Thanks to technology, language learning has become so much easier. We now have apps, podcasts, audiobooks, YouTube, Instagram, and so many other platforms to help us improve our skills. Technology has allowed us to learn at our own pace and from wherever we are in the world.
When people ask me ‘Is it better to learn French online or in-person?’ my answer is always quite ambiguous. You see, I believe there should be a healthy balance between the two. When both in person and online learning are combined together, progress tends to happen at a much faster rate.
Human interaction is so important because that’s usually the main aim of learning a new language! But online tools are great for practicing listening, reading and grammar/ comprehension skills. They help you to build up some solid French knowledge. Hence why I recommend a mixture of both.
Because technology is so readily available and affordable, people sometimes forget that a lot of the learning happens ‘out there’.
Here are some reasons why in-person French learning is in my opinion indispensable.
You can learn so much from body language
Eye contact, gestures, facial expressions: these are all things that are usually difficult to convey via computers. Have you ever listened to something in French (without any visuals) and not understood any of it, and then listened to the same thing (but whilst looking at the person speaking it) and then thought ‘ahhh! Now I understand!’? That’s because we pick up so much from people’s mouth movements and hand gestures etc. There is so much more to a language than just the spoken words!
Thankfully, now with YouTube and movies body language can still be conveyed in some form.
Building relationships
Of course, we can build relationships with others through several online tools like language exchange apps (Tandem, HelloTalk), but deeper connections tend to come through real life interactions.
When you join a French language class, or move to a new French speaking country you will be exposed to new people, and you can actually build friendships and relationships that last a lifetime. Learning a new language can be made more fun by doing activities together such as visiting museums and art galleries whilst practicing the language.
I believe French Today has come up with a great way to improve one’s French: French immersion homestays at a teacher’s house. Just look at the customer feedbacks! Designed for adult learners, these “studycation” are the perfect mix between serious studies and fun activities – all in French of course, with French culture all around you!
Camille with her immersion homestay student and friends on an outing in Bréhat, Brittany.
The goal of learning a language is real communication
I mean, this is what learning languages is all about right? If we want to be able to communicate in French, then we actually have to practice communicating. Reading French is only ever going to get us so far.
Interacting with a French teacher, tutor, friend or exchange partner is fundamental to practicing pronunciation, learning idioms and slang, and noticing where our own weak points are when we feel unable to respond in the language.
Notice how natives really speak French
When you listen to how natives speak French, you will also begin to pick up how to speak French like a native. Podcasts are great because they help you to practice your listening skills, but they lack the aspect of responding and having a conversation in French.
Speaking to a native French speaker will expose you to new sounds, words, idioms, French filler words and slang terms you may have been unfamiliar with before.
However, if you are not in a position where you can speak with a French person, make sure to immerse yourself in French movies, audiobooks and YouTube videos where you can still hear the way natives communicate.
A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.
Build your confidence
Personally, I was a very shy girl at school. I was incredibly talented at French, but when it came to speaking exams or speaking exercises I would completely freeze, both out of fear of saying something wrong and not really feeling prepared to form full sentences in French.
This meant I would avoid putting my hand up in class, but by the time I had reached university I noticed there was a worryingly big difference between my level of written French and my level of spoken French.
As hard as it is, we need to push ourselves to really try and speak with others in French. Making mistakes is part of everyone’s language learning journey (even the best of the best made mistakes). We worry that people will judge us for making errors but usually we judge ourselves a lot harder than anyone else would anyway!
On a final note, use the online tools, but then consolidate your knowledge with real life interaction!
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