Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Wednesday, May 18th
If you struggle to retain things you've tried to memorize, or if you have struggles with reading (e.g. dyslexia), Unforgettable Languages' Linkword might be the French lessons you need. Their system focuses heavily on using proven memory strategies and tricks to help you remember words in French through connections to English phrases and images.
For example, students are asked to vividly picture poking a horse with a shovel to remember that the French word for "horse" is "le cheval". We suggest that you start with the free demo, to see how the program works. In our experience, we found that we could still remember the vocabulary taught in the demo several days after trying it, but we also found ourselves struggling to remember the correct pronunciation. For example, "le lapin" is associated with a "rabbit lapping (at a bowl of water)", but the two words aren't pronounced the same way.
We also recommend you take a look at the comprehensive list of topics/vocabulary covered by each level of Unforgettable's Linkword program for French; we found that link under the "Why Choose Linkword" heading, at the end of the first green checkmark sentence. That will give you the most accurate picture of what you'd be learning, and whether or not the content is comprehensive enough to help you reach your goals for French. In total, Linkword teaches about 1200 words of vocabulary plus major points of grammar. According to the Unforgettable site, the average student of French only learns around 900 words over the course of four years of high school.
Linkword's French lessons can be purchased as a four-level package that includes software for Mac/PC, MP3 audio, and a course app for mobile use. This costs $32. If you would also like to have the CD version of the course in addition to the downloadable package, you'll pay a total of $48. We like that Unforgettable makes it possible to learn from almost anywhere, not just when sitting in front of a laptop.
Customers will appreciate that every course offered by Unforgettable comes with a 60-day unconditional money-back guarantee: double the length of time the company was offering at the time of our previous review. Plus, the price of their French lessons is 50% less than the last time we evaluated Linkword, another significant improvement.
Unforgettable's Linkword French lessons have moved up in our rankings since our last review, mostly due to their expanded satisfaction guarantee and lower prices. It isn't the most comprehensive way to learn French, however, and may be best suited for students who need to boost their retention of vocabulary or who have had trouble learning with other approaches.
In order to know which type of French instruction would work well for you, ask yourself this question: "Why do I want to learn French?" For some, learning French is a requirement for school or work. In that case, choosing a provider of French lessons that will deliver the necessary vocabulary and grammar, reading and writing skills, and even pronunciation will be important.
You may want French lessons that will help you be a better-educated traveler. If you frequently visit any one of the 29 countries where French is spoken as an official language - not just France and Canada but also Switzerland, Haiti, Togo, and Madagascar, to name a few - being able to speak French fluently could make a huge difference. And, who wouldn't want to be able to confidently order coffee and a croissant in a Paris cafe?
Finally, individuals with family trees that extend into French-speaking cultures may be interested in learning more about their heritage and connect with living relatives.
With so many options for studying the language independently, what should you look for in the ideal French lessons? Here are some aspects to consider as you evaluate the many programs currently on the market:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best French lessons available today. We hope these reviews will help you get on the path to fluency in French quickly and affordably!
Select any 2 French Lessons to compare them head to head