Best Way To Learn French For Travel In 2025: My Experience

Learning a language for a specific reason is always a good idea, as it’ll motivate you more and make the learning process more interesting. Just imagine sitting in Paris close to the Eiffel Tower (which already feels awesome) and ordering a hot chocolate with a croissant in French. How proud you’ll be of yourself. Speaking French while traveling will make your trip significantly better.

I’ve already learned three foreign languages and am currently learning French for travel. In this article, I’ll reveal my learning method so you can follow it and succeed.

Have fun!

Best Way To Learn French For Travel

The best way to learn French for travel is to learn topic-specific vocabulary. Pick a few situations (topics) in which you would like to speak while traveling in a French-speaking country.

It can be at the airport, at your accommodation, ordering food in a restaurant, etc. You can then learn exactly what you’ll say in each situation.

How To Learn French For Travel: 6-Step Guide

Here is my approach to French learning for travel. Follow each step and enjoy the process.

1. Learn Topic-specific vocabulary
2. Create sentences and dialogues for each situation
3. Listen to audiobooks & podcasts
4. Read French books (with travel phrases)
5. Talk to yourself
6. Practice speaking with a French native speaker online

1. Learn Topic-Specific Vocabulary

As I mentioned above, the best approach to learn French for travel is to learn vocabulary for typical situations when you’ll be exposed to French. So first, think about all the situations you want to speak French in while traveling.

Some of these can be (but are not limited to):

• airport
• getting to the city (transportation, taxi, directions)
• accommodation
• food & drinks & restaurants
• booking attractions
• small talk – introduce yourself
• basic vocabulary such as weekdays, numbers, weather, greetings

Select a few situations/topics, depending on how many weeks/months you still have available to learn French. I suggest focusing on 1 topic for 1 – 2 weeks.

Don’t overload yourself with too many, as it might get overwhelming.

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2. Create Sentences & Dialogues For Each Situation

Once you have the situations, pick one. Now, think about all the words you need to speak in that situation. Write them down in your native language in a language notebook. Then translate all these words into French.

While translating, I recommend using Google Translator so you can also listen to its pronunciation. Translate a word, listen to the pronunciation, and then write it into your language notebook. It’ll not only help you memorize the words easier, but you’ll also get the pronunciation right from the beginning.

After you have all the words, it’s time to create sentences and full dialogues. So think about the situation; let’s say you want to order something in a restaurant. Try to construct a full dialogue with sentences about what you would say and what the waiter would say.

Keep using a translator for it. DeepL or ChatGPT are great for constructing full sentences.

3. Listen To Audiobooks & Podcasts

Incorporate more resources into the process. It’s best to practice all language skills. So create 1 dialogue and then listen to a podcast or an audiobook, best if it’s related to your topics.

Listen to it while doing other activities like walking to work/school, driving, or cooking. Sometimes, make an effort to translate the story, remember the words, and then listen to it repeatedly until you understand it all.

You don’t have to understand everything; it’s important to be familiar with the language through various sources.

4. Read French Books

I also highly recommend reading books. Pick a story that is related to your situation. I love the book 101 Conversations In Basic French. It has simple dialogues from everyday life in French-speaking countries. It’s perfect for beginners.

If you feel like reading some stories for beginners, I suggest ‘Short Stories In French‘.

Also, pick a book with some travel phrases.

👉 READ ALSO: 9 Best Foreign Language Magazines To Boost Your Language Skills

5. Talk To Yourself

One of my favorite ways to practice languages is by talking to myself. It might seem difficult for a beginner since you can’t construct proper sentences yet.

But the theory behind it is to just talk to yourself about the objects you see (while walking or cooking), and if you can speak proper sentences yet, just say the words of the objects. Or describe a situation you’ve gone through recently.

You can do so first in your native language as a beginner and then think about the words that you’d like to know in French. Translate them and write them down in your language notebook.

6. Practice Speaking With A French Native Speaker Online

Speaking is crucial; without speaking, we feel like we’re not making any progress. So, I highly recommend practicing speaking French before your trip.

I’ve been practicing on iTalki with my tutors. Choose a tutor, ask him to review the dialogues for each situation you’ve created, and take turns. Practice speaking in this situation (based on your dialogue) with him.

He’ll not only correct some mistakes and your pronunciation, but it’ll also help you overcome your fear of speaking once you’re traveling.

➡ Check our iTalki & practice speaking French here.

Benefits Of Learning French For Your Trip

Speaking French will significantly improve your trip in various ways. I’ve been learning languages for travel over the past 10 years and to live in different countries, and it’s made a major difference.

Below are some of the benefits you’ll gain when speaking French during your trip:

• Connect better with locals
• Be a traveler, not a tourist
• Get to know the local culture better
• Better travel experience

You’ll be able to connect with locals. When you speak French, they appreciate it, even if it’s just a bit. Immediately, you’ll be seen as a traveler, not as a random tourist.

And they might even reward you for your effort in speaking French and take you to places a typical tourist would go to. They might take you to a local farm to experience cheese-making or wine-tasting, and you’ll make new friends.

So it’ll bring you closer, and you’ll have better travel experiences overall and get to know the local culture a lot better.

Knowing French opens up a world of opportunities, and you’ll certainly see the world through different goggles than you would see without speaking it.

Best French Learning Apps

I recommend using Memrise for vocabulary and basic sentences, Lingopie to watch French TV shows and movies, and iTalki to practice speaking with native French speakers online.

BONUS: How To Learn Languages For Travel

If you want to explore French learning for travel in more depth, I’ve written a separate article in which I describe my method in detail. Learning languages for travel is my passion, and I’d like to encourage you to do the same.

So click on the image below and learn more about French learning for travel:

Get My Language Travel Notebook

I’ve also created a language notebook for you to keep track of new French words you want to remember and to create your own dialogues for each situation. It’ll be your best companion while you learn the language.

So get the language travel notebook below:

FAQs

I’ve also answered some frequently asked questions about French learning. Check out my answers below:

How To Learn French Before A Trip?

Learn vocabulary for specific situations in which you would like to speak French once you’re in the country. Pick any situation, write down all the vocabulary you’ll need to communicate, translate it to French, and then create a full dialogue, imagining you’re interacting with locals.

How Long Does It Take To Learn French For Travel?

Generally between 6 months to 1 year. It depends on which level you want to reach and how much time you will dedicate to learning each day. If you want to learn it as fast as possible, dedicate at least 1 hour daily.

What Is The Most Efficient Way Of Learning French?

Learning vocabulary in topics/situations is the most efficient way to learn French. Because it makes learning a lot more practical, you know exactly what you need to learn, and you’re making the effort on your own instead of following some structures from apps.

WRAP-UP: Best Way To Learn French For Travel

This is my approach to French learning for travel. It’s a lot of fun. And the more you focus on what’s important to you, the more you’ll succeed. I think it’s a lot more efficient that just following a language learning app. Don’t forget to make the learning process fun. And try to dedicate at least 1 hour daily. You can do this!

If you have any questions or need help learning languages, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com.

Happy Learning!