Being stuck at home is a pain, but that’s no reason to give up on your dream of learning French. With all the online resources available for French students, and thousands of French speakers looking for virtual language exchanges, you should have no trouble at all learning French from home. So plug in your headphones and let’s get started.
1. Use a French learning app (great for beginners)
If you want to learn French from home but have never studied the language before, it’s a good idea to pick up some basic French vocabulary before diving into anything else. Language learning apps are perfect for this. They’re free, mobile-ready, and addictive. They mostly use flashcard-type methodology to teach you new words and then quiz you on them until you’re a master. Oh, and there are badges. Lots of badges.
2. Listen to French radio
There’s nothing better than listening to hours and hours of French to get the sound of the language in your head. It doesn’t even matter if you understand what they’re saying. Turn on France Info for news bulletins, Binge Audio for insightful discussion, or Les Odyssées for a little history (aimed at kids aged 7-12).
3. Read a French newspaper
Reading is a great way to learn French from home if you make the effort to read a little every day. A newspaper is perfect for that. The articles aren’t too long, and you can find things about a variety of different subjects. Each day, pick an article off the websites of Le Monde or Libération and work your way through it. Google Translate is great for when you get stuck, but try to work things out yourself first. For an easier reading challenge, try this free news site for French children.
4. Watch French TV shows and movies
Beginners can turn on the subtitles in their own language. If you’re more confident, watch with French subtitles or none at all! There’s no better way to pick up idioms (and swearing) than by watching French TV. Here are a few good French shows on Netflix to get you started.
5. Talk to people in French
When you feel ready to start speaking (or text chatting) in French, there are tons of free language exchange apps to choose from. Speaky and HelloTalk both let you set up an account and start chatting with whoever is online in minutes, but there are also apps like Tandem where you can search for a more permanent partner to practice your French with.
Learning French from home is something of a challenge, but you like challenges, right? So pick a study method you’re excited about et allons-y!
