French
What is French?
French is a Romance language that developed from Old French. It is spoken as a first language in France, as well as parts of Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and a number of other countries. As of 2015, approximately 274 million people speak French as a first or second language.
There are several ways to learn French, including studying it in school, taking a class, or using online resources. If you want to study French in school, there are a number of programs and schools to choose from. Some people choose to take a class in order to learn French in a more structured setting. Online resources can be a great way to learn French at your own pace.
No matter which method you use to learn French, it is important to Practice, practice, practice! Speaking and writing French on a regular basis will help you to become more fluent. There are also a number of resources available to help you learn more about French culture and history.
How to Learn French
French is one of the more approachable languages for English speakers thanks to a huge shared vocabulary, but pronunciation and listening take real work early. Front-load the sounds — nasal vowels, the French R, and the fact that many written letters are silent — using lots of audio so you build correct pronunciation from the start rather than fossilizing an English accent.
Balance the four skills and practice daily; short, consistent sessions beat occasional cramming for language. Build a core vocabulary and the essential grammar (gender, verb conjugation, common tenses), but spend most of your time in comprehensible input — listening and reading material just above your level. Speak from day one, even badly, and immerse yourself in French media and, ideally, conversation with native speakers.
French Resources
First Thousand Words in French
Classic Usborne picture word book teaching 1,000 essential French words through charming illustrated scenes with pronunciation guide, ideal for preschool through early elementary.
Living Language French, Essential Edition
Complete beginner French course with coursebook, 3 audio CDs, and free online learning, providing structured instruction in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
French
Start Speaking French using the Pimsleur App! It's now possible to speak and understand a foreign language effortlessly. The world-famous Pimsleur Method™ combines well-established research, most-useful vocabulary and a completely intuiti...
Bien dit! Homeschool French Textbook
Bien dit! Homeschool, a highly interactive French package, features a powerful blend of culture, instruction and the latest technology. Bien dit! gives students the ability—and confidence—to thrive in a multilingual world. This highly interactive h...
Fluenz French
French 1 has been designed to prepare you for the most important and common situations you'll face in the French-speaking world. At the same time, you'll develop a strong foundation in how the language actually works, allowing you to go beyond simple...
MUZZY French For Kids
Teach your children French with fun videos, games, songs and worksheets from MUZZY BBC. THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE FRENCH PROGRAM FOR KIDS Enjoy the award winning movies "Muzzy in Gondoland" and "Muzzy Comes Back" refreshed with new animation and sound...
Preply Online Language Tutors
VerbPal
Verb conjugation practice app for 10 languages, including Spanish, French and German, using sentences and spaced repetition. 3-day free trial, then $4.99/month on the App Store.
The Couplet
Finite audio decks of English and target-language sentence pairs for 8 languages, including French, Spanish and Japanese. Six decks free on web, iOS and Android.
Learn Lang
AI conversation partners for practicing Spanish, English or French by chat, with gentle corrections. Three free messages with no account or card; paid plans for more.
The Vocabcord 500
Free 500-phrase collections for Spanish, French, German, Japanese and other languages, grouped by everyday situation with translations and usage notes. Teens and adults.
Mondly Kids — Language Learning for Children
Language learning app designed specifically for kids ages 3-12. Teaches 33 languages through games, colorful illustrations, and interactive lessons with native speaker pronunciation.