Learning English has become more accessible for people living in France or other French-speaking countries. Today, online courses and official apps help you study directly from your phone.
In addition, many platforms offer free content for vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, reading, and listening comprehension. This way, you can build a study routine without relying exclusively on a traditional school.
First of all, choose a tool that matches your current level. Then, maintain a short and frequent routine to build consistency.
Among the most interesting options are Duolingo, Busuu, Memrise, and the British Council’s LearnEnglish apps.
Below, you will find alternatives especially useful for French speakers who want to learn English.
Duolingo
Duolingo offers free language courses and has an app for Android and iPhone.
For people living in France, the platform allows you to study English using French as the support language.
The lessons feature short activities, interactive exercises, and immediate corrections. In addition, the app uses game-like elements to encourage users to continue studying.
You can earn points, progress through lessons, and track your development. This way, studying becomes more dynamic.
Another advantage involves flexibility. You can study during a break, on public transportation, or at home.
Duolingo works especially well for people who need to develop a daily study habit.
On the other hand, people looking for more advanced conversation practice can combine the app with other tools.
Busuu
Busuu offers a free online English course and also provides an app for Android and iOS.
The platform provides lessons focused on everyday situations, along with grammar, pronunciation, and speaking exercises.
Another interesting point involves contact with speakers of other languages. The community allows users to receive support and interact during the learning process.
In addition, Busuu organizes learning according to CEFR levels, making it easier to identify your current stage.
For French speakers, the platform supports English learning within an environment designed for language study.
First, you can start for free and explore how the platform works.
Then, if you need additional features, you can evaluate the available plans.
Memrise
Memrise offers a free plan for language learning and provides official courses in different languages.
For people who want to learn English, the app focuses especially on phrases used in real-life situations.
In addition, the platform uses videos featuring people speaking expressions and phrases related to the language.
Another interesting feature involves personalized review exercises. They help you review content according to your study routine.
The free plan also allows you to synchronize your learning across devices.
This way, you can start an activity on your phone and continue using another device.
Memrise works well as a complementary tool for people who already have a main course.
Therefore, you can reinforce vocabulary and listening comprehension while maintaining a simple routine.
LearnEnglish Grammar
LearnEnglish Grammar, developed by the British Council, offers exercises specifically designed for people who want to improve their English grammar.
The app currently provides free access to exercises and covers content from beginner to advanced levels.
In addition, the platform organizes activities according to different CEFR levels, starting at A1 and reaching C2.
The app contains thousands of questions for practicing and reinforcing grammar structures.
You can study topics such as the simple past, prepositions, conditionals, and future perfect.
Therefore, this option works especially well for people who understand English but still make mistakes when constructing sentences.
The British Council also offers the app for iPhone and iPad.
For French speakers, the app includes French among the available interface languages.
LearnEnglish Videos
LearnEnglish Videos, also developed by the British Council, focuses on videos and listening comprehension.
The tool provides videos covering different subjects and helps you practice listening, reading, and understanding English.
In addition, you can download videos to watch later without an internet connection.
This feature can help people with busy routines.
For example, you can download several episodes before leaving home and study while traveling.
The app also provides content related to general and business English.
Therefore, professionals can use the videos to complement other learning methods.
The app appears on both Google Play and the App Store, with official development from the British Council.
LearnEnglish Podcasts
Another official option is LearnEnglish Podcasts, created by the British Council mainly to develop listening comprehension.
The app provides podcasts in English and allows you to download episodes for offline listening.
In addition, you can work on listening comprehension, reading, and language understanding at the same time.
This feature makes the app particularly useful for people who know basic words but struggle to understand conversations.
First, choose episodes that match your level.
Then, listen again to sections that seem more difficult.
This way, you can turn ordinary moments of your day into opportunities to practice English.
The app is also available for iPhone and iPad, with official development from the British Council.
British Council LearnEnglish
In addition to its apps, the British Council offers free resources directly through its French website.
The platform provides listening and reading activities, grammar and vocabulary exercises, videos, podcasts, and games.
The content covers different ages and proficiency levels.
Therefore, you can find suitable materials for both beginners and more advanced students.
First of all, identify your current level.
Next, choose activities that address your biggest difficulties.
The British Council recommends combining independent study with other forms of practice to develop different language skills.
This way, you can use the website for free and complement your studies with apps.
Babbel
Babbel offers English courses designed specifically for French speakers as well.
The platform provides short lessons, usually lasting around 15 minutes.
In addition, it covers vocabulary, grammar, dialogues, and pronunciation through speech recognition.
Another benefit involves lessons related to real-life communication situations.
Babbel also offers content that can work offline, depending on the access available with your account.
However, it is important to note that Babbel does not provide all of its content for free.
You can try the first lesson of each course for free, while full access requires a subscription.
Therefore, it works best for people who want to test the platform before deciding whether to subscribe.
Which app should you choose to learn English?
The best choice mainly depends on your goal and current level.
Beginners may prefer Duolingo’s game-like format.
People looking for structured lessons can try Busuu.
Those who want to improve grammar can use LearnEnglish Grammar.
For listening comprehension, LearnEnglish Videos and LearnEnglish Podcasts offer specialized content.
Meanwhile, Memrise can complement your learning with vocabulary and videos based on real-life situations.
In addition, nothing prevents you from using two or three apps at the same time.
How can you study English for free in France?
First, choose a main app and establish a daily routine.
Then, use a second tool to work on a different skill.
For example, you can study vocabulary with Duolingo and practice listening comprehension with LearnEnglish Podcasts.
Next, use LearnEnglish Grammar to address difficulties related to sentence structure.
Another strategy involves studying for 15 or 20 minutes every day.
This way, you avoid relying on long study sessions and can maintain a more realistic routine.
In addition, try to listen to English every day, even during simple activities.
Over time, frequent exposure can help you recognize words, expressions, and different pronunciation patterns.
Can you learn English using only apps?
Yes, apps can help significantly, especially at the beginning.
However, learning English requires contact with different skills, including reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Therefore, combine apps with videos, podcasts, texts, and real opportunities to communicate.
The British Council itself recommends combining independent learning resources with listening, vocabulary, grammar, and conversation practice.
In addition, apps offer different approaches and do not necessarily replace a teacher.
Therefore, consider them learning tools that you can use every day.
This way, even people living in France can build a consistent routine without immediately paying for a traditional course.
What is the best free English course?
There is no single course that works perfectly for everyone.
Beginners may prefer Duolingo’s game-like approach.
People looking for structured lessons can try Busuu.
Those who want to improve grammar can use LearnEnglish Grammar.
For listening comprehension, LearnEnglish Videos and LearnEnglish Podcasts offer specialized content.
Meanwhile, Memrise can complement learning with vocabulary and real-life videos.
Finally, choose a tool that you can actually use every day.
Consistency usually makes a bigger difference than installing several apps and abandoning your studies after a few days.
Summary of the best options
| App | Best for | Free |
|---|---|---|
| Duolingo | Beginners and daily practice | Yes |
| Busuu | Structured courses and conversation | Yes, with limitations |
| Memrise | Vocabulary and real-life situations | Yes, with limitations |
| LearnEnglish Grammar | Grammar | Yes |
| LearnEnglish Videos | Listening comprehension | Yes |
| LearnEnglish Podcasts | Listening and comprehension | Yes |
| Babbel | Structured courses | Partially |
