Bonjour! I started learning French in high school and found the language fascinating, with idioms and grammar both similar to and different from my native English. It was a useful language to know when I travelled in Europe with my husband some years ago.
But French isn’t just spoken in Europe. Did you know that it’s one of the most widely spoken languages globally, with around 300 million speakers in several continents? French is often used in international diplomacy and business, including the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, the European Union (one of four inaugural languages in 1958), the African Union, and NATO.
Fun fact: French is an official language of four of NATO’s 12 original founding members (Belgium, Canada, France, and Luxembourg).
Knowing French has many benefits. Beyond professional opportunities and travel experiences, learning the French language and culture can deepen your understanding and tolerance of others.
In fact, learning any foreign language enhances our critical thinking, empathy, and cognitive abilities.
I’ve curated this Best Courses Guide (BCG) to help you learn French, whether you’re a beginner or already have some knowledge of the language.
Shortcuts
Why Should You Trust Us and This Guide?
Class Central is a one-stop shop for online education. We make it easier to discover the right courses without having to jump across multiple platforms. With over 250,000 courses in our catalog, we’ve already helped more than 100 million learners find their next course. And we’re online learners ourselves.
I’ve taken more than 200 online courses and continue to enjoy improving my knowledge of cultures and languages around the world. I investigated hundreds of French courses both in the catalog and on the internet to find the best courses for you.
Best French Courses
| Course | Workload |
| Most Comprehensive French Course (Babbel) | 80 hours |
| Short Courses with Free Certificates (OpenLearn) | 6 hours each |
| Also Great Comprehensive French Course (Skillshare) | 15 hours |
| Best CLEP® Language Exam Prep Course (Modern States) | 24 hours |
| Best intermediate French Course (Study.com) | 36 hours |
| Best Story-Based French Course (French Uncovered) | 60+ video lessons |
| Free Resources | Varies |
Most Comprehensive French Course (Babbel)
- Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Rating: 4.4
- Duration: 80 hours
- Cost: Paid (subscription)
Learn French at your own pace with real-time feedback, progress trackers, helpful grammar tips, and visualizations. Pick up the French language more easily by exploring culture, history, people, and places as you go, then learn, review, and retain the language in your long-term memory. Start with simple greetings, then progress to useful conversations in travel, social, and business settings.
Babbel uses a variety of tools to develop your French reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. You will listen to native speakers for correct pronunciation, and you can have interactive dialogues with an AI partner to build your conversation skills.
Why I Like it
The variety of learning tools keeps the lessons interesting, plus free access to videos, podcasts, and the Babbel magazine.
Drawbacks
Free access is limited to just the first lesson in every language, but if you’re serious about learning, you’ll find a yearly or lifetime subscription excellent value.
Who it’s for
Absolute beginners to intermediate learners.
Short Courses with Free Certificates (OpenLearn)
- Level: Beginner
- Rating: 4.6 (29)
- Duration: 6 hours each
- Cost: Free
While many OpenLearn courses are mainly text-based, Britain’s Open University has produced several short French courses complete with audio and/or video recordings for listening and speaking practice to complement the reading and writing exercises.
What You’ll Learn
- Getting started with French 1: Communicate in everyday situations
- Getting started with French 2: Order food and discuss your likes and dislikes
- Getting started with French 3: Ask for directions in French as you build up your vocabulary to more complex conversations
- Beginners’ French: food and drink: Gain insights into French societies and cultures through focusing on food and drink
- Intermediate French: Understanding spoken French: Develop your understanding of spoken French through six video portraits.
Why I Like it
It’s free, including a free certificate for each short course.
Drawbacks
As introductory courses, you will need to expand your vocabulary with other resources.
Who it’s for
Beginners to intermediate learners.
Also Great Comprehensive French Course (Skillshare)
- Level: Beginner
- Rating: 100% positive
- Duration: 15 hours
- Cost: Paid (subscription)
If you want to learn French to the A1 or A2 competency level, Yohann Coussot will take you through a structured course following the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Lessons include summaries, extra exercises (with corrections), and vocabulary lists, starting from absolute beginner level.
Why I Like it
It has interactive exercises to boost your learning after watching the videos.
Drawbacks
Even though there’s a free trial period, you have to provide a payment method before you can access more than the introductory video.
Who it’s for
Beginners who want to learn French to the A1.2 level from an enthusiastic, experienced online teacher.
Best CLEP® Language Exam Prep Course (Modern States)
- Level: Beginner
- Duration: 24 hours
- Cost: Free
If you’re preparing for the CLEP® exam for college credit, you can’t go past French Language produced by Modern States and Washington State University. Check with your college to see if it accepts CLEP® credit towards your degree. Improve your listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills through videos, texts, and quizzes spread over 15 modules.
Why I Like it
It’s comprehensive and free and if you gain a high enough score in the course, you can receive a voucher to take the exam for free.
Drawbacks
As a university-level course, the pace is quite intense.
Who it’s for
Beginners and students at eligible colleges wanting CLEP® credit for a French subject.
Best Intermediate French Course (Study.com)
- Level: Intermediate
- Rating: 4.6 (Trustpilot)
- Duration: 36 hours
- Cost: Paid (subscription)
Basic French: Help & Review provides a comprehensive overview of French vocabulary and phrases in 16 extensive chapters. Boost your performance in French class, study for exams and improve your French skills. Submit your questions for personalized support from an instructor.
Why I Like it
Wide range of topics, phrases, and vocabulary, plus personalized support if you need extra help.
Drawbacks
If you are an absolute beginner, you may feel out of your depth at first, because the course is designed primarily as a review of prior knowledge.
Who it’s for:
Beginners and intermediate students, particularly those wanting to brush up on their French knowledge before exams.
Best Story-Based French Course (French Uncovered)
- Level: Beginner
- Rating: 4.5 (1.1K)
- Duration:49 hours
- Cost: Paid
Learn the secrets Olly Richards used to learn 8 languages, with 60+ video lessons using the StoryLearning method. French Uncovered: Learn French with Stories is based on how you learned to naturally speak as a child. Perfect your pronunciation and speak like a native from the start with expert pronunciation training videos.
Because you’re so engrossed in the story, the language truly gets implanted in your mind and you remember words more easily. And on a deep level, the language makes sense to your brain.
French Uncovered is endorsed by a range of learning experts including Dr Barbara Oakley (creator of the hugely popular online course Learning How to Learn). Dr Oakley says, “Olly’s top-notch language-learning insights are right in line with the best of what we know from neuroscience and cognitive psychology about how to learn effectively.”
Why I Like it
It uses a different approach to learning, including an audiobook, translations, and interactive quizzes. Fully downloadable materials mean you can learn anywhere, anytime, even without an internet connection.
Drawbacks
You may feel like you’re “thrown in the deep end” at first, but stick with it and you’ll comprehend more and more as you go along.
Who it’s for
Learners who need a fresh approach to language learning.
Free Resources
Videos are ideal for language learning, and YouTube is an excellent resource. Here are some French channels and videos to consider. They also have websites with more resources, both free and paid.
- Learn French With Alexa: With over a thousand videos and 2.24 million subscribers, Alexa Polidoro is a hugely popular French teacher and her videos are like she’s sitting there with you, helping you along. Learn the basics with her French Essentials Course.
- Learn French with FrenchPod101.com also has more than a thousand videos. Learn to speak, read, write, and hear French and have fun learning with listeners around the world. Check out French Top Words for Every Day.
- With lingoni FRENCH you have many opportunities to practice your listening comprehension, review essential grammar structures and build your vocabulary. Start with French Lessons A1 and progress up to B2 level.
Join 282K people in the Reddit r/French community for discussions and to have your question answered.
Did this guide help? We’ve got 200+ more for you. Check our Best Courses Guides to find your next course!
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