slang and fast conversation are the real challenge.

Mauril was built to close that gap, using real Canadian TV, radio and podcasts instead of scripted dialogues.

This guide explains how the Mauril app works, why it is a strong free way to learn English or French in Canada and how to use it for job interviews.

What Mauril is

Mauril is a free language learning app and website developed by CBC/Radio-Canada, Canada’s public broadcaster, and funded and endorsed by the Government of Canada. It was named in honour of Mauril Bélanger, a federal politician known for promoting official languages. The platform helps people learn English or French as they are spoken across the country, with content chosen and organized by a committee of language teaching experts.

Its main focus is listening comprehension, the skill many learners find hardest when they arrive. Instead of studying long grammar tables, you watch and listen to short clips and then answer quizzes and activities that test what you understood and expand your vocabulary.

What kind of content you study

The clips come from CBC and Radio-Canada archives and current programs in every genre: news, documentaries, comedy, cooking, sports, science, culture and animation. English learners might hear segments from shows like The National, Marketplace, As It Happens, Quirks and Quarks or Spark, while French learners use Radio-Canada material. Every province and territory is represented, so you get used to different Canadian accents and topics.

This matters for work. A newcomer in Halifax, Winnipeg or Vancouver will hear many ways of speaking, and a learner of French will notice differences between Quebec, Acadian and Franco-Ontarian speech. Mauril trains your ear for real situations rather than only for the classroom.

How the app works

• Create a free profile: you need an account to use Mauril. Privacy and terms of use follow CBC/Radio-Canada policies.
• Choose your language: English or French, depending on what you want to learn.
• Find your level: start at the level that fits you; you can return to earlier levels at any time to review.
• Learn by theme: watch or listen to a clip, then complete quizzes and interactive activities.
• Study anywhere: use the website on a computer or download the app from the App Store or Google Play and continue on your phone.

Mauril is designed for people in Canada. Its support pages explain that it was created specifically to help people in the country learn English and French, so it is not intended as a pre-arrival course.

Who should use Mauril

Mauril is useful for newcomers waiting for a LINC, CLIC or francization class, workers who want to practise during their commute, students who need extra listening practice, and English-speaking Canadians who want to improve their French for a bilingual job. Teachers of English and French as second languages also use it, and Mauril provides teaching guides to integrate it into lessons.

It works best as a complement, not a replacement, for structured classes. Classes teach speaking and writing with feedback, while Mauril gives you hours of extra listening that most courses cannot provide.

How to use it for your job search

Listening skills are tested in every job interview, on the phone with customers and in safety briefings. Here is a simple plan:

• Daily habit: 15 to 20 minutes every day is better than two hours once a week. Mauril has run challenges, such as a 31-day challenge, to help build the habit.
• News clips: news segments teach formal vocabulary used in workplaces and interviews.
• Repeat aloud: after a clip, pause and repeat key sentences to work on pronunciation and rhythm.
• Keep a vocabulary list: write down words related to your field, such as health, construction, retail or office work.
• Move up levels: when quizzes become easy, go to the next level to keep improving.

A simple 30-day starter routine

During the first week, choose your level and complete one short clip and its activities every day, without worrying about understanding every word. In the second week, listen to each clip twice: first for the general idea, then for details, and write five new words in your notebook. In the third week, focus on news and work-related topics and practise answering out loud as if someone had asked you a question. In the fourth week, review your notebook, redo the clips you found hardest and check how much more you understand now. Most learners notice real progress after one month of daily practice.

Common mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is choosing a level that is too hard; if you understand less than half of a clip, go down one level. The second is only listening and never speaking, so always repeat a few sentences aloud. The third is studying in long, rare sessions instead of short, daily ones. Finally, do not rely on one tool alone: combine the app with conversation, reading and, when possible, a class with a teacher who can correct your mistakes.

Combine Mauril with other free resources

For a complete learning plan, pair Mauril with free classes and tools. Newcomers who are permanent residents can join free LINC (English) or CLIC (French) classes outside Quebec, or Francisation Québec inside Quebec. Public libraries offer conversation circles and language apps with a library card. For speaking practice, volunteer in your community, where you can use your new vocabulary in real conversations.

Why it is trustworthy

Many language apps are free only for a few lessons and then ask for payment. Mauril is completely free, has no advertising model to push you to subscribe, and is backed by Canada’s public broadcaster and the federal government. Its content reflects Canada’s cultural diversity, which makes it both a language tool and an introduction to Canadian life.

This site is an independent guide and is not affiliated with CBC/Radio-Canada. App features and content may change over time.