i don’t even know where to begin with french…i love learning languages so much, i really wish my parents had started me when i was younger. i started taking french in seventh grade but i really hope to spend a semester abroad in france & visit senegal when im older. however, french can get super crazy with accents and hard pronunciation and fancy vocab, which can get really confusing, so here’s a masterpost w all of the french resources i’ve gathered 🙂
where to start
duolingo aka the most amazing free language learning program ever
rosetta stone– i’ve heard really great things about this program, but it is not free
bonjour– this website is rlly helpful & even if you’re already in a french class like me, you can find lots of resources for when you’re confused 🙂 plus it’s free!!
babbel– they have programs for beginners + advanced
ok so i just found out the other day that if you’re on flashcards on quizlet & you press the little speaker icon it will say the word for you!! this has been super helpful on my auditory quizzes + generally getting a feel for the pronunciation of words. but i wouldn’t say it’s too reliable so definitely check out these other resources (link to quizlet)
stromae– hip hop//electronic but i still like his music
maitre gims– rapper but he sings quite a bit in his songs
joyce jonathan– omg her songs are so cute please go listen
christophe mae-can we just talk about his song “tombe sous le charme” i love it + he sort of reminds me of jack johnson
vianney!!– guys “je te deteste” is my favorite song on my french playlist right now. the sophomore that sits next to me in our french class recommended him to me & i can’t stop listening
my post on music//podcasts for learning languages (lots of people have been recommending artists which has made this post so much better so please message me if you have any other recommendations or questions!!)
ok don’t throw anything at me but watching peppa pig in french is actually a good method (i don’t remember who suggested this to me but thank you so much @ whoever it was)
definitely keep a vocab notebook where you can either paste vocab lists or write them in on your own
listen to french music. find your own favorite artists. and tell me, so i can put them in here. but seriously, go do it & get those phrases + pronunciations stuck in your head!!
making quizlets for vocab will benefit you more than just using someone else’s
find friends in your class to help (if you’re in highschool, upperclassmen are a blessing pls go ask them questions if you’re lost in class), the senior that sits next to me is really good at conjugating, and i’m pretty good at remembering vocab so we make a great team
find/join a study group!! the freshman girls in my french class made a group chat & we all send links to quizlets/other resources & help each other with homework 24/7
ask questions/do speaking exercises during class. trust me, you will benefit from it. plus, having your teacher correct you on your pronunciation during class is much less embarrassing than getting an F on that speaking test
Salut. I’m here to save the ass of the ones who are learning french and are lost with so many resources. I plan to update later, but, for now, that is.
hi everyone! i made a french masterpost about a year ago which can be found here, but it’s a little outdated and i don’t use some of the resources anymore. here is a new updated masterpost about how to learn french!
apps
duolingo is good to start out with, but don’t rely on it entirely. duolingo is more beneficial if you use it as a review rather than a learning resource.
memrise is amazing for any level of french!
drops is a really good vocabulary app. it exposes you to everyday vocabulary you may need while traveling to france. it’s also super aesthetic! it only allows you to use it for 5 minutes a day, but i find it perfect to use before i go to bed.
mango is offered free from libraries in the u.s. and canada. it teaches you with a conversation. this app is very practical and it helps with speaking skills. if you live outside of the u.s. message me and i can make you a free account.
mindsnacks is also a fantastic vocabulary app, but it doesn’t work with ios 11 and you have to pay $4.99 to unlock all the lessons. but if you can get it, it’s definitely worth it! the app forces you to remember all the vocab, and it pronounces everything for you very clearly.
writing/reading
write/read something every day in french! no matter what it is, it will greatly benefit your learning. try to use what you learn each day in your daily writing practice.
here is a website with french children’s books for free. it pronounces the words and offers an english translation which is great for beginners.
1jour1actu is good for A2-C1 learners. they have an app as well as a website.
for more advanced learners, i recommend lemonde.fr
there are several strategies for what to do when coming across a word you don’t know. i usually use a dictionary/google translate and highlight/write down the word i looked up, then review those words before i sleep (sometimes). the more exposure you get to words, the more familiar you will become. keep reading!
forvo is an amazing website where you can see how a word is pronounced by a native speaker. it’s a literal blessing to this earth.
grammar
it’s very important to keep a notebook for your french studies, because french grammar can get really crazy. review your notes weekly to retain the information!
pick a good textbook/workbook to take notes from. i personally used french for dummies. many free textbooks and workbooks can be found at this link, so you can choose which one you think will be best for you.
thoughtco is a good website for when you need help on a specific grammar topic. you can add some of their lessons to your notebook!
rocketlanguages is also good to start out with. same as mango, it’s free to anyone in the u.s. and canada with a library card. it’s good for conversation practice and grammar.
listening
my favorite place to go to for practice is youtube. check out this list of most popular french youtubers!
music is good for listening practice as well. if you have time, look at the lyrics while you listen. maybe memorize a song!
a weekly schedule could look like completing 1 lesson in your textbook, reviewing previous lessons, practicing with apps, writing/watching/reading something, etc.
each day you can pick something off of the picture below! listening monday, writing tuesday, reading wednesday…
depending on how much time you have to study, spending 1(+) hour per day is a good ballpark if you want to advance easily in the language.
everyone is different, but this is how i choose to study french. i made a table with each form of practice and i choose 2-3 things off the table to study from (see the picture below). making this is helpful because you spend more time studying the language than looking for ways to study the language. everything is already there for me!
If you’re taking a class, write down any extra French vocabulary you may get; my teacher likes to call it “bonus free knowledge” when she gives us extra vocabulary
Practice pronouncing. All. The. Time.
Take notes
Have readable notes
Practice writing & grammar
Once you start learning, do not stop or else you’re going to forget things!!
refessence 