I want to share with you the range of resources I use to help me learn the French language.
I truly believe that there is no “one best method” for learning anything, including French, so I do my best to vary my sources of learning to get a “well-rounded” education. Unfortunately, not everyone is in this position but hopefully some of the resources that helped me will help you too.
Online Resources
Do a search for “learn French online” and you’ll see a ton of sites with varying quality and content. I’ve listed the sites I use to help supplement my regular French classes.
If the online mode of study is what you are looking for than you might find the following websites do not provide enough information or structure to learn French completely.
Learn French Online
Français Facile (free)
A great website that provides discrete lessons on particular grammar points. The Français Facile site is completely in French but if you are looking for something in English, just click on the Union Jack (British Flag) where it says “In English” and the site transforms into easy to use English with a new address To Learn French. I use this site to help learn a grammar point we may have covered in class.
The French Tutorial (free)
The French Tutorial is a site that is easy to follow, covering aspects of the French language for beginners to intermediates. I found the lessons regarding sentence structure especially helpful as any prior knowledge I had about English grammar, left me completely when I started French.
TV5Monde (free)
TV5Monde is a French site for French news and information with a teaching focus, particularly the 7 Jours sur la Planète program, which can be found by clicking on the Programmes button within the menu at the top. Regular news topics and items are recorded and then transcribed – a great way to hear spoken French. And…
Great News! 7 Jours sur la Planète comes as a free App (limited number of podcasts)
Merci Professeur! within the programmes menu, discusses particular items about the French language, revealing some of it’s secrets.
It’s easy to lose track of the time when browsing through the TV5Monde site, there’s just so much to look at.
Learn French Blogs
There are a number of great “learn French” blogs out there but these are the ones I choose to visit. I find them great for picking up a small grammar point or piece of vocabulary and then I move on with my other work. Visiting these blogs forms part of my “little and often” approach to learning French.
Let’s Learn French Together is great for beginners to intermediates, wanting to touch a little bit of the French language every day. The informal approach makes it a great compliment to other modes of learning.
Learn French Help is a more formal site, offering free lessons on grammar and exploring French culture, food and many more French topics.
Listen to French
There are heaps of ways you can hear authentic French online. These two are my favourite;
Tune in Radio (free)
Get live, French Radio anywhere – any time. This site comes with an App for your phone or ipad as well. Simply go to the site and select the country you want and then select a region and radio station. If you follow the link provided, you will reach the French page where you can select the station you want.
I listen to France Bleu from Paris simply because there is lots of talking, even if I don’t understand everything that is said, I have it playing in the background. It’s amazing how much you pick up just by passively listening to a little French everyday.
News in Slow French
This site is great if you’re a beginner. It comes with a transcript of the podcast and new words are highlighted with English translations.
They have a free service that is adequate for most people but if you want access to their complete directory a small subscription payment is all that is required.
Now that my French has improved, I no longer use this site and many French teachers discourage continued listening to slower the normal French. So, as soon as you can, listen to French spoken at a normal rate.
Michel Thomas Recordings
When you’re looking for a way to listen to French and want learn to speak it quickly, the Michel Thomas method has to be one of the best. My very first exposure to French was via Michel Thomas Method™ French For Beginners, 10-CD Program (Michel Thomas Speak…)
The style of teaching is very easy to understand and you feel like you’re learning without any effort. The downside is the lack of focus on written French but you will be able to put the language together much faster than many traditional “learn French” methods.
Take the time to concentrate on each short lesson point, pause the recording and try it yourself to get the most from Michel. His method doesn’t suit the passive listener.
French Text Books and Dictionaries
If you’re attending a class or following a program, you’ll already have a recommended text book to use. The text books I’ve mentioned here are to supplement your library – not to replace the text books recommended by your teacher.
My most used resource is my French Verb Wheel (pictured above). It’s cheap as chips and portable too. Beginners can use it to conjugate the most commonly used irregular verbs in the present tense and then as your French improves, you can use it for the passé composé, imparfait and more. If you only get one extra item when buying your text books, this is it.
A handy book I use regularly is Schaum’s Outline of French Grammar, 5ed (Schaum’s Outline Series)
The best vocabulary builder I use is a French dictionary called Le Robert Micro: Dictionnaire De La Langue Francaise Edition Poche
Allow me to demonstrate – when you look up a word but then don’t understand a word in the definition, you then look up the word in the definition, maybe you didn’t understand a word in that definition, so you look up another word – an so on.
The simple task of looking up a word might take you to 3-4 other words, but by the end of it, you’ll know more than double the words you set out to learn.
Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary
If you’re not sure about which books to buy, check out your local language book store. Their prices might not (they might) be as competitive as online retailers but you’ll get invaluable advice on the type of book to buy for your level. I usually end up finding some handy non-book resources while I’m there.
French Classes
Definitely the best way I have found to learn French is to take a class. The opportunities to listen and speak French are invaluable in the learning process.
At the moment I attend two classes, one with my local Alliance Française and the other at a local community centre. It’s great having information presented in different ways and both classes offer a different spin on lesson points.
If you are able to attend a French class, I highly recommend it.
Other resources
Apps
I’m not a huge user of Apps for language, so my list isn’t very long.
- 7 Jours sur la Planète (mentioned earlier)
- Tune in radio (mentioned earlier)
- Babel fish – free translator
If you know of any apps or websites you find particularly useful, I’d love to hear about them.
Laminator
My laminator; the Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack, Includes 20 Laminating Pouches, 9 Inches x 11.4 Inches (TL901SC)
Headphones for the computer
Not only are these handy for listening to podcasts when others are nearby but the headphones containing a microphone also offer the opportunity to record speech quite clearly. Logitech ClearChat Comfort/USB Headset H390 (Black)
Recording yourself speaking French and playing it back is cringe worthy (I know) but so valuable to improving your pronunciation.
For the moment, these are the resources I use to learn French. Check in from time to time because as my level changes so do my “learn French” tools.
The image of the “tools in the sign” on this page and in the footer of each page is courtesy of Clip Art as is the image of the “dog and extended ear”
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