French learning guides
Straight answers from a teacher in Paris. No apps or cheering.
Honest reviews and comparisons
7 Best Duolingo Alternatives for French (2026)
The 7 best Duolingo alternatives for French in 2026, chosen by a French teacher: who each one suits, what it costs, and which ones train your ear.
Babbel French Review 2026
A French teacher's Babbel French review for 2026: current plans and prices, what the lessons do well, and whether it prepares you for real spoken French.
Babbel vs Duolingo for French (2026)
Babbel vs Duolingo for French in 2026, compared by a French teacher: prices, grammar, speaking, listening, and which one gets you closer to real French.
Busuu French Review 2026
A French teacher's Busuu French review for 2026: free vs Premium vs Premium Plus, current prices, community feedback, and how well it trains your ear.
Duolingo French Review 2026: Is It Worth It?
A French teacher's Duolingo French review for 2026: what Super and Max add, how well it trains your ear for real spoken French, and who should move on.
InnerFrench Review: Best Bridge, Clear Limits
InnerFrench is a superb intermediate podcast, but it leaves one listening gap. My honest review: what works, what to add next for real conversation.
What to listen to and read
Best French Newsletters for Learners (2026): A Teacher's Picks
The best French newsletters in 2026, picked by a Paris French teacher: free lessons by email, French Substacks with audio, and newsletters in French to read once you can.
French Podcasts with Transcripts: Honest List
Looking for French podcasts with transcripts? Here is a teacher's honest list of shows where you can listen, read, and train your ear properly.
French Substacks Worth Reading for Learners
Substack newsletters for French learners: which are written in French, which are about France in English, and what each one actually publishes. Checked October 2026.
Best French Podcasts by Level: A2 to B2+
The best French podcasts by level: honest A2, B1 and B2+ picks for learners who want clearer listening without wasting months or money.
What to Listen to After InnerFrench: 7 Next Steps
InnerFrench got you here, but now Hugo sounds easy and real French people still sound impossible. A French teacher's ladder for what to listen to next.
Free French Dialogues with Transcripts: 15 Real Lessons
Realistic French dialogues the way people actually speak, free, with full transcripts, English translations and teacher's notes. Sorted by level, B1 friendly.
Train your ear, climb a level
French Listening Practice: 20-Minute Method
French listening practice that works: a 20-minute routine, transcript method, free resources by level, and a quick test to choose your next step.
Free French Level Test: Your Listening Level in 2 Minutes
A free French level test for your ears: 8 short clips of real spoken French, A2 to C1, one question each. Your listening level in about 2 minutes.
French Plateau: Why Intermediate Learners Stall
Stuck at intermediate French? Here is why the French plateau happens at B1, and the listening-first plan that gets you moving again without starting over.
How Long from B1 to B2 French? The Honest Answer
Moving from B1 to B2 French usually takes months, not weeks. Here's a realistic teacher's plan for the intermediate plateau, especially listening.
What to Do After Duolingo French: A Teacher's Roadmap
Finished Duolingo French but still can't understand spoken French? A French teacher's honest roadmap from app practice to real conversations.
Why Can't I Understand Spoken French? A Teacher Explains
You can read French, but native speakers sound like one long word. Here's why spoken French breaks your ear, and how to train it.
How French people actually speak
How French People Actually Speak: Textbook vs Real French
Textbook French is useful, but native French sounds different. See common spoken contractions like chais pas, y a and t'as, plus connectors like du coup.
French Conversation Questions with English Translations
Forty real French conversation questions (tu and vous), each with the English, a model answer, and the lesson where two French speakers answer it.
How to Say Honestly in French: Franchement and Friends
Honestly, frankly, to be honest: the French words that do the job (franchement, sincèrement, pour être honnête), which one sounds natural, and when franchement means 'seriously?!'.
Chais Pas Meaning: Why French People Say It
Chais pas means je ne sais pas in fast spoken French. Learn what it means, how it sounds, and the pattern behind real contractions without panic.
More guides
French Filler Words: The 14 Sounds You Hear in Every Conversation
Euh, bah, du coup, en fait, genre, quoi, voilà: the French filler words real people use, what each one signals, and which ones you should say yourself.
Why Do French People Talk So Fast? What Your Ear Is Actually Missing
French is spoken at about 7 syllables a second against 6 for English, but speed is not the real problem. Here are the five things that make French sound fast, and how to train your ear.