My Favorite Online Resources for Learning French

Salut! Donc vous-voulez apprendre le français? Je vous presente quelques conseils pour le faire.

Ok, that's all the French I'll write so my fellow English-speakers don't have to keep copying and pasting into Google translate. As detailed in another blog post, I lived in Paris for 9 months as an au pair to learn French. At the end, I was a certified French speaker by the language institution I attended, and left knowing how to properly communicate to the flight attendant that I don't eat dairy. But how do I keep up my French now that I live back in California? How do I make sure to maintain the difficult French grammar rules and all of the vocabulary? Well, let me tell you.

1. Français avec Pierre

This resource is my favorite by far. It's a YouTube channel run by a Frenchman, Pierre, and his wife, Naomi, a polyglot who learned French as a teenager. Their three kids are also adorable. This channel posts weekly videos on a variety of French topics ranging from grammar, vocabulary, culture, and more—all in French. That's right: every video is spoken in French (don't worry, English subtitles are available, but I highly suggest using French subtitles so you can follow along and practice reading). Their personalities are fun, cute, and relatable, and their sometimes goofy side-scenes are always a laugh. I've bought one of his language courses on his website, and that's proved to be a valuable resource as well to keep up my French. Go check out his channel and see for yourself the true value (and humor!) they offer.

2. Netflix

Netflix has quite a few French movies and TV series available, and they are an amazing and easy way to practice your French listening skills. Some of my favorite series are The Returned (which is creepy AF; dead people return to their families like nothing happened) and Black Spot (also creepy; people are getting murdered in the woods). Both series have native French speakers who talk at lightening speed, but it's great for practice. And again, try watching with French subtitles later on as you advance so you can read along and practice your spelling. Chef's Table France is also great for obvious reasons. My favorite French movies I've found on Netflix so far are What's in a Name (a comedy/drama), Headwinds (a drama, very sad), Diary of a Chambermaid with Léa Seydoux (she plays a chambermaid to Marie Antoinette as the French Revolution approaches), and Young and Beautiful (an independent film about a teenage prostitute in Paris). Hulu has more options (strangely) in terms of French films and TV, so you can definitely take a look there. I've found French films from the 80s there, and Netflix seems to only have recent French films and TV. If you want to feel really artsy and like an intellectual, try and find any film by Jean-Luc Godard that he made in the 1960s; he was a huge part of French New Wave cinema. Peruse these selections and see what you like!

3. The library

Check your local library for their selections, particularly French textbooks. If you have extra time, stick around and use their available French CDs so you can practice listening. The library is a great resource for free learning material, so take advantage as much as you can.

4. Used French textbooks on Amazon

I bought my used French textbook on Amazon about 4 years ago to get some practice. It's all in French because it's an intermediate level text, but that helped me even more so. I was forced to read in French and learn all the verb conjugations and vocabulary, so my reading skills accelerated quickly. Again, you could go to the library to find these, but if you want one for yourself, give used books on Amazon a try. They're cheap and barely have any damage.

5. Local French restaurants and cafes

If you really want to push yourself, try and talk to native French speakers who work at your local French restaurants and cafes. Ask if it's ok if you can practice with them as you order your food, and they'll be happy to help. French people LOVE when Americans (or anyone, really) try to speak French; they hold their language very near and dear to their hearts. If there aren't any French restaurants or cafes around where you live, look up language learning sites like italki and Lang-8. Both websites connect you with native speakers to get the speaking practice you need.

6. French YouTubers

If you're looking to spend your time more effectively on YouTube, try checking out popular French YouTubers. You can learn new vocabulary, slang, and hear different accents. Some of my favorite channels are Antastesia (she talks about feminism, veganism, literature, and more); Coline (her content focuses on low/zero-waste, natural beauty products, and motherhood); EnjoyVlogging/EnjoyPhoenix (her content varies from daily vlogs, routines, beauty, and more); and Sananas (most if not all of her videos are centered on makeup, beauty, and skincare). I watch all of these channels from time-to-time to practice my listening skills and to learn some French slang, without feeling like I'm sitting through a lecture. There are plenty of other French YouTubers out there, these are just a few of my favorites. See what YouTube suggests after you watch one or two of these creators' videos and find some favorites for yourself!

These are pieces of advice that come readily to mind and have been the most helpful to me. Not everyone can go off and immerse themselves in a French-speaking country, but there are several ways now with social media and online streaming that make language-learning more accessible. Find a resource or two that work best for you and work at it a little every day; even ten minutes suffices. It's better than sitting at your desk for two hours every week and trying to jam French grammar into your brain. You'll be amazed to see how much French you learn by committing to a few minutes on your way to work, between classes, or after dinner. The most important thing you need to do is SPEAK THE LANGUAGE. Your mouth needs to get used to the sounds and pronunciation; you can read all the French you want, but if you don't practice speaking, you'll never fully grasp the language. This goes for every language. Repeat what Pierre says in his French lessons, talk to yourself in French about your daily routine, or try and find a native speaker on one of the above websites to practice with.

French is a difficult language to learn, but it is possible. You need to practice, practice, practice. That's really all it takes along with your commitment to learn it. And remember why you're learning it, too; your 'why power' is crucial. If you don't have your reason—"I want to live in France for 6 months", "My boyfriend/girlfriend speaks French", "My dream job requires that I speak French"—then you'll lose motivation. Remember why.

Thank you for reading, now go learn the present-tense conjugation of être.