Do you think you can learn french for Free ? Why pay a lot of money for French lessons at home? Our top 9 applications to learn French!
Learning a language is always a challenging cognitive learning process. Would you like to learn French to progress before a trip to France? You are right on target: the level of French people is known to be low in English. Few people know how to speak English well, so it will be difficult to communicate in France! To acquire a good oral expression and a good level of oral comprehension, it is better to anticipate!
Traditionally, we think of private lessons to learn a foreign language. But the training is expensive. An alternative and inexpensive solution is to download mobile applications. These applications, free or not, allow you to immerse yourself in language and culture. Whether it is before leaving for a French-speaking country or on site, they will be very useful.
Are you going to France, Quebec or French-speaking Africa? Here is our selection of applications to learn the French language at your own pace!
1. Babbel
When you think of language courses via mobile application, you often think of Babbel. This company was created in 2007 and has become a worldwide reference. It offers French as well as 15 other languages.
Babbel teaches four aspects of the French language: grammar, vocabulary, listening and speaking. The user defines his or her level at the beginning of the course, between beginner and advanced. Vocabulary is learned through repetition combined with a voice recognition system and translations.
The Babbel application helps the user to climb the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). These are levels A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Ideal for non-French speaking beginners, it allows you to reach level B2, which is a common use of the French language. You will be able to rework all the previous lessons to revise, especially the most difficult sentences.
In listening comprehension, the dialogues cover topics of everyday life. The learning process is designed to give you the ability to interact orally with native French speakers, while being at ease. As far as prices are concerned, Babbel is not expensive:
- 1 month: 12,99€,
- 3 months: 10€ per month,
- 6 months: €7.50 per month,
- 12 months: 5€ per month.
2) Busuu
Busuu is often on the podium of the most popular language learning applications. The program emphasizes social learning, i.e. the possibility of having conversations with other users. The application provides courses for all levels, from beginner (A1) to advanced intermediate (B2).
The lessons can be themed and each one contains grammar rules and new vocabulary words. A correction system is also integrated. It is also a very complete application that works at all levels (pronunciation, writing, reading, grammar, spelling). The goal is to validate one lesson per day.
On the other hand, if the application seems free at the beginning, it then becomes paying. You will have to pay 34,99€ per year for the “Premium” version. There is also a “Premium plus” version, available for about 6,50€ per month.
3. MosaLingua
MosaLingua is a behemoth of language learning applications. Indeed, this small multi-platform application provides lessons according to a method that has been proven at the scientific level: spaced repetition. The goal of the application is to help you memorize words by using vocabulary exercises.
To do this, MosaLingua uses a panel of 3,000 cards with key words and phrases, which will be repeated unexpectedly as you progress through the levels, to help you memorize the maximum number of words possible.
To get these services, you will have to pay 9,99 € per month, or opt for the 12 months package at 59,99 € (4,99 € per month) !
4. FluentU
FluentU is a rather innovative application. Indeed, it breaks with the codes of learning by simply proposing to learn French through podcasts and other digital information formats.
Several types of tools are offered within FluentU, ranging from videos of light subjects such as music videos, to more square ones such as news and advertisements. This type of training addresses one of the problems of language learning. Indeed, after days and days of learning, when you are put in a real situation, the blanks during the conversation phases will become rarer.
To help you go gradually, each video has a detailed script, so that you know which term means this or that. Finally, the application has a cost, since only the first two weeks of use are free. After that, you will have to pay 15€ per month or 120€ per year to continue using FluentU.
