Find French Lessons Near Me in Edinburgh

Learning a language is tough, especially when the best way is to mix with people speaking that language and it's not every day you can take a trip abroad! However, with a class or a tutor, you can get as close to France as possible.

When learning a new foreign language, you need to learn vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, etc. However, since French shares a lot of its vocabulary with English (over 50% of the English lexicon is of French or Latin origin), it’s one of the easier modern foreign languages to learn. If you already know another Romance language like Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, or Romanian, it’ll be even easier.

Here’s how to learn French in Edinburgh.

French Around the World and in Edinburgh

Bonjour l’Écosse! Did you know that that's how you say Scotland in French? What's more, Edinburgh is not EdinbURGH, it's EdinBOURG.

If you want to learn French and speak it fluently like a native speaker, improve your grades at school, or chat with some French speakers, you’ll have to attend French classes. The French language is spoken in France, Andorra, Seychelles, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and a number of African countries, however, there are different dialects in certain regions and the accents do vary quite greatly (just like in English speaking countries and regions, we suppose). There are 37 French-speaking countries in the world and 274 million speakers of the language. French culture is also one of the most famous in the world.

French is the official language of the UN, the International Olympic Committee, NATO, the World Trade Organisation, the African Union, the European Union, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, as well as the Council of Europe. Learning languages comes with a lot of benefits: you can speak with millions of new people, improve your job prospects, or become an English teacher in a French-speaking country.

In Edinburgh, there is a chance to learn French at the primary university and many colleges, yet there's also a French Institute which they call 'A little corner of France in the heart of Edinburgh'. How amazing to think that you can learn French with this cultural programme right on your doorstep?

The Advantages of Speaking French

There are a lot of advantages to speaking French fluently. In addition to visiting famous cities in France such as Bordeaux, Calais, Lyon, Marseille, Paris, Reims, Strasbourg, Toulouse, etc. as well as plenty of other French-speaking countries. Just like in the UK, there are different accents around France and the French-speaking world. For instance, Belgians have quite a different sound to French, although they speak virtually the same language.

Improving your French language skills will allow you to communicate with many people from all over the world. And with the French clearly being drawn to Scottish cities like Edinburgh, then you can be prepared to mix with any French-speaking visitors and welcome them to your home in their language to make the feel at ease!

The second advantage is that knowing the French language can improve your career prospects, and opportunities to travel professionally too. In an increasingly globalised world, more and more businesses are looking for employees with language skills. What better way to get a job than to speak the language of our closest neighbours? Ideally, most businesses look for a B2 or C1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level. So why should you learn French?

The language is useful when communicating with French-speaking customers, for example. Additionally, you'll also be able to read, write, and speak the language at work. Plus, with this foundation, you should be someone who can be relied on to help translate from different European languages too.

Finding a French Teacher in Edinburgh

There are a lot of jobs you can do with French: French teacher, French-English translator, working in tourism (in bars, restaurants, travel agencies, etc.), journalist, etc. French is much easier to learn than some other languages for English speakers. It’s also a great way to learn more about French history and culture. We are sure many of you will have visited France, and would like to visit once more. So where will you go - The historical north? The sunny coast? Or perhaps somewhere quite arty and cultural?

A lot of English words are of French or Latin origin. This means that you'll recognise a lot of words once you get started with French lessons. You'll soon be able to form sentences and basic phrases. What you will need to watch out for is the gender of your nouns - but this is something that becomes more natural as you become more proficient (for example, it is hard at first to know that a table is feminine in French and that a glass tumbler is masculine as we aren't used to this in the English language!)

Remember that France is just a short flight, train ride, or drive away, too. However, to achieve an advanced level of French, you'll probably need to study for a long time or take intensive classes.

How and Where Can You Learn French in Edinburgh?

There are plenty of places in Edinburgh where you can learn to speak French. For one, there are universities where you can study a French degree or take French classes. There’s also the Institut Français d’Ecosse, as previously mentioned which offers language courses.

There are also language schools and centres offering classes for groups and individuals where you can learn the basics of the language and more about the vocabulary, grammar, conjugations, etc. A lot of these centres run classes on a similar timetable to the academic year with courses starting in autumn and finishing in the summer. If you don’t have the time to attend a class, you can always opt for private tutorials.

Our tutors are ready to start teaching you, regardless of your level.

Practice Speaking and Grammar with Native French Speakers

French private tutorials are an effective way to learn a new language. You can learn with the help of a native French speaker without having to travel to France. There are over 200 French tutors in Edinburgh and they’re able to teach all levels. The tutors can also come to your house though some have a classroom set up at their place, too.

French tutorials in Edinburgh start at £15 per hour. There are plenty of different types of tutors: students looking to earn some extra cash, native French speakers living in Edinburgh, qualified teachers, etc. After immersion, private tutorials are the best way to learn a language.