Discover the Best French Classes Near Me
French is one of the most used Romance languages around the world. The first written forms of French are believed to date back to the year 842, however, written evidence of French was limited until the 11th century. The number of manuscripts in French dramatically multiplied in the 12th century. Meanwhile, the language itself exploded in popularity in the 12th and 13th centuries because it was the language of the aristocracy and the royal court. The language as it was used until the mid-14th century is referred to as Old French, which then gave way to Middle French (14th to 16th centuries), Classical French (17th and 18th centuries), and Modern French (present).
Today, over 95 million people speak French as their first language. It’s considered a world language and is thus an official or common language in many countries. During France’s time as a colonial power, French was spread to areas around the world, like Canada, Vietnam, and nearly 30 countries in Africa. Speakers of Romance languages find French quicker to learn than non-Romance language speakers and it’s relatively easy for English speakers to learn as well. It’s estimated that over 120,000,000 people are currently learning French.
French grammar has been simplified from Latin. Like many Romance languages, French has two grammatical genders: masculine and feminine. However, this is denoted through articles and adjectives rather than nouns. The grammar structure of French is very similar to that of English, making it an ideal language to try learning if you’re a native English speaker. Although English has Germanic roots, French and English also share many words.
Why You Should Learn French
There are several benefits to learning a new language. As you use your brain to learn a new language, your memory improves. With a new language, your brain must work to learn new vocabulary and grammar rules. You’ll not only need to learn these rules but make connections between them and the vocabulary you’ve learned and understand how to use them within different contexts.
There’s a misconception that you can’t effectively learn a new language as you age, but that’s not true. Adults have larger vocabularies than kids, which may aid in the learning of a new language. Older learners also benefit greatly from learning a new language. Learning a language later in life allows new connections to form in the brain and strengthens nervous system links. Studies have even found that being able to speak more than one language may slow the development of dementia.
Knowing how to speak French comes with its benefits. French is a working language and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, and NATO. It’s also one of the most used languages on the internet. The popularity of the language means that by learning it you’ll be able to communicate with more people around the world. If you’re looking to visit France or another francophone country, you’ll also be able to effectively communicate with those who don’t speak your first language.
Learning a new language is fun and exciting. It can be frustrating at times but knowing two or more languages provides numerous benefits and can open you up to new experiences.
5 Ways to Learn French
There are several ways to begin learning a new language. Submersion language learning is when you learn a new language in a formal setting, whereas immersive language learning exposes you to the new language through everyday experiences. The latter method, combined with high motivation, is an effective way to learn a new language. There are several language-learning methods that you may choose from to learn French, some of which are a combination of submersion and immersion learning, whereas others are one or the other. It's recommended that you use a variety of the following methods to efficiently learn a new language.
- Take an in-person class taught by an expert instructor. Taking a French class where you’ll have the opportunity to speak the language and listen to a fluent speaker speak is one of the most effective ways to learn. You’ll be able to ensure that your pronunciation is correct as well by taking a class with an instructor and other participants.
- Sign up for a live online class. These classes are taught remotely, making them a great alternative to in-person classes if you can’t commute to one. They’re taught by fluent instructors who can provide you with feedback and answer questions you have about the language.
- Follow a self-paced, on-demand class. These classes are available online for free. You can follow along at your own pace, which is ideal for learners with a busy schedule. The downside to on-demand classes is that you won’t have access to an instructor who can answer your questions or check your pronunciation.
- Look for a book or audiobook at your local library or bookstore that can help you learn French. Language books are used to learn vocabulary and practice grammar rules. Audiobooks make learning a language on the go easy. Books and audiobooks, however, don’t provide you with the opportunity to practice speaking French in a conversation.
- There are language learning apps on the internet that you can use for free or for a low price. These apps are convenient; however, they tend to be useful in teaching vocabulary and little else. You can also check out guides and worksheets that fluent speakers have posted to the internet for free or for a small fee.
If you’ve decided to learn French, you should first determine which learning method best fits your needs. Taking an in-person French class will help you learn the language efficiently and thoroughly, and you’ll benefit from speaking it with others. However, the other four learning methods have also proven to be successful for learners that are new to French. It’s recommended that you spend at least 30 minutes a day practicing French, so you may also decide to use a combination of these methods throughout your week.
In-Person French Classes
In-person French classes are available across the US. These classes are a great way to not only learn the language but to get practical speaking experience. Speaking the language you’re learning is considered the most effective and fastest way to learn the language. Luckily, several in-person classes scheduled across the country can provide this experience as you learn from a fluent instructor.
Learn French BK provides immersive French classes for adults and children in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. In their beginner-level French class, you’ll go from knowing no French to being able to understand how to introduce yourself, talk about what you do for work, and ask questions essential to getting around in a francophone country. You’ll also work on your pronunciation and learn about French idioms. This class is structured for French newbies, but your instructor is not only focused on teaching you the basics but making sure that you're confident in learning the language.
Learn French BK also offers a level two beginner class. Once you’ve learned the basics of communication in the first-level class, you can take the class, Beginner-ish French. In this class, you’ll begin speaking in the past tense, make comparisons, and create complex sentences. This class is also open to anyone who has lived, studied, or worked in a francophone country but has little or no formal instruction in the language.
If you’re learning French in the New York City area and would like to enroll your toddler in a class as well, the French Institute Alliance Française in the Upper East Side offers the class, a petits pas, for two to three-year-olds. You or another caregiver must attend the class with your child and may even pick up something along with them. You’ll see as they learn how to use new words and learn a new language structure while working on arts and crafts projects and playing enrichment games.
Coucou Los Angeles, in Hollywood, hosts an Intro to French class that’s open to beginners aged 21 and over. No prior experience with French or any other foreign language is required. You’ll learn the rules of French pronunciation and basic vocabulary, greetings, and simple everyday phrases. If you’re traveling to France or another francophone country soon, this class is a great crash course in simple French vocabulary and phrases.
For a fun, high-energy class, check out Coucou Los Angeles’ class, French Workout. An experienced instructor will guide you through exercises appropriate for your fitness level. At the same time, you’ll learn French workout vocabulary. Learning vocabulary as you physically work out will help with retention, making this an immersive experience.
If you’re at the beginner level but do know some French, you can take French: Introductory II at RoLa Languages in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This class expands on verb tenses in the present, develops your conversational and vocabulary skills, and teaches basic near future tense. Materials will be in PDF form, so you should expect to bring a laptop or tablet to class to reference the text.
The Journey Language Center in Boulder, Colorado offers an intermediate French class for anyone aged 12 and older. You’ll learn fundamentals in this class, like present tense conjugation of regular verbs and six vocabulary sets. This class also looks to keep you engaged through songs, videos, fun games, and exercises.
Virtual French Classes
Taking an online class taught by an expert instructor is another way to learn French. Virtual classes can be taken in a quiet location where you have a stable internet connection. This makes French classes more accessible if none are taught in your area, or if you would prefer not to commute to a class. There are online French classes available for you to take on CourseHorse.
Fluent City offers an online beginner-level French class for newbies and people who have taken a long break from French. This class will push you to engage with your classmates using French as you learn the foundations for fluency. You can follow this class up with their subsequent beginner and intermediate-level classes. Once you’ve reached the intermediate level you can attend the online French Meetup, where you’ll speak with other learners in a conversational setting.
For new French learners looking for private beginner-level French lessons, check out the lessons Hyperfluent offers. They’ll provide you with a free 10-minute consultation before your first session to assess your needs and provide you with feedback. As you work with your instructor through your private sessions, you’ll master introducing yourself, describing your friends and family, hobbies, directions, and time. All learning material will be provided by the instructor.
You can take an online French crash course with ABC Languages. This introductory-level class covers basic vocabulary and phrases, like greetings and travel phrases, making it an ideal 90-minute class for soon-to-be travelers.
If you’re interested in higher-level French classes, check out what’s available on CourseHorse. Several schools update their schedule with new and returning French classes. These classes can range from beginner to advanced. For example, ABC Languages hosts a high beginner class for new speakers who’d like to go a step further with the foundations. Meanwhile, they also offer an advanced conversational French class for learners who are further along.
Private Group French Classes
Are you and a group of friends planning to travel to France or another French-speaking country and looking to learn a bit of the language before your trip? Or is your group simply interested in learning a new language together? If so, check out CourseHorse’s online private French classes for groups.
You can reach out to CourseHorse through the contact form on their website to learn about the online group classes they offer. They’ll let you know about the group sizes they can accommodate, which typically range from small to large. If you’re currently unsure of your group size, CourseHorse will allow you to book a class with the minimum size to hold your date, and you can update your headcount later.
For an additional $100, you can schedule a 20-minute demo with CourseHorse. Scheduling a demo will allow you to get an understanding of how the class will be structured before committing to booking. You can also pay $150 to customize your class. This can include special games or adding something to your class that requires materials.
CourseHorse does not charge booking fees. They also allow free cancellations up to two weeks before your class date. They also accommodate several video platforms: Microsoft Teams, Google Meets, Zoom, and WebEx. However, they recommend using Zoom.
What Will I Need to Learn French?
The materials needed to learn French will depend on the learning method you choose. If you’re learning French at home, on your own, you’ll want as immersive of an experience as you can create. This means researching a helpful book on learning French, or an audiobook if that’s your preference. You may also want to invest in a vocabulary set, which can be found at your local bookstore, or online. It’s also recommended that you listen to French music and watch French television shows or songs to become familiar with conversational French.
In-person French classes will provide you with most, if not all, materials that you need to learn French in class. This may include textbooks or PDFs with material to reference. You’ll also likely be given or create your own vocabulary set, and your instructor may supply you with a worksheet to complete. If you decide to take an online or a self-paced, on-demand class, be prepared to procure these materials on your own.
It also helps to keep track of your learning on your own. You can use a notebook, or you might want to keep yourself organized using online software. Doing so can help you determine what areas you’re lacking in that you need to spend extra time studying. You’ll also be able to see how much time you’re spending each week learning French and can determine if you need to devote more time on any given day.
Is it Difficult to Learn French?
Learning a new language presents a challenge to your brain; it must learn to construct a new understanding of language, especially if the new language has different rules than your first language. If you want to learn a new language efficiently, you need to spend significant time studying and speaking it. It’s recommended that you spend 30 minutes actively studying the new language and expose yourself to it for one hour each day.
There are several challenges to learning French that trip up many new speakers. French and English share many words, but there are also plenty of words that look similar or even identical but have different meanings. If your first language is English, you might not be familiar with gendered nouns, which French uses. This can be confusing or difficult to remember for many English speakers. Additionally, new speakers find French pronunciation quite difficult.
Luckily, if you speak a Romance language or English, you’ll likely catch onto French more quickly than learners who don’t. Although no language is inherently more difficult to learn than another, it does help to have a familiarity with the structure of the new language. Consistent studying is the real key to learning French, like any other language. Taking an in-person French class can provide you with a learning experience that will be both efficient and thorough. Using additional resources outside of your class, like books, apps, and television shows, can also help make learning French easier for you.