How I learned French in 3 months with private conversational classes
Setting French learning goals and don’t know where to start?
Express Language Learning is possible if you start to actively talk from the beginning of your course. Ultimately, the goal of any language learner is to speak with confidence. While many excellent courses and apps are available, there’s no faster path to fluency than actively practicing and using the language. For me, conversational training sessions combined with digital lessons were the key to reaching A2 French in just three months. While e-learning offers the comfort and flexibility to study at your own pace, it often lacks the crucial element of human, natural conversation, which can be a significant obstacle to progress.
What initially drew me to this approach was its strong backing from numerous high-profile polyglots and language experts. Despite being in a competitive field with their own products, they consistently recommend this method as an essential tool for any serious learner—the highest possible praise.
My personal experience: An amazing learning journey
Since I was moving to France for a job, my priority was to learn French as quickly as possible. This led me to book daily, one-on-one conversational sessions with a private tutor. My plan was to supercharge my progress, and it was a huge success. I purchased a package of 20 half-hour sessions for just €120, which I used alongside my digital lessons that cost €100 for every 10 e-lessons. I had high hopes that these sessions would help me achieve faster results in just three months—and to my surprise, I genuinely enjoyed them. Unlike the strange experience of talking to an AI, this was a real person, a native speaker, who engaged me in conversations about topics I actually cared about. They even made a point of asking me about my interests to keep the focus on things I’d find enjoyable.
Choosing the Right Option for You
Budget-conscious? Start with iTalki community tutors; trials are inexpensive, and you only pay for what you use.
Looking for structure? Opt for Preply to balance guidance with conversational practice.
Want fast speaking fluency? Combine occasional TalkAbroad chats with regular tutoring for variety.
Why These Conversational Sessions Matter
Non-scripted Practice: Real tutors react to you in real time—unlike apps with pre-set responses.
Instant Correction: Tutors catch and guide mistakes instantly—apps often don’t.
Natural Flow: You learn rhythm, tone, and nuance from actual speech—far more effective than interacting with a bot.
Cultural Insights: Tutors explain idioms, social cues, and language context that apps can’t meaningfully teach.
Where to find affordable options
You can dug through real reviews, Trustpilot ratings, and Reddit experiences to find the truth. Whether you’re considering joining the conversational training classes, or just exploring different tutoring platforms, this small list will help you understand the benefits and differences to make your own informed choice. Many freelance teachers offer lesson packages of 5, 10, or 20 sessions at a promotional price. This option is especially useful for learners committed to long-term study or test preparation. All tutors on the platforms set their own hourly rate, giving learners full flexibility to choose based on their goals and budget. Here are some good examples of their classes with private tutor:
1. iTalki – Real-Time Conversation with Human Tutors
Community Tutors (informal, conversational):
Rates: Typically $5–$15 per hour, with some as low as $4.
Trial Lessons: Often available for just $1–$5.
Professional Teachers (structured, certified):
Rates: Generally between $10–$80+ per hour.
Typical Pricing (French examples):
Average lessons: $5–$7 per hour for French.
General range: $5–60 per hour, with most between $10–25 for popular languages, and $7–15 for community tutors
Payment & Packages:
Pay-as-you-go or via credit system (1 credit = $1); purchase in bundles for bonus. No subscription required.
Why iTalki shines for conversation:
Invaluable for real-time speaking practice with native speakers starting as low as $5/hour.
2. Preply – Guided Conversational French Lessons
Typical Pricing by Tutor Location:
France: ~$35/hour
Cameroon: ~$15/hour
Ukraine: ~$29/hour
Morocco: ~$17/hour
Overall Average: Most French tutors charge around $24 per hour.
What You Get with Preply: One-on-one conversational practice tailored to your level, with focused feedback on pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, and listening skills.
3. TalkAbroad – Short Informal Conversations
Session Details:
15 or 30-minute conversations with native speakers. Price: $15 per session, regardless of length.
Best For:
Quick, casual practice—ideal for getting comfortable with conversation flow.
Pricing
| Platform | Tutor Type | Price (per hour) / Session | Format & Notes |
| iTalki | Community Tutor | $5–15 | Conversational, informal; trial lessons from $1–$5 |
| Professional Teacher | $10–80+ | Structured, certification-based classes | |
| Preply | French Tutors | ~$24 average | Personalized conversation coaching |
| TalkAbroad | Local Native Partners | $15 per 15–30 min session | Low-pressure, short informal chats |
Now, let’s dive into more details about what is like to book from the teaching platforms.
There are prominent online platforms dedicated to connecting language learners with a vast network of professional tutors. The most notable of these services boasts a community of millions of learners and tens of thousands of instructors, offering a comprehensive selection of languages from all over the world. These services are centered on one-on-one lessons conducted via video call, often through applications like Skype. While many tutors concentrate on building conversational fluency, you can also find specialized instructors who create customized curricula to meet your specific learning goals.
For my French studies, I’ve been using this platform to connect with three different teachers from around the world. It feels like I’m getting to see the world from the comfort of my own home, a feeling I often share with my tutors. I’ll tell you more about my journey soon! What I’ve also learned is the important difference between community tutors and professional teachers. Professional teachers have undergone training and are typically more experienced. The platform verifies their credentials, so they are better equipped to provide structured lessons with dedicated resources.
While professional teachers, who are vetted for their training and experience, come with a higher price tag of at least $12 an hour, community tutors offer a more affordable entry point at a minimum of $4 an hour. The variety of lesson types is impressive, ranging from conversational courses and beginner classes to specialized sessions like job interview prep or travel survival kits. You can even find options for text-only chats. Lessons are flexible, typically lasting 30, 45, 60, or 90 minutes, with the possibility of package deals for a discount. Before you book, it’s smart to check a tutor’s availability to ensure their schedule aligns with yours and to confirm they are a good match. A good tutor will make an hour fly by, but remember to let them know if you prefer to be corrected during conversations, as not all teachers will interrupt you otherwise.
Some tutors offer a more focused and structured approach. You can discuss your goals with them and they will provide a lesson plan. I personally enjoy having a tutor who uses a grammar book, going through the rules at the beginning of each chapter before we work on the exercises together. It’s a great personal learning experience!
My goal has been to find the best tutors for the best price. I’ve learned that while checking reviews is the first step, it can be difficult to get a true picture since many students are hesitant to leave a bad review (I am one of them!).
Many language learners wonder how to choose a tutor. The good news is that you have plenty of choices based on nationality, teaching style, and price. To help you find the perfect match for your priorities, we have compiled a guide that breaks down the average hourly rates by tutor nationality and highlights the Top 10 highest-rated tutors online.
Don’t skip non-native speakers
While using the search form to narrow down your search for the perfect teacher, you may put native speakers without giving it a thought. At first, I did too. Then I changed my mind.
When I first started searching for a teacher, I was instinctively putting “native speaker” into the search form. But after some thought, I changed my mind. I realized that for learning a language, a non-native speaker with an advanced C1 level might be a better choice. They’ve personally gone through the entire learning process, from A to Z, and can explain grammar rules and concepts from a learner’s perspective. In contrast, a native speaker may have absorbed the language naturally, without a firm grasp of the fundamental rules, making it harder for them to teach it effectively.
Tips for using
After using for a while I discovered some tips that will help you get the most out of it.
Feeling nervous about a video lesson? You can start with chat messages until you feel comfortable enough for a call. Don’t be afraid to try different tutors—that’s what the trial lessons are for. You can also ask your tutor to send you a report on areas to improve on before the next lesson, which most will happily do. To get the most out of your lessons, make sure you tell your tutor what you want to focus on, instead of letting them lead the way. You can also get a good sense of a tutor’s quality by looking at their profile, which shows how many students they’ve had and how many lessons they’ve given. The number of repeat students is a great indicator of a good teacher.
The most common communication tools are Skype, FaceTime, Google Meet, WeChat, and Telegram, although some teachers may be willing to use Zoom. While I use Zoom more than any other platform, I’d prefer if it were a default option. I’d also love the ability to start a lesson instantly, something a few platforms had before removing it in 2019. Being able to jump into a lesson when I have free time would be an amazing feature to bring back. I also wish there were more filters and sorting options, such as the ability to filter tutors by gender or sort them by price or reviews. While I understand why these options may not be available, they would make the search process so much easier.
Something negative?
I’m genuinely struggling to find negatives. For the cost there is nothing else that will give you the same amount of benefit to your language learning.
A couple of minor things to be aware of: You might need to try a few teachers before you find one you want to stick with. Video quality isn’t always great, again this might depend on the teacher and their internet connection, so just try them our first.
My French tutors have certainly helped me feel more comfortable with everyday conversation. Beyond that, using the service has simply made my life more fun. I’ve had the chance to speak with people from places I’ve never been—like France, Canada, and Martinique—and learn about their lives and cultures. As I’ve said, having a conversation class feels like traveling the world, and I absolutely love it. So, if you’re wondering if finding an online language tutor is worth it, I’d say a definite yes! I’ve been hooked for about a month, spending countless hours on Google Meet with my teachers. During that time, I’ve also picked up some tips and tricks for finding the best value-for-money tutors. I’m ready to share everything I’ve learned about the service, from how it works to how much it costs, as well as its pros, cons, and safety.
A time, place and budget that suits you
One of the best advantages of having access to so many tutors online is the flexibility it gives you to match your own schedule and budget. The scheduling system is simple to use and shows you which dates have available times. This makes it easy to coordinate with someone, even if they’re in a different time zone, as the system takes care of the conversion for you. You also have the freedom to pick a price that works for you. Whether you’re a student who only needs a few conversation sessions a month with a community tutor at about $10 each, or you have a higher budget and want intensive structured lessons three times a week with a professional teacher at $20 each, the choice is entirely up to you.
Who is it for?
Getting conversation practice with native speakers is one of the most valuable things you can do as a language learner, regardless of your current level. You’ll get a lot out of it if you are a beginner struggling with pronunciation, lack confidence when speaking, have hit a plateau in your independent study, or are progressing through a course but need more speaking practice to improve your listening skills. Early in my own journey, my main problems were a lack of confidence and a lack of listening comprehension. I can tell from experience that facing these challenges in an online lesson might seem scary at first, but the benefits are huge. If I could do it all over again, I would definitely use online lessons earlier to tackle those issues.
Conclusion
Whether you need a quick, informal conversation session once a month or daily structured lessons, this method is something every language learner should use to get real speaking and listening practice. I don’t know of any other language resource that offers the same benefit for as little as $5 an hour. It can be intimidating to overcome the fear of speaking, but there’s no way around it—if you want to learn to speak, you have to practice speaking! This is the best way to build the confidence you need to use your new language skills in the real world. So, be bold, book your first lesson, and see how much you benefit.
