Update: You may also want to check out my post, Learning French with Film with great tips on using foreign cinema to improve listening comprehension, vocabulary and common dialogue.
Over the course of learning French, I have scoured bookstore selections, online recommendations and college class required readings for the best of the best “this is how to learn French” tools on the market.
Some materials have been great, some have been decent for beginners, some have been total flops, while others have been my trusted companions on my journey to perfecting a foreign language from beginner to advanced. The tools you use to guide you through the language learning process are exactly that: a guide. Ultimately, how quickly you grasp the French language is a factor of many things – mostly your perseverance, dedication and the daily time you put into learning French.
I wish I had stumbled upon an “essential French language tools” list like this when I was beginning to study French; it would have saved me some pretty pennies. So I decided to share with you what I found to be the most useful to help spare some damage to your wallet.
- Best French Websites
Before you invest in a software program, such as Rosetta Stone or Tell Me More, check out online resources. Here are my all time favorites:
Canal Académie – while Canal Académie is targeted to the advanced learner, it is great for beginners too. The website offers podcast after podcast (some with transcripts) on a verity of subjects from French politics to the social dynamics of living in Versailles during the reign of King Louis XIV (check out their complete list of podcast themes). If you are listening, and have no idea what they are saying, start by writing down the words you think you hear. Listen to the same segment a few times a week, and soon you’ll realize you have an idea of what’s being said. In time, you’ll find yourself picking up phrases and it’s not too long after that that you’ll be understanding all of it for the most part.
RFI: Apprendre la langue française -This website has a great section in English just for French language learners. While getting ready to go to class during my beginners intensive French program, I would take a moment each morning to listen to their 10 minute news segment and read along with the transcript they provided (scroll down to Understand the News to do the same). It was immensely helpful with reading and listening comprehension as well as vocabulary building. And it was refreshing to get the news from another countries perspective.
Tex’s French Grammar from the University of Texas – this is a great website for learning French grammar and includes language exercises. Not only is it full of humor (Tex is an armadillo), it will guide you to the intermediate French level.
Le Conjugueur – a great online French verb conjugator by le Figaro.
Word Reference – a great multi-language dictionary. The forums are especially helpful for prompt answers from native speakers to all your vocabulary and grammar questions.
- Best French Guide Book: Easy French: Step by Step by Myrna Bell Rochester
This choice is really up to what you discover works best for you. Unfortunately the only way to really know is through trial and error especially for your first language learning experience. Personally, I think Easy French: Step by Step is a great book. It’s fast-paced if you want it to be which means you can use it as if you’re in an intensive course. This is beneficial because the more daily time you spend immersed in French, the better and faster you will learn it. I also decided to use this series when I began pursuing Italian.
- Best French Dictionary: French Unabridged Dictionary by Harper Collins Robert
There are so many French-English dictionaries out there but one of the most reliable and well-known are the Harper Collins Robert editions. Whether you get the pocket, concise or unabridged version, you won’t be lead astray or disappointed! For the dedicated learner, I recommend the unabridged, but if you want something to carry around with you, get the concise. I have all three.
- Best Guide to French Grammar: Advanced French Grammar by Monique l’Huillier
While most students tend to rely on English Grammar for Students of French by Jacqueline Morton for their grammatical questions, I quickly found it to be over simplified, vague on the exceptions to the rule and ultimately not good enough. Besides, you can’t look at learning another language in the context of your maternal one; unfortunately languages are far more complex than that. I finally discovered Advanced French Grammar and it has been one of my most loyal companions, helping me find answers to countless questions, and elegance in speech and writing despite my anglophone tendencies.
- Best Verb Conjugation Guide: Bescherelle: La Conjugaison pour tous.
Here is my problem with French verb books: reliance on the book to do the conjugation for you will keep you from actually learning them yourself. While it’s helpful in the beginning, refrain from leaning on it too much and work hard at memorizing the conjugations on your own. That being said, leave that large “500+ fully conjugated French verbs” book at the bookstore! Invest in ordering any, if not all, of the Bescherelles series for French. They are small and easy to use, simple yet complex and 100% in French already! Don’t be nervous about adding it to your collection even if you are a beginner French student. You won’t regret it.
My biggest recommendation is to enroll in an intensive language course, although I know that’s not the most practical for everyone. When I first arrived in France, I was shocked at how far I had come in just a year and a half compared to the other students who had four years and could barely speak. I credit my universities summer intensive program, and if a university near you offers one, seriously consider enrolling. For 12 weeks, 5 days a week, 4 hours a day in class (with professors who spoke French 100% of the time) and at least 2 hours of homework I was immersed in the French language despite being in the US and it gave me a solid foundation in French for the years to come.
Are there any other websites or tools you enjoy using?
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a nice list; thank you.
I did notice one glitch — the address for Tex’s French Grammar appears to have a typo. “http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/” will work, though.
Thanks for catching that! I’m glad you found the list helpful and the link is now fixed.
As a retired French teacher, I find myself smiling and nodding in agreement with each and every recommendation — at least those I’m familiar with! Just superb! I’d hire you as a researcher in a heartbeat! Vive la France!
Thanks for such a nice compliment! I really worked hard to find each and every one of those resources and was often disappointed after many others could only take me so far. And I’m still learning!
Lovely and informative site for the armchair travelers! I will definitely look up the tools as my French is rusting…or rusted entirely. : ) thanks.
Monica Emerich
The first link, canalacademie, is def the one with the most interesting information. Since you already speak french, you might enjoy it the most – even if you’re a bit rusty!
Bonne chance!
Stumbled Upon this earlier today… what a great list of resources!
I’m currently a college student who’s enrolled in an Advanced French course. I’m hoping to minor or major in French.
The only thing is … that I’m not as good at speaking as I’d like to be. I’m really good at French grammar, writing, and understanding my professors — but it is just so hard to say what I’m thinking!
Hopefully listening to these podcasts will help. Merci beaucoup!
Even with a French major and after a few years in France, I still struggle with conversation. I did however take the DELF B2 which is the proficiency exam necessary to enroll in French universities and I got a 24/25 on the Expression orale section – it turns out (surprise to me) to be my strong suit! Yet I still can’t seem to master conversation! Speaking fluidly in conversation is really the last thing to come but if you practice all of the time (even if you just talk to yourself while doing your makeup or something), you’ll improve. I’m still working on it and I’m sure one day you’ll be surprised to find it’s finally coming along! Study abroad of it you can, even for just a summer. That’s where I had most of my improvements.
I like your comment about ‘talk to yourself’ (though I draw the line at putting on makeup, sorry). I find that just thinking every so often about something I’ve just said — “Please pass the butter” — as to how I’d say that in French really helps me improve my confidence that I will, eventually, make that leap to speaking. – if not fluently, then at least adequately.
True, putting on makeup is not for everyone
but passing the butter is a great example of what I mean.
Thank you so much for this list! I’m Danish and after living in Ireland for 18 months my French has been neglected – it’s time to get it back on track!
My pleasure! Enjoy and good luck!
I wish I would have been able to have a list like this handy before I came to France. Like yourself, I spent money on several books to prepare for my trip, Since I didn’t know any french what-so-ever. Though the book was extremely helpful, Ive barely even looked at it. I’m enrolled in a french course here and have learned more than any of the books I had bought and I’ve probably even learned more simply by interacting with others who speak french. My french class uses Tex’s French grammar website and textbook-Ive found it to be extremely helpful. I recommend it, as well! Thanks for this list, Im def. going to check out these other websites for my stay in France. Any other tips you can recommend?
Books are helpful but classes really are the way to go – it’s less frustrating knowing you have someone there who can answer your questions and make the grammar rules and pronunciation much clearer than a book can. As for more tips, if you’re in France, you might want to check out some of the French language books at Gilbert Joseph (not sure what city you’re in, but most large cities have one) – If you’re a beginner, anything for A1 to A2 levels would be good. There are also classes at the Alliance Française and in Paris, there are even conversation hours that run a lot like speed dating (seven minutes in English, seven in French, then switch partners)- they’re really fun! Best of luck!
Thank you so much for your help. Im going to make sure to tell the rest of the students as well and look into the books and classes in Paris!