Tips for improving your French in 2026

New year is a perfect time to commit to improving your language skills, and there are so many little things you can integrate into your everyday life to fully Frenchify your life. 

The main thing is making language learning fun and achievable - lives are busy and people don’t often have hours to spare pouring over grammar textbooks. 

At university, “trompez-vous mais trompez-vous avec confiance” was one of my teacher’s catchphrases, and it is the best language learning advice I have ever been given. It basically means “make mistakes but make mistakes with confidence”. Language learning is not about being perfect - it is about communicating! 

Aside from the classic watching, listening and reading in French - read our film and podcast recommendations here - there are plenty of ways to help improve your speaking even when you aren’t surrounded by French people. 

AI for speaking practice

Did you know that AI could become your own personal French teacher? You can use an AI chatbot app, such as ChatGPT, but now there are also specially designated AI apps for language learning, such as Sylvi. 

Sylvi works as your own personal penpal; you can speak French into your phone’s microphone and “Sylvi” will respond to you, transcribing what you have said and correcting grammar and vocabulary. 

You can also simply practice conversation with “Syvli” - if you start a conversation, it will talk back to you in French, giving you the chance to practice things you have learned. 

Confidence is often the biggest problem when it comes to language learning; while people may know exactly how to say a certain phrase, they can freeze when first faced with speaking to natives in a real life context. 

While speaking to AI will never replace a real life tutor - and I do recommend investing in language classes or private tutoring - it can be used as an additional tool to put what you have learned into practice in a controlled and unjudgemental environment. 

Two birds, one stone

Removing the “studying” element from learning French can be important - otherwise it can feel like a chore. 

The two birds, one stone tactic in language learning is a great way to learn practical language that fits into your everyday life. 

A good example is attending a yoga or exercise class in French - if you are living in France this should be easy to find at your local gym or community centre, while for those not in France there are Yoga en Français videos available on Youtube. 

This ticks off an activity from your everyday life and will subconsciously ingrain relevant vocabulary and turns of phrase into your mind, without making that the specific goal. 

The same idea applies to things like book groups or cooking lessons - find something you enjoy doing in your spare time and make it French! 

L’Institut Français or Alliance Française around the world can be great sources of French events - it is a good idea to sign up to your local venue’s mailing list so you can keep in the loop with the events going on. Often they will invite film directors or authors to conduct talks or question and answer events. 

Socialise with people who have a lower level of French

A helpful way to really boost your French is to spend time with those who have a lower level of French than you. This will by default make you the primary communicator while out and about, and should improve your confidence. 

Often when you know someone else has a better level of the target language, it means you take a step back and do not get the chance to practice and use what you have learned. 

Sometimes all it takes is being forced to communicate to prove to yourself you can actually do it!

ShareAmi

ShareAmi is a language exchange platform that started during the Covid-19 pandemic. It pairs older French speakers with younger French learners from around the world. 

The platform is free to sign up to, and while it may take a little bit of time, eventually you will be paired with a native French speaker. 

It was originally started during lockdown as a means of tackling loneliness among the older generation, and many people have gone on to establish firm friendships with their ShareAmi tandem. 

Ideally learners will already have a B1 level before signing up, to ensure the meetups are conversation focused rather than language lessons. 

The theatre

The idea of the theatre in French might seem overwhelming, but you can adapt which show you see to your level. Beginners can watch shows aimed at younger audiences, which can still be enjoyable. 

The whole experience of being in the theatre makes you really focus on the French at hand, unlike if you were perhaps watching a film at home, when you can be scrolling on your phone. 

Stand up comedy is also a really good option, as often it is easy to grasp what is going on and keep on top of the narrative. It means that once you find a comedian you like, you can attend lots of shows and watch their work on TV and YouTube.