Beyond Language Apps: The Best Tools to Improve Your French Skills
French is an essential language, especially in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. Mastering French is a crucial skill for anyone who wants to integrate successfully—whether for daily life, professional development, or simply to connect with local people. As one of Switzerland’s national languages, French is spoken by nearly 23% of the population and holds a central place in Suisse romande. Being able to communicate in French opens many doors and greatly facilitates integration into the local community.
Of course, learning a new language takes time and motivation. Fortunately, there are now many tools that allow you to start learning French at your own pace, from anywhere: language learning apps. While popular options like Duolingo and Babbel are widely known, there are many other resources that can immerse you in French and accelerate your progress. These tools expose you to authentic content, a variety of accents, and real-life situations, making your language acquisition more natural and engaging.
Apps to learn French
Le Monde
Best for: Professional French and formal writing
Le Monde offers in-depth articles on current events, economics, politics, and culture. Reading this kind of content will strengthen your understanding of formal French, expand your vocabulary, and help you become comfortable with more complex sentence structures. It’s an ideal resource for learners aiming for an advanced or professional level of French.
Best for: Slang and informal French
Various Reddit communities such as r/france feature lively discussions on a wide range of topics. Participating in these exchanges allows you to discover informal French, pick up everyday expressions and regional vocabulary, and practice writing in an authentic context.
Spotify (Podcasts)
Best for: Listening comprehension
Spotify offers a huge variety of French-language podcasts on all kinds of topics. Listening to shows like “Transfert” will boost your listening skills, expose you to different accents, and let you hear French used in real situations. Many podcasts also provide transcripts, so you can improve your reading skills at the same time.
Medium or Koober
Best for: Reading and vocabulary enrichment
On Medium, you’ll find articles in French by francophone authors on a wide range of topics, from technology to general culture. Koober offers summaries of books and articles in French—perfect for expanding your vocabulary while discovering new and current ideas.
YouTube
Best for: Visual learning and pronunciation
YouTube is full of channels dedicated to learning French. You’ll find videos on grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, as well as vlogs and interviews that will help you experience authentic, natural French and get used to its rhythms.
Why Combine Apps With Lessons From a Teacher?
All of these resources are fantastic for supporting your French learning journey. However, if you want to make faster progress, earn an official certificate, or simply feel more confident when you speak, nothing can replace learning with a qualified teacher.
Take Marielle, one of our students, for example. In just one year with us, she progressed from A1 to B2 level—a leap that opened up new academic and professional opportunities for her.
At Swiss French School, we offer personalized French courses, both online and at our centers in French-speaking Switzerland, including Lausanne and Geneva. Feel free to reach out—our team will get back to you within 24 to 48 hours!