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French Lessons in Ottawa

In Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, French and English intertwine harmoniously, so it’s not uncommon to hear locals greet each other with both “Bonjour” and “Hello”. As a bastion of bilingualism, this city is ideal for those who want to explore the richness of the French language and discover the way French culture has influenced the rich bicultural identity of the country. By taking French classes in Ottawa, you’ll get to truly connect with locals who only speak French, which make around the 8.6% of the total population according to the 2011 census and become a part of the extensive bilingual sector of the community. This will not only improve your social life, but it will grant you access to better job opportunities, especially in the government sector, and to numerous events that celebrate Francophone cultures.

 

Why Study French in Ottawa?

Learn French for Work and Travel

Becoming bilingual in Ottawa will increase your employability and allow you to access better job positions. This is especially true if you’re interested in working in one of the many government institutions that have headquarters in the city, as proficiency in French is often a requirement. On top of that, many important companies that operate from the city, such as EY and Randstand Canada require workers to be bilingual in order to serve a more diverse clientele and reach new clients in various parts of the city. Mastering French will also come in handy when applying for jobs in fields such as customer service and hospitality, and even if the job you’re interested in has no bilingual requisite, it will definitely help you boost your CV and stand out from other candidates.

In addition to improving your professional life, learning French will come in handy next time you travel. As you probably know, French is one of the most widespread languages in the world, and it’s the official language of 28 independent nations. These include Monaco, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and of course, France. As you can imagine, visiting any of these countries or the many others where French is spoken as a fluent speaker will completely change the way you experience them. You’ll not only be able to connect with locals and make long-lasting friendships there, but you’ll also get to know the local traditions and way of life in a way that most monolingual tourists can’t. 

Learn French for Social

Ottawa hosts numerous events and festivals that celebrate the vibrant French culture and heritage, and by learning the language, you’ll be able to truly appreciate them. One of the most popular ones is the Festival Franco-Ontarian, which takes place every year during the summer at the Major Hill’s Park. It celebrates francophone culture by showcasing some of the best French-speaking artists and performers of the area, as well as foreign musicians from Europe and Africa. In addition to enjoying great music in French, attendees are able to try delicious food, and engage in fun games for the whole family, so it’s a great place to be for those who want to experience a day filled with great activities that celebrate French culture.

Those who prefer to avoid crowds and attend smaller events should consider attending some of the film screenings held by the Alliance Française Ottawa. This international organization, located at 352 MacLaren St, hosts film nights every month, so you’ll be able to boost your listening 

Learn French for Culture

Learning French will make your social life flourish in the city. You’ll not only be able to integrate seamlessly into French communities all around the country, but also connect with foreign-born locals who come from Europe and Africa. Once you can hold a simple conversation, you’ll be able to practise your skills at local language exchange events and socialize with both locals and foreigners in both English and French. This is not only a fun way of making new friends, but also a gate to many new, stimulating conversations with total strangers.

If you’ve never attended a language exchange before, you can start by paying a visit to the BlaBla Language Exchange Ottawa. This fun event takes place at the Elgin Beer Project, located at 399 Elgin St, and it’s completely free. If you attend, you’ll be able to meet other language enthusiasts from all over the world and improve your skills while you enjoy something to drink. On the other hand, if you’re already an advanced French speaker, you should consider attending the Ottawa French Conversation Express Meetup, which takes place at Starbucks Cafés, located at 349-A Preston Street. This exchange is intended for learners who have been studying the language for a while but need extra help to boost their conversational skills. Although this event is not free, it’s definitely a good investment if you want to practise what you learn in class.

Where to learn French in and around Ottawa?

Now that you’re aware of some of the reasons why you should study the language in the city, you’re probably wondering where you can get French classes near you. The Ottawa Public Library offers a wide range of free French language classes and resources for all ages, so it’s a great option for those on a budget or those who are just starting out and want to learn the basics. However, if you really want to reach all of your potential and acquire the skills that you need to communicate confidently in the city, the smartest thing you can do is book a course with us at Listen & Learn. We have some of the best native tutors, who will craft completely personalized classes for you based on your current interests and needs. Whether you want to focus on Business French, or learn useful idioms for your next trip, send us an inquiry, and we’ll help you find the best French course for you. 

The type of courses we offer:

Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General French

These French lessons fit a broader spectrum, and can be useful for those who need different things from the language. Most beginner students will have a handle of survival French by the end of their lesson, which will provide them with enough French to communicate at least at a basic level during short trips to the country, but those who require more would benefit greatly from these sessions. Typical students have been those eager to travel all over the world, those buying overseas property, those with foreign spouses, aficionados of French culture and those who just wish to pass a particular French exam. Inquire now about our French Courses or Take A Free French Level Test

Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business French

These French Lessons are intended for people who really need to learn French to help make that difference in their work. For beginners, it will be useful to learn greetings and basic business etiquette, at higher levels reading and then writing become more important. Typical students include those involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where an additional language is required, and those working with international colleagues, academia and government. Even on our most basic lesson for Beginners, students should expect to end the lesson with basic Telephone French and e-mail French skills for communications as well as Survival French required for short visits to a country. Inquire now about our French Courses or Take A Free French Level Test

Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business French

If there are 2 or more of you with the same level of French, the same targets within the language, and be able to study at the same time and location, then you'll be happy to know that these French lessons can also be made available for Two-to-One French Lessons or Small Group In-Company French Lessons. Listen & Learn do not generally recommend classes of more than 6-8 people, although Taster lessons in French can run with up to 12 people. Bookings must be made for all participants at the same time. Inquire now about our French Courses or Take A Free French Level Test

Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business French

You and your group can be trained by our native speaker qualified French teachers, and can meet at your place of work or home at a time convenient to you. Tutorials can take place any day of the week, including weekends, and can be scheduled for the morning, afternoon or evening. If your home or office is not suitable for you, you can attend the lesson at the teacher's offices. You will be provided with all relevant lesson materials. Inquire now about our French Courses or Take A Free French Level Test

Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business French

The French lessons are also available for 2 or more people studying together (Two-to-One French Lesson or Small Group In-Company French Lesson). All participants must have the same level, the same business or general language needs and be able to study at the same time in the same location. The booking must be made for all participants at the same time. Listen & Learn do not recommend group classes of more than 6-8 people although In-Company Taster French Lessons can be run with up to 12 people. Inquire now about our French Courses or Take A Free French Level Test

Top Tips For…

french Apps

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Rosetta Stone

Would you like to put your French into practice after your lessons with Listen & Learn are over? Then, you’ll be happy to know there are countless resources that will enable you to use your French on your phone. One of them is the app Rosetta Stone, where you will find a ton of videos featuring real-life conversations in French. By watching them at various points throughout the day, wherever is easy and convenient, you can improve your contextual vocabulary and listening skills, making your language learning more natural and realistic. Though the app isn’t free, the monthly subscription is very affordable. Try the app here!

french Apps

Duolingo

If you are a language learner looking for options to put your skills into play, Duolingo is a must: it is one of the most popular language-learning apps available for Android and iOS. The app offers learning tips and exercises for 26 languages, including French, with a focus on vocabulary development. Words are categorized into different groups (like Food, Family, Animals, etc.) and these are presented in contextual phrases. You’ll also be challenged to use them in different sentences and can listen to how to pronounce them correctly. If you want to enjoy some extra features, you can pay $9.99 a month for Duolingo Plus. Download the app here!

Hello Talks

Would you like to speak with French native speakers using a cell phone app? Then, download Hello Talk, an app that joins more than 15 million people looking to practice foreign languages together. You can try it for free for a month and then decide if you want to pay for their monthly subscription. Their system is quite simple: you teach your native language to native French speaker, who will teach you their language, in turn. This way, both of you will be exposed to real-life speech and cultural exchanges of your target languages. You can interact with others using text, voice recordings, and calls. Download Hello Talk here!

french Youtube Channels

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Cyprien

Cyprien Iov, also known as Monsieur Dream, is a popular French YouTuber and comedian with more than 15 million subscribers! Cyprien creates hilarious videos with subtitles in over 10 languages, including English. This makes this YouTube channel a great option even for beginner language learners looking to increase their listening skills with real-life materials. Some of the topics he touches upon include ads versus reality, school, being a geek, and living alone. He speaks quite quickly at times but uses simple vocabulary, so it’s a nice option for anyone who wants to improve their French while having a good time. Subscribe to his channel here.

french Youtube Channels

Norman fait des

Want to have some fun while watching content in French and improving your listening comprehension? Then, you should definitely subscribe to Norman fait des vidéos YouTube channel. He’s the third-most popular French YouTube channel (based on the number of subscribers) with videos that have over 34 million views! He focuses on topics like bilingualism, popular brands, animals, and video games, producing short sequences of less than 5 minutes. And the best part is that they have subtitles in Japanese, English, and French, so no matter your proficiency level, you can enjoy Norman’s videos! Subscribe to his channel here.

Antoine Daniel

Unlike other popular French Youtubers’ videos that cover random topics, Antoine Daniel’s channel has a clear focus. The content explores different countries’ traditions, like Japan, Spain, or Russia, analyzed from a humorous point of view; so, this is a great option for those looking to have some fun while improving their French. Just consider that this YouTuber speaks quickly and uses lots of slang, so it might be a bit challenging to understand at first. But don’t let this stop you: use English subtitles until you advance your French proficiency! Subscribe to his channel here.

french News

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Euronews

Euronews is a European TV channel headquartered in Lyon, France, that has been broadcasting for almost 30 years. Tune in to find programs about culture, technology, news, and even soap operas (original or dubbed) in French. It covers these topics from a European perspective and you can watch it on TV or live stream via their website or YouTube channel. You’ll never run out of fresh content, which you can continually use to build upon your learning. And if you want to improve your reading skills, you can also read many of their articles online. Watch Euronews here!

french News

France 24

If you are looking for a channel that covers the news from a French perspective, then you can watch France 24. This Paris-based TV channel was specifically created for people living outside of France. Follow the headlines in real time with the latest news bulletins or via their live stream service, or replay their programs by paying a monthly subscription. Their reporters usually speak in a very clear and articulate manner, so it isn’t too difficult to understand what they are saying and a great way for learners of all levels of French to expand their vocabulary and cultural awareness. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter to know more. Watch France 24 here!

BFM TV

BFM TV is the most-watched French TV channel in the country, dedicated to news and weather forecasts. With BFM being so popular (it has more than 10 million viewers every day!), it can be watched online and from anywhere in the world. Their journalists tend to enunciate clearly, which is ideal for both beginners and intermediate students, so don’t hesitate to watch BFM to improve your listening skills! Similarly, their online articles are very well-written, with appropriate use of grammar and elevated vocabulary; so, reading these articles will be helpful to take your reading skills to the next level. Watch BFM TV here!

french For Kids

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Kids United

There’s no better way for children to learn a language than through real-life materials, like movies or songs. So, why not expose them to beautiful music, like that of Kids United? This is a French band of 6 children, formed to support UNICEF in 2004. Their first album, Un monde meilleur (A better world), features hits about peace, love, and the importance of family. The tunes are catchy and repetitive and the vocabulary is simple, so your child will have no problem learning the lyrics while enjoying great music in French! Click here and subscribe to their channel!

french For Kids

Petit Ours Brun

Looking for classic tales to tell your children, so you can share quality time together while they improve their French skills? Petit Ours Brun (Little Brown Bear) is a successful series of illustrated stories that follow Claude’s (a little brown bear) adventures. With a bird as his companion, Claude discovers the world around him, having fun with other animals in the forest and learning new things with the help of his parents. The series is not only great for kids to learn everyday vocabulary in French, but it’s also nice and fun way to teach values! Listen to the stories here!

T'choupi

T'choupi is a series of children's literature books perfect for kids who are just starting to learn French. It follows the adventures of a young boy who has a penguin as his pet. The penguin is a bit different from the animal in reality. Instead of a beak, it has a round orange clown-like nose and its wings have thumbs, resembling human hands. Every episode features a different theme, such as professions, colors, or animals, so the cartoon is fun way for your kids to acquire basic, everyday vocabulary in French. Watch the series here!

Testimonials

From our clients all over the world

"My French lessons are going well. Jean is a good teacher and I am getting to learn the basics. We have been meeting in person for the past 5 weeks or so."
Janet Reihm

French course in Ottawa, Fairtrade Canada.

"Jean shares his screen encourages to speak aloud and ask questions in French. I’m learning basic verb conjugations and building up my vocabulary for now!"
Janet Reihm

French course in Ottawa.

"My classes are going very well and Celia is a great teacher."
Marcelo Bertolami

French course in Miami.

"The lessons with Christophe are great. I love my fun discussions with him as we focus on the oral side of the language, which is exactly what I wanted."
Ann Gale

French course in Online, AGales Consulting Ltd.

"French lessons are good! I enjoy every minute."
Renata Kirkwood

French course in Kitchener.

Client case studies

Have a look at successful and satisfied clients.

Client photo
Nick Alcock French in Amsterdam
Going from not being able to create basic sentences to being able to hold conversations. It’s been great to notice the progress month by month

Our Clients Include

From our clients all over the world

AES Enterprises LLC
Language learned: Spanish in Tucson.

Huf UK Ltd.
Language learned: French in Indianapolis.

IPsoft, Inc
Language learned: German in New York.