BEST French Language Learning Resources

Looking for French language learning resources? Bienvenue. You’ve come to the right place.

I’m a former full-time French school teacher from Canada, and I learned French as a second language.

This means that French language learning resources are kind of second-nature to me, as I used them to learn French as well as teach it to my students.

The kind of resources you want for learning French depends on if you’re looking for:

• Resources for adults (classes or independent learning)
• Resources for kids (homeschooling, classroom)

You may looking for resources for yourself as the learner, your students (classroom or tutoring) or your own kids if you’re a homeschooling family.

And don’t worry, because many of the resources below can cater to all three. But, I will specify below who each resource is best for.

So, allons-y -here are the best French language learning resources.

Best Online French Language Learning Resources

1. Comme Une Française

Best for: Adults (or older kids/teens)
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom: ❌ (You could use the YouTube videos in classrooms with older kids, but the rest of the resources are targetted at adult independent learners)

Comme Une Française is an amazing online French language resource from France. There’s a YouTube channel, online courses, French conversation club that you pay a membership fee for (adults only), and a newsletter you can subscribe to.

I used some of the Comme Une Française YouTube videos with my Grade 8 students (13 years old) so that they could learn vocabulary for things like shopping, eating in restaurants, and things like that.

Part of what I love about Comme Une Francaise is that she teaches not only language, but culture too. She explains the reasons behind how the French tend to think, and act, and speak.

2. La Où Je Dors

Best for: Kids (but adults could use it too)
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom: ✅

La Ou Je Dors is an amazing online resource for learning not only French, but about cultures and lifestyles around the world too.

Kids around the world show what their home looks like, speaking in French. This can be used for independent learners, homeschoolers or the classroom.

I learned about Là Ou Je Dors as a French teacher. It’s great for French immersion classes, or for someone wanting to get used to hearing French speaking. The only downside is that I don’t know if there’s an option with subtitles, so it’s probably not the best option for complete beginners who don’t understand any French yet.

3. Online interactive activities and games

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom: ✅

There are many websites with online games that require students of all ages to read, understand, and sometimes even listen and speak.

Here are a few (but not all) of them:

• Smash Education – great for classrooms, and homeschooling. Students have to listen to phrases and repeat them. My daughter’s teacher uses this in their classroom
• Hello World Interactive French Games for Kids – also for classrooms and homeschooling
• Frenchgames.online Great for all kinds of learners, from classroom, to homeschool. You can pick a theme, and assign a game to that theme

4. French-language educational YouTube Channels

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom: ✅

There are many, many YouTube channels catered to teaching French. Some are geared to adults learning French and many are used in classrooms for kids too.

French-language YouTube channels For Teens and Adults:

• @LaviequotidienneenFrance is great for older learners with an intermediate-level grasp on French already. The videos have French subtitles to help you follow along
• @FrancaisavecPierre also for intermediate and advanced learners (he speaks all French, but very slowly)
• @Commeunefrancaise, mentioned above. Great for adults wanting to learn French language, as well as a bit about French culture and lifestyle too. She does a lot of explaining in English, so its best for beginner levels
• @frenchpod101 has French listening activities, dialogues and lessons suitable for adult and independent learners

French-language YouTube channels For Kids (classroom or homeschool)

• @SylviaDuckworth (ignore the super creepy têtes à claques, and scroll down to the popular videos – you’ll find engaging French songs with lyrics. I used to use these all the time in my French classes)
• @tialela99 Great French songs for the classroom (especially ones by Allain le Lait)

5. Virtual French classes

Best for: Teens and adults (individual)
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ❌
Classroom: ❌

There are online classrooms with a teacher and other students like yourself that are trying to improve their French.

• Edu Inter located in Quebec, offers in person but also online French courses
• Francais Avec Pierre, based in France offers both paid and online resources, including online French courses

6. Online tutoring platforms

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom:  ❌

Have you ever thought of hiring a French tutor to practice your French with? This is probably best for people who have some grasp on French already and want to improve.

You can hire French tutors at the following online platforms

• italki – I’ve hired many tutors from italki to help me practice my speaking. you can filter your search if you prefer a certain accent/country
• Super Prof – this is like italki, but for French tutors only

7. Teachers Pay Teachers

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning:
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom: ✅

Teachers Pay Teachers is a platform where teachers sell or give away resources that they’ve created. But let’s face, people have made a business (even a passive living off of it) and have

As a French teacher, I have bought many resources from Teachers Pay Teachers, and I also sell some too.

To be clear, some resources are free and some are paid. you can search by price point, by age level and subject.

If you’re a school teacher, a home school educator, or even a self-learner, check what there is.

Pro Tip: You get credits for rating products on Teachers Pay Teachers. You can apply those credits to make more purchases.

8. Duolingo

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning:
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom: ✅

By now, I bet everyone has heard of Duolingo. It’s a good way to practice French, although I’d never use it as your only French language resource.

Duolingo is free, and works great as a supplement to French practice that you’re already doing.

It’s for all ages, and can be done independently or in the classroom. As a French teacher, I used to book the computers for my students to do duolingo every other Friday.

9. Social Media French learner groups

Best for: Adults
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool:  ❌
Classroom:  ❌

There are several online communities catered to learning French. This is best done as informal practice, to supplement your exposure to the language.

• J’apprends le français canadien – on Facebook. (I’m in this group!) Don’t worry if you’re not learning Canadian French specifically – it’s pretty much the same as France French except for maybe some colloquialisms. It’s a great free resource for learning French
• /learnfrench on Reddit. Connect with other French learners and learn a thing or two.

10. Podcast Français Facile

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom:  ❌

Podcast Francais Facile has a podcast, but also some free online grammar exercises, speaking activities and excersizes. You can listen to dialogues, while reading them and learning vocabulary.

This is great for intermediate level learners that have already learned the core basics, and now want to deepen their understanding.

11. French work and activity books

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom:  ✅

With all the amazing online resources, sometimes we forget about the old school way – pencil to paper.

Science shows though, that there’s something about pen to paper that helps us learn and retain information.

On your French language learning journey (or your student’s) don’t completely disregard pen to paper activities. They add a great supplement to a French learning journey.

Choose from a variety of French workbooks here on Amazon (for kids and adults, catering to varying levels)

12. In-person French immersion programs (for adults or kids)

Best for: Kids or adults
Independent learning: ✅
Homeschool: ✅
Classroom:  ✅ (Students can part-take during the school year or on school breaks)

• Edu Inter offers programs for teenagers and adults
• Alliance Francaise offers intensive French classes in Toronto

French Resources that are FREE

Most of the French language resources mentioned in this guide provide both free and paid resources. If you want to learn French for free, then here are the resources I’d recommend

• YouTube channels. French YouTube channels are always free. Some of them teach grammar lessons, and vocabulary, and some of them offer songs and dialoges en français. Get a pen and notebook, and write down new vocabulary that you learn.
• Podcast Francais Facile offers many online activities that you can do without paying a dime
• La Ou Je Dors is an amazing free French language resource aimed at kids

Resources for Learning French FAQ

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about finding the best resources for learning French for specific learners

What is the best resource for learning French?

The best resource for learning French depends on the age and level of the learner. There are so many free and paid resources you can find online, but some are best for adults or kids, or more suited to different levels. If you’re a complete beginner, I recommend starting with some online French courses, such as the ones offered by Edu Inter or Francais Avec Pierre.

How can I learn French by myself?

Learning French by yourself takes some dedication. Be sure to use more than one resource, and stick to it on a regular basis. Take an online class, do online exercises and activities, and hire a French tutor. Doing a combination of all three can help get you to an intermediate level (or advanced if you’re already intermediate in French) independentl.y

What is the most effective way to learn French?

The most effective way to learn French is by doing a combination of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Do a mixture of independent work, and some interactive activity or game online. Write words down, and say them out loud to yourself every day.

What is the best platform to learn French for free?

If you want to learn French for free, then I recommend using French YouTube channels, and free online French activities and exercises.

Final Thoughts on French Language Learning Resources

J’espère that some of the resources about will be helpful in improving your français. Bonne chance!