Award-Winning French Courses & Classes in New York City, NY

If you're interested in taking a New York City French course to develop a deeper understanding of the language, Varsity Tutors can enroll you in one of the premier products on the market today. French is one of the world's most spoken languages, being spoken regularly in France, Canada, Monaco, Belgium, Switzerland, and a variety of former French colonies. It is also a recognized language at the United Nations and the second most-utilized language in the business world behind English. All told, there are nearly 300 million French speakers worldwide.

Considering how popular French is, there is no shortage of reasons to want to learn it. Maybe you're a high school student at a local school like Trinity School or Stuyvesant High School who just enrolled in your first foreign language course. Perhaps you're a college student at a local institution such as New York University or Columbia University who needs to take French to fulfill a general ed requirement. You might be planning a trip to France, or looking for improved access to French culture and history. Some students even start taking French classes to become bilingual and enhance their resume. Regardless of why you want to study French, we provide a New York City French class that suits your needs.

That said, many native English speakers find French challenging to learn. Many common verbs are irregular, meaning that they take forms different from those suggested by conjugating simple "er" verbs. Likewise, there are two distinct past tenses in past perfect and past conditional, adding another layer of intricacy for French students to shift through. There are even "false cognates," or words that sound like the same thing in both languages but actually have completely different meanings in each one. If all of this feels overwhelming to you, there is nothing wrong with seeking professional assistance to help you reach for your French-speaking potential.

What skills can I work on in a New York City French course?

One of the biggest problems with trying to study a foreign language on your own is not having anybody to practice with. Immersion is the best way to get comfortable speaking and listening to a new language, and there's really no way to do that on your own. Students in a New York City French class have a set time each week when they can practice their French skills with a knowledgeable instructor, helping to ensure that your skills stay sharp. You can also practice in a safe learning environment, so you don't have to worry about mispronouncing a word or asking a question while you're learning.

An instructor can also help you develop your written French skills. If you could more effectively express yourself in writing, composing an outline before you start trying to compose is a good tactic in any language. Your instructor can also show you set phrases that fit into a variety of contexts to make getting started easier. For instance, je veux (I want) can be used for anything from a casual conversation to listing your hopes and dreams. Many students find fleshing out a piece to be easier than getting started, so even a simple phrase can get you on the right track.

You can also go over the intricacies of French grammar. For example, many native English-speakers have a hard time understanding that nouns in French are classified as either masculine or feminine, each of which takes a different set of pronouns. Worse, plural nouns have their own set of pronouns regardless of whether they are otherwise masculine or feminine. Your instructor can teach you memorization tricks to help you remember which words are associated with which pronouns and improve your self-confidence with the language.

Depending on why you're studying French, you may also need to study French history and culture. These topics are best approached like a social studies class. For example, a timeline of events can help you understand the Napoleonic Era and how it made French an international standard even after the Emperor's defeat.

How does a New York City French course provided by Varsity Tutors work?

Every New York City French class we provide consists of a knowledgeable teacher and other students studying the language. Each instructor undergoes an extensive vetting process, so you can trust that you will be studying under a skilled communicator with fluency in French. You can also arrange private study sessions with your teacher if you feel as though you need some individualized attention to overcome a particular learning obstacle.

All class sessions take place on our live virtual platform, an online classroom that supports real-time communication with both your teacher and your peers. Since you're studying online, you don't have to worry about commuting anywhere in order to attend your sessions. We also offer two and four-week classes to make it easier to find something that works with your schedule. New classes start on a monthly basis, so you never need to wait too long to start studying French.

Working with other students may seem like an unwanted distraction at first, but it's actually quite beneficial. Everybody is likely to bring a different accent and dialect to the classroom, giving you experience hearing different types of spoken French. This provides a more realistic simulation of what it would be like to visit Francophone areas, as even native speakers often sound differently based on their home region. You can also explain concepts to each other and foster a collaborative learning environment that makes French more accessible to everyone. Splitting a classroom also allows you to split the cost, making formal French instruction more affordable than you might expect.

Can I enroll in a New York City French course today?

No matter why you want to take a New York City French class, Varsity Tutors can enroll you in a class that suits your academic and scheduling needs. Reach out to a knowledgeable Educational Consultant today for more information on how to get the process started. We look forward to hearing from you!