French
Learning French? Here's a great collection of French language learning resources to help you get fluent in French! Start learning French today.
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So You Wanna Learn a Language? – 12 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Learn A Language
“A different language is a different vision of life.” Federico Fellini There are plenty of reasons to learn a new language, but there are also some valid reasons why you might not want to tackle a new language learning journey. If any of the following apply to you, it might be best to sit this…
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Fall into Fluency: 6 Activities to Boost Your Language Learning this Season
Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you. Walt Whitman The leaves are changing color, the weather is cooling, and pumpkin spice lattes are back at Starbucks (YUCK). That can only mean one thing: it's time to cozy up with a cup of coffee and start (or restart) your…
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Learn How To Write Sentences in French and Start Speaking French Today
“The limits of my language means the limits of my world.” Ludwig Wittgenstein
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Start Learning French Grammar With These Four Verbs
Although these three French verbs are often overlooked, not only beginners but also students who have been learning French for many years will be happy to discover that they help one learn many other words.
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10 Things I Wish I'd Known Earlier About Learning French
I'm not going to lie, I've had a lot of trouble learning French. But it's worth it! In this post, I'll tell you some things that have helped me and maybe they'll help you too.
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How I Learn Languages (2021 Edition)
If you’re a visual interpersonal learner, learn through videos/images in a group setting. You’ll probably get frustrated and lose momentum if you attempt self-study. So don’t sabotage yourself! If you find yourself fitting into many of these categories, try a few out and see where you fit in the most.
Links
- Alison French – offers several free courses.
- Ba Ba Dum – interactive flashcards available for several languages.
- BBC Languages French – although it is no longer being updated, it's still a good resource.
- BonPatron – free; Pro $15/ year – if Grammarly had a French cousin, BonPatron would be it. It's a great way to practice your writing, which it will correct. This helped correct a lot of the beginner Franglais mistakes. I did have a membership at one point because I didn't want the ads AND I wanted to keep a log of my entries.
- Coffee Break French Podcast
- Easy French – “Learn language from the streets!” They have other languages available. It's one of my favorite YouTube channels.
- Français Facile – it may not look pretty, but it gets the job done. You'll have plenty of worksheets and practice tests to keep you busy.
- France-Amérique – one of my favorite mags.
- French in Action – I am a child of the '80s and I spent plenty of hours watching PBS. This was my introduction to French in a way where it forced me to learn to listen to the language to understand it as quickly as possible.
- French Linguistics: Grammar Tips and Articles – When in doubt, practice some grammar.
- French Vogue – another mag that makes it to my hands each month.
- italki – perfect for a more personalized language learning experience. They also have an app and you can pay per lesson!
- Learn French By Podcast
- Lingua – choose from 5 languages. Vocabulary games, spaced repetition.
- Linguanaut French – another free language resource with other languages available.
- Litterature Audio – audiobooks in French
- News In Slow French (Intermediate) Podcast
- One Thing in a French Day Podcast
- Pimsleur – language immersion course. A bit pricey, but well worth it!
- SquidTV France – listings of Francophone television channels and radio stations.
- The French Tutorial – simple and easy French if you're just starting out.
- Traduction du Français au Français – ha! French translation by French folks.
*Hey, this page contains affiliate links. There's no extra cost to you, but I receive a small commission when you decide to use them. They help me keep this party going.
Apps
- TV5MONDE: Learn French (formerly the 7 jours sur la planète by TVMONDE) – available for iOS and Android.
- Beelinguapp: Learn Languages with Audiobooks – free with in-app purchases. Available for iOS and Android, I love this app. You can read and listen to books in two languages.
- Duolingo – FREE. I know many folks who don't like Duolingo, but it has its upsides. It's easy to start, just download the app or head over to their site and start learning. I especially love chatting with the bots and trying to earn more lingots (in video game speak, cash, coins, and rubies) to unlock more culture lessons.
- La conjugation French – free with in-app purchases; iOS and Android. There's a web version, too.
- Larousse Français – $4.99; free web version. It's a French dictionary in French. Available for iOS and Android. I must add that the web version also has plenty of short stories to practice reading comprehension.
- Mango Languages – subscription required; $19.99/month or FREE with any participating library. I used to get this for free from my local library, and one day they suddenly stopped supporting it. It's similar to Duolingo, but it focuses more on visual and audio. The monthly subscription is $19.99, but you'll have over 70 languages at your fingertips. I love those in-between lessons that give you cultural tips. You can access Mango Languages via web and download lessons through the app (iOS and Android) on to your phone or tablet.
- Polly Lingual French – free with in-app purchases. This used to be called Très Bien French and now is part of a language suite where you can learn other languages also. I have this on my AppleTV as well as on my iPhone for easy access and learning on the go. If you want to unlock all 13 languages, you'll need to get the Polly Passport. The annual fee is $9.99. I love this subscription because I can also access it on other devices. It's also one of the cheaper options out there. One thing to note is that you can also hire a Polly Ambassador who are live video tutors. Their rates and experience are listed clearly.
- Projet Voltaire – free with in-app purchases. This app has a way of making you feel like an idiot. A little tough love never hurt anybody! You can even work towards certification. Available for iOS and Android.
- Speak and Translate by Apalon Apps – free with in-app purchases. Available for iOS only.
Books
- 501 French Verbs by Barron's Educational Series
- A Frequency Dictionary of French by Deryle Lonsdale (Routledge)
- Barron’s Learn French the Fast and Fun Way
- Berlitz French Verb Handbook
- Berlitz French Grammar Handbook
- Berlitz French Business Dictionary
- Bescherelle Dictées 6e
- Better Reading French by Annie Heminway
- Collins Easy Learning French Conversation
- Colloquial French Grammar by Wiley-Blackwell
- Comparative Grammar of Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and French: Learn & Compare 4 Languages Simultaneously by Mikhail Petrunin (perfect if you're trying to learn other Romance languages together)
- Cortina Method Conversational French in 20 Lessons
- Dictionnaire Etymologique de La Langue Française by Librairie Hachette (for l'Académie française) – old book, but if you can find it, guard it with your life!
- Essential French in 2 Hours with Paul Noble
- French At A Glance by Gail Stein
- French Conversation DeMystified by McGraw-Hill Education
- Hide This French Book by APA Publications
- Hugo in 3 Months: French by Ronald Overy
- Hugo Advanced French by Ronald Overy and Jacqueline Lecanuet
- In-Flight French: Learn Before You Land by Living Language – just the basics ma'am. It's intended to be used while you're on your way to your destination.
- Language Hacking French by Benny Lewis
- Learn French with Paul Noble for Beginners – Complete Course
- Learn In Your Car French by Henry N. Raymond
- Le souvenir French Phrasebook and Journal by McGraw-Hill Education – this is a travel journal that includes a phrasebook.
- Merde! The REAL French You Were Never Taught At School by Geneviève
- Merriam-Webster Easy Learning French Idioms
- Next Steps in French with Paul Noble for Intermediate Learners – Complete Course
- Short Stories in French for Beginners by Olly Richards
- Talk Dirty French by Alexis Munier and Emmanuel Tichelli
- The Berlitz Self-Teacher: French
- The Complete French for Cats by Henry Beard – okay, if you love cats, you'll find this one cheeky and fun.
- The Singer's Manual of German and French Diction by Dr. Richard G. Cox
updated: 2023/05/16
Follow Your Heart, Even If It Means Losing Your Mind for A Little Bit
I love French! This is the language I have studied the longest. I feel comfortable conversing in it now, although that wasn't always the case. It has caused me much heartache (and money) because I always wanted to perfect it. Now, je m'en fous.
*Hey, this page contains affiliate links. There's no extra cost to you, but I receive a small commission when you decide to use them. They help me keep this party going.
PIN ME!
