When it comes to learning French, everyone learns at a different pace and some people find it harder to learn than others. I have to confess, I do not find it easy. I live in France, so learning French is essential for me. Over the years, I’ve tried everything, from listening to French radio to watching French language films with subtitles, apps, DVDs, courses, one-on-one lessons, and immersion.
Immersion is certainly the best and quickest way to learn, followed swiftly by one-to-one lessons – in a classroom or online. But most of us don’t have the time or money to learn only this way. And, actually, a one-to-one lesson a week isn’t enough, and an immersion once a year won’t get you to speak French fluently. This is where Lingopie steps in, offering online learning combined with live classes with a real teacher.
Lingopie is a subscription-based video platform that uses TV shows, movies, audiobooks, podcasts, and more to help you learn a new language – French is one of many. It’s available on desktop, mobile, and TV screens. Writer and expat in France Janine Marsh explains why Lingopie is the best online platform for learning French.
The fun way to learn French
All the films and TV shows have subtitles available, but it’s not like the usual subtitles, where you try to read/listen in French and English at once while you’re trying to learn. With Lingopie, you can choose to pause after each subtitle so that you have time to really let the words soak in. And Lingopie has a ‘Grammar Coach’ – you can click on the French words to hear them repeated, and to see a full explanation of what they mean, plus details whether the words are feminine, masculine, singular or plural and what type of word they are, e.g. noun, verb, adjective etc. If, like me, you struggle with French grammar, this is an invaluable tool. You can even add words to a Grammar index as you watch so that you can test yourself later with a quiz or review the words you didn’t know and learn them.
There’s also a lightbulb icon – click on that, and you’ll get a full grammar explanation of a sentence, for example, the use of conjunctions and prepositions and their context in a sentence. For me, where I really need to up my grammar game, this is brilliant.
You’ll find an extensive library of movies and TV shows, and it doesn’t matter which type of film or series you like – there’s something for everyone. You can choose your favourite genre so that recommendations suit you – everyone learns more easily when they’re enjoying something. If you start a show and don’t finish it, you’ll find it stored in your library so you can quickly return to it.
There’s also a music section – the words are shown, so you learn as you listen. Watching shows and listening to music helps you not only learn French but also immerse yourself in the culture of France.
There are lots of practice games, which I found totally fun and rather addictive. Sentence Wizard helps you build sentences. Flash Cards takes words you highlighted from shows you’ve watched and tests you to make sure you got them. Pop Quiz perfects your vocabulary, and Word Master tests you by matching words. These review and practice sections and quizzes really help to reinforce your understanding.
Live French lessons online
For me, what really clinched the deal with Lingopie was the availability of live lessons, which I tested on my free trial. Lingopie offers an opportunity to practice speaking in real life – you join students from around the world with a teacher in an online classroom. In my lessons, there were people from the US, Australia, China, South America and more, and everyone gets a turn to speak, to listen to each other and to realise that we’re not alone in finding it hard to say certain words, it’s very reassuring, and the teacher is endlessly patient. Topics are clearly listed: Lost in Paris, travelling in France, Trivia, Looking for a Job, etc., and there are multiple lessons daily, and at different times to suit users around the world.
There’s also a community site where you can ask questions and share information with other users and with Lingopie support.
Learning French at a pace to suit you
Everything you do is recorded, your progress is tracked, and you get messages encouraging you to set small daily goals, which is the best way to learn – consistent, fun practice.
Lingopie is suitable for beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners. There are even children’s programmes and films for your kids or the whole family to practice French together.
And it’s not expensive. Take out a 3 month subscription (the cost is roughly the equivalent to two cups of coffee per month from a well-known chain of American coffeehouses), or annually (discounted) or lifetime access (heavily discounted).
You can even take a free trial. And Lingopie liked what I wrote so much, that if you go through the link below – they’ll give you 55% off!
Find out more, enjoy a free trial and start your learning experience at lingopie.com
