> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.frenchfluency.net/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # How to choose the best way to learn French for you - URL: https://www.frenchfluency.net/best-way-to-learn-french-language/ - Published: 2018-05-14T11:55:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-01-20T22:00:19.000Z - Author: Angel Pretot Have you noticed that every "expert" tries to sell you their way to learn French as "the best ever", and "the most natural"? As a student, after listening to a few of these "experts", you get completely lost. And I understand why. So, in today's video, I will give you guidelines so you can choose the best way to learn French, for you. You will **understand how language learning methods work**, so you can confidently go through the French learning jungle and **choose which methods are best for you**. *If you like this video,* [*click here to subscribe to my YouTube channel.* ](https://www.youtube.com/@frenchfluency?sub%5Fconfirmation=1&ref=frenchfluency.net)*I make new videos regularly so you can learn all about French language & culture and how you too can become a French speaker.* [![A banner offering to download 5 priceless resources to become a French speaker, including a visual of a vocabulary guide and a French YouTube guide, and a red button.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/02/67/0267aab8-8275-451f-88e8-1564bc2c86bf/content/images/2026/01/French-fluency-starter-kit-banner-2.webp)](https://www.getdrip.com/forms/554236892/submissions/new?ref=frenchfluency.net) ### Main points of the video: \- Every expert will tell you that their method is the best. \- **What matters for you as a student is to choose methods which work for you.** **\-** In order to do that, **you need to understand a little how language learning methods work in general.** ## **Technical vs natural French learning** \- There are many language learning methods. \- But **all can be represented on a spectrum from the most technical to the most natural** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/02/67/0267aab8-8275-451f-88e8-1564bc2c86bf/content/images/2025/08/af707-technat-format-original.png) ### Characteristics of technical methods: \- **classroom approach** as we know it or **self study with a book.** \- you study language facts (grammar, vocabulary, etc.) independently. \- you use tools such as exercises designed to learn, or translating Many different technical methods exist. ### Characteristic of a natural French learning approach: \- At its core: learning a language **like babies learn their native language,** by just soaking in it and scooping it up. ## Which is best? **Nowadays methods strive to come closer to this end of the spectrum, or pretend to be doing so** (because it's a great argument to sell a method) **In the past, experts used to think that the more technical, the better** ### Upside and downside of technical methods: **Upside:** They are very comfortable. We are used to learning in class and with books, and **we know how to learn this way**. **Downside**: Using a technical approach **delays the moment you start speaking in a natural environment** (and it might even never happen, because you risk never feeling ready). **At worst, the method fails miserably.** ### Upside and downside of natural methods **Upside:** since small children do it successfully, **we know that it works.** **Downside**: **it’s considerably long** (roughly from age 0 to age 10 for children). - \- **Do you have all that time to learn a language ‘the hard way’?** ### In my opinion: the best approach is somewhere in the middle. If you learn a language to be able to speak it, **your main activity should be to speak.** **Any other thing you do should aim to support the speaking part**. **Technical tools are useful to support your learning**, and eventually your speaking. **As an adult, you can use things that you know,** from your native language, or other languages that you’ve learnt, **as well as tools, in order to learn a language faster.** **I don’t recommend to try and go “full natural”**, while you can actually use tools which will help a lot. **Which tools work for you can be different for everyone** (if you have no idea what will work for you, trial and error is always a good approach) For example almost every one will benefit from using **either a vocabulary notebook or a flashcard app** (not both). **Some methods pretend to be natural but actually include lots of technical aspects,** such as the Assimil method (which I have used successfully to learn Portuguese). **A good method should mix natural aspects and technical aspects**. However **the fact that a method communicates around being natural does not mean that the technical aspect is left out.** The very fact that it is a method makes it technical. **You could also try going full natural, meaning not using a method** by just watching movies, listening to natives or speaking to natives. **That could work, but I recommend that you don’t cut off completely the possibilities of using tools** such as vocabulary learning tools or a little bit of grammar here and there, **because it can help.** That's it for today. I hope you now understand a little bit better how language learning methods work. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/02/67/0267aab8-8275-451f-88e8-1564bc2c86bf/content/images/2025/08/starter-kit-banner-format-original-144.jpg)](https://www.getdrip.com/forms/554236892/submissions/new?ref=frenchfluency.net) ## **Your next steps** If you like this way of learning French, you will love to learn with me as a student or client. Please check out: - [**My 1-1 coaching program, The French Transformation**](https://www.frenchfluency.net/transformation)**, if you need to improve your French fast.** - [**My group program, The French Fluency Accelerator**](https://www.frenchfluency.net/accelerator)**,** if you’d like to join a community of students from all over the world. We have **weekly practice calls** together and the **best online video library** to learn French. ### **Pro tip: you don’t need to choose!** All my 1-1 clients are invited to join the French Accelerator free of charge. **Feel free to**[ **book a call with me**](https://www.frenchfluency.net/call) **now to discuss options.** **If you liked this, here's some more:** [How to learn French fast and become fluent - my Proven step by step method](https://www.frenchfluency.net/blog/become-fluent) [![Two women, one holding a laptop, sit on a ledge, they are smiling. The words Become fluent fast in red at right](https://storage.ghost.io/c/02/67/0267aab8-8275-451f-88e8-1564bc2c86bf/content/images/2026/01/how-to-learn-fluent-french-fast.webp)](https://www.frenchfluency.net/blog/become-fluent) [6 reasons why you suck at French - And how to fix it.](https://www.frenchfluency.net/blog/learn-french-at-school) [![A tight headshot of Angel Pretot looking straight at the camera, the words School sucks in red at left](https://storage.ghost.io/c/02/67/0267aab8-8275-451f-88e8-1564bc2c86bf/content/images/2026/01/Why-you-suck-at-French.jpg)](https://www.frenchfluency.net/blog/learn-french-at-school) ### About the Author ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/02/67/0267aab8-8275-451f-88e8-1564bc2c86bf/content/images/2025/08/round-2bauthor-2bpic-format-original-57.png) Angel Pretot is a French learning coach. He helps English speakers from all over the world learn French fast and become fluent. You can [work with him one-on-one](https://www.frenchfluency.net/transformation?ref=blog.frenchfluency.net) (online via zoom or a similar software) or join a global community of French learners in his group program[ the French Fluency Accelerator.](https://www.frenchfluency.net/accelerator?ref=blog.frenchfluency.net)