French

Learn French — Courses Online & In London

French remains one of the most popular languages in the world spoken by more than 220 million people across the globe. French is one of the official languages in several countries including Canada, Belgium and Senegal.

If you are already fluent in speaking English, learning French can be fairly easy due to the sheer number of words derived from the French vocabulary. For example, did you know that approximately 3 out of every 10 English words are thought to have French origins? These include 'souvenir', 'bouquet' and 'omelette'.

We offer courses for all levels. Whether you are a beginner, a tad rusty or already fluent and want to enjoy French conversation or you want to improve your knowledge with an advanced course. Browse from our range of courses below and choose a time that suits you. Read our blog to discover the benefits of learning French and get tips on how to learn French easily at City Lit.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

Browse our French language courses below and enrol today!

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  1. Return to French (Advanced)
    Course start date:  Wed 24 Apr 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Henriette Harlall
    Come and join this lively interactive course to refresh your advanced French. After attending this course you will be able join a level 4 course in September.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £99.00 Concession £64.00
  2. French 3 upper: conversational French
    Course start date:  Wed 9 Oct 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Pierre Porcheron
    Further improve your upper intermediate French on this lively, communicative class. This course combines structural language work with discussion on French political and cultural news.
    Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00
  3. French 5: Flaubert : une vie, une oeuvre
    Course start date:  Wed 29 May 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Pierre Porcheron
    Flaubert est le contemporain de Baudelaire et, comme l’auteur de « Les Fleurs du mal », il occupe une position charnière dans la littérature du XIXème siècle. À la fois contesté pour des raisons morales et admiré pour sa force littéraire de son temps, il apparaît aujourd'hui comme l'un des plus grands romanciers de son siècle, avec en particulier « Madame Bovary », roman qui fonde le bovarysme, puis « L'Éducation sentimentale ». Il se place entre le roman psychologique de Stendhal et le mouvement naturaliste de Zola et Maupassant, ces derniers considérant Flaubert comme leur maître. Lui-même fortement marqué par l'œuvre d’Honoré de Balzac dont il reprendra les thèmes sous une forme très personnelle - « L'Éducation sentimentale » est une autre version de « Le Lys dans la vallée » et « Madame Bovary » s'inspire de « La Femme de trente ans » - il s'inscrit dans sa lignée du roman réaliste. Il est aussi très préoccupé d'esthétisme, d'où son long travail d'élaboration pour chaque œuvre : il teste ses textes en les soumettant à la fameuse épreuve du « gueuloir », qui consiste à les lire à pleine voix, parfois pendant des heures. On a également souvent souligné la volonté de Flaubert de s'opposer à l'esthétique du roman-feuilleton, en écrivant un « roman de la lenteur ». Enfin, son regard ironique et pessimiste sur l'humanité fait de lui un grand moraliste. Son « Dictionnaire des idées reçues » donne un aperçu de ce talent.







    This course is designed for both advanced French learners as well as native speakers of French.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
  4. French 2: jump into year 2 upper
    Course start date:  Mon 16 Sep 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Yolande Mallet De Chauny
    This intensive course is suitable if you have studied French for about two years in the past but are not sure whether you are ready to join our third year course, 'French 2 upper' course. You will revise the main points of the second year in this one-week revision course and feel ready for 'French 2 upper: module 1' starting soon.
    Full fee £219.00 Senior fee £219.00 Concession £219.00
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About the City Lit School of Languages

Language courses at all levels and in 19 different languages are offered at City Lit. Whether you would like to attend part-time or weekend language classes, our highly popular language lessons offer the widest choice in London. Most language courses are taught at seven different levels and you can start anywhere from beginner to advanced.

Our tutors

Tutors are experienced and friendly, and you can choose from evening, day time or weekend language classes. We also offer early morning sessions and intensive courses to help you learn a language at a time and in a way that suits you best. In many languages you can take an accredited course, with national and international qualifications selected for their relevance to adult learners.

Professional development language courses

We can also offer tailored language training in your workplace, which can be a fast and convenient way to learn a language to help improve your skills for work or develop your business.