There are plenty of online French language classes and courses to choose from, both self-paced and with an instructor. The best online courses should have video and text lessons, and ideally, interactive exercises.
French courses online are offered in various formats, courses, and levels. Some courses are self-paced, while others follow a set course schedule. Some are very informal, and others are affiliated with universities or other institutions and offer online degrees or certificate.
UDEMY
Udemy offers dozens of French language courses (usually videos) that are paid, but they tend to be very inexpensive for the extent of the content they provide (often less than $20). When you look at courses on Udemy, pay attention to how many hours of content the course provides (there will be a popup that shows this), the language level (beginner, advanced beginner, etc.), and the price. It’s usually better to go with a course taught by a native French speaker, as well.
Coursera
Coursera courses are a similar concept as Udemy but more structured and extensive, many of which are the result of partnerships with non-profit organizations and universities. The courses are designed to be completed in a specific length of time, ranging from several weeks to several months, and come in different formats (lectures, videos, group discussions, and forum posts, etc.). You can read and view the lessons for free (which they call “auditing” the course), or pay for assignment grading and to receive a virtual certificate after completing the course. The only French course available on Coursera as of this writing is this intermediate one by l’Institut Polytechnique de Paris.
Babbel
Babbel is a language learning website that offers instruction on dozens of languages, but French is one of their more popular courses, with more than 100 hours of instructional videos. They also have opportunities to video chat with native speakers. Access costs $9 per month or $29 per year.
FIAF
The French Institute Alliance Française is a New York-based non-profit organization that offers educational programs to promote the French language and culture, including a digital library of French materials that members can access for free. They have a huge range of online and in-person classes and offer a “blended” learning option, where you can participate in in-person classes that are taking place in New York City. 11-week classes for adults are currently $649.
EDX
EdX offers courses taught by instructors and many world-class institutions. They currently offer about a dozen courses on various French topics, but the only one related to learning French is this intermediate to early advanced French course. EdX courses are free (after making an account) to access the materials, and $25 for a few extra features, including the option to generate a certificate once you’ve completed the course.
