Free French Classes in London

  In the modern joined-up world, languages are among the most useful subjects to learn, and French has always been one of the most important. As a cosmopolitan city, this is even more vital in London than elsewhere.

 There are plenty of paid French lessons available, of course, but what if money's a little tight? Is it possible to find free French classes in London?

 Free Online French Courses

 If you're looking for free classes for any subject, you're more likely to find them online than in person, and French is no exception. This is because, in the simplest types of lessons, the information for learning can be simply left available, without need for a teacher's direct input.

 There are numerous options available, ranging from opportunities to listen to spoken French on audio and video to apps offering more formal courses and systems. Some of these have both free and paid versions, and needless to say you don't get as much with the free version. Here are just a few of the options available:

- Comme Une Française TV — a YouTube channel covering both French language and culture

- Learn with Oliver — an online flashcard tool

- Duolingo — a popular language app

- BBC Languages — an excellent place to start learning French

- Forvo — this doesn't teach you French, but gives you the opportunity to check your pronunciation

 French Language Meetups

 Perhaps you're not looking for formal teaching. This could be, for example, because you've already learnt the basics and are more interested in improving your vocabulary, pronunciation and general fluency in spoken French.

 For this purpose, there are numerous free meet-up groups in and around London that allow you to practice your French with others at various levels. Some also offer an element of teaching, but the emphasis here is on group learning and practice.

In normal times, these groups meet up in a wide variety of venues, from libraries to pubs and cafés, or even parks in fine weather. Needless to say, this isn't possible at the moment, and most of these groups have gone online. This has the advantage of opening up your options to groups you might struggle to reach geographically. Many of these groups can be found on the Meetup website.

Quid Pro Quo Exchanges

 Just as you want to learn French, or improve your command of the language, there are many French speakers who want to learn English (or perhaps another language you're fluent in). If you already have a basic grounding in French, it can be valuable to set up an exchange where practising your French on someone who's practising their English on you. These exchanges can be set up on a personal basis, of course, perhaps through a mutual friend. However, there are also websites, such as Conversation Exchange, that can put you in touch with French speakers, either for direct contact in London or for video calls with someone in a French-speaking country.

Learning French in Depth

 These free French classes can be valuable for getting a grounding in the language or practicing your conversation, but they can only take you so far. To learn French in depth, you need classes from an expert tutor. Why not register with TutorExtra to find out what French tutors are available in your area?