Choosing a French learning app
The main apps teach in different ways. The right one depends on whether you learn best by reading, listening or playing.
| App | How it works | Good for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | Free to start, with short game-style lessons. | Building a daily habit and learning vocabulary. | It is lighter on real conversation and listening. |
| Babbel | A paid subscription built around everyday dialogues, with grammar explained in English. | Practical conversations for travel. | It is reading-heavy, so add audio practice for pronunciation. |
| Pimsleur | Audio-first lessons of about half an hour, built on listening and repeating aloud. | Pronunciation and listening, during a walk or a drive. | There is little reading or writing. |
| Rosetta Stone | Immersion lessons that use pictures and French only, with no English translations. | Learners who enjoy working things out. | Beginners can find the lack of translation frustrating. |
| italki | One-to-one video lessons with French tutors, booked and paid for lesson by lesson. Tutors set their own prices. | Speaking practice with a real person before the trip. | It is not a course in itself, so pick a tutor who will plan lessons for a beginner. |
Which to pick
If you have a few months before your trip, pair one reading or game-style app with some audio practice. Speaking aloud matters more than any single app, because French pronunciation is where most travellers get stuck.
Check each app’s current price and free trial on its own website before you subscribe.
Learning with other people
Many local U3A (University of the Third Age) groups run French conversation classes for retirees, and the Alliance Française runs courses in most capital cities. Practising with other learners is the quickest way to get comfortable speaking.
Small-group classes
Beginner classes for travellers, taught by a native French speaker, are being planned for the Fleurieu Peninsula and online. To hear when they start, email contact@radiantlifedistributors.com.au with “French classes” in the subject line.