By Chris, from OuiCommunicate – British French in America
Learning a language, particularly French, isn’t like buying a loaf of bread. There’s no set price. No universal standard of what you’re really paying for. It’s not just about money — it’s about time, return on investment, clarity, and the confidence that what you’re embarking on is going to work.
I’ve been thinking about this lately — especially because in France, everyone’s a French teacher. Whether they’re twelve or fifty-two, everyone has an opinion on how French should be taught. And of course, you have big names in the space, like the Alliance Française, who act as the high priests of French culture abroad. Add to that global language platforms with millions of students and faceless ownership structures, and it becomes very hard to know what’s really worth paying for.
So today, I want to share how I would approach buying a French course if I were starting from scratch — not as a teacher, but as a motivated learner with a job, a life, and limited time.
1. Demand a Guarantee
If I were starting tomorrow, I would want clear results guaranteed. Not vague outcomes, not “you’ll improve.” I want to know what I’ll walk away with — what level, what skills, what ability to hold a conversation. Time is too valuable to gamble on half-promises.
2. Look for Harmony
If a course has been stitched together over years by multiple teachers with different philosophies, it risks being a disjointed mess. I want a single vision. I want harmony — not a collage of ideas. Ideally, one mind, one structure.
3. Demand Proof
If you claim your course works, show me. Not just reviews or testimonials — I want to see a student speak the language. I want to hear them converse naturally and know they used your course to get there. No vague praise. I want visible proof of progress.
4. Prioritize Independence
I want a course that allows me to work at my own pace. Group classes move at a crawl. 60 minutes of class often yields 15 minutes of real learning. And many schools trap you at a level, requiring you to buy again just to keep going. That’s business, not education.
5. Think in Terms of Lost Time
This one’s personal, but I know I’m not alone. If I waste ten hours in a weak course, I don’t just lose those ten hours — I lose what those ten hours could have become. That parallel timeline — where I was progressing — is real to me. And I want to avoid regretting it.
6. Avoid “Free”
Free is never really free. You pay in time, which is the most valuable thing you have. Free courses often lead nowhere. You realize it six months later, and that time is gone. Especially if you’re older, time is too precious to waste. Pay to get it right the first time.
7. Ask What’s Left When It’s Over
Too few people ask this. What will I know when the course ends? What will be left in my head and heart? Can I speak? Can I think in the language? If the answer is vague, don’t buy it.
8. Qualifications Matter — So Does Passion
I want a real human being behind the course. I want to hear their voice. I want to feel their belief that the course will work for me. Passion and qualifications aren’t just marketing. They’re the only real way I know if the course was built with care — or churned out for cash.
Conclusion: The Price Isn’t the Price
So many people ask: “How much should I spend on a French course?” But that’s the wrong question.
The real question is: What will I walk away with, and how confident am I in that happening?
If a course costs $1,000 and I know French is going to happen, then it’s cheap. If a course is free and I spend six months getting nowhere — it’s the most expensive mistake I could make.
A year from now, you could be fluent. But only if the path is clear, intentional, and well-built. That’s how I see it.
Chris
We OuiCommunicate – British French in America
If you’re serious about learning French and want a course designed for adults, with structure, guidance, and a finish line that actually means something — visit my site.