50 Free Resources
to Learn French Fast
April 2023
Everyone’s language learning path is different but everyone can get there. Staying motivated is the important thing. So this resource can either be used as a complement to in-class learning, or alone for independent learners.
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Many (but not all) of the “free” resources in this list assume that you have a phone and/or computer and access to the internet, and in some cases subscribe to some sort of tv package or streaming service. In other words, there is no marginal cost to what you already pay for.
Finally, you don’t need to do everything, nor is this a comprehensive list. Rather, find what works best for your routine, your interests, and your style of learning. I hope this will help you with that.
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Have fun and bonne chance!
Applications
Remember the old tagline “there’s an app for that”? Well it certainly applies to French language learning. In fact, there are several apps for that. Our smartphones and tablets have become extensions of ourselves, always at our fingertips ready to serve. So why not equip them with a few tools that you can access any time, anywhere to keep your French blade sharpened. Here are my favourites.
1. Duolingo
As far as language-learning apps go, I would say that Duolingo is the gold standard. It can be downloaded on most platforms or accessed on an Internet browser. They have mastered the gamification concept with challenges, rewards and leader boards to compare yourself with others. You get those little drips of dopamine for correct answers and streaks with chimes and words of encouragement.
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What I also like about it is the native holistic learning approach, where you jump right into “lessons”, which are actually just tests of around 20 questions. The vocabulary and grammar concepts are taught through repetition by challenging you in a variety of ways – multiple choice, English to French, French to English, listening, speaking, etc. There is no actual grammar theory taught, unless you choose to read the tips after you get a question wrong. The lessons build off each other progressively and follow several useful themes, from the basics of introducing yourself to making travel plans.
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The free version gives you access to all the lessons but you're limited to only five “hearts” a day, which means that after five mistakes you have to wait a day before playing again. Usually you can get through one to three lessons with the five hearts. You also have the chance to win or “buy” more hearts with credit you build up. If you’re only planning on playing 15 to 20 minutes a day, the free version is sufficient. But if you want more, the premium SuperDuolingo is around $84 USD a year, which gives you unlimited hearts, no ads and the ability to tailor the types of questions you want to focus on.
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Overall, Duolingo is a fun and effective tool that should definitely be in the core of your French learning regiment. I like to play a couple of lessons during my morning coffee to warm up my brain.
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But it won’t be enough. Like anything, relying on it too much will get boring and won’t give you the real world immersion you need to progress more quickly.
2. Quizlet
The next app you want to download is Quizlet (which is also available as a website). It’s basically an enhanced digital version of the flashcards you used to make for memorising terms in science class. You make lists of words and phrases in English and French and use the app to test yourself with games and quizzes.
Their predictive text makes it easy to add terms with suggested translations in either language. I suggest making several lists by category (e.g. action verbs, work terms, idioms, etc.) and group them into folders for easy retrieval later. Try adding new words you come across each day, and remove words you’ve mastered.
Again, you don’t want to overdo it, but 15-20 minutes of Quizlet everyday when you’re having a coffee, waiting in line, on the train, etc., will boost your vocabulary quickly.
And again, there’s a premium Quizlet Plus version you can buy for around $48 USD a year if you really like using it. With the premium version there are no ads, offline access, and customizable font features for visual learners. They’re all nice to haves but not necessary when you’re just starting out.
3. L’OBS
The third pillar of my French learning app trifecta is l’OBS. This app is strictly for verb conjugation. Like it or not, verbs and verb conjugation are the core of communicating in French. Nouns, adjectives, and adverbs are just window dressing in comparison. So it’s worth putting in the effort here. For those of you who work out, think of verb drills as your leg workouts – they’re not as fun and won’t necessarily get you noticed, but they’ll keep you on your feet and improve your overall performance.
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Unlike Duolingo and Quizlet, l’OBS is a bare bones app that gets straight to point with a basic lookup that returns conjugation tables for each verb tense, as well as exercises, which are just 10 question tests that give you the verb, person, and verb tense to conjugate. For example, “ ‘avoir’ 2nd person singular masculine – futur simple”.
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What I like about the l’OBS app is that the exercises are customizable, meaning you can choose what verbs (ER verbs, IR verbs, irregular verbs, or favourites) and what verb tenses so you can tailor them based on where you’re at on your journey.
There’s no premium version for this one so no “to buy or not to buy” dilemma. Just a quick pop-up ad to close at the start and you’re good to go.
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Together with Duolingo and Quizlet, l’OBS provides you with the formal training foundation that you need to enjoy the other resources contained in this guide. You don’t need to do all three everyday, but I strongly recommend that you get into the daily habit of using at least one. Mix and match them to keep things fresh and enjoyable.
4. Google Translate
There are no lessons, games or exercises here, but Google Translate is definitely a free tool you want in the toolbox. It’s handy when you’re reading and writing. Use the speaker function to hear the correct pronunciation. Often you also get definitions and alternative translations for more precision.
But the feature I love most with Google Translate is the camera function. When you’re reading a book or newspaper, you just hover the camera over the text and like magic it’s all translated on the screen. You can snap a photo for closer inspection if you like. For me it's one of those “we are living in the future” functions that we sometimes take for granted given the pace of advancement we are living through these days.
Device Settings
While you’re at it with the apps, why not go all in and change your device settings to French for a full immersion experience.
5. Phone
Phones are so visual now that changing over to French is not a big risk in terms of getting lost or losing files or calling the wrong person. But it does reinforce those everyday words like “calendrier” or “horloge”, and gets you accustomed to seeing where accents should go.
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To change your Apple device to French, go to Settings > General > Language & Region > Preferred Language. If French is not listed, click on Add a Language and select it from the list. If it is there, you need to slide it to the top of the list to reset your phone. Not only will your phone change over to French, but all apps that can use French as well, like your Gmail account (e.g., in your Gmail account “junkmail” becomes “pourriel”).
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To change your Android device to French, go to Settings > System and updates > Language and input > Language and region > Add language. Once added, press and hold the two horizontal lines and move French to the top.
6. Computer
Switching over your computer to French might be a little riskier than your phone, especially if it's your work computer. It could be stressful trying to quickly recall an inappropriate email you sent to your boss in error when all the options are in French!
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But if you're more advanced and feeling ambitious, here’s how you change your language settings:
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On a Mac, click on Apple Menu > System Settings > General > Language and Region. Under Preferred Languages, click the Add button and select French. Again, drag it to the top of the list to set it as the primary language.
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If using Windows, click on Start > Settings > Time & Language > Language > Preferred Language > Add a Language > choose French from the list.
7. Keyboard
Of course, if you’re going to change your system settings, you’ll also want to change your keyboard so you can add French accents.
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On a Mac you don’t have to change anything, you simply hold down the letter you want to modify and a list of accents will pop up to choose from.
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In Windows, it’s a bit more complicated. Again, click on Start > Settings > Time & Language > Language & region. Select French and click on Options. Select Add a keyboard and choose the keyboard you want to add.
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Once selected, to actually add accents you have to select the equivalent buttons on your English keyboard. For example “é” is “/”. You’ll have to memorize all the equivalents needed, or keep the following link from Microsoft handy for reference: Windows keyboard layouts (from here you can choose French, Canadian French, etc.).
8. Netflix
Although I discuss French movies and television shows in other chapters, I thought I’d add a quick tip on how to change the audio and subtitles when watching on Netflix in the event you want to watch English content with French dubbing and/or subtitles.
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When you select a title, before clicking Play select More Info then Audio & Subtitles. If French is available for either, you can select from the lists. You can also change the audio and subtitles after starting by pressing pause. Under the timeline you’ll see the current audio settings and an Other button. Select it and the same menu options will appear.
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My personal recommendation would be to select either French audio or subtitles but not both. Often they don’t match since audio dubbing is tailored to match the flow of dialogue on screen whereas subtitles are designed to be read quickly and so often they paraphrase rather than doing a direct translation. Sometimes one is done in French Canadian French and the other in Parisian French, which gets really confusing!
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In general, it’s best to just listen to push your comprehension skills, even if you only follow half of the dialogue. You can also re-watch or replay certain scenes. But again do what works for you and your style of learning.
Podcasts
Like apps, there seems to be a podcast for just about every niche subject out there. In my explorations, I found a couple that I really like and that I listen to on rotation when walking, in the car, or doing housework. Some are specifically targeted at French language learning, others are just interesting French language podcasts presented at a reasonably understandable level.
9. Playback Speed
Before discussing the individual podcasts, I’ll add one more small device-setting tip you can use when listening to them – playback speed.
Most podcast-playing platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify give you the option to adjust the playback speed faster or slower. This can be helpful when listening to native French speakers as the liaisons can make it hard to distinguish between words sometimes.
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To change the playback speed, tap where you see “1x” when playing the podcast and choose your desired speed from the options.
10. Duolingo
I started the app list with Duolingo so I’ll do the same with my podcast list. Unlike the holistic and comprehensive Duolingo app, the Duolingo podcast is specifically geared toward French language listening and comprehension.
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Each episode contains a first-person account of an inspiring story from around the French-speaking world. The host jumps in intermittently in English to provide context so you don’t lose the thread of the story. The episodes run around 20 minutes each, are reasonably easy to follow, expose you to different accents, and are all quite interesting. They are professionally produced with sound effects and music to enhance the experience.
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I particularly liked the story of the undercover clown – an unassuming nuclear engineer that secretly doubled as a children’s hospital clown; and another about a woman who saved 38 abandoned children during and after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
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The producers also offered an innovative season of episodes that follows the true-life story of Alexandre Marius Jacob – a sort of French Robin Hood that lived an extraordinary life fighting against the French class system in the early 20th century. The voice actors are really good and the story is quite remarkable – you sometimes forget that you’re working at learning a language!
11. InnerFrench
Probably my favourite podcast is InnerFrench. It was started by Hugo Cotton, a young French teacher from France based in Poland. He designed the podcast based on the language acquisition theory of American Professor Stephen Krashen, which essentially is that, like children, we can learn a language better by just living it and doing and learning about things that interest us without concern of strict grammar rules. In this way we will stay motivated and harness our capacity to use context to connect the dots of understanding.
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In each episode Hugo discusses interesting topics completely in French, using relatively straightforward language, clear pronunciation and a pace that’s easy to follow. If he does use a more technical or sophisticated phrase, he’ll usually stop to explain using simpler language (in French). Topics range from language acquisition theory itself, to the French presidential system, to the rise of robots.
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He’s a typical millennial – intelligent, worldly, and socially conscientious. He says that he received feedback that some listeners found him too “woke” but I don’t find him preachy at all. He speaks matter-of-factly and usually covers all aspects of a subject in an academic fashion.
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As the name of the podcast suggests, it’s meant for intermediate level learners with some basis of understanding. Transcripts of each episode are available on the InnerFrench website. I don’t usually use them as I’m mostly on the move when I listen to podcasts, but I could see them being useful if you were sitting and listening and needed a little help following along.
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Overall I would say if you’re just starting out, you may want to hold off on this one for now. Otherwise, definitely add it to your regular playlist.
12. CoffeeBreak French
CoffeeBreak French is another one of my favourite podcasts – as much for the hosts as for the content. Whereas Duolingo and InnerFrench are strictly about natural listening, CoffeeBreak French is more of a formal French language instructional podcast.
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This first couple of seasons include straight up verb drills and useful expressions. Season three and on get a little more interesting where you first listen to a text of dialogue then the hosts break it down line by line to analyse the vocabulary, expressions, verb tenses, etc. Seasons 9 and 10 are interesting to anyone planning or dreaming of travelling to France. They follow the fictional road trip diaries of adventures through the south and north of France.
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The hosts Marc and Pierre-Benoit make a funny pair. Mark is a Scottish polyglot with professional credentials as a language teacher and an almost unholy passion for grammar. Pierre-Benoit is a French expat living in Scotland, which makes for an interesting accent. He’s an extroverted “bon vivant” that adds a lot of personality to the show.
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They haven’t put out a new season in a while. Hopefully they do, but if not there’s still hours of good content here.
13. Français avec Pierre
Another formal French learning podcast is Français avec Pierre. I find it a bit all over the place as it doesn’t follow any particular plan or learning path but rather just has a bunch of random short lessons on a variety of subjects from pronunciation to vocabulary to grammar to learning strategies to French culture and history.
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Like the CoffeeBreak guys, Pierre is very enthusiastic and encouraging and does a good job speaking very clearly and methodically.
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What is also nice is that the episodes are usually pretty short, including many under 10 minutes. So if you a few minutes to kill, find a topic is useful or interesting to you and go for it.
14. News in Slow French
As you can guess from the name, this weekly podcast presents current news stories in a slow and clear manner so it’s easy to follow for French language learners. The producers actually offer three level options: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
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Because the podcast discusses current world events you have a solid base of understanding from which you can connect the dots if you don’t know all the vocabulary being used. The free portion of the podcast is available on Apple Podcasts and other platforms and runs eight minutes. The full episodes are available for download on their website.
15. L’heure du monde
For more advanced learners that follow the news, l’heure du monde is a good option. It is a one-hour news program broadcast daily by Radio Canada covering international news. Episodes are available the following day as downloadable podcasts through Apple Podcasts and other podcast players.
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It’s not designed for language learners but because it’s a news broadcast, the language is clear and precise without slang. And again, because they are covering world events, you will have a general sense of what they are talking about.
16. Ça s’explique
Ça s’explique (“that explains it”) is another current events show from Radio-Canada. This one provides deeper analysis of a current topic in the news, getting into the history and broader implications. The topics and analysis are more Canadian or even Quebec-centric so they might not always be of interest to international listeners (or maybe they would be!).
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Episodes run around 20 minutes. Select episodes are available on Apple Podcasts on a weekly basis. All episodes are available on the Radio Canada-Ohdio website or application, which is free to download and subscribe to.
Websites
In the infinite sea of the world wide web (do they still call it that?) it can be easy to get lost when exploring French resources. I suggest you create a saved links folder in your web browser so you can easily return to your favourite sites. Here are some useful ones to get started with.
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17. Change language or Translate Page
Before jumping into the sites, here’s a quick tip. More and more sites are available in multiple languages. Usually the options are in the top right corner of the page. Some Wikipedia pages can be translated into 154 languages!
And even if they don’t have the option, Google can do it for you. When using Chrome for web browsing, on the right of the address bar, click the Translate icon and choose French. In this way you can test your comprehension skills while navigating a website, and if you get stuck, you can easily toggle back to English.
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18. Reverso
Whereas I recommend Google Translate as a translation app because of its camera feature, for a comprehensive translation website I would go with Reverso. Not only does it translate, but it also has a grammar checker, rephrasing suggestions, synonyms, conjugations, and a feature I particularly like - context.
With context, it will give examples of the word or phrase you type in context and provide the french equivalent for each. For example, if you typed in “what a great day”, it will show you a translation of “What a great day for tennis” - “C'est un grand jour pour le tennis”, as well as “What a great day with your mom” - “Quelle belle journée avec ta mère”, and many others. With the premium version of Reverso, you can upload an entire document for translation - pretty cool! (plutôt sympa!).
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19. L’OBS
In contrast to the phone app, the L’Obs la conjugaison website has a much richer variety of content. Here you can find definitions, synonyms, translations, and conjugations for just about any French verb. In addition, there are videos and summaries of the main conjugation rules, and lots of interactive exercises.
It’s littered with ads and not as slick of a website as say Duolingo, but what’s nice about the exercises is that you can choose your level and the area of grammar you want to zero in on.
20. Official Languages Hub
The Official Languages Hub is the Government of Canada’s main website from which to access a wide variety of official languages resources (i.e., English and French). Among these resources are best practices, specialised translation, and learning tools. I recommend bookmarking this page as a launch pad to other links.
Here are three in particular worth checking out.
21. Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada
Quizzes on the Language Portal of Canada has multiple-choice quizzes to test your French (or English) writing skills. You can choose quizzes on grammar and syntax, punctuation, spelling, style and writing conventions, vocabulary and general knowledge.
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The general knowledge questions are particularly fun because you can learn a little Canadiana – like facts about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the national anthem, or Céline Dion - all while testing your French grammar skills.
22. Termium Plus
Termium Plus is the Government of Canada’s terminology and data bank. As opposed to general translation sites like Google Translate or Reverso, Termium Plus provides French equivalents to technical terms and abbreviations, along with definitions and actual usage examples from government websites and documents, and other official sources.
For example, if you search for a term like “data science”, it will return “datalogie” and “science des donnés”, with url links to examples where the terms are used.
23. Self-assessment tests
Linked from the Official Languages Hub are self-assessment tests. These tests are similar to the official tests used by the Canadian federal public service to evaluate candidates’ and employees’ competency levels for reading and writing in French. While the results are unofficial, they give you a good idea of where you are.
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Note that unlike regular grading, here A is the lowest rating and C is the highest – don’t ask me why! You have the option of taking the assessment tests online, which automatically generates the result for you, or manually with downloadable PDFs. I recommend the latter because the online version only tells you your grade without telling you which questions you got wrong.
YouTube
YouTube is a website like no other and deserves to stand alone as its own category of resources. The platform has revolutionised knowledge transfer and democratised learning on a global level. Anyone with a smartphone and access to wifi can learn to do practically anything – including speak French!
Here are a few of my favourite channels.
24. InnerFrench
If you like the InnerFrench podcast, check out the YouTube channel and see Hugo in the flesh. Some videos are video versions of the podcast, while others are shorter independent 10-15 minutes clips.
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As opposed to the podcast episodes and videos, the independent clips are directly geared toward French language learning with tips and tricks on expressions, accents and how to speak French “naturellement”.
25. Français avec Pierre
Where InnerFrench is primarily a podcast with a YouTube channel as a complement, Français avec Pierre (Learn French with Pierre) is a YouTube channel first and podcast second. The videos are 100% about language learning.
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Pierre is very enthusiastic and encouraging, and the videos include helpful visuals to aid the lessons.
26. Tedx talks en Français
If you like Ted Talks (who doesn’t?), check out Tedx talks en Français where you’ll find talks on all sorts of subjects given in French. Of course, they're for a French audience so they can be technical and difficult to follow at times, but like Netflix, you always have the option of turning on captions.
27. Aysseline de Lardemelle
If you’re like I was and studying for a professional French exam, or just learning French for use in a professional setting, Aysseline de Lardemelle’s YouTube channel has tons of great videos for business and management professionals.
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They’re useful not only for the office vocabulary, but also for the development of opinions on subjects like telework, leadership, meetings, etc.
28. Le Monde
Le Monde is an international French newspaper. Its YouTube channel provides short, professionally produced videos that provide insight into current events and broader social issues. I like it because the subjects are familiar and the visuals make the videos easy to follow.
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29. Other Channels
If those YouTube channels aren’t enough or don’t suit your fancy, here are a few more you can add to your subscriptions:
Radio
Listening to the radio is a great way to pick up French, especially news radio because it follows a similar pattern every day with news, traffic, weather, local stories, current events, etc. In this way, you hear the same words and phrases repeated, which you absorb semi-consciously through passive listening in the kitchen or in the car.
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These days, even if you don’t live in an area with local French radio, you can listen online through the stations’ websites or apps.
30. Radio-Canada Ohdio
Radio-Canada Ohdio (a pun on “audio”) is a free app with which you can listen live to one of its local broadcasts from across Canada or play a previously aired show or podcast.
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If you’re an international French learner, don’t be afraid of the famous Québécois accent. Because it’s a news station the presenters generally speak with clearer accents than you would get with most local French-Canadian stations. At the same time, it might be fun for you to hear the particularities of this unique dialect and learn more about French-Canadian culture.
31. Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale (RFI) is a French public radio station broadcasting around the world and covering international news and stories. Like Radio-Canada Ohdio, RFI has a free app with two live stations, RFI Monde and RFI Afrique, and on-demand access to previously aired broadcasts and podcasts.
Television
It can be hard to drum up the energy at the end of a long day to continue studying French when all you want to do is plunk down on the coach and watch some TV – why not do both! Even working in a half hour French show into the rotation can help a lot.
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Like radio, we are no longer limited by our local programming thanks to the miracle of the Internet. Between cable TV, Netflix and station apps, you should be able to find some French TV shows that suit your interests.
32. Cable TV
If you do have local French channels where you live, or French channels as part of your cable TV package, try watching sports and pick up terms you can impress your friends with like “la but!” (goal!) and “prolongation” (overtime). And if you find a show that you like, set your cable box to record all episodes.
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For example, I grew up adoring the Simpsons, never missing an episode for most of the 90’s. So I was thrilled to find “Les Simpson” airing on Quebec television. Although the voices sound funny and the fast and slangy dialogue is hard to follow at times, I still get a laugh out of re-watching the classic episodes like “ The Babysitter Bandit” and “Kamp Krusty” en francais.
33. ICI Tou.tv
Like Radio Canada’s Ohdio app, the public broadcaster also has a TV website and app with a fair bit of free content, as well as a premium paid subscription option.
For beginners, I suggest children's programming. Remember the “Mr. Men” and “Little Miss” books? Check out the “Monsieur Bonhomme” animated series. For more adult content, there are the classic medical and crime dramas “Stat” and “District 31” set in Quebec. Again, ICI Tou.tv provides a great opportunity to soak up some French Canadian culture and language with a little entertainment.
34. Netflix
Netflix has a variety of French TV shows available. Type “French television” shows in the search function and you’ll get a list. For example, “Lupin” is a popular French crime series about a Robin Hood-type character who outwits rich and powerful victims, starring famous French actor Omar Sy.
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And as mentioned above in the device settings section, you can usually change the audio of English shows to French dubbing. I find this works well for a docu-series like “Explained”, which has a lot of narration with visuals. Seinfeld in French is also entertaining. I particularly like the neurotic French George Castanza.
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Movies
Like television shows, movies can be a relaxing and entertaining way to absorb French language. Depending on the movie, it can be hard to follow 100% for a full two hours plus. But just getting an ear for the intonations and emotion of the dialogue, combined with context and body language can be useful. Here are a few recommendations that are available on the various streaming platforms.
35. Bon Cop Bad Cop
This is a perfect movie for anyone curious about the language as well as culture of French Canada. The film has a ridiculous premise – when a body is found on the Ontario-Quebec border, a prim-and-proper “tête-carré” (square-head) Toronto detective and a wild, “rules-are-meant-to-be-broken” Montreal cop are forced to team up.
Equally, half the dialogue is in English and half in Quebec French, so it’s relatively easy to follow along. It’s also a standard buddy cop action comedy so even if you miss some of the conversation, you won’t lose the plot.
36. Les Intouchables
If you like “Lupin”, you’ll probably also enjoy “Les Intouchables”, which also stars Omar Sy and was an international hit when it came out in 2011.
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It’s based on a true story in which a rich aristocrat that becomes quadriplegic hires an unlikely caregiver from the projects. Together they break all the rules and form a deep friendship. That may sound a little corny but it’s actually good and much better than the Hollywood remake “The Upside” starring Kevin Hart.
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Music
Music is a powerful memory enhancer. For example, in reading the words “Frère Jacques” it would be near impossible not to think of that famous melody and continue the lyrics “Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques, dormez-vous?, dormez-vous?” So why not mix some French music into your music listening routine?
37. Spotify Lyrics
Before suggesting some songs and playlists, I’ll first mention that Spotify now has the lyrics function that allows you to read along to just about any song. Kind of like karaoke that mercifully includes the original singer as well.
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When playing a song, tap on the play bar to open it up in full screen, then tap the “Lyrics” bar at the bottom to pull it up. Each line of lyrics is highlighted in sync with the song.
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38. Songs to learn French
If you search for “songs to learn French” in Spotify you will find many great playlists with French songs that familiar like Édith Piaf’s classic “La Vie en rose” or modern songs with hooks that are catchy and easy enough to understand like “Papaoutai” by French pop star Stromae.
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A playlist that I like is literally entitled Best songs to learn French. And remember to follow along with the lyrics function.
39. Beatles in French
Almost everyone knows the Beatles and their legendary music. But did you know that many of their songs were redone in other languages, including French?
There are few Spotify playlists dedicated to this that you can find with Beatles classics like “Je veux prendre ta main” (I want to hold your hand) and “Un beau p’tit sous-main jaune” (We all live in a yellow submarine).
Vive la Beatlemania!
40. InnerFrench playlist
Finally I’ll give one more plug for Hugo at InnerFrench because he’s also created an InnerFrench music playlist on Spotify.
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The songs aren’t necessarily easy to follow but rather are chosen to give you an idea of what the “cool kids” are listening to in France and to contribute to your immersion in all things French.
Books
Public libraries were the original democratisation of information and continue to be a great resource for free learning. Some have even gone virtual with online resources for check out.
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Reading is a great source of language learning, even if you’re only interested in conversational French because by reading out loud, you accustom your ears to what sounds right (e.g., la fenêtre, not le fenêtre; encourager quelqu’un à parler francais, not encourager quelqu’un de parler français, etc.).
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41. Le Petit Prince
“Le classique des classiques”, le Petit Prince is a must read for any French language learner and anyone who loves literature in general. This weirdly philosophical story is like no other children’s book you’ll ever read.
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Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry - an actual World War II pilot - le Petit Prince is the story of a pilot that, after crashing in a desert, encounters a strange little boy with no fear or need of food and water, who turns out to be from his own little planet. It challenges the reader to think about the truly important things in life that we sometimes forget about as adults.
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Although it is a children’s book it’s not the easiest to read. There are a lot of words that you might not use every day like “une chenille” (caterpillar) or “un buveur” (a drunkard), and the author sometimes uses the literary passé simple instead of the passé composé or l’imparfait. So keep your phone handy and Google Translate open to get past some of the more tricky passages in the text.
42. Le Petit Nicolas
Le Petit Nicolas is a famous French children’s book series from the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. The stories are narrated by Nicolas himself and so present the world from a child’s perspective and writing style.
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The books are illustrated by famous French illustrator Jean-Jacques Sempé (simply known as Sempé) who is also known for his iconic illustrations for the New Yorker magazine. His death in 2022 was nationally recognized in France, including President Macron.
Journals
If books are too long and difficult to get through, libraries also lend out papers and journals. Even if they’re a few months dated, opinion pieces and special interest stories normally keep well. You can also read select articles online.
43. Le Devoir
Le Devoir is a Quebec-based independent paper founded in 1910 by journalist and politician Henry Bourassa. It produces articles on politics, the economy, the environment, culture, international affairs and other subjects. Their web edition allows for three free articles a month.
44. L’actualité
L’actualité is Quebec-based monthly news and general interest magazine. Each month has a theme with a couple of articles about that theme, like “La fin des jobines” (the end of jobs) and “L’avenir s'annonce radieux (si vous y croyez)” (the future is bright (if you believe it)) as well as other stories of the moment.
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You can find the current issue and back issues on the website and, similar to le Devoir, L’actualité allows access to a limited number of articles for free per month.
45. L’Opinion
If you want something a little more international, l’Opinion is a Paris-based daily political newspaper. The paper is liberal-leaning but covers a range of political issues and opinions. As with all the others, you can access a few articles for free each month.
Other resources
Last but not least, here are five miscellaneous resources to add to your language learning routine.
46. Food labels
If you live in Canada, you have a kitchen full of free French resources – food labels! By law everything is in English and French. The next time you’re cooking or sitting down for a bowl of cereal, have a look at the food labels or ingredients lists and test how much you can understand.
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Often slogans aren’t directly translatable so it can be fun to try to figure out the French equivalent of terms like “family size”, “organic” and “extra spicy”.
47. Inner dialogue
Perhaps the best, or at least truest, free resource you have is right between your ears – your brain. More specifically, the inner dialogue that reminds you of what you need to pick up from the grocery store or the witty come back you should have said to your boss.
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When you catch your mind wandering in this way, ask it to do it in French! You can also play a game with yourself where you look around your surroundings and see how much you can name and/or describe in French. In this way you will activate the same parts of the brain responsible for language and you will improve your conversation skills without saying a word!
48. Voice recordings
Let your inner dialogue out! If you don’t have anyone to speak to, or are still too shy, talk to yourself. Most phones have a voice recorder app. Practice reading out loud and play it back to critique your own pronunciation and fluidity. It might not be until you listen to yourself that you realise that you were mispronouncing certain sounds.
You could also write down a list of questions (or create a list in Quizlet) and randomly select one or two a day to respond to.
In time you can go back and really hear the progress you are making. This can be a great source of motivation knowing that you are indeed getting better.
49. Assistant Apps
Many people use Siri or Google Assistant as their personal secretary to quickly get answers to basic questions like “what’s the temperature today?” or “who’s the all-time basketball point leader?”. You also ask them to set reminders and do other tasks. They will even give you cute replies to “what’s the meaning of life?” or “are you in love?”.
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If you changed your language setting in tip #5, the assistant should automatically speak in French. You can also change the Siri language directly by going to Settings > Siri & Search then tapping Language.
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Just don’t fall in love with your phone like Joaquin Phoenix’s character in the movie Her.
50. ChatGPT
And finally, the newest disrupter on the block, ChatGPT promises to transform how we work, study and interact with the internet. It’s essentially an artificially intelligent chat bot that can quickly respond to complex questions using natural language text.
And it’s multilingual, so you can interact with it in French. Check it out and see what rabbit holes (“trous des lapins”?) it will take you down.
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To register, go to openai.com, choose ChatGPT and open a free account.
Conclusion
There you have it, fifty mostly free resources to learn french relatively fast. Let me know which ones you tried and liked, or didn’t like. And if there are any resources not listed that worked for you, please share.
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Lindsay Robles is an economist, data scientist, wedding officiant, humanist, and dog lover living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
