What's The Best Way to Learn French in 2024? The Ultimate Guide

By LanguaTalk Last updated: 29 Jan 2024

Dozens of resources are available for learning French. The problem is, when you look for advice on what to use, it usually doesn't take into account your level, goals or budget.

And most of the recommended tools aren't there because they're the best but because the website owner is receiving commission on any sales. Not ideal.

You don't need outdated software like Rosetta Stone. You don't need expensive audio courses - why use them when there are so many great French podcasts and shows?

I'm also not going to tell you that the best way to learn French is to move or travel to a French-speaking country. Because let's face it: few of us have the time or money for this. And you'd probably spend too much time with English-speaking expats anyway.

I'm going to give you a toolkit containing all the resources you need for becoming fluent in French. Crucially, you'll be able to view recommendations based on your current level. And in case you're on a tight budget, more than 50% of the resources listed are free.

Habits, commitment & goals

You can jump straight into exploring the best tools for your level via the contents list. But knowing the best tools is not enough to become fluent in French. Tools are just one element of a wider system employed by effective language learners.

So before you check out the resources, read the below advice. It'll take you two minutes and could be crucial to your success.

1) Make learning a habit.

The speed at which you learn French will largely be determined by your ability to practice consistently and stick to it. If you can make learning French a habit, you won't need to rely on willpower or motivation, both of which fluctuate.

Habits are developed through cues and rewards. The cue sets the behaviour into action. For learning French, the cue could be as simple as setting a daily reminder in your calendar to practice at the same time each day. The reward should ideally be intrinsic; learning should feel rewarding and fun. Avoid resources you find boring.

2) Commit yourself to regular practice.

Create a simple weekly plan so you don't have to decide whether to practice; simply check your schedule and see what's on. The plan should be realistic and include specifics. Here's an example:

Monday - after work, 25 mins: Listen to a French podcast episode.

Weds - before work, 15 mins: Do exercises on an app.

Sat - 11am, 45 mins: French class.

3) Study in short, focused bursts.

You'll notice that the example activities above are between 15 and 45 mins.

Learning a language is exhausting, particularly at the start. Don't push yourself to fit everything into a long, weekly study session. Short, frequent activities will be easier to fit into your week. You'll be able to concentrate better and make faster progress.

4) Be clear on your goals & adjust accordingly.

When choosing tools & resources from this guide, consider your goals.

For example, are you aiming for conversational fluency, i.e. the ability to converse with native speakers at a normal, conversational speed? If so, you'll hit your goal fastest if you spend most of your practice time speaking and listening to French. Prioritise listening to podcasts and speaking with a tutor or an exchange partner; avoid getting addicted to French learning apps.

To find the best tools for learning French according to your level, choose from the options below:

I'm a beginner (A0/A1)
I have a basic level (A2)
I have an early intermediate level (B1)

The best way to learn French for beginners

What we'll cover:

To learn basic vocab & grammar: Podcasts | Apps
To learn to speak French: 1-on-1 Tutoring | Group Classes
Supporting tools to maximise learning

👉 Tip: you may want to save this guide before exploring the resources, so you can come back to it.

Learning basic vocab & grammar:

TOOL #1: PODCASTS

Listen to a French podcast every few days and you'll rapidly improve your ability to understand French as it's spoken by natives. If you're short on time, try listening whilst doing the dishes or commuting.

To maximise your learning from podcasts, repeat the words and sentences you hear from time to time. This will help you memorise vocabulary and improve your pronunciation. Also, many podcasts have transcripts available for a fee. Use these to study the language and note down new words.

If you're a beginner, there are actually very few quality podcasts targeted at beginner French learners. Fortunately, there is Language Transfer (free), which will teach you the basics in a logical manner. Once you know a little French, you could try Duolingo's French podcast (free), in which stories are told in a combination of French and English. And if you like listening to the news, you can try News in Slow French (For Beginners). It requires a subscription (currently $20/month) and transcripts are provided.

Podcasts are an excellent way to learn Spanish. — Listen to French podcasts - your brain will be surprised by how much it learns.

TOOL #2: APPS

Below are the most popular apps for learning French, together with their ratings on the Play Store. I've included both free and paid options.

As a beginner, you'll find apps handy for picking up some basic vocab and grammar. But beyond this, if your goal is to be able to have conversations in the language, the best way to learn French is not through answering multiple choice questions on an app. It's through speaking and listening to people. So once you know some French, don't use the apps as a substitute for speaking and listening practice.

Apps with free plans: Duolingo (4.6) | Memrise (4.6)

Paid apps: Mondly (4.7) | Lingodeer (4.6) | Babbel (4.5)

Learning to speak French

For learning to speak French as a beginner, you have two main options: 1-on-1 tutoring, and group classes. Once you're able to have basic conversations in French, you can also try language exchanges.

If you're a complete beginner, you might want to consider learning some vocab via podcasts and apps before taking lessons.

OPTION #1: 1-ON-1 TUTORING

It's not the cheapest option, but taking private lessons is certainly one of the fastest ways to learn to speak French. A good tutor will ensure you speak for at least 70% of the lesson time, whilst making you feel comfortable about making mistakes and providing clear feedback.

A less obvious benefit of having a tutor is keeping you on track. A good tutor will support you and help you stay consistent. Knowing you have a scheduled class/homework, and that there is somebody who cares about your progress, can be crucial.

Cost estimate: If you're taking the lessons online, there are good French tutors available for between $15 (£11/€12) & $30 (£21/€25) per hour. It tends to cost less than learning locally as the tutors don't have to leave home and there's more competition.

What to look out for: Many platforms do not screen tutors properly, nor offer refunds or timely support with booking issues. Take a trial session before committing to lessons. And watch out for services that try to tie you into a subscription.

Where to find a tutor: Compared to other sites, it's easier to find a talented tutor on LanguaTalk, which I co-founded. Unlike others, we actually put time into finding the best tutors. You can take a free, 30-minute taster session with no card required. Check out the reviews and videos of our French tutors here.

Online Spanish lessons — Lessons should focus on speaking. Good tutors will ask you lots of questions and give precise feedback.

OPTION #2: GROUP CLASSES

If you'd prefer to learn locally and with others, group classes are worth exploring.

Pros: It's a social experience; you may make friends with your classmates. If you like structure, it may suit you as textbooks often guide the classes.

Cons: There's little flexibility to focus on what you personally want to improve upon, nor to concentrate on topics that interest you. If you want to learn how to speak with locals, you may be frustrated with the limited speaking practice.

Cost estimate: This depends on where you live and the size of the group. The cost will likely be similar to 1-on-1 online classes.

Whatever you choose, try topping up your speaking practice through self-talk.

All the normal self-talk that goes on in your head during the day can be done in French. Instead of thinking “I need to drink something” in English, think it in French instead. And when you don't know how to say something, look it up quickly on your mobile. I cover the best tools for this below...

Supporting tools to maximise learning:

TOOL #1: DICTIONARIES & TRANSLATORS 📕

Three of the best online dictionary and translation apps are: Reverso, WordReference & Linguee. Crucially, they all provide examples of the words in context. Try noting down full phrases and sentences as this will aid memorisation whilst simultaneously teaching you how sentences are formed.

TOOL #2: VERB CONJUGATORS 🤓

As a beginner, you must enjoy learning, or you may give up. This means avoiding the boring stuff, which for many, means grammar. So at the start, don't worry about anything other than the present tense, which is all you need to have simple conversations.

But even for the present tense, you'll still need to conjugate verbs. LanguaTalk provides verb tables, examples and videos for the most important verbs.

WordReference & Reverso also both provide excellent verb conjugators for free.

TOOL #3: FORVO

A dictionary specifically for pronunciation. It has a database of several million words pronounced in over 300 languages – all recorded by native speakers. A wonderful free resource!

TOOL #4: A NOTEBOOK ✍

Whilst using the tools listed in this guide, you should jot down new words in a notebook. Studies have shown that when you write rather than type, your ability to recall information improves significantly. Researchers believe this is because writing is slower and involves deeper mental processing.

Get Started:

Experiment with the tools listed above to see what works best for you. This could be a mix of podcasts, apps and classes. Add them as activities in your calendar over the next week. If you're looking to learn French as fast as possible, you may want to explore taking 1-on-1 lessons. On LanguaTalk, you can check tutor profiles and book a free, 30-minute taster session.
Save this guide so you can come back to it later.

Bonne chance! (Good luck!)

The best way to learn French if you have a basic level (A2)

What we'll cover:

To improve your listening skills, vocab & grammar: Podcasts | Netflix | News | Apps
To learn to speak French: 1-on-1 Classes | Group Classes | Language Exchanges
Supporting tools to maximise learning

👉 Tip: you may want to save this guide before exploring the resources, so you can come back to it.