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With just a thin sliver of water dividing the two countries, it’s hardly surprising that French is the most popular foreign language in the UK, being spoken and understood by just under a quarter of the population. Learning the language while on British soil is relatively easy thanks to a diverse range of learning possibilities – five of which are listed below.

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French schools

For those hoping to start French lessons Manchester, like most other UK cities, has many schools dedicated to helping people learn French. Many courses are designed to meet specific learning objectives. While some people will want to learn some French for an upcoming holiday, others might be preparing to working in a professional French business environment.

Online resources

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Thanks to the advent of the internet, it’s easier than ever to learn French from home. Free resources are widely available and include everything from courses run by Carnegie Mellon University to educational tools offered by the Quebec government’s website. More advanced speakers could even join in with virtual French conversation evenings held on Facebook by the Alliance Française of Glasgow.

Apps

There are numerous apps designed to help the eager, but busy, learner along. Most of these are phrasebook-style affairs most useful when in the midst of a conversation. They are also great tools for learning while on the go.

Native speakers

There are thousands of native French speakers already living in the UK – with more arriving every day. Approximately15,000 young French people move to the UK every year and the number of French living in Britain has increased annually since 1991.

While some of these teach French to supplement their income, others use their language skills as a full-time job. Check the notice boards of local shops or browse online community forums to get an idea of whether any teachers live nearby. As a rough guide, two-thirds of French expatriates live in London, though there are thriving French communities everywhere from Norwich to Cardiff.

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Podcasts

Simply listening to people speak French can help students improve their own language skills. By downloading or streaming a podcast, students can learn while at the gym or on the way to work. Though some podcasts are expressly designed as a learning tool, don’t rule out the option of enjoying French radio – a lot can be learnt by listening to song lyrics.