Learning French

FrenchPod101 Coupon Code

Editorial Team — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 16:01:07 +0000

French is no doubt a beautiful language that is spoken by millions across the world. So, if you are looking to be one of the millions of French speakers, then there is no better time than now.

FrenchPod101 offers one of the best and quickest ways to learn to speak French. Now you can take advantage of our generous coupon code to learn French on the cheap.

Not sure about FrenchPod101? Read our review here.

FrenchPod101 Coupon Code for 2023

With this discount code, you can activate your FrenchPod101 lifetime and snatch up to $165 off the normal subscription price. The coupon code discount will be automatically applied once you sign up via this link below:

Click Here to Use This FrenchPod101 Coupon Code

Existing FrenchPod101 users are also qualified to get this coupon discount. Read on to find out how to utilize the discount code with your account,

How to Use FrenchPod101 Coupon Code

First-Time Users

Using this discount code for FrenchPod101 is easy. Please use the following steps for easy activation.

1. Click here for your FrenchPod101 Coupon Code

Clicking this link will direct you to the FrenchPod101 site. It is important to note that the discount has been automatically applied to the listed prices.

2. Choose Your Plan

Once on the FrenchPod101 site, you will be required to choose a plan which includes Basic, Premium, or Premium PLUS.

3. Enter Payment Info

In step three, you will be required to enter your payment information including your billing address. They accept payment forms like American Express, Visa, PayPal, and MasterCard. So, you will be required to choose from these forms.

4. Choose a Subscription Term

At this step, you will choose your subscription from 1 to 24 months. The good thing about FrenchPod101 is that the monthly payment drops significantly as the length of your subscription increases.

5. Verify Your Account

The final step is to verify your account and you will be directed to enter your email address. Afterwards, you can embark on learning to speak one of the most popular languages in the world – French.

Existing FrenchPod101 Users

For those who have already been using FrenchPod101 are also qualified for this discount code. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Log into your FrenchPod101 account

2. Come back to this page and click on the FrenchPod101 Coupon Code Link:

FrenchPod101 Coupon Code

3. You will be asked to pick your plan. This is the point you can consider upgrading if you were subscribed to the Basic monthly plan to Premium or Premium PLUS.

4. Upon choosing your plan, the next step is to update or verify your payment information and the length of the subscription. Choose the lengthier subscription to save more.

5. Proceed to seal the deal by clicking the ‘Complete’ icon at the bottom of your screen and continue appreciating FrenchPod101 with the upgraded features for less.

Does the FrenchPod101 Coupon Code Work Everywhere?

Yes. There are no geographical restrictions to using this discount code.

Should I Choose Basic, premium, or Premium PLUS Subscription?

Basic

This subscription plan gives you access to the extensive video and audio lesson library. You can also download and print PDFs from your lessons for later study. With a desktop, Android, iPad, iPhone, and laptop you will have access to 100 French words and phrases. You might choose this plan if you want to learn a few keywords and phrases to get along while on a trip to France, or if you have limited money to spend.

See Basic Pricing With Coupon Applied

Premium

This subscription plan comes with everything you benefit from in the Basic plan plus interactive tools, HD video, interactive lesson quizzes, thousands of core words and phrases, flashcards, voice-recording tools, daily French lessons, grammar bank, and audio dictionary.

You can opt for this subscription if you want more in-depth study materials for learning to speak fluent French. Moreover, if you want to listen to French music and watch French movies, then this is a good start.

See Premium Pricing With Coupon Applied

Premium PLUS

This subscription comes with the most features among the three plans. With this plan, you get access to video and audio lesson libraries, personalized learning plans, ongoing professional assessments, personal assignments, and most importantly: one-on-one access to a native French-speaking tutor.

You can consider this subscription plan if you intend to learn to speak French fluently, want to know where you stand with professional assessments, and want a learning plan designed just for you.

See Premium Plus Pricing With Coupon Applied

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Subscription

In order to get the most out of your subscription plan, consider the following tips:

Use all the learning material provided in your subscription
Frequently listen to French Podcasts while traveling, riding or driving around
Look for groups that converse in French, watch movies and listen to French music or Podcast to improve understanding
Download and print lessons and read them when offline
Invite your buddies to use the discount code so you can learn French together

Click Here to Use the Discount for FrenchPod101

We are happy that you have signed up with FrenchPod101 to start your journey to learn French. We hope you’ll make the most out of this program!

5 Best Apps for Learning French

Josiah Eyeington — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 08:26:18 +0000

One of the most popular French language apps, known for it’s energetic video and podcast style lessons.

A fully immersive French language program based upon Olly Richard’s StoryLearning® methodology.

A brilliant supplementary tool for boosting listening skills & vocabulary in a highly engaging environment.

Bonjour, fellow Francophiles!

If you’re anything like us then you probably spend hours and hours on your smartphone every single day, scrolling through social media or frilling your time away on YouTube – we’re all guilty of it… But what if you could actually use this time to boost your French language skills?

In this day and age, there’s a ton of great language learning apps out there to get you up to speed fast by squeezing in extra language practice during your down time. And best of all, learning this way doesn’t have to be a chore. Gone are the days of boring textbooks, classroom teaching and grammar tables – we now live in the realm of gamified learning apps and personalised content, based upon real language acquisition research.

So come along and join us for the ride, as we walk you through what we consider to be the best apps for learning French, so you can save your time on those that are not all so great, and start reaping the benefits of those that are truly awesome. Convenient French learning from anywhere, incorporated into your busy lifestyle, is right here, at your fingertips!

On y va!

1. FrenchPod101

Best Overall – The Most Comprehensive App For Learning French

First on our list is FrenchPod101 – an app that’s stood the test of time for being one of the most comprehensive and engaging language courses on the market. The lessons consist of audio podcasts and youtube-style videos that are delivered by a variety of highly engaging native speakers.

FrenchPod101’s unique teaching methodology allows you to pick and choose from their massive library of lessons and curate your own syllabus from scratch, by filtering through all their structured learning pathways. Your progress is tracked and you’ll find a myriad of extra features to aid you in your learning – flashcards, full transcripts, lesson notes, vocab lists and more.

Click here to check out our full review of FrenchPod101.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 3/5

 4/5

2. French Uncovered

The Most Effective App For Learning French

French Uncovered is the birth child of polyglot, author and teacher Olly Richards. The course is based upon his unique StoryLearning® method that uses stories to suck you into an immersive learning environment. After each chapter there’s several thorough lessons from native speaker Diane, covering everything from grammar to pronunciation, starting with the obvious cognates from the text.

But not everything is explained! Olly is a true believer in immersion, strongly encouraging you to spend lots of time with the native audio and text, avoiding translation as much as possible. This way you can intuitively start to develop your own comprehension, whilst enjoying the story (which leaves you on a cliffhanger every chapter!)

Click here to check out our full review of French Uncovered.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 3/5

 5/5

 4/5

3. FluentU

Best App for Immersive Listening Practice

So far our top two apps are both fully comprehensive courses, however this one is a little different – FluentU is our top pick to improve your French listening skills and to widen your vocabulary. Whilst it is a little pricey, it’s integrated software is perfect for immersing you in a wide range of accents and authentic material. You can binge watch your way through French vlogs, music videos, speeches, TV ads and more.

The software works by allowing you to hover over the subtitles to get an instant translation, even add words to vocab lists or flash cards, and complete quizzes on your newly acquired vocabulary. It’s gamified app keeps track of your learning streak, and will remember what you’ve learnt, giving you an idea of how much you already know before starting a new video.

Click here to read our FluentU review.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 3/5

 4/5

4. HelloTalk

Best for Conversation Practice

One of the most effective methods for learning a new language is to simply get speaking with locals from day one – that’s why you’re learning in the first place, right? Even if you are miles away from a French speaking country, HelloTalk can pair you up with a native speaker for you to speak over text or voice call. Of course, you’d need to be at a level where you can have a daily fluent conversation, otherwise you’ll find yourself making the most of their built-in translator.

Italki works in a similar way, however italki is a paid service for one way tutoring only. A language exchange works both ways so HelloTalk puts you in contact with someone who wants to learn a language you already possess, be it English or Russian (for example). This way it works out much more cost effective – in fact, HelloTalk is completely free to use.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 5/5

 3/5

 4/5

5. Duolingo

Best Budget Option (and most fun!)

Not yet ready to invest in a structured course like French Uncovered or FrenchPod101? No problem! Duolingo’s mission is to make language learning available to everyone, for free, and it does a pretty good job at it. If you haven’t used it before, Duolingo is a well-designed app that teaches you new words and sentences through a series of gamified quizzes.

Whilst it does have occasional mistakes and there’s controversy regarding its effectiveness as a long term learning tool, it’s not bad for dipping your toes into the French language, and learning some basic phrases. Plus, it’s great fun and very motivating with it’s intuitive design and the ability to earn and spend ingots. For something that’s completely free, it’s not a bad option.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 5/5

 2/5

 5/5

Runners-up for Best App for Learning French:

Here’s some additional apps that didnt’t quite make it into our top 5 list, that are still worth considering:

Rocket French

Rocket French is another biggie, up there with FrenchClass101. It’s a complete course consisting of 3 levels, each containing 8 modules covering everything from grammar, vocab and French culture. What we love about Rocket French is that the lessons center around an authentic dialogue between native speakers, much like the more expensive & outdated Pimsleur. It then proceeds to involve you in the dialogue through its integrated voice recognition software & playback.

This way you get a chance to get some speaking practice and even correct your pronunciation, which is quite rare in a lot of online courses and language apps. The audio can also be downloaded to listen to offline which is very useful when away from wifi.

Click here to check out our full Rocket French review.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 3/5

 4/5

 3/5

Babbel

Babbel is a great alternative to Duolingo, with short 10-15 minute lessons. They teach through real conversations about everyday topics, and the app gets you speaking straight away with their voice recognition software.

Unfortunately, the course doesn’t have much content beyond the intermediate level, so for advanced speakers you’ll have to look elsewhere.However, for beginners it’s not a bad tool to get the basics of French grammar and get up to a basic working level in French.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 4/5

French Translator Dictionary +

It’s always useful to have a reliable dictionary when learning a new language. Nowadays, there’s loads of great dictionary apps that go beyond the old school brick you used to carry around with you. French Translator Dictionary + is a great option and is well worth having on your phone.

It’s free to download and works offline. When you search a word (by camera, voice or text) you’ll receive the verb conjugations, definition, example sentences, AND the ability to save words or add them to a flashcard deck to review later. Very cool.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 5/5

 4/5

The Mimic Method

Ok, we cheated a little on this one – it’s not strictly a mobile app, but it can at least be accessed via smartphone. The mimic method is our top choice for improving your French pronunciation. It doesn’t quite make it into our top five because of its hefty price tag and the fact that it doesn’t cover anything else beyond pronunciation.

However, what they do cover, they do very well. The course breaks down the French pronunciation into all it’s elementary sounds, visually showing you the exact way of making the correct sounds through diagrams, official IPA and voice clips. It’s a very systematic and thorough approach to correcting your French pronunciation.

Click here to check out our full review.

Pros

Cons

Price:

Effectiveness:

User Experience:

 3/5

 5/5

 4/5

The Best Apps For Learning French: Conclusion

So there you have it. We hope this list has given you lots of ideas of what’s out there for learning French. We recommend that you don’t just focus on one app or learning resource in isolation since they all have their flaws and will inevitably leave you lacking in one skill or another.

Instead, it’s a good idea to stick to one main course like FrenchPod101 or French Uncovered and to use the others as supplementary tools to aid your speaking (HelloTalk) and listening skills (FluentU).

Overall, the most important thing is to consistently practice in a way that works for you. Afterall, as the French proverb goes, c’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron!

Bonne chance!

Josiah Eyeington

Josiah is a digital nomad with a passion for language learning and adventure travel. He’s taught English as a foreign language for many years and is currently learning Georgian, French and Chinese.

French Uncovered Review (Story Learning)

Josiah Eyeington — Thu, 06 May 2021 11:15:59 +0000

Ahh, le français… arguably one of the most romantic languages in the whole world. Spoken by over 220 million people as their first or second language and the fifth most spoken language by total number of speakers. French is certainly an internationally accepted language and one that opens doors to over 29 different countries.

A quick internet search will yield many results for the best way to teach yourself French. Here at Language Tsar, our goal is to help you find the best, most effective way that’s tailored to you and your style of language learning. We are honest about the pros and cons of each course we review so that you can decide if it suits your learning style and language learning goals. With all that said, here’s our honest review of the Story Learning course French Uncovered.

Already made up your mind and looking for our link to a 7-day free trial of French Uncovered?

Overview: French Uncovered

French Uncovered is the brainchild of polyglot, language expert and author, Olly Richards. He developed a unique method of teaching foreign languages called Story Learning. Richards speaks fluent French and has used this method to help himself learn seven other languages. If it sounds like a fairly simple concept, that’s because it is!

Richards’ Story Learning method consists of 20 lessons based around the story, “L’Homme Au Chapeau,” (“The Man in the Hat”). The entire syllabus centers around this story as the ‘engine’ of French Uncovered, keeping you fueled and motivated throughout the course, ‘absorbing’ new language with a few nudges here and there to help you understand the key grammar and vocabulary.

Richards is assisted by Diane Sbihi, a native-French speaker with over 10 years of profesional teaching experience. Each of the 20 chapters is structured the same way with each new chapter building upon what you’ve already learnt. First, you are prompted to listen to the story audio whilst following along with the transcript, noting down any words that are somewhat familiar to you. Next, you’ll watch a series of videos and complete some interactive activities to break down the cognates (words that are similar to English), new vocabulary and important grammar. Finally, there’s some extra listening training, pronunciation training & speaking activities to do alone or with a tutor. All lesson notes, transcripts and MP3’s are fully downloadable to use offline whenever you please.

The program uses teachable as a teaching platform which works very well with it’s structured and methodical approach to learning. You are walked through each lesson in sequence, with some added bonus lessons at the beginning that covers such things as French culture, native speed audio recordings, and how to find a language tutor.

Additionally, you will find French Uncovered offers:

Over 100 hours of lesson content
Grammar and literacy-based studies
A four-step immersive learning experience (as opposed to memorization)
A mixed passive approach to language learning, combined with expert tuition
End of chapter progress reports to receive feedback

So what is this four-step magic approach to language learning?

Learning through stories, dialogue and transcripts combined with audio is nothing new. Several language courses & textbooks follow this exact approach and it’s proven to be very effective. Lots of research shows that “input-based” methods (i.e. immersion) reliably outperform traditional study. For example, one 2014 study in Spain demonstrated that this teaching style worked roughly six times faster than traditional methods. We’ll go into more detail into how this method works throughout the review.

For now, let’s take a birds eye view of the four main steps of the French Uncovered methodology:

Step 1: Immerse

Step 2: Learn

Step 3: Consolidate

Step 4: Activate

Step 1: Immerse

Step 2: Learn

Step 3: Consolidate

Step 4: Activate

So how does French Uncovered stack up among competitors?

We’ve put it through its paces as a serious contender to learning beginner French, and we’ve reached our final verdict.

Whilst there are many brilliant competitors that could perhaps rival this program, there are none out there quite like French Uncovered. With it’s engaging storytelling and clever psychological techniques, you’ll struggle to find another language course that has quite as much care and thought put into it as this one. We admit the price point is a little steep (you’ll definitely find cheaper elsewhere) but given the amount of high quality content that is all fully downloadable and professionally edited we feel French Uncovered is totally worth it. It’s an excellent resource for complete beginners and above who are looking for alternatives from the traditional textbook approach. With a 30-day money back guarantee there’s really nothing to lose.

Read on for a more in-depth review of French Uncovered (with comparisons to competitors).

French Uncovered: PROS

Pro #1 Detailed Explanations

It might be reasonable to assume that Olly Richards’ Story Learning method is vaguer than a structured language learning program, but Richards and Moreno deliver thorough grammar, vocabulary and cultural explanations throughout the lessons. Generally, we find detailed explanations lacking on many other programs, but French Uncovered has you covered with detailed videos that cover all the nuances of the language in a concise and fast paced manner. It’s designed specifically for an English speaker with lots of clever psychological tricks and tips to help you memorise certain words and grammar effectively.

Pro #2 Unique Story Learning Method

Each chapter complements the next like clockwork, keeping you engaged and motivated to continue. Each new lesson gives you the next chapter of the story along with the accompanying vocabulary, grammar and culture lessons. Some language learning programs use traditional classroom teaching methods that can easily lead to boredom, with disjoined topics and isolated themes that are not at all memorable. Others gamify learning to make things fun, but lack on explanations. Richards’ method is truly unlike any other in that it operates around a fun concept, a story, with explanations.

Here’s how it works. The affective filter hypothesis is the idea that you can learn more effectively if you are in a more emotional state than not. Stories not only engage our emotions but they expose you to a massive amount of new vocabulary with the same words cropping up again and again. Through context, your brain starts automatically piecing together the meaning of specific words, even if you haven’t learnt them yet and can only understand a fraction of what’s being said. Unlike learning rules and translating in your head, stories engage your brain in a whole new way, they are the universal method that all children naturally engage with when learning a language and our brains are naturally wired to adopt this type of learning.

In short, it works. And there’s a ton of research to back that up.

Pro #3 Quality Video and Learning Materials

You will learn from professional videos and comprehensive study materials. This course aligns with the CEFR (Common European Framework for Reference) A0-B1, or complete beginner to low-intermediate learner. This means that as an absolute beginner, French Uncovered will give you a solid foundation to your French studies.

Pro #4 Friendly Approach

When going through the videos and completing the exercises I really felt like I was being helped by a close friend rather than a distant language teacher. The care and attention to detail really shines through with Diane (the course tutor) really going out of her way to explain any misconceptions and keep everything very clear and concise, whilst also being interesting and engaging.

French Uncovered: CONS

Con #1 Limited Speaking Practice

Unlike a lot of other programs, French Uncovered does not offer any voice-recording activities that allow you to practice speaking and pronunciation. There is a Speaking module in each chapter, but it only consists of a printable PDF that you can read with another French student or instructor. So a further investment into a language tutor is necessary or at least highly recommended, as with most language courses.

Con #2 Predictable Lessons

All of the lessons consist of the same structure, and this can feel repetitive and monotonous. Some lesson introductions and explanations are drawn out longer than they need to be. This left us spacing out somewhat, and occasionally lacking motivation to move forward in the lesson.

Con #3 Higher Price Point

French Uncovered seems like a large investment when compared with other language-learning programs. There is just a one-time fee to purchase the program, unlike the subscription fees charged by other programs. This heavy investment upfront can be a tough pill to swallow for those who prefer small, monthly payments.

Who is French Uncovered For?

French Uncovered is designed to give beginners a good start in learning to speak French. Whether you are just starting out with little knowledge of the French language or you have some French phrases memorized, French Uncovered can help you take it further. Additionally, those who are taking a high school or college French course may find French Uncovered to be a unique supplemental program.

Who is French Uncovered NOT For?

French Uncovered would be considered overkill for someone who just wants to learn simple French to get around for travel or business purposes. If you are not committed to learning to speak French fluently, you might want to find a less-expensive alternative.

Likewise, for anyone who is at an intermediate level and above, we recommend you look elsewhere. This program won’t be sufficient for higher levels and you’ll find that you already know most of the content being taught.

French Uncovered Features

French Uncovered is fairly user-friendly, but you will want to watch Richards’ introduction and welcome video. Here, he gives you an idea how to go about using the program. This is helpful because you are responsible for making sure your progress is recorded.

Story Chapters

Each chapter of the story features a chapter syllabus and that chapter’s text and audio file. There are six additional modules covering vocabulary, pronunciation and culture, as well as a chapter quiz to find out how well you understood the materials.

Chapter Modules

Each chapter lesson or module contains videos instructing you on new vocabulary, how to pronounce your French words, key cultural points and grammar rules specific to the chapter reading. As noted, there is a lesson on speaking, but it only consists of text to print and practice with another student or instructor.

Chapter Quizzes and Progress Reports

The idea of being quizzed on each chapter is a good one, but we don’t feel the quizzes cover enough of the chapter to be considered effective. Progress reports, on the other hand, allow you to ask questions and receive feedback from your instructors. This is a feature rarely seen with other programs.

Chapter Bonus Lessons

The bonus lessons generally do not have anything to do with the story, but can give you valuable cultural information. You might also learn some quirky customs of the French and other useful, if not necessary, information. These lessons are available as text, video and audio.

Comparing French Uncovered to Alternative Programs

French Uncovered vs. Duolingo French

Duolingo French is one of those gamified programs we mentioned. Free to use, Duolingo consists of a series of multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, arrange-the-words, and speaking activities. A cute owl oversees your progress, and you earn lingots after advancing through the levels. We still don’t see much use for them, but it can be a fun, if useless, motivational factor.

Though you may find yourself enjoying time spent on Duolingo, there is no consistent structure to its course. You will find little in the way of grammar, pronunciation or cultural lessons. At times, we walked away without remembering what we just studied (not unlike time spent on video games). All in all, we feel Duolingo doesn’t even come close to French uncovered, and is best used as a supplemental resource (at best) to enhance your French vocabulary.

French Uncovered vs. Pimsleur French

Pimsleur French uses the Pimsleur Method and promises you will speak French at an intermediate level within 30 days with 30 minutes of daily study. This organic method of learning relies mostly on listening to podcasts. You are expected to simply listen and learn French in the same way you learned your native language. There is little in the way of culture or grammar lessons and these are expected to just develop with time and use. Pimsleur is available for a monthly subscription fee.

French Uncovered vs. FrenchPod101

FrenchPod101 is one of the more comprehensive language-learning programs designed by Innovative Language. You will find a variety of podcasts, video lessons, transcripts, learning activities and voice-recording games to help solidify French in your memory. There are multiple learning pathways to choose from including the structured, CEFR-aligned guided pathway.

FrenchPod101 can be ideal for both casual and serious learners alike. There are five levels of expertise from absolute beginner to advanced speaker and three-monthly subscription levels to choose from. This course offers students a more standard approach to language learning with a wide range of customizable learning pathways.

Unlike French Uncovered, FrenchPod101 allows you to jump around and design your own syllabus from the ground up. Whilst this comes with its pros (being highly customizable and focused on your interests), it lacks a methodical structure that can leave you feeling lost and unable to track your progress long term.

How Much Does French Uncovered Cost?

As with other Story Learning courses, there is a one-time fee of $297 to purchase French Uncovered. Unlike many other programs, there is no monthly subscription fee to worry about. After payment is received, you have access to the materials forever. You can download and print whatever you need.

You also get a 30-day guarantee, which means you can try out the program and get your money back if you are not satisfied. The cost of French Uncovered may seem excessive when compared with other programs, but because you aren’t paying monthly, you do not have to worry about wasting time or getting your “money’s worth.”

After completing French Uncovered, you can try Richards’ intermediate courses, Grammar Hero and Conversations. Grammar Hero teaches you how to think in French instead of trying to translate in your head, while Conversations helps you learn to better understand normal-speed French conversations.

Is French Uncovered Worth It? Our Thoughts

All in all, we like French Uncovered. It offers a unique way to learn or supplement your French studies. The price point is a bit on the high side, so we would only recommend this product to serious French students who want to become fluent speakers.

At times, the lessons can feel a bit boring, but Richards and team are great at making you feel welcome. It almost feels as if you are being taught by a dear, old friend. Richards’ StoryLearning method works for serious students, and he can attest to that. After all, your instructor speaks eight different languages!

Interested in giving French Uncovered a go? Click below for a free 7-day trial.

Josiah Eyeington

Josiah is a digital nomad with a passion for language learning and adventure travel. He’s taught English as a foreign language for many years and is currently learning Georgian, French and Chinese.

The Fastest Way To Learn French: 10 Tips To Help You Learn French Fast

Nikolija Grozdanovic — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 08:55:03 +0000

If you are looking for the fastest way to learn French, you have come to the right place! This article will help you set high yet realistic goals, maintain motivation, become consistent and avoid procrastination, combine learning methods to achieve greater results, and give you some ideas on how to spice up your learning style.

One of the biggest reasons people give up learning French is great expectations combined with a lack of consistent learning. As you might expect, your motivation to learn a language tends to be the highest at the start.

You may even have a picturesque vision of yourself, sipping red wine, enjoying a view from a Parisian rooftop, and speaking casually with the stranger about art. But, there’s a long way between your dream and reality. Having a romantic picture in your head will surely boost your motivation, but unless there is consistent and methodical learning behind it, you’ll end up like Joey from Friends. And we won’t let you quit so soon.

If you are less of a dreamer, you may be doing extensive research to find out the answer to the question: Is French hard to learn? Find out in our analysis here:

Is French Hard to Learn?

With that covered, it’s time to face your expectations and put your goals into action.

1. Set achievable and realistic goals

To set a realistic goal there are some questions you should be asking yourself first. Think about the reason you are learning a language.

Is it traveling, reading books, business, connecting with friends? Your answers will help you determine the path you want to take, and how far you want to go. Specific goals are easier to achieve than vague ones. Make sure to know precisely what you want first.

To decide if a goal is realistic, you must know how it could be achieved. Signifying that, you’ll need to break the goal into small steps. Make daily, weekly, and even monthly plans.

Being an independent learner is challenging because sometimes you need to play both roles, one of a student and one of a teacher. Before you hit the books, give yourself assignments and set up an achievable plan.

2. Write your goals down

Neuroscience explains that writing your goals down on paper helps their achievement. That’s why you should be taking the time to write them down attentively. Don’t let your precious piece of paper get covered with a pile of other things. Be aware that the importance you give to making a list could reflect your willingness to achieve it. Use a clear intention of what do you want to achieve, write thoughtfully, and at the end, make your goals visible by putting the list on your desk, bathroom mirror, computer desk as a constant reminder.

3. Discover what kind of language learner are you

Now, that you have set measurable and realistic goals, you’ll need to figure out what kind of learner you are. Each person takes in information differently. That’s why different formats appear all the time, books, newspapers, video, music, pictures. We could divide all the learners into three main categories, Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic learners.

If you enjoy doodling on paper or taking notes, this could mean you are soaking in all the information through sight. In that case, choose the material that consists of text, videos with subtitles, notes, projecting maps, and images. Visual learners appreciate colors, so make sure to bring some colorful notes and highlighters. You might also want to get a visual dictionary if you are just starting out.

If you enjoy talking with people or attending live classes, perhaps you are an auditory type. Supply yourself with enough audio material, such as podcasts, songs, Ted talks etc. Podcasts are incredibly convenient because they enable you to learn while you commute or clean the house.

Read our picks for the Best Podcasts in French.

Kinesthetic learners like to engage in an activity to understand the meaning. They might enjoy speaking with French speakers, performing a task, experiencing French through specific assignments. If you are an online shopper, perhaps you could try looking for items in French or read the specifications or reviews. If you like cooking, try out a new recipe and learn all the ingredients in French.

An important thing to remember is that no matter what learning type you are, at a certain point you’ll need to study in all different ways, so your language skills develop evenly. The best value comes when bringing multiple methods together.

4. Get consistent

We all know that studying hastily for an exam, or one single occasion, isn’t enough to be transferred in a long-term memory. Language learning is no different. Revising regularly what you learned, in spaced repetition allows you to activate your knowledge. Each time you revise, you’ll need less time to remember.

Being consistent is one of the greatest challenges, because of many factors trying to pull you back from building a new habit. The art of showing up is the first thing you should be establishing, and at times, it’s more important than the act of learning itself. Plan your learning ahead and be there when the studying time comes. With the internet and all other distractions of the world, we easily find ourselves procrastinating. Remember that the moment you say to yourself, “l could do it later”, you weakened your will for the next time.

To keep your learning consistent, offline and online courses are of great help. Before anything else, they offer a firm structure that leads progressively to improvement. A significant advantage is that it saves time, since all content and exercises are ready to be consumed. In most courses, revisions are included, allowing you to revise in different ways, through writing or listening exercises, role-play etc.

One of the most thorough courses we found is FrenchPod101 by Innovative Language. It offers four levels of expertise from absolute beginner through the advanced speaker. There are audio and video lessons, interactive learning tools, and even one-on-one instruction available. To find more about the course, check our review of French Pod101.

Another great course is Rocket French from Rocket Languages. The course is well-structured and material is comprehensive. We found it to be a good option for people already enrolled in a high school or university French course.

5. Journaling in French

The act of writing itself is utile as a memory-enhancing activity. It allows you to build a closer relationship with the content, and it gives one additional processing layer that your brain goes through. Expressing your emotions and daily thoughts in French, allows your brain to engage, and when your brain engages, it remembers.

Journaling is profoundly personal and could be about anything: your day at work, the book you read, your daily routines, a chat with a friend. Marie Curie’s journals are all about her discoveries in the radioactivity field. Make your journal about something you feel passionate about.

The point is to practice thinking in French, by having regular thoughts. Nothing else. Instead of textbooks or other people’s content, create content out of your ideas. After all, it’s you who will be speaking a language, and talking about your personal ideas and feelings, so you might include French, in your thinking process as soon as possible. It’s about adapting a language to who you are, and not vice versa. At first, you’ll be frustrated as all sentences come in your mother tongue, but once you establish this routine, you’ll see how your passive knowledge is showing up on the surface.

6. Combine methods to learn pronunciation

It is quite normal to lead language battles on several fronts when starting to learn French. It takes time to master the pronunciation and even more time to train your ear. Many learners get disappointed when they realize their inability to get even simple words in French. The same ones they already went through thousands of times.

The French language has many pronunciation specificities, such as nasal vowels, plenty of homophones, peculiar writing systems, unpronounced e’s, and much more. One of the most challenging aspects is called a liaison, or linking sounds, that makes it hard to determine where one word ends and the next one begins. Knowing the word is no guarantee that you’ll be able to understand in oral communication.

When it comes to pronunciation and oral understanding, we suggest combining different learning methods to achieve the best results. Try out understanding the rules, listening to tutorials, practicing in front of the mirror, listening to native speakers, completing listening exercises.

Keep in mind that for certain things in French, no matter how hard you try to learn, will need time. Be gentle on yourself and allow the pronunciation to stick naturally.

7. Name every item around you in French

For the basic vocabulary, this game might be useful: try naming everything at your reach. Whether it’s kitchen, office, street, your wardrobe.

This way you’ll be learning necessary vocabulary while engaging with the given item. If you want to move a game to another level, label every item in the room in French, using sticky notes. It’s less practical, but it is fun and most importantly, useful for remembering difficult vocabulary.

8. Lead a French language lifestyle

This means if it’s raining in Paris, grab an umbrella when leaving the house. Surround yourself with daily things you usually read, do and listen to, all in French. If you are an online buyer, then browse in French. If you are trying out a new cake recipe, why not choosing French “tarte”. Following a French recipe will help you get familiar with the ingredients related vocabulary, and connect with the French culture on many levels. Most importantly, leading a French lifestyle will keep you motivated. You’ll be bouncing off the walls to learn more French.

9. Connect with French community

Find where French people hang out and join them. Perhaps this would have been science fiction thirty years ago, but today with the internet, forums, Facebook groups, and apps, you already have one foot in France. Start by asking a question, replying to someone’s message, or find a language pall. There are plenty of places to do so. Let’s name a Tandem application, a language learning app for finding a partner that will help you practice any language. In exchange, you’ll be helping them learn any of the languages you speak fluently. Everyone wins, and you might end up with a couple of new friends. If you are lucky to have a French institute in your city, don’t miss a chance to connect in the offline world. They often organize events for people to meet, discuss and discover French cultural heritage in a fun and engaging way.

10. Realize that not understanding is okay

Oh, la la ! Je ne comprends pas.

The soonest you apprehend the fact you won’t be able to understand everything, (even as a C1 fluent speaker) the sooner you’ll allow yourself to progress. Having a more relaxed mindset, will allow you to advance more naturally, and keep your motivation flying high. Global understanding is more relevant than going into detail. Particularly at the beginning. Remember that your mother didn’t rush you to say your first words, nor to take your first steps. It all came naturally, out of a loving and supporting place.

Nikolija Grozdanovic

Nikolija has been an avid language learner for many years. She became a language teacher, and more recently realized she wants to explore how being a creative learner helps you acquire a new language. Her most recent project was developing a textbook for learning French language (B1) through storytelling and creative projects.

Rocket French Review

Michael — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 12:02:12 +0000

This Rocket French Review is current as of October 21st, 2021, and covers the 2021 version of Rocket French.

With over 270 million French speakers worldwide, this is a great language to learn for travel, business or culture (read: French cuisine).

When learning to speak a foreign language, finding the right program is key to your success. There are tons of language-learning programs out there that claim to be the best, whether the most fun, fastest, or most comprehensive. If you are considering learning to speak French, check out our honest review for Rocket French, by Rocket Languages.

Rocket French Review: Overview

Rocket French is a language-learning program for desktop and mobile devices. There are three total levels of the course, and each level includes about eight modules. The lessons consist of French podcasts that can be downloaded. You can also find a variety of learning tools and activities to assist you with your learning. The complete Rocket French course includes:

Practice speaking, writing, reading and listening
Real world, practical conversations
Voice-recording to perfect pronunciation
Cultural lessons and language tips
Quizzes at the end of each lesson to test your knowledge

What we LOVE about Rocket French

Pro #1: Comprehensive Courses

If you complete the entire three levels, you could go from an absolute beginner to intermediate French speaker. The audio lessons are relevant to today’s world including topics like relationships, sports and literature. There are over 120 hours of lessons for each level with learning games and activities to assist. There are also lessons that focus on aspects of French culture (see screenshot below).

Pro #2: One-Time Payment

Many language-learning programs charge a monthly subscription fee. We like that Rocket Languages is sold by the course. Purchase Level 1, Levels 1 and 2, or all three Levels depending on how far you want to take your learning. Once you pay the one-time fee, you have lifetime access to the courses.

Pro #3: Simple User-Interface

Upon logging into Rocket French, you will notice that there isn’t much to it. Literally. After getting over the “is that all there is?” feeling, you will realize that everything you need is right there in one spot. It is super-easy to figure out where to start or continue your lessons, activities or quizzes. Other programs can sometimes be confusing to navigate.

What we do NOT LIKE about Rocket French?

Con #1: Lessons can sometimes feel Tedious

Though we felt the lessons were relevant and up-to-date with modern times, they can be a bit tedious and even boring at times. We understand that the instructors need to move slowly, and this is helpful. However, it can also be the reason your mind wanders down other paths while trying to learn. A highly-motivated learner might be able to push through this small detail.

Con #2: Voice-Recording Inaccuracies

Though recent upgrades have been made, the voice-recording is not always accurate. We feel that it can score you lower or higher than it actually should. Though this isn’t a huge deal, you simply can’t count on it for complete accuracy of your pronunciation.

Features of Rocket French

Dashboard

The dashboard is the first page you see upon log-in. Here, you can easily access your audio lessons, language and cultural lessons, Survival Kit, and reinforcement activities. You can also find your point balance — updated with each use — and find your spot on the leaderboard. This ranks you among the other French learners based on your points balance.

Audio Lessons

The audio-only lessons can be streamed or downloaded for later use. Each lesson lasts about 15 minutes and requires your participation in speaking. The words are at the bottom of the screen, so you can follow along and read what you are speaking. After completing your lessons, you can move on to the exercises to help solidify what you just went over.

Reinforcement Exercises

These exercises include Hear It!/Say It!, Write It! And Know It! This gives you one of the widest varieties for practice among all programs. You get listening, speaking, writing, and reading practice. However, there is little variation among the exercises within each level, so they can feel repetitive.

Survival Kit

The Survival Kit and review lessons go over pertinent information that you might require in a short time. These quick lessons cover things like the days of the week, emergency situations, and common travel phrases. These lessons are ideal for those who may need a quick refresher or even new phrases for travel.

Who Would Benefit from Rocket French?

Because of the nature of teaching yourself a foreign language, it is difficult to label one program as good for everyone. Those who would most benefit from a program like Rocket French include those who:

are highly motivated students
plan to become fluent-French speakers
need to know some quick phrases for work or travel in the near future

Who Would NOT Benefit from Rocket French?

On the other hand, there are those who may find learning to speak French more difficult this way. Individuals who might not benefit from using Rocket French include those who:

thrive in a classroom environment
require feedback from instructors
already speak French but want advanced learning

Rocket French Competiors

Rocket French vs. Pimsleur French

Pimsleur French is also a monthly-subscription language-learning program based solely on listening and repeating what you hear. Pimsleur claims that this style of learning is the most organic — just like how you learned your native tongue. The audio files can also be downloaded and used whenever it’s convenient. There is little in the way of reading, writing, or grammar lessons with Pimsleur.

Rocket French vs. FrenchPod101

FrenchPod101 is a comprehensive program that features French podcasts, video lessons, and a range of learning tools to assist. Each lesson comes with detailed transcripts you can print out to go over when it’s easiest for you. This program has four monthly subscription levels including a free option.

Rocket French vs. Glossika

Glossika is an audio-only program in which you simply listen to sentences and repeat what you hear. Like Pimsleur, it focuses on learning a language the way you learned your native language. Glossika does not spend a lot of time on cognates, or words that are similarly spelled in both French and English. Instead, the focus is on everyday language and important words you can use.

Rocket French Pricing

Level 1 — Beginner to Intermediate

Pay a one-time fee of $149.95 and you get instant lifetime access to:

Voice-recognition for 2,666 phrases
134 hours of lessons
34 interactive audio lessons
Survival Kit Bonus

Click here to save $50 on Level 1 and pay only $99.95

Level 1 & 2 — Beginner to Advanced

Pay a one-time fee of $299.90 and you get instant lifetime access to:

Voice-recognition for 5,807 phrases
244 hours of lessons
66 interactive audio lessons
2 Survival Kit Bonuses

Click here to save $50 on Levels 1 & 2 and pay only $249.90

Level 1, 2 & 3 — Beginner to Advanced

Pay a one-time fee of $449.85 and you get instant lifetime access to:

Voice-recognition for 10,004 phrases
370 hours of lessons
98 interactive audio lessons
3 Survival Kit Bonuses

Click here to save a huge $189.95 on Levels 1, 2 & 3 and pay only $259.90

**Enter Coupon Code ROCKETDEAL at checkout.

Rocket French Review Conclusion

All in all, Rocket French offers a comprehensive program for those just beginning to learn to speak French. While we might not recommend this as your sole language-learning system, it is definitely a great asset to have for French study. The lessons material is solid, however it can become a bit monotonous at times. That said, those who truly want to learn the language should be able to deal with this. You can find coupons available effectively lowering the price point as well, making it a good deal for a beginner French learner.

If you’re unsure if it’s for you, Rocket French offers a free trial here.

Michael

Michael has been an avid language learner and traveler for many years. His goal with LanguageTsar is to discover the most fun and effective ways to learn a language. He is currently learning Japanese, French and Indonesian.

languagetsar.com/

The Best Podcasts to Learn French

Editorial Team — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 01:32:41 +0000

You want to begin studying French, but finding the best podcast to learn French can feel overwhelming with the vast number of programs available. Today, we are going to discuss the benefits of using Podcasts for learning a language, and help you choose the best podcasts to learn French!

What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are simply digital recordings that can be downloaded to individual devices. Originally, they were used for those with niche interests to share information with others. Now, podcasts are available for nearly every major news networks, radios, classrooms, and yes, even for learning to speak French.

Why Choose the Best Podcast to Learn French?

There are many benefits to choosing French-learning podcasts. Because you can download them to your personal devices, you can listen to them in the car, on the train, or in any other downtime situation. They offer the flexibility of enhancing your studies anywhere you go and at your own pace. A few other benefits of podcasts include:

You set the learning pace by listening as often as you need and controlling the flow of information
They are easy-to-use and oftentimes, free
They can be quite entertaining
They have proven to be an effective learning mechanism
Podcasts are easy to add to an existing learning program
The best French-learning podcasts are professionally recorded and include transcripts

15 of the Best Podcasts to Learn French

Of course, we would never suggest a new learning method without giving it a thorough review. Up next, will find the 15 best French-learning podcasts available. Read on!

1. Daily French Pod

Best French Podcast for Intermediate Speakers

Daily FrenchPod podcasts are all free and produced in Paris by instructors who studied at French universities and hold a master’s degree in French as a foreign language. Each podcast begins with a 30-second advertisement, and then the instructor introduces him- or herself and explains what will happen next.

The instructor reads the topic sentence at a normal speed. After that, he will break down the sentence into smaller sections, further enunciating the words. He will also give alternative uses and examples for the words.

Both the French and English versions of the topic sentence are displayed on your desktop screen so you can quickly refer to what is being said and its meaning. There are new topic sentences added each day and they are about five-minutes long.

Daily French Pod Website

View on Apple Podcasts

2. FrenchPod101

Best French Podcast for Variety of Learning Methods

FrenchPod101 offers users a free account with the first three lessons in each learning pathway included. To get more involved, you will have to upgrade to a paid subscription. There are four levels of expertise, so no matter where you are at with your French, you should find an appropriate level to start.

Read our full review of FrenchPod101 here.

There are sometimes up to three instructors, and between their banter, it can take up to two and a half minutes to begin a lesson. They first speak at regular speed and then slow it down adding personal notes or stories to the lessons. Transcripts are available on higher, paid levels.

FrenchPod101 Website

View on Apple Podcasts

3. Coffee Break French

Best French Podcast for Absolute Beginners

Coffee Break French is a paid program featuring “Mark” as the instructor and “Anna” along with you as students. Imagine talking to an old friend in a coffee shop while learning French.

Designed for newbies, this program offers 40 lessons with extensive lesson notes that each last 15-20 minutes. It is not your standard “listen and repeat” learning system. Instead, it offers a solid pedagogy in French covering common scenarios like travel, buying things, ordering food, checking into your hotel, and handling emergencies.

Coffee Break French Website

View on Apple Podcasts

4. News In Slow French

Best Podcast for Up-to-Date News in French

News in Slow French is just what it says it is—the news in slow French. Intermediate and advanced speakers can pick up nearly anywhere in the program and get along just fine. Beginners can start with the G.U.T.S. (Get Up To Speed) course designed to solidify the basics for beginners.

Podcast subjects vary greatly and include politics, world news, science, technology, arts, culture and trending news. Each podcast moves at a snail’s pace—even the intermediate and advanced ones. Transcripts are listed below the podcast so you can easily follow along. There is a free seven-day trial period.

News in Slow French

View on Apple Podcasts

5. Learn French by Podcast

Best French Podcast for Self-Study

Learn French by Podcast has two parts for each lesson; a podcast and a lesson guide. Both can be downloaded to your personal devices. The lesson guide contains the full transcript of the audio file, exercises to try on your own, detailed language analysis, and a comprehensive vocabulary list. There are a total of 202 lessons at the current time.

Each lesson costs one credit and each credit cost one dollar. You can purchase all 202 lessons for $100. Once you have purchased your credits, you can begin downloading lessons. You can start out as a beginner, intermediate or advanced speaker and the amount of English used is reduced on the higher levels.

Learn French by Podcast

View on Apple Podcasts

6. Français Authentique

Best French Podcast for Advanced Learners

Français Authentique is run by Johan Tefkak. There is a paid monthly subscription as well as a free podcast. Subscribers have access to discussion groups along with their online courses. Only French is spoken in the podcasts.

Each podcast lasts about 15 minutes and centers upon a single French phrase or expression which Tefkak breaks down and slowly explains. He also gives examples of how the phrase can be used. Ideally, this course is for those who already know some French and want to learn more with idioms, vocabulary and enhance fluency.

Français Authentique

View on Apple Podcasts

7. One Thing in a French Day

Best French Podcast for Listening Comprehension

One Thing in a French Day is Laetitia’s, a French woman in Paris, thrice-weekly podcasts about things happening in her day. Each podcast is just three to five minutes long and completely in French. She speaks at a regular speed, but her enunciation is on par with French course instructors’.

This podcast is ideal for those who already speak some French and want to become more fluent. You will also grow your vocabulary and enhance listening comprehension. If you sign up for her monthly newsletter for just $6, you can get transcripts of all her podcasts.

One Thing in a French Day

View on Apple Podcasts

8. Learn French with Alexa

Best French Podcast for Building Vocabulary

No, it isn’t the same Alexa that turns your lights on and off. Our Learn French with Alexa is a native-speaking French teacher, and likewise, her podcasts feel like you’re being taught by, well, a teacher. She guides the listener, asks you to repeat when necessary, and announces what will be coming up.

There are about 15 free podcasts and listening to the rest will require a paid subscription. However, your subscription includes lessons, learning materials, and other resources to help you learn French.

Learn French with Alexa

View on Apple Podcasts

9. Easy French Poetry

Best Podcast for Poetry and French Culture Lovers

If you are already speaking some French and adore French poetry, then Easy French Poetry is a great way to tie these two together. Unfortunately, you will not find much in-depth French here, so we would mostly recommend this as a fun hobby when you have time.

The podcasts consist of reading a French poem very slowly twice. That is it. You can find the transcripts on the website if you would like to read along. The very nature of poetry and the use of wordplay is another reason this should be considered an “extra” in the course of learning.

Easy French Poetry

View on Apple Podcasts

10. Journal en français facile

Best Podcast for French Radio

Journal en français facile is a podcast that airs over Radio France Internationale. It is a newscast in which native French speakers talk at regular speed. It can sometimes prove difficult for even advanced speakers to keep up.

However, the newscasters do a great job of enunciating and they use up-to-date vocabulary. The best thing is that the podcast is free and you can download transcripts to help with translation issues later.

Journal en français facile

View on Apple Podcasts

11. French Voices Podcast

Best Podcast for French Conversation

French Voices Podcast is a series of interviews with various people by the host, Jessica. Each interview is briefly introduced and summarized in English and the questions and answers are completely spoken in French.

You can listen to the podcast for free for interesting information you may not have otherwise heard. Jessica interviews a French grad student studying magnets, a French driving teacher, and a French physicist. If you would like to purchase transcripts, they are available on the website.

French Voices Podcast

View on Apple Podcasts

12. Je French

Best Podcast for French Grammar

Je French offers beginners a solid foundation of French vocabulary, common expressions, verbs, nouns and pronunciation. All lessons are taught by native French speakers, so you are hearing the authentic language.

Lessons are taught by reading French sentences aloud and translating them into English. Then the instructors speak in English with tips or to tell you how the phrase you learned might be used. Basic lessons are free podcasts, and if you want to move up to weekly lessons, you must have a paid subscription.

Je French

View on Apple Podcasts

13. One Minute French

Best French Podcast for Those who are Pressed for Time

The name is a bit deceiving as One Minute French actually consists of podcasts lasting an average of two to four minutes. Don’t let that fool you as they pack quite a punch in that short time.

Pierre-Benoit takes you through the basics of learning to speak French in these quick lessons. You will learn basic information to converse while on holiday or on a business trip. With such fast lessons, there is truly no excuse NOT to learn.

One Minute French

View on Apple Podcasts

14. Learn Out Loud: French Survival Podcast

Best French Podcast for Those who like to Prepare

Learn Out Loud: French Survival Podcast offers users a quick way to learn the basics in life or death situations. If you are pressed for time but will be in a French-speaking country, this podcast is a must.

During the quick podcasts, the instructor repeats each phrase a number of times to help you drill it into your memory. He will also break it down and help you to enunciate the words just like a native speaker would. You will also learn simple phrases like “Thank you” and “You’re Welcome.”

Learn Out Loud: French Survival Podcast

View on Apple Podcasts

15. InnerFrench

Best French Podcast for Those Seeking Fluency

InnerFrench is hosted by Hugo, and he makes it quite clear that he wants you to think in French as a key to learning it. He is very easy to follow and offers two free 30-minute podcasts per month.

Hugo offers insight into French culture, mentality and daily life. You can find free transcripts available to help you follow along.

InnerFrench

View on Apple Podcasts

There you have it! The 15 Best Podcasts to Learn French. Try a few out and let us know which one was your favorite.

Is French Hard to Learn?

Michael — Wed, 13 May 2020 03:38:25 +0000

Trying to figure out whether any language is difficult is highly dependent on the individual learning. Subjective factors including the student’s native language, number of other languages spoken, and personal motivation all play a part in determining a language’s difficulty.

It can be hard to call any language harder or easier to learn than another, but we will attempt in this article to answer the age old question: “how hard is French to learn?”

How Hard is it to Learn French?

The French language is placed by the Defense Languages Institute into Category I (out of IV) for language difficulty.

French is an Indo-European language just like English, but it is a Romance language descended from Vulgar Latin. Still, both French and English descended from a common ancestor and therefore have some similarities. It is likely that native English speakers might think learning French is easier than speakers of other languages.

Let’s begin by going over some reasons students might think French is difficult to learn. We will also discuss how French might be easy to learn, as well as compare it to languages that are broadly considered difficult.

Why French is Difficult to Learn

The following are some reasons why French can seem difficult to learn.

Pronunciation

French pronunciation tends to be much softer than English. It can be hard for the native English speaker to train himself to make these totally new sounds.

Grammar

French grammar is different from English grammar, and this reason alone makes it difficult for new students. Adjusting to new rules takes some time.

Noun Gender

Unlike English, French nouns are masculine or feminine. Definite articles include le (M), la (F) and les (plural). Indefinite articles will vary with noun gender as well. There are no set rules as to why a noun takes a certain gender, so these must be memorized.

Speaking

French words sound like they are all mashed into one. Though it sounds much prettier than English, it can be hard to decipher where one word ends and the next begins.

Ways in Which French is Easy to Learn

On the other hand, French can seem easy to learn, too. The French language shares the same alphabet and quite a few cognates with English so you don’t need to learn new letters or completely new vocabulary.

Structured Spelling

English can be quite confusing if you are not a native speaker. French spellings are much more structured and therefore easier to learn. For example, there are many cases in English of words like moon and book that are both spelled with oo but sound completely different. French words that use the same vowels sound alike.

Conjugation Patterns

There is a pattern for conjugating French verbs, both regular and irregular. Conjugation can seem quite difficult at first, but once you know the pattern it becomes easier.

Cognates

As mentioned French and English share quite a few cognates since they are both Indo-European languages. Cognates are words that mean the same thing and are spelled similarly in different languages. For example, the French biologie is biology in English.

How does French Compare to Other Difficult Languages

Because language learning depends on a variety of subjective variables, it is difficult to definitively answer the question “is French hard to learn?” When considering other languages like Russian or Chinese, two of the DLI’s Category IV languages, you can see how French can be perceived as easier to learn.

The Russian languages uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which is almost completely different from the Latin alphabet used by French and English. Likewise, the Chinese language uses 2400 basic characters that are nothing like the Latin Alphabet. Learning Russian or Chinese is like learning a completely new concept, whereas learning French has some familiar ideas with it.

How Long Does it Take to Learn French

There are many factors that determine how long it takes to learn to speak French. From the type of course the learner are enrolled in to the native language of the learner. French may be easier for an English or Spanish speaker to pick up than it would be for a Chinese speaker because they are more similar. A few other factors include:

Learner’s motivation
Amount of time spent studying
Intensity and length of the class

How Long Does it Take to Speak Fluent French?

Becoming completely fluent in French can take up to five years, but this is not guaranteed. Fluency can be affected by a number of factors, but mostly it depends on the learner’s desire to become fluent. One of the most effective ways of gaining fluency is by immersing oneself into the language. If it is possible to live and work in a French-speaking community and use the language daily, it will speed up the time it takes to become fluent.

The French Alphabet

French uses the 26-character Latin alphabet like English which helps to take the pressure off learning a new system. In fact, the only difference is the pronunciation of those letters. Remember when we mentioned that French sounds softer than English? That is the key difference. For example, the English H is pronounced ash in French. Similarly, you will notice the English G, A and Y are pronounced shay, ah and ee-grehk, respectively.

The Best Free Resources for Learning French

If you are considering learning how to speak French, but you aren’t sure you want to dive right in, you can always try out some of these free resources. Duolingo is an interactive, game-like platform designed to make learning fun with a variety of fill-in-the-blank, speaking, and reading exercises. It is colorful and keeps learning interesting and fun. However, you won’t find in-depth coverage of grammar rules and such. Still, it is a great way to see if you want to take French learning to the next level.

Click here to test out Duolingo French (it’s free)

Another free French learning site is Learn French. It offers a variety of everyday scenarios you can work through with recorded pronunciations. There are over 350 audio lessons to practice. You can even use Skype to have one-on-one French conversations with others.

The Best Paid Resources for Learning French

FrenchPod101

One of the most thorough courses we found for the price is FrenchPod101 by Innovative Languages. Structured courses begin for as low as $4 per month and offer four levels of expertise from absolute beginner through the advanced speaker. There are audio and video lessons, interactive learning tools, and even one-on-one instruction available. Click the image below to read our review:

Rocket French

Rocket French from Rocket Languages offers a good, one-time payment option (if you’re sick of monthly payments like us…). The course is well-structured and material is comprehensive. We found it to be a good option for people already enrolled in a high school or university French course.

Mimic Method

The Mimic Method, developed by Idahosa Ness, is another paid resource for learning French. Ness is a polyglot and musician and believes sound is the basis of learning a new language. Like the Pimsleur Method, the Mimic Method teaches you to speak French by immersing you in conversations and music in order to teach you French in a way you learned your mother language, by listening and mimicking. Click the image below to read our detailed review of the Mimic Method:

So, is French Hard to Learn?

French may be difficult for some and easier for others, but overall it is one of the easier languages for a native English speaker to learn. Of course, motivation and dedication to becoming fluent in French will play a major role, but anyone who puts in the time and commitment can succeed in learning to speak French.

Michael

languagetsar.com/

FrenchPod101 Review

Michael — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 07:46:56 +0000

The French language is one of the Romance languages spoken as a first or second language by an estimated 220 million to 300 million people worldwide. The prevalence of the French language around the world makes it an ideal language to learn for business or personal reasons.

Here at Language Tsar, we’re obsessed with finding the best way to learn French, and have spent hundreds of hours over the years testing different online courses and programs. FrenchPod101 is one of the more well-known courses out there, but is it worth it? In this honest FrenchPod101 review, we attempt to answer that very question!

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FrenchPod101: The Basics

Signing up for FrenchPod101 grants you a free lifetime account and a free trial 7-day Premium subscription. You then have the option of upgrading to three different subscription levels including Basic, Premium or Premium PLUS. Each subscription builds upon features of the previous subscription with features like:

unlimited access to audio and video libraries
entertaining and relevant lessons
free access to FrenchPod101 app
lesson transcripts that can be printed
interactive learning tools and quizzes
daily word and mini-lessons emailed to you
free mobile app to learn on-the-go

FrenchPod101 offers five levels of expertise including Absolute Beginner, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. FrenchPod101 lessons can be revisited as many times as needed until you are comfortable moving on. You can work as quickly or as slowly as you want to advance through the levels when you are ready.

The methodology of all the Pod language programs by Innovative Language is one of flexibility and student-focused learning, with all the lessons based upon short & digestible videos or podcasts. Unlike most traditional language courses where you have one syllabus to follow and jumping ahead is discouraged, FrenchPod101 works by allowing you to fully customise your own syllabus through the concept of learning ‘pathways’. The program layout and concept can be a bit confusing at first but you’ll soon start to reap the benefits and is in actual fact it’s very user friendly.

From the lesson library you can browse dozens of language pathways that are catered to your level. You can filter by skill type, media type or lesson style.

Once you’ve found a topic that interests you, you can click ‘add to dashboard’ and the pathway will be added to your main dashboard for you to work through whenever you want, and track your progress. This way you can be working through several pathways at once – a great way to study if you are someone who gets bored easily (plus the topics are really fun and interesting!).

One downside to this approach to learning is the fact that you are personally responsible for your own learning and language progression. If you’d prefer a syllabus that is already put together for you that you can simply follow from start to finish then we’d recommend a more comprehensive program. One such program is French Uncovered which has a central story running through the entire course and ties all the language together.

Pros of FrenchPod101

Pro #1: Fun, Relevant Lessons

Both video lessons and podcasts are entertaining and relate to everyday life. Instructors often add their own quick, comedic spins on certain words or phrases to keep lessons upbeat and interesting. You will not find outdated terminology or lessons covering issues that do not pertain to modern life. Instructors are native French speakers, so you can be sure you’re pronouncing things correctly.

FrenchPod101 has this to say about its commitment to cultural relevance:

“Many French teachers who live overseas have been out of the country for a long period of time and can be “out of the loop” on current words, culture, etc. This is another major gap that we fill.

Our lessons are carefully crafted to include current French events, vocabulary usage, celebrities, popular culture, and so-on. While grammar may not change, we know that the nuances of the language change all the time, which is why we release new content every single week.”

Pro #2: Holistic Learning Approach

Not only do lessons focus on proper pronunciation, grammar, sentence structure and tenses, but you will also learn some about French culture in different countries around the world. This holistic approach gives a more rounded view of the language as a whole.

Pro #3: Large Collection of Videos and Podcasts

FrenchPod101 offers one of the most extensive collections of lessons resulting in hundreds of hours of learning potential. On top of the video and audio lessons, you will find lesson notes and transcripts for further instruction. Learning tools like flashcards and interactive quizzes help you test your knowledge and vocabulary as you go along.

Pro# 4: Charismatic Instructors

One of Innovative Language’s strong points has always been their choices of instructors. They tend to be charismatic, friendly and fun, and we’re happy to say that FrenchPod101’s native instructors are as well.

Pro# 5: Downloadable Content

If you love to squeeze in extra language practice into your schedule whenever possible then you’ll be pleased to know that all the content in FrenchPod101 is fully downloadable. This means that you can download all the mp3s, transcripts and lesson notes for when you’re on the go and without wifi. It’s great for extra language learning on lunch breaks, when standing in a line, walking in a park etc. – especially with some of the longer podcasts at the Upper Intermediate and Advanced levels.

Cons of FrenchPod101

Con #1: Very Little Feedback

Unfortunately the basic subscription package has very limited features and does not come with one-to-one instruction or the ability to compare your voice recordings to an instructors. Therefore, it’s difficult to get real feedback on your language progress and the quality of your pronunciation.

Con #2: Oriented for Beginners

Though quite comprehensive for beginning French learners, the advanced level learner who is looking to delve deeper into fluency may find FrenchPod101 lacking. Advanced learners will find it to be more of a review instead of continuing instruction.

Con #3: Lots of Emails

The Pod101 Courses have a slight reputation for being a bit salesy in their emails, and there are a lot of them. That said, you can easily unsubscribe from the emails. Also, having the ‘word of the day’ emails be your daily reminder to study could be useful if you need a little push!

Con #4: Too Much English, Not Enough Immersion

When learning a language it’s important to expose yourself to authentic material as much as possible so you can start to recognise patterns, get used to the sounds, intonations etc. This is very important – rather than memorisation of rules and stand alone vocabulary, the aim is to get to the point where you can ‘think’ in French. When you can simply hear if something sounds right or not, rather than explaining why it is wrong. The only way to get to this point is to immerse yourself in the language.

Unfortunately, we found that many of the videos & podcasts in this course had far too much English being spoken over French – you are constantly jumping and translating between the two languages. Whilst we do understand there must be a balance, especially when explaining complex grammar points, we would like to see more material that is there simply to expose you to more authentic language.

If you prefer a more immersive approach to learning a language, and are looking for a comprehensive beginners course to walk you through from start to finish, then we’d personally recommend French Uncovered (check out our full review here).

Features of FrenchPod101

Dashboard and Learning Pathways

You will access your dashboard upon logging into FrenchPod101. This is where you can keep track of and access all your lessons, change your subscription plan or change your level of expertise. Essentially, this is the control panel of your French studies.

FrenchPod101 offers curated learning paths that are structured to enhance your learning experience.

There are hundreds of other learning pathways, all including similar lessons, for situations like Dating in France, Idioms and Proverbs and Must-Know French Social Media.

FrenchPod101 Video Lessons

The French instructors are energetic and clearly love passing on their knowledge of the language to you. Sometimes they will simply go over French words and meanings and other lessons will offer complete conversations. Pronunciation is slow so you can follow along and words are visible on the screen so you can see what you are saying.

FrenchPod101 Podcast Lessons

Podcasts are structured much the same as video lessons and, like video lessons, include transcripts that you can use to review after the lesson. This allows you to see how the words and phrases you pronounced are spelled. Also like video lessons, audio lessons in lower difficulty levels offer more English explanation, and English use decreases as you move up through the levels.

Additional Learning Tools

Lesson Transcripts are available at the end of every lesson, video and podcast. These transcripts provide additional information about grammar, culture or proper usage of words and phrases.
Flashcards use spaced repetition to help you memorize new vocabulary words. You are able to keep track of correct and incorrect words.
Phrase and Word Lists are available from your dashboard with thousands of useful phrases and common words to help broaden your vocabulary.
Pronunciation Practice allows you to record and compare your voice with that of the instructor’s.
French Core 2000 Word List is a list of the most common words that are used in the French language. You can avoid wasting your time on obsolete and outdated vocabulary and instead focus on the words that native speakers use the most (each with sample sentences for context).
My Teacher is for premium PLUS users only and gives you direct one-to-one tuition with a qualified language tutor. Together you’ll set a personalised self-study plan & schedule, have weekly assignments, constant feedback & a messenger service, record yourself, assessment tests and more.

This is what one student had to say about the premium PLUS membership:

I have been enjoying learning with premium PLUS for a little more than a year now. The teaching program is very well done. I have found it a pleasure to be able to ask the teacher anything relating to the language. I have been able to work on parts of grammar that I did not understand and have the teacher correct them, or get information on what words or expressions are currently being used. I am very happy with the program and really having a good time learning the language.”

-Theresa Linarelli

Some Example Pathways & Lesson Topics

Curious as to what the lessons actually cover? Here’s a sneak peek of 3 different lesson pathways for the beginner, intermediate and upper intermediate levels:

Level 2 French (Beginner)

Level 3 French (Intermediate)

Level 4 French (Upper Intermediate)

Level 2 French (Beginner)

Level 3 French (Intermediate)

Level 4 French (Upper Intermediate)

Who Should Buy FrenchPod101?

Those who are serious about becoming fluent in French will find FrenchPod101 to be an ideal starting point. Additionally, people who will most benefit from FrenchPod101 include those who:

are motivated and dedicated to study independently
want to begin learning French for business or personal reasons
can devote regular time to learning and practicing
simply want to learn some basic phrases for travel or pleasure
are interested in French food & culture and want to explore more
do not have access to in-person French classes

Who Should NOT Buy FrenchPod101

Some programs claim to be ideal for all learners, but the truth is that no single program will work for everyone. In this sense, those who may not benefit from FrenchPod101 include people who:

FrenchPod101 Alternatives

To give a fair review, let’s compare and contrast a few of FrenchPod101’s closest competitors and alternatives.

FrenchPod101 vs. Pimsleur

The Pimsleur Method is based upon teaching foreign languages in the same way you learned your native language: simply by hearing and repeating it. Pimsleur is composed of a variety of audio podcasts with native French speakers in everyday life situations. It claims to have you speaking at an intermediate fluency level in just 30 days by studying 30 minutes per day. Pimsleur has a flat rate of $14.95 per month.

FrenchPod101 vs. RocketLanguages

Rocket French offers three difficulty levels in lessons and you pay for each lesson level rather than by monthly subscription. Similar to FrenchPod101, Rocket French extensively covers grammar, culture and voice recognition. Rocket French claims to have you speaking on a mid-intermediate fluency level with the completion of all three lessons. The beginner lesson runs $149.95 and there is a significant discount for purchasing all three lessons in advance.

FrenchPod101 vs. Babbel

Babbel is subscription-based like FrenchPod101. Though it offers a variety of videos, podcasts, and learning tools, the collection is not as extensive as you find with FrenchPod101. The goal is to promote conversational French quickly with less emphasis on grammar or culture. The monthly cost is $12.95, but you receive a discount for the more months you purchase.

FrenchPod101 vs. French Uncovered

As we’ve mentioned already, French Uncovered is a single set syllabus language program that has a unique learning methodology developed by it’s founder Olly Richards, known as StoryLearning. This program is heavily rooted in immersion, with each of the 20 chapters first immersing you in the next part of the story and then systematically breaking down the language by cognates, vocabulary, grammar & pronunciation. It’s a very unique form of learning that’s shown to be very effective and enjoyable, with the interesting storyline being a big motivator to help you read on (and listen) to the following chapters. French Uncovered is not cheap, costing a one-time payment of $297 for lifetime access to fully downloadable worksheets, mp3s and transcripts. Use our link to start your 7 day free trial, or check out our full in-depth review here.

How Much Does FrenchPod101 Cost?

The FrenchPod101 prices are based upon a monthly subscription fee.

There are three different subscription levels: Basic, Premium or Premium PLUS.

All levels allow you to access each expertise level’s lesson library, vocabulary lists and find the latest news. Here is a complete breakdown of the subscription plans.

Basic Monthly Subscription $8 $2.80/month (using this link)

Access on Android, iOS, and computers
Complete access to lessons
Extensive lesson notes
New lessons added weekly

Premium Monthly Subscription $25 $7/month (using this link)

With the Premium monthly subscription, you get everything offered with the Basic subscription plus:

Line-by-line audio dialogue
HD video
Custom word lists
Interactive quizzes and flashcards
Grammar and word bank
Voice-recording applications

Premium PLUS Monthly Subscription $47 $16/month (using this link)

With the Premium PLUS monthly subscription, you get everything in the Premium subscription plus:

Personalized learning plan
One-on-one instruction from a French teacher
Continuing professional assessment
Assignments

Conclusion: Is FrenchPod101 Worth It?

Overall, we feel that while it’s not perfect, FrenchPod101 by Innovative Language is one of the better ways to learn French at your own pace.

The premium and premium plus tiers include comprehensive lessons covering all aspects French, interactive tools and quizzes, and the option for one-on-one instruction. Serious students of French will benefit greatly from using FrenchPod101.

If you do decide to sign up, make sure to use this link – it not only helps support our website, but also gives you 30% off at the checkout:

Michael

languagetsar.com/