Apps for Learning French

1. Stone It’s almost impossible to talk about language learning without mentioning Rosetta Stone. Not only has Rosetta Stone’s app been around the longest, but it also offers a balanced approach. You get to practice speaking, writing, and reading at each skill level. Rosetta Stone offers a completely immersive language learning experience. Contact your local SLT Coord for access!

2. Brainscape French Brainscape’s adaptive flashcard app is the most effective way to introduce and internalize all the nuances of the (or any other language). Using its custom adaptive learning technology, Brainscape will drill you on thousands of French vocab words, pronunciations, and grammatical concepts, such that you spend more time on words you don’t get and less on those you have already mastered. According to extensive scientific research, the key to retention is effective repetition, and Brainscape is the only app on the market that uses the custom algorithm shown to be the best-designed to foster this type of learning.

Not only does Brainscape French have verb conjugations and thousands of vocab cards with audio, it also has a Sentence Builder component that will build up your mastery of through the constant translation of increasingly advanced sentences (with each card supplemented by a grammatical explanation). Brainscape has also recently added flashcard decks for listening comprehension, as well as others tackling French history and pop culture. If you want to build a robust vocabulary, Brainscape’s methodology is the proven best way to get started.

3. If you want learning to be fun in a game-like setting, Duolingo is a great place to start. You can learn vocabulary, conjugation, reading, writing, pronunciation, and listening skills on the app in a way that is competitive and fun. Duolingo has been ranked as the highest-rated French learning app on the Apple App Store for good reason. It’s free, fun, easy to use, and gets you the basics fast. Just be aware that while it may be fun to make learning a competition (with prize badges and everything!), the app isn’t too strict on grammar or retention. You can easily develop bad habits if you aren’t careful, so make sure to supplement any Duolingo game-based learning with a quality vocab and grammar app.

4. Learn French with Busuu Busuu is based around a community of native French speakers, which makes it easy to ensure that you are learning French the way native speakers really use it today. You will get a lot of oral practice with and even some feedback on written work from native speakers. Plus, the app makes sure that you learn idioms and modern slang (so you won’t arrive in Paris and sound like you are straight out of a 1950s TV show). Unfortunately, all this interaction with native speakers doesn’t come cheap, as it requires a membership cost of about $20 per month. Plus, the quality of feedback isn’t always even — sometimes you get great information, but other times, you get hardly a cursory response.

5. Classics2Go Collection (French) Reading in a language you are trying to learn is a must. That’s why this free app is so great. The French Classics2Go Collection has a large selection of fairy tales and other simple, classic children’s stories that you can read at an early stage in your French learning. Not only are these stories familiar, making the vocab and grammar concepts at play easy to digest, but Classics2Go even cross-links with its English app so you can read the versions side by side for a refresher. Plus, once you are getting more fluent, you can easily explore the library for some more complex books like Les Trois Mousquetaires or Madame Bovary.

6. French Translator Dictionary + Any language-learner needs a solid dictionary companion to their learning & study tools. Our favorite one is French Translator Dictionary + by Vidalingua. The Translator provides accurate phrase translations that you can star for offline viewing. The Dictionary includes heaps of translations and examples for head words including slang and regional dialects. And you can tap on pretty much anything and you can hear it pronounced with the speed and accent you select.

The app also includes a verb conjugator with over 400,000 verb forms, as well as quizzes and flashcards to help you build your vocabulary. French Translator Dictionary + is ideal for students who want to ace their classes. Perfect for a trip to Paris too! Download it for free on iPhone or Android.

7. Le Conjugueur French verb conjugations are tricky. That’s why this app is so fantastic. Le Conjugueur allows you to practice translating verbs and identifying the appropriate tenses to use in different scenarios. Use it to supplement your verb practice and ensure you become a well-rounded conjugator!

8. One of them is Babbel, which is a paid service, costing anywhere from $6.95 to $12.95 per month (per language), with costs going down if you pay for several months at once. It has a 20- day money-back guarantee, several free introductory lessons, and over a dozen languages.