The Educational Entertainers of YouTube

Translated by Nina Fink, Martin Rhodes Publié le
The Educational Entertainers of YouTube
Bruce Benamran, the brains behind e-penser (e-thinking), has 83 popular science videos and 800,000 followers to his name. // ©  e-penser
Are the latest and greatest educators to be found on YouTube? While the following French YouTubers don’t see themselves as the teachers of the future, they do want their videos to be useful for students.

Despite their limited resources, the stars of France's top educational channels on YouTube have created high-quality, well-researched content with just the right dose of humor and pop culture. These increasingly popular video makers see themselves as entertainers more than educators.

"I want to make people laugh, not revolutionize education," says Julien Ménielle. He posts weekly videos about health and body functions on Dans ton corps (In your body). He launched the channel in 2016 after working for ten years as a nurse.

Bruce Benamran, the brains behind e-penser (e-thinking), has 83 popular science videos and 800,000 followers to his name. A computer engineer by training, Benamran wants his viewers to have fun. "I'm also here to pique their curiosity and inspire them to learn more," he explains.

These YouTubers don't aim to be exhaustive. They simply want to provide tools for understanding and leads for further research. For Éloïse Wagner, creator of 911 avocat (911 lawyer), "My mission has been accomplished if I've motivated my viewers to dive into an article or a court case."

Online and Offbeat

The individuals behind these channels say their videos can help students even if they don't transform education in the process. "If I were in school, I'd love for my teacher to say, 'Go watch the NaRt surrealism video and we'll discuss it in class tomorrow,'" comments Natacha, creator of the art history channel.

Nawal, co-founder of Miss book, notes, "The intentionally offbeat tone of our videos draws in students who resist doing their required reading." In May 2016, the two-year-old channel published a series of videos on the novels featured in the French high school graduation exam, including Albert Camus' The Stranger.

"We don't claim to replace or even assist the French education system. That said, we can introduce new chapters and books and review concepts that weren't covered in class," explain Redek and Pierrot of Le Mock. The channel features Candide, Madame Bovary and other French literature classics. A high school teacher even enlisted them to help his students prepare for their graduation exam. Naturally they accepted.

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Translated by Nina Fink, Martin Rhodes | Publié le