French is a Romance language from the Indo-European family of languages. It has been derived from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire – hence why it is called a Romance language. French is actually considered one of the easier foreign languages to learn as it shares many similarities with English – such as common words like “Apostrophe” (”apostrophe” in French), “Champagne” (”champagne” in French), “Salad” (”salade” in French) and many more words that we use in our daily lives that we don’t realize.
French is the second most widely learned language after English and is spoken on five continents. It is the official language of more than 25 countries, including France, Belgium, and many African countries like Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Seychelles, etc. Approximately over 250 million people know and speak French worldwide. The French economy attracts job seekers and entrepreneurs from all around the world. Learning French gives you an advantage over getting selected for a job or doing business in France. France is a hub of renowned Universities as thousands of students learn French to become eligible for admission to those prestigious institutions. Knowing the language also helps with understanding the unique French history, literature, fashion, food, and a culture that has influenced the entire world.
The French language strikes a balance between grammar and vocabulary, requiring you to learn both its rules and words together. Therefore, it is important to find the right French class and learning format that can help you learn French the correct way – while also being fun and easy.
Learning French Online from the safety and comfort of your own home has many more benefits than the traditional classroom setting. Firstly, it gives you the flexibility and freedom to choose the time and teacher that best suits your needs and schedule. There are also so many great and engaging formats to learn French online – from virtual classrooms with other students from other parts of the world, interesting podcasts to listen to native French speakers and easily accessible videos that can explain and explore French language and culture on a deeper level. This is including the range of downloadable and often free supplementary materials such as PDFs, textbooks and more resources to give you that extra boost.
However, finding and choosing the right French class can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know where to start. This article will introduce you to 13 of the best online French classes and compare their pros and cons to help you choose the one that’s right for you!
AmazingTalker
Amazing Talker has a great website that is easy to use and provides you with a great selection of French tutors. All you have to do is sign up for a free account and then select you tutor from a comprehensive list provided, which shows you their price, reviews and bio description. The process is quick, easy and reliable – with online support like recommendations and explanations on how to navigate the website and how to get the information you need. They even have a filter process based on the students age, language level and purpose to help streamline your options to what is best for you.
There are courses offered for all levels of French – from kids, beginners, intermediate, advanced and expert. There is a tutor for any level of aspiring French students in the world. There are courses to teach you grammar, vocabulary, prepare you for job interviews, conversation and even for specialized purposes.
| Pros | Cons |
| Flexible Scheduling | May be tricky for you if you are not used to online learning platforms. |
| Flexible Scheduling | |
| Personalized lessons | |
| Engaging online classes |
If you are unsure about the lessons and tutors, you can choose a trial lesson for as little as $3, to decide if it is right for you. The price of a lesson varies according to the tutor’s rates with Amazing Talker’s flexible rate scheduling – allowing tutors to set affordable rates for themselves and their students. Sometimes there are specials such as group discounts when a certain number of students join a class together, the tutor may therefore provide a discount for the group.
Pricing
Pricing can start from as little as $9 for a 25 minute lesson to $17 for a 50 minute lesson. Tutors often run specials for booking multiple lessons, such as $16 for 5 lessons (5% off). You can book your slot on the simple calendar format provided so it can be flexible with your schedule and then you are good to go.
Ratings
The rating covers the content and value of the lesson and effectiveness of the tutor and the quality of their class and service delivery.
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Overall Score – 4.5 Stars
The average rating is 4.5 Stars with majority of French tutors ranging between 4.5 – 5 Stars based on user ratings and reviews. Tutors receive great feedback from their students and their reviews are visible for you to see and make your decision about which tutor and class you would prefer. These 4.5 stars give it a great quality with majority of students finding it great.
Go to Amazing Talker French Classes to learn more and book your lesson today!
Berlitz
The Berlitz corporation has been hosting lessons at language centers for many years and you can now also take its classes online. With its simple website interface, it is easy to look for what you need and book a French class that suits your preferences. The website has divisions for adults and children. The French classes are taught live by Berlitz-certified instructors, and you can enroll in either private or group classes. You can book your lessons at an in-person teaching center or book online self-paced lessons using Berlitz Connect, that provides the materials and lessons to study on your own. You can also schedule 30-minute practice sessions with instructors via video call.
There are courses leveled in French Proficiency from 1 to 10, ranging from Functional (1-2), Intermediate (3-4), Upper Intermediate (5-6), Advanced (7-8) and Professional (9-10).
| Pros | Cons |
| Taught by certified instructors | Some options be a bit costly |
| Study materials provided |
Pricing
Berlitz offers a 12-week online group French class that meets twice a week for 90-minute lessons. The self-paced Berlitz Connect program costs about $699 for six months with 10 speaking practice sessions, or around $899 for 12 months with 25 speaking practice sessions.
Ratings
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Overall Score – 3.9 Stars from their 600 Trust Pilot reviews.
Berlitz has great customer and student testimonials that you can view on their website.
Go to Berlitz – French to check out more about their French learning options.
Lingoda
Lingoda is a European online language school based in Berlin that uses the video platform Zoom to offer group or private lessons in English, German, Spanish, and French. Its French classes are taught by experienced teachers who are all native French speakers and live in different time zones, allowing classes to be available at any time no matter where you live – giving you much flexibility in your schedule and time zone.
Classes are one hour long, and you can either take private lessons or join a group of three to four students. When you sign up for lessons, they will send you class materials that you can download and use to practice anytime such as PowerPoint presentations and PDFs. You can take a free proficiency test to see what level you should start at. Lingoda uses the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
| Pros | Cons |
| Courses delivered by experienced, Native Teachers | May be difficult if video learning is not for you |
| Download Course Materials | |
| Affordable course options |
Pricing:
Lingoda offers a free seven-day trial, and the pricing varies based on the subscription plan that you choose.
The price for one class a week is $44 a month ($9 per class), while the marathon subscription costs $33 a month ($7 per class) If you choose either the 3, 6 or 12 months of classes.
Ratings
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Overall Score – An average of 4.4 Stars from their 3,120 reviews of Trust Pilot and Google Reviews.
Visit Lingoda for more information and to see if there is a French course that suits you.
Preply
Preply is an online education platform that is dedicated to teaching students foreign languages with flexibility, quality and immersive methods. They aim to not only teach you the language, but to expose you to the culture behind the language and also to prepare you for realistic scenarios where you would need to use these skills – such as conversations and business activities.
Their website is very simple and is set up with a great filtering system to help you choose the exact tutor that will suit your French language learning needs. There are 1,638 French teachers available, both native and specialists to help you learn French at all proficiency levels.
| Pros | Cons |
| Variety of Native and Specialist Language teachers available | Overload of Tutors on the platform makes decision difficult |
| Flexible classes to suit busy schedules | |
| Affordable course rates |
Pricing
If you decide to take a trial to decide if its for you, you will get a 20% discount on any course you choose.
Prices of tutors range from just $3 per hour to $78 per hour depending on the level of French you are learning, the expertise of the tutor and the content being taught in the lessons.
Ratings
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Overall Score – An average of 4.9 Stars from 164 reviews from students globally.
Check out Preply to browse the wide selection of French tutors and lessons on offer.
Alliance Française
The Alliance Française is a world-wide non-profit, apolitical and non-religious network devoted to promoting French language and Francophone cultures. It offers interactive classes and private lessons for children, teens and adults. Their class sizes are kept small to ensure students have the most optimal learning experience possible. They offer a free proficiency test to help decide your level of French and recommend a range of courses best suited for you. Once you are registered, you have access to their online student portal which will guide you through your French learning journey.
They offer courses for all proficiency levels from A1 (Beginner), A2 (Elementary), B1 (Intermediate), B2 (Advanced) and C1 (Expert).
| Pros | Cons |
| Online Student Portal to assist students through the learning pathway | Pricing options are not available upfront, you must register first. |
| Cultural exploration as well as as language education | |
| French Alliances and support from all over the world |
Pricing
Courses are offered from just $13 an hour. Courses are offered in 24 hours or 20 hours for small groups (5 students or less). You will need to register with them to see the pricing options available to you.
Ratings
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Overall Score – 4.5 Stars
Check out Alliance Française see more about their French courses.
Udemy
Udemy is a renowned e-learning platform that has a variety of courses for every subject imaginable. Their French course list is just as diverse, offering a multitude of French learning classes for all proficiencies, situations and applications. Their website is easy to navigate and contains detailed and diverse courses.
| Pros | Cons |
| There are always specials, discounts and promotions | Sales are time-sensitive and may place pressure on you to purchase without sufficient time to decide |
| Easy access to a variety of courses and materials |
Pricing:
Udemy is famous for their continuous specials and discounts on their courses. There are always timed specials for that can tempt you!
French for Beginners – $14 (37% off the original $23) – 2.5 hours video plus 22 downloadable resources
The French Subjunctive – Full Course – Intermediate Level: $14 (80% off the original $23) – 2.5 hours video plus 22 downloadable resources
French Level 3: The Ultimate Guide to Master Reading French – $14 (82% off the original $92) – 4 hours video, 40 articles and 20 downloadable resources
Ratings
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Overall Score – An average of 4.2 Stars
Check out Udemy for more courses and for their continuously updated specials and promotional offers.
Live Lingua
Live Lingua offers personalized education in foreign languages such as French. Once you tell them about yourself, your needs and goals; their class coordinators will match you with the ideal teacher to be your “language learning guide”. You will get the undivided attention of a certified French tutor and the same level of interaction you’d have by being in the room with them. You will also be able to ask them about deeper aspects of French, such as their culture.
| Pros | Cons |
| Personalized learning plan | The pricing can rise considerably depending on how many hours you choose |
| Dedicated tutor to guide you along the learning process | |
| Free Trial lesson |
Pricing:
Standard French Course – $29 per hour. They offer a 14% discount with every additional hour you book. A free 30 minute trial lesson is offered for you to decide if the course if for you.
Ratings
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Overall Score – 4.5 Stars
Check out Live Lingua for more courses and information on their French offerings.
Pimsleur
Pimsleur French is great for developing French pronunciation. They have a scientifically-proven guarantee to help you “speak French at an intermediate level in just 30 days”. With Dr. Pimsleur’s revolutionary method, you’re able to learn on all aspects – with one common goal: speaking your new language quickly and without rules, drills, or boring repetition. Because you learn the phrases and words you’re most likely to need, language comes alive, and the vocabulary, grammar, and native-like pronunciation are ready whenever you are.
| Pros | Cons |
| Available on Computer, Apple and Android devices | Does not focus on reading and writing skills as much as listening and speaking. |
| Flexible scheduling with digital options | |
| Offer a free e-book with 16 tips for French learning |
Pricing:
Intermediate level French course – $119 $99 (limited tome discount) for a 30-day course that has 30 minute lessons per day.
Ratings
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Overall Score – 4 stars
Check out Pimsleur for more information on their French courses.
Frantastique by Gymglish
Frantastique offers adaptive learning courses that are personalized for student’s learning needs. Their lessons contain a selection of exercises, videos, texts, dialogues, conjugation tests, and mini-lessons in French. Their website is easy to navigate and they are also available on iOS and Android as well, creating a greater level of accessibility to students. It also offers in-depth links to Francophone culture, to give students a greater and holistic understanding on French. All Frantastique content is incorporated into a teaching process that aims to improve the learner’s oral and written comprehension, enrich their vocabulary and familiarize them with current expressions and phrases in various sectors.
| Pros | Cons |
| Available on Computer, Apple and Android devices | Not many materials provided |
| Francophone culture teachings | |
| Personlized lessons and content |
Pricing:
The estimated monthly training time is 5 hours (with 20 lessons completed) up to 5 lessons per week. Actual training time depends on the participation rate of each individual. The price of each subscription is independent of the number of lessons received and completed by each learner. A free trial is offered to assess your level of French proficiency, following which a personalized report will be created for your optimal learning pathway.
Basic From $24 per month
Premium From $36 per month
Pro From $47 per month
Ratings
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Overall Score – 4.6 stars by 128 435 users.
Check out Frantastique by Gymglish for more French courses and information.
LanguaTalk
Langua Talk offers 1-1 lessons with exceptional, certified tutors in foreign languages. They offer personalized learning content and intuitive classes with a very helpful online platform to guide you along the way. The process of signing up is very easy – once you find an ideal tutor, you can book your lesson on their calendar widget and then setup your lessons to go. After you create a free account, you’ll be able to view each tutor and their associated pricing. You’ll also be able to use our price filter to help you find a tutor who fits your budget.
| Pros | Cons |
| Free 30 minute trial lesson with no commitments | No e-learning options for those who like to self-study |
| French podcast available | |
| Guides to learn French are offered |
Pricing:
The price per lesson depends on which tutor(s) you choose to learn with. Prices can range anywhere from around $11 to $40 USD per lesson. It’s usually cheaper than learning locally as tutors don’t have to travel and sometimes live in countries with a lower cost of living. There are also discounts if you buy more than one lesson at a time.
Ratings
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Overall Score – 4.5 Stars
Check out LanguaTalk for more courses and information.
Coucou French Classes
Coucou merges French language studies, cultural activities and the community of Francophiles, which explores the modern French speaking world for students of all levels. They offer online or in-person private or small group French classes, workshops, and events, all led by their expert team of native-speaking teachers. A free trial class is offered to help you decide if it is to your liking, and a placement test is also offered. Their classes focus on conversation and informal interactions, while still following a thorough grammar curriculum.
| Pros | Cons |
| Small class sizes | Majority of the focus is on cultural aspects than language |
| Custom and personalized content | |
| Includes teaching on Francophone culture |
Pricing:
Standard Lesson
$85/hr for 1 student
$127.5/hr for 2 students
Standard Package Deal
2 hours free +12 hours for $850 for 1 student
$1275 for 2 students
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Overall Score – 4.9 Stars
Check out Coucou French Classes for more information on their French courses.
UrbanPro
UrbanPro is India’s largest and most trusted Learning Network. With over 650 000 Verified Tutors, Trainers & Institutes, we are a trusted partner of choice for more than 250 000 students, parents and professionals visiting us every month to fulfill learning requirements across more than 1000 categories.
Students, parents and professionals can compare multiple Tutors, Trainers and Institutes and choose the ones that best suit their requirements. They offer French courses for all levels: A1 (Beginner), A2 (Elementary), B1 (Intermediate), B2 (Upper Intermediate), C1 (Advanced) and C2 (Proficient). Their website is comprehensive and guides you directly to the course and tutor suited to you based on a few simple questions about your learning preferences and proficiency.
| Pros | Cons |
| Available on Computer, Apple and Android devices | Pricing is not available until you contact the team |
| French teaching for multiple professions, needs and requirements. | |
| Free demo class with the tutor of your choice |
Pricing:
The pricing is not available until you request it from the team via their website by submitting a form with your contact details and inquiry. You can book a free demo lesson to see if it works for you.
Ratings
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Overall Score – 4.8 stars based 6427 reviews
Check out UrbanPro for more courses and information.
italki
talki is an online language learning platform which connects language learners and teachers through video chat. The site allows students to find online teachers for 1-on-1 tutoring, and teachers to earn money as freelance tutors. They offer great personalized French courses with qualified tutors and an easy start-up process with simple payment options. Simply select your tutor, schedule a lesson at a convenient time and pay the tutor after your lesson.
| Pros | Cons |
| Available on Computer, Apple and Android devices | Trials are not free |
| Language learning community to join and share your experiences |
Pricing:
Pricing varies per tutor but the average prices are as follows:
30 Minute Trial – $5
Hourly Rate – from as little as $8 – $22
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Overall Score – 4.5 stars based on 10 728 reviews on trust pilot.
Check out italki to see more information on their French courses.
Conclusion
Each French learning website has its own benefits and compromises. This article has shown you the various types of French online learning opportunities for Canadian learners that wish to improve their French proficiency or begin their French language journey. Looking at the pros and cons of each website should help you make an informed and confident decision of which one is the best for your needs.
We recommend Lingoda for its free 7 day trial to help you decide and its many free downloaded course and study materials (PDFs and Powerpoint presentations) that supplement your French learning.
Another great recommendation is Amazing Talker which offers you flexible online class scheduling, affordable tutors and great personalized lessons to help you start your French learning journey.
