The Best Way To Learn French

Is There A Best Way To Learn French? Am I Just Bad At Learning Languages?

So you want to find the best way to learn French, but you’re not sure where to start. Maybe you’ve never tried to learn a new language before. Or maybe you have, but your language learning traumas, challenges, and trip-ups in the past have given you the idea that you’re just not made for language learning. But what if that simply weren’t true? Don’t listen to the stories you tell yourself that you’re not good enough or you can’t do it!

It’s natural to feel discouraged by past negative experiences or the fear of trying something new and failing. But the reality is that you’re likely not bad at learning languages. You just might not have been exposed to the best way to learn French — one that works for you and your particular learning style. Everyone learns differently, and there’s no wrong way to do it.

Besides, making mistakes is all part of the learning process. Learning by doing means trying, failing and trying again. If you can feel comfortable with not immediately understanding things, it’s easier to stay relaxed, curious, and to enjoy the process.

Finding The Best Way To Learn French

When it comes to the best way to learn French, there are many options to choose from, each with their own advantages and limitations:

• Classroom learning and tutoring — You’ll get more regular, personalized feedback from an instructor and be able to practice speaking, but it can take a regular commitment of time and often money, and you might not be able to work at your own pace.

• Immersion learning — You’ll be challenged and required to adapt more quickly to a new language and culture, but the investment is quite extreme and requires money, time and the willingness to overcome major adversity.

• Software and apps — You can work at your own pace and choose content that works for you, but you don’t get as much practice in conversations with actual speakers, and you won’t get individualized interaction with native speakers.

• French-language media — You get to hear and read the French language as it’s used by native speakers in real-life situations (and often for free), but you don’t get to practice speaking or learn the underlying rules and nuances of the language. 

Of course, the best way to learn French is finding the right mix of all these elements that work well for you. And there’s no wrong answer!

What About Learning French With Software And Apps?

Mobile apps and desktop software are ideal for people who want language learning to be a flexible, on-the-go, and more noncommittal process. They let you learn at your own pace and on your own schedule, so they’re ideal for people who are busy and less able to commit to a regular routine.

But one major pitfall of many language-learning softwares and apps is that they don’t give you the chance to practice speaking in actual conversations. They can teach you grammar rules and vocab, but there aren’t many ways to put these skills into practice. That’s why using technology exclusively to learn a language can feel like a very impersonal process if you don’t have a way to put your skills to use in real-life dialogues.

On top of that, more top-tier apps and products often don’t come without a price. You might find yourself paying an up-front flat fare or a monthly subscription for higher-end products. Sure, there are free apps and software out there, too, but you often end up sacrificing quality in the end, diluting the power of your learning experience.

Why Is Babbel One Of The Best Ways To Learn French?

If you want a mix of some of the best elements of each of these methods of learning French, Babbel might just be the app for you. Babbel is designed by a team of language experts, educators, and designers who know all about what it takes to get the most out of learning a new language — so you are guaranteed a top-quality French learning journey that’s effective, engaging, and yes, even fun.

Unlike many other language apps, Babbel works so well as a language learning tool by immersing you in the types of dialogues you’d have in real life, right from the very first lesson. Whether it’s ordering at a restaurant in Montreal, booking a hotel room in Marseille or making a new friend in Madagascar, Babbel will help you practice having the types of actual conversations you’d have with native speakers in the French-speaking world.

Learning with Babbel is easy and intuitive, and with lessons that only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, you can learn at your own pace and choose the courses that are relevant to you. Whether you’re too busy for a language class, a complete beginner, needing to brush up before a vacation or business trip or wanting to relearn everything you forgot in high school, Babbel can be customized to fit your needs.

Try a free French lesson with Babbel and see for yourself how quickly you’ll be on your way to speaking French with confidence — like you’ve always wanted to!