11 Great Free Online Courses for Learning French!

To learn a foreign language, look no further than the internet. And if you’re going to learn French, you’ve got a wealth of options available to you. From full courses that last several weeks, to short classes that take only a few hours, there are resources available for those at any learning level or any age to master the French language. To begin this article, we will introduce you to some of the top free online French courses we have found. They have all been ranked using a specific methodology we developed that helps us choose the best options.

Basic French Language Skills for Everyday Life Offered by Alison

In this basic French course offered on the Alison platform, students will learn over six to ten hours the fundamental French language skills used in everyday life. It is intended to help students increase their vocabulary, learn the verb tenses, and be able to use conversational French in a wide range of situations.

Learn French Offered by Duolingo

Duolingo is one of the world’s largest free platforms for foreign language learning, and even its paid access competitors pale in comparison to this top-rated app. The interface is enormous, covering over 23 languages, and it does so interactively and engagingly.

The French courses on the site are intended to be completed sequentially, and beginners will start at the basics 1 level. However, advanced users can test out of the beginner levels to move on to more challenging modules. The app keeps students motivated with games, quizzes, colorful graphics, and a points system, and can be accessed on desktop or mobile for learning anywhere.

French Language Studies-Introduction Offered by Alison

In this short two to three-hour course offered on the Alison platform, students will gain an overview of the French language and how to make basic conversation. Ideal for beginners, travelers, and those who simply want to brush up on their conversational skills, the class is completely free and can be taken at your own pace.

French I Offered by Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT Open Courseware provides this advanced French course at no cost to users. It features the same lectures, exercises, and lessons as those taught on campus, and offers one of the best online courses in learning French for those who have already passed introductory levels. You don’t need to be an MIT student to participate, and the course does not count toward credit.

TV5Monde Get Started for Free in French A1 Offered by TV5Monde

TV5Monde’s A1 French learning course features 500 exercises to help students learn French via an extensive video library. Vocabulary, cultural information, grammar, pronunciation aids, and more make up this vast repository of French lessons designed for beginners.

Talk French Offered by BBC Languages

Offered by the BBC, Talk French is a video-based course designed for complete beginners but can also help those who need to brush up on their skills. There are 12 topics covered, each featuring a video, word game, and printable worksheets. You can start from the beginning of this free online French course and follow them sequentially or jump in anywhere you like.

Ma France: French Video Course for Post-Beginners Offered by BBC Languages

Ma France is ideal for those who are returning to study the language or need to brush up on their skills. It is a free French course online taught via 24 interactive videos and is offered by BBC Languages. Although the site is no longer updated, it is still relevant, and there are many excellent resources available to users on the French learning homepage.

Three Minute French Free Taster Course for Beginners Offered by Udemy

This excellent 1.5-hour course on Udemy will teach students how to be more than just tourists when traveling to a French-speaking country. Taught in three-minute chunks, It is intended to touch upon the basics of the language.

You Learn French Offered by independent instructor Joella Andriantsivohony

This offering is less of a course and more of a massive repository of online video courses taught by independent instructor Joella Andriantsivohony. While the user experience leaves much to be desired, the quality and quantity of the content are superb, offering hundreds of video lessons and tutorials as well as free PDFs.

Improve Your French Now Offered by Udemy

This top-rated free course from Udemy has been taken by over 30,000 students and is a short and easy-to-follow offering given entirely in French. Intermediate users will find this to be a helpful resource that covers listening and comprehension skills, French culture, and increasing your vocabulary.

The French Experience Offered by BBC Languages

In this BBC Languages course, students will take a practical approach to learning by following along with video lessons covering various day-to-day activities. Suitable for beginners as well as those who want to brush up on their skills, the 10-part series is intended to help individuals navigate common words and phrases.

French and English are very similar languages. So, if your native language is English, you’re in luck. French grammar won’t be difficult to master. Generally speaking, French sentence structure is almost identical to English sentence structure.

So What are you waiting for? Go ahead and start learning!