Learning a language
A few phrases in your partner's language build trust. Here are simple, free tips for learning a language at your own pace: vocabulary, speaking, motivation, exams.
The internet is full of resources for learning a language: videos, podcasts, apps, newspapers, dictionaries. This is an opportunity, but also a trap: you can spend hours looking for the best method instead of learning. Here is how to get organised so that you really make progress, at your own pace.
Choose a few resources, and choose them well
Pick one resource per skill: one for listening (a podcast for learners), one for reading (a newspaper in easy language), one for vocabulary (flashcards). Keep them for at least a month before changing.
Plan your week
A simple schedule is enough: listening on Monday and Thursday, reading on Tuesday and Friday, writing on Wednesday, speaking at the weekend. Every day, a few minutes of spaced repetition for vocabulary. Write this plan down on paper: it is easier to follow.
The advantage of your own pace
Online, you can go over a lesson as many times as you need, slow down a video, turn the subtitles on and then off again. Nobody rushes you. This convenience is valuable for people who work, for parents, and for anyone who needs more time.
Do not forget speaking
The risk of learning alone in front of a screen is that you never speak. Read aloud, record yourself, look for language exchanges by video call. Our six tips for speaking will help you get started.
Be wary of promises
"Speak fluently in 30 days": no serious method can guarantee that. Learning a language takes time and regular practice. Also beware of subscriptions that are hard to cancel: many good-quality resources are free (public radio, libraries, educational channels).
Stay on course
Set yourself a concrete goal, such as a language exam or a trip, and check your progress every month. That is what keeps your motivation going over time.
Frequently asked questions
Can you really learn a language on your own online?
Yes, with a few well-chosen resources, a regular schedule and some speaking practice. The hardest part is keeping it up and speaking enough.
Which free resources can I use?
Foreign public radio and television, podcasts for learners, online libraries and free flashcard apps.
How many resources should I use at the same time?
One per skill is enough: listening, reading, vocabulary and speaking. Too many resources spread your effort too thin.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.
Young children find it very easy to imitate the sounds of a language. Introducing them to a foreign language early, through play, can give them a sharper ear and a lasting curiosity about other cultures. The key thing: it must stay fun.
Play rather than teach
At this age, children do not learn lists of words: they play. Nursery rhymes, songs, finger games, riddles, hide-and-seek while counting in another language… Children remember the things they experience with emotion.
Stories and books
Simple picture books, read aloud, are ideal. It does not matter if your pronunciation is not perfect: you can also use audiobooks or videos narrated by native speakers.
A short, regular moment
Ten minutes every day is better than an hour on Sunday. Create a little ritual: a song at bath time, a story in the evening, colours on the journey. Regular practice is the key, just as it is for adults (see our tips on motivation).
If the language is spoken at home
In a bilingual family, each parent can speak their own language to the child. Sometimes a child answers in the dominant language for a while: this is normal, they are still understanding and learning.
No pressure, no non-stop screens
Avoid testing or correcting all the time: the child should link the language with something pleasant. Cartoons in a foreign language can help, but nothing replaces interaction with an adult who talks, sings and plays with them.
And later on?
In the teenage years, culture (music, series, video games) often becomes the best driving force. And for exams such as the DELF (a French language diploma) or the Cambridge English exams, our tips on preparing for a language exam also apply to older children.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a child start a foreign language?
You can start very early, through games and songs. But it is never too late: teenagers and adults also learn very well.
Do I need to speak the language perfectly to teach it to my child?
No. Audiobooks, songs and videos by native speakers go very well with your own reading.
My child mixes up the two languages. Is that a problem?
No, it is a normal stage of bilingualism. Things sort themselves out over time.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.
Learning on your own is possible. But learning with others often makes the journey easier and more enjoyable: you motivate each other, you help each other and, above all, you talk.
Language exchange
The idea is simple: you help someone with your language, and they help you with theirs. For example, thirty minutes in French, then thirty minutes in English. It is free and practical, and you discover another culture at the same time.
Language cafés and conversation groups
In many towns, regular meet-ups bring together people from different countries over a coffee or a meal. Libraries, community centres and associations often organise them: find out what is on near you.
Learner groups
Learning with people at the same level is reassuring: everyone makes mistakes and nobody judges. You can set challenges together, swap resources and correct each other. This friendly atmosphere really helps you gain confidence.
A few rules for a good exchange
- Share the time fairly between the two languages.
- Correct kindly, and only if the other person wants you to.
- Prepare a few conversation topics in advance.
Staying safe online
For exchanges on the internet, keep the same good habits as everywhere else: do not share your personal contact details too quickly, never give money, and choose well-known platforms. For young people, an adult should stay close by.
A complement to your own study
Exchanges do not replace vocabulary and listening work; they bring them to life. Combine them with spaced repetition and our tips for speaking.
Frequently asked questions
What is a language exchange?
Two people help each other: each one speaks their native language to the other, taking turns.
Where can I find conversation partners?
Language cafés, libraries, associations, community centres and reputable language exchange platforms.
What precautions should I take online?
Do not share your contact details too quickly, never send money, and choose well-known platforms.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.
People often start a language for a practical reason: a trip, a job, an exam. But many learners discover along the way that it also changes the way they see the world — and the way they see themselves.
Meeting new people
A language is about people. Speaking even a little of someone's language creates an instant bond: a neighbour, a colleague, your in-laws, friends you meet while travelling. These encounters are often the greatest reward of learning.
Richer travel
Understanding a menu, asking for directions, joking with a shopkeeper: travel becomes a real encounter rather than just a visit. Our tips on learning a language for travel will help you prepare the essentials.
More self-confidence
Daring to speak a language you have not mastered means accepting that you are not perfect. Every successful conversation shows that you can do it. This confidence often spills over into the rest of your life.
A different way of thinking
Each language divides up the world in its own way: some words have no exact equivalent, and some forms of politeness do not exist in our own culture. Learning a language means discovering that our way of saying things is not the only one. This is the deep link between language and culture.
An asset at work
In many jobs, an extra language makes it easier to deal with clients or colleagues from abroad. Our tips on languages in the workplace explain how to showcase it.
At any age
It is never too late. Adults even have some advantages: they know why they are learning, they organise themselves, and they understand grammar more quickly. The most important things are still regular practice and enjoyment.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to learn a language as an adult?
No. Adults make very good progress, thanks to their motivation, their organisation and their ability to understand rules.
What does a foreign language bring to everyday life?
New people to meet, richer travel, self-confidence and sometimes an advantage at work.
How long does it take to get by in a language?
It depends on the language, the time you spend on it and how much you practise speaking. With regular practice, the first simple conversations come within a few months.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.
It has never been so easy to access a foreign language: radio from all over the world, series in their original language, apps, exchanges by video call. These tools can really speed up learning… as long as you use them methodically.
Series and videos in the original language
Watching a series in the language you are learning trains your ear. Start with subtitles in the language you are learning (not in your own language), with a series you already know: you understand the context and can focus on the language.
Podcasts for learners
Many public radio stations offer programmes in easy language, spoken slowly, often with a transcript. Ideal on public transport or during a walk.
Apps
They are handy for regular practice and for vocabulary. But they are not enough to get you speaking: use them as a supplement, not as your only method. Flashcards with spaced repetition are still the most effective tool for remembering words.
Exchanges by video call
Language exchange platforms connect people who want to learn each other's language. It is free and practical, and it is often where people finally dare to speak.
Artificial intelligence: useful, but with care
An AI chat assistant can explain a rule, suggest exercises or correct a text. It is handy, but it can make mistakes: check important points in a grammar book or with a native speaker, especially before an exam.
What does not change
No modern method can replace regular practice. Choose two or three tools, stick with them for several weeks and track your progress: that is what keeps your motivation going.
Frequently asked questions
Are apps enough to learn a language?
They help with regular practice and vocabulary, but you also need to listen to real content and talk with people.
Should I watch series with or without subtitles?
With subtitles in the language you are learning at first, then without them once you understand the main points.
Can I trust artificial intelligence to help me learn?
It is useful for practice, but it can make mistakes: always check the important points.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.