Sunday, October 1st
2023 French Lesson Reviews
Rosetta Stone
- Three-day free trial period
- Program remembers where you left off
- Speech-recognition feature
- Full immersion method
Rosetta Stone is one of the most well-known names when it comes to language learning. Founded in 1992, they have helped thousands of people learn to read, write, and speak in more than 30 different languages.
Immerse yourself
Rosetta Stone uses the highly acclaimed immersive method to teach you French. Within the first lesson you should be able to converse a little. You'll read and hear a French word, phrase, or sentence, and choose the photo that fits best. Soon you'll speak a sentence and the voice-recognition program will let you know which parts of your sentence are correct and which you'll need to practice a bit more. In recent years, Rosetta Stone has added short, On-Demand videos to explain the culture of France, and you can even jump in on live lessons or get a private tutor.
All in French
How did you learn your first language? You didn't learn through flashcards and grammar explanations, but we'll bet you're pretty good at it now. Rosetta Stone figures that if this method is good enough in learning one's first language, and it works worldwide, it can work with a second or third language. And they're right. Many of us hear of immersion in language classes, and we shy away. But why? It is a tried and true method, and thousands of Rosetta Stone fans will attest to that.
Some English might help
Those who are fans of Rosetta Stone don't mind that there's no English. Many, however, wish there would be just some English to help understand the complexity of the French pronouns or conjugations. Having that bit of explanation here and there can be quick and satisfying rather than the user relying on their own instincts to answer their own questions (and maybe perpetuating errors when there's something they think they've understood... but actually didn't).
Rosetta Stone's answer? Be patient
Still, Rosetta Stone realizes that being in an "I-want-my-answer-now" society, a little patience goes a long way. If you just accept it and continue with the lessons, things might just fall into place.
Feedback on your spoken French
There's a speech-recognition feature called TruAccent, where when you speak French, the program will let you know if you could be understood. They'll tell you which part of what you said should be understood by a native French speaker and which parts you'll want to practice pronouncing.
Pick up where you left off
You don't need to remember which lesson you were on or where you left off in a certain section. Rosetta Stone remembers it, whether you were learning online or with the app, and even if you switch platforms, Rosetta Stone won't miss a beat for next time.
Extended Learning resource
Sometimes there are cultural or other topics that don't necessarily fit into the lesson themes. These are gathered into the Extended Learning section so you can opt to learn even more.
On-Demand videos
There are short videos that help us understand the culture of France. For example, when entering a French restaurant, how do you know if you should wait to be seated or seat yourself? How do you ask for the bill? How much should one tip? These are all great questions, and there are On-Demand videos to tell you about those and other cultural tidbits so you don't make any faux pas.
Extras
In addition to the On-Demand videos, Rosetta Stone offers phrasebooks to help your pronunciation with common phrases, stories to improve your reading skills, and an Audio Companion to help you listen to and understand native French speakers.
Live lessons and tutoring
Rosetta Stone may have been around for more than 30 years, but ooh, la la, they have changed with the times. Not only do they continue to offer great lessons with a tried and true methodology, they've really stepped up their game. Now you have the option to jump in on live lessons. There's a guide that lets you know when there's an upcoming lesson and what the topic is. If you want a little extra help, you can even get your own tutor.
Costs
Here's what you can expect to pay for Rosetta Stone:
- 3 months for $35.97 ($11.99 per month)
- 12 months for $167.76 ($7.99 per month)
- Lifetime for $199
The lifetime subscription is the best deal
If you choose the Lifetime plan, you have access to not only French lessons, but also lessons in all 25 Rosetta Stone languages
30-day satisfaction guarantee
You've got a three-day free trial of Rosetta Stone French. After you've chosen a paid plan, if you're not satisfied, let Rosetta Stone know within the first 30 days and they will refund your money in full.
They're still the gold standard... for less than the price of gold
Rosetta Stone has had the highest reputation for decades, but the price has also been quite steep. Along with the innovations they've added to their repertoire, they've also lowered their prices, making it easier to afford. We do realize that some learners just have a hard time learning a language without any English explanations and that Rosetta Stone still might not fit a few budgets, so be sure to try it out before you sign up for a subscription. Otherwise, jump right into Rosetta Stone's French lessons and get started.
More French Lesson Reviews
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Who Offers the Best French Lessons?
When we think of someone speaking French, we think soothing and seductive, as it's simply dreamy to hear. We think of the romance of Paris with the Eiffel Tower, of Southern France with the rolling lavender fields, of the Alps with the snow-capped mountains, of the coast with the warm sandy beaches. And of course there's the decadent French food and wine.
Learning French allows you to more fully enjoy French culture. When you learn French, it opens the door to learning phrases that the French speakers use in conversation, manners and mannerisms, how the French live and interact in everyday situations, and perhaps gaining an appreciation and insight into their art and history. There are so many doors to be unlocked once you take the first step.
French Lesson FAQ
Continued from above...
Naturally, when we think French we think of France. Yet French is actually a global language and the official language of 29 countries, so you can practice your French language skills in more than one place. French is also a heritage language in all or part of Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and even the US - like Louisiana.
Picking up the French language may be easier than you might think. Some of us are intimidated by the unusual sounds and the silent letters, but did you know that there are many words that look like English? We'll bet you know these French words: table, responsable, ambiance, brilliance. There are about 1,700 words in French that look like the English word, so there's a good start.
When choosing among the several options for online French lessons, here are some things to consider:
- Free trial. Look to see if there's a chance to try out the lessons before you buy them to see if this is how you want to learn and to see if you'll stay motivated. Most options include at least a free trial, and some have free access to a limited amount of lessons so you might be able to get all of what you want for free.
- How they teach. Today there is such a variety of teaching methods in the various online French lesson companies. You can learn individual words with flashcards first and then build to speaking or reading. Some teach by where you hear conversational phrases and build on those. Some build their lessons around grammar and vocabulary while others don't teach grammar specifically - you'll innately catch on the more you practice. Some cut to the chase like textbooks and some use AR and VR to keep you hooked and motivated.
- How much French you may already know. If you're a beginner, the French lesson world is your oyster - there's so much for you to choose from. If you are at the advanced level and want to polish your skills, most online programs don't teach to your level; though there are a few that could work for you.
- Your budget. There are some programs where you should be able to get quite a bit of practice for free. Others have a reasonable cost. Some have options for you to have a one-on-one instructor, and those will cost a bit more.
- One-time purchase or monthly subscription. There's the good, old fashioned way of purchasing a course, and that's where you keep the lessons, learning at your own pace, guilt-free if you need to take a long break. The subscription method is where you pay per month or year to use the product and it automatically renews at the end of that subscription time. You'll be motivated to not take a long hiatus from lessons if you know that your subscription auto renews whether you use it or not.
- Satisfaction guarantee. Most have a period of time where you can try out the courses to know if you really like them and want to continue. If you're not happy within that time, simply ask for a full refund
Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the most popular French courses available today, to make it easy for you to choose how you'll want to learn French. Whether you're thinking of learning French for the first time or brushing up on what you may have taken in high school, now is a great time to learn French online as there are such a variety of French lesson programs out there. We're sure you'll find at least one that you'd like to try.
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