9 Effective Ways To Learn French

Are you looking for effective ways to learn the French language?

French (français) is a Romance language that belongs to the Indo-European family. Like most Romance languages, French originated from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire.

French is universally regarded as one of the most beautiful languages in the world and is often referred to as the language of love.

This beautiful language is the fourth most spoken language in the world. According to the language app Duolingo, French ranks 5th among the languages with the highest number of learners.

As a language that represents a rich culture and history, it is no wonder why many people are eager to learn French. The accent is irresistible, there is a distinct rhythm in how each word is spoken, and French just sounds so pretty that you want to learn even a few words of it.

If you are interested in learning the French language, you’ll find that there are many ways to do so.

In this guide, we have compiled a list of the various ways you can start and pursue your journey to learning French, from the traditional classroom setting to online courses and with a plethora of free resources.

9 Effective Ways To Learn French

1. Learning French In The Traditional Classroom Setting

School systems and universities all over the world place a high value on learning French as a second language.

Classroom instruction in French is the most popular method of learning for students in grade school and high school, as well as universities.

This learning method allows for more intensive and regular study with feedback from teachers. This means that French language teachers can correct students’ mistakes as they occur and guide them more interactively.

One downside, however, of learning in a classroom is that it can be less personalized depending on the size of the class and the level of teacher involvement.

Still, for anyone learning a language, being able to converse with and practice with other students is a great advantage.

2. Learning French With A Tutor One-on-One

If you are serious about learning French and you can afford it, consider hiring a French tutor.

In contrast to traditional classroom instruction in French, private French tutoring provides a more personalized learning experience.

Working with an experienced French tutor who can assist you in perfecting your pronunciation and working closely with you on the aspects of French that are causing you difficulty is an excellent way to quickly improve your French.

These days, many French tutoring sessions can and do take place via video call rather than face-to-face interaction. This means that you have many options as to which tutor to hire, and you might even learn with an authentic French person to teach you the language.

3. Learning Through Online French Courses

Another way to learn French if you’re willing to pay extra cash is through online French courses and programs that are available at a variety of price points, ranging from extremely affordable to extremely expensive.

The use of these courses, which are frequently more engaging than many free courses and resources, makes it possible to learn French on your terms.

With these online French courses, you’ll always be learning the most up-to-date French vocabulary and grammar because they are constantly adding new content.

4. Learn through Language Apps or Free Online French Courses

Online and on your phone, you’ll never be short of resources for learning French for free. Many resources are available to help you improve your French grammar, from wikis to online forums to French classes.

If a product is offered for free, be aware that quality is usually sacrificed in the process. Apps like Duolingo and Memrise, as well as many free online courses, rely heavily on user-contributed translations that are rarely checked for accuracy. Confusion or grammatical mistakes abound in many of these translations.

These classes also tend to emphasize writing and reading rather than listening or speaking. Additionally, keep in mind that sites offering free interactive French lessons may do so with a lot of ads on their apps and pages

5.   Learning Through Listening: Audiobooks and Podcasts

If you are someone who is always busy and on the go, but still want to squeeze in time to learn French, audiobooks, and podcasts are for you.

With this learning method, you can learn the basics of French vocabulary and grammar without having to look at a page or a screen thanks to numerous audiobooks.

You can even listen to French audiobooks like this while doing other things, such as driving to work or school, cooking, doing the laundry, or taking a walk in the park.

Another way to learn by listening is through French podcasts. Podcasts are ideal if you want to learn French while doing something else that necessitates your visual attention. Here’s our list of best podcast channels to learn French.

Fortunately, there are a plethora of free and low-cost audio resources available online which you can access wherever you are in the world

6.   Learning by Singing French songs

Singing along to popular French tunes is a fun way to practice your language skills. Songs often have more than one chorus or a group of lyrics, so you can hear them over and over again.

Once you feel like you are already familiar with certain pronunciations and language nuances, you may start singing along to more “advanced” tunes, such ad these famous French songs that you must listen to.

7.   Watch French films and TV series

If you are just starting to. learn French, you may listen to easy and simple songs such as this nursery songs and rhymes.

French can be learned in a fun and interesting way by watching French movies and TV shows. Streaming services like Netflix have a slew of excellent French films and series.

If you want to improve your French pronunciation, you should watch French films and binge on these series in their original language (i.e., not dubbed).

A good hack when learning French by watching movies or series is to first watch it once or twice in original French with English subtitles so you can follow the story.

Afterward, watch with french subtitles so you can speak along with the characters if you want. Pause every few minutes or so to give yourself time to process what you just learned.

8.   Invest in French-language books

There are many French books available that make great learning resources if you are just starting to learn French. Invest in a French to English / English to French dictionary, as well as a comprehensive grammar book suitable for beginners.

You may also buy copies of renowned classics like Le Petit Prince to longer, more substantive reads like the novels L’étranger and Coule La Seine.

Learning French through books is a great way to improve your reading comprehension and fluency in the language. You’ll learn more about the French language and culture by reading.

You can read at your own pace and consult a French dictionary if you run into any problems while reading. It’s a great opportunity to practice your French pronunciation and speaking while reading the book aloud as well.

9.   Practice speaking with a native French

Know a French national in your area? Or maybe you know someone in the same fandom you often interact with on social media or online forums.

How about practicing your French skills with them and in turn, teaching them your native language?

If you spent an hour teaching English or your native language to a friend who is French or a native French speaker, that friend would then spend the next hour teaching you French.

You can use this method if both parties are willing and able to put in the time and effort.

Keep in mind that not everyone is a good teacher, so it’s best to supplement this with a different French learning strategy.

Still, learning with a native French speaker is a helpful way to practice.

Tip: Don’t focus on only one method when learning French. A combination of at least two from this list is ideal to help you practice more and learn faster.