How many times have you heard that the best way to learn French is with immersion in France? Unfortunately, a lot of tourists don’t realize just how overwhelming true immersion can be. Most end up spending most of their time in tourist hubs hanging out with speakers of their native language. This is why so many who spend months or even years living in a foreign country come back home barely speaking the basics of the language.
Immersion is not a one-solution-fits-all. But there certainly are ways in which you can take advantage of your immersion in the French language during your trip to France AND come out unscathed.
Why French Immersion Attempts in France Fail
Nothing prepares you for the culture shock of stepping into a new land. The sights are foreign, the sounds are foreign, and even the the smells are foreign! The last thing you want to do as your brain is overwhelmed by countless new phenomena is walk up to a street vendor and struggle to spit out a few words to ask for a crèpe.
True immersion in a foreign country when you have never learned the language is like throwing someone who has never learned to swim into the center of the Mediterranean sea. Most of us drown, no matter how much courage or endurance we may have.
The Fix: Prepare for Immersion Beforehand
What you need is basic knowledge of how to tread water, just so you can stay afloat. You don’t need to be an Olympic swimmer, nor do you even need to know the difference between a breast stroke and the butterfly. You just need to keep your head above the water.
Same goes for learning French in full immersion in France. You need to come in with sufficient skills to hold your own. That way, your basic necessities of shelter, food, and nature’s call are met. The more you learn before your trip, the farther you can get in the language.
When I visited Italy, I challenged myself to learn as much Italian as I could before my trip, rather than waiting until I arrived in the country to start practicing the language. By the time I got to Italy, I was excited (though a bit nervous) to practice the phrases I had learned with real Italians! My first evening, I ordered my dinner in my imperfect accent. The server understood me. I was thrilled by the experience rather than crushed and overwhelmed.
Once you have a modest base in the language (and this can just be 14 survival French phrases), that’s when the real magic of immersion and travel can really kick off. You’re willing to try out new experiences and pull yourself out of your comfort zone, all because you you have the self-confidence that you have the basic skills to stay afloat. Everything else is a frosting on the cake.
If after that, you’re still determined to try out the immersion experience, here are some options for how you can maximize your time in immersion.
French Immersion Courses in France
If you’re looking for French immersion in France but are too intimidated by the real immersion of the streets, you may come across immersion courses. For those looking for a more structured approach and are planning on spending at least a week in one city (such as Paris or Lyon), this can be a great way to commit to improving your French on your trip.
Immersion courses typically come in two types: half-day classroom experiences and full-day homestay experiences.
Half-Day Classroom Immersion Courses
Typically these run in the mornings, leaving you the entire afternoon to wander around the city.
Full-Day Homestay Immersion Courses
As implied, you live and breathe French, staying overnight with the same people for one to two weeks while attending organized lessons and sometimes organized activities.
Alternatives to French Immersion Courses in France
The biggest disadvantage of French immersion courses in France however, is time. We may not be willing to sacrifice precious hours of our France vacation to sitting in a classroom watching the passersby and your France vacation fly by. Additionally, the cost can be inhibiting for some or for families with children.
Are there any better alternatives?
Yes, and they may be equally as effective and arguably much more memorable than spending hours in class with a teacher.
The Budget Alternative – Immersion by Chatting with Locals
The best thing about striking up a conversation with a stranger? You’ll likely never see them again. Though it can be terrifying to speak to a local, once you do it once and realize you’re still breathing, the second time it will be much easier.
This might also be the most rewarding alternative, as you not only feel like you’re really connecting with a whole new culture, but you get to see the joy on someone’s face when you show them that, yes, their language is hard, but you’re still trying your very best to learn it.
I can’t tell you how many people I’ve randomly spoken to in a language I was learning, even in my home country. Every time I was rewarded with smiles and compliments at my efforts for learning the language. This is why you’re learning the language after all. You want to open your mind to the world by speaking with people you would never have crossed paths with otherwise. Why not get started now?
Best for:
- Outgoing personalities (though it’s a great challenge for shy personalities)
- Budget travelers
- Independent learners
- People seeking authentic connections
- Short-term visitors wanting quick progress
The Homebody Alternative – Immersion via Home Stays
Living with a French family offers natural language immersion while giving you insights into daily French life. Unlike traditional immersion programs, arranging accommodation through platforms like Airbnb or HomeExchange provides more flexibility for your travel visits while maintaining a French-speaking environment.
If you choose this approach, make sure that the homestay is willing to offer language practice. Not all homestays will have their hosts available for language practice.
Best for:
- Medium to long-term stays
- Culture enthusiasts
- Independent learners
- Those seeking family-style experiences
- Intermediate French speakers
- Budget-conscious learners
- People who prefer learning in comfortable settings
The Social Alternative – Immersion via Hostels
If you feel intimidated by locals, hostels may be a great way to practice the language in semi-immersion. The one downside is that you can’t guarantee that everyone in the hostel will speak French, as you can meet travelers from all over the world, but that’s also its biggest perk. Plus, your roommates are already going to hear you snore, your poor French won’t embarrass you any more.
Additional benefit is that this method also won’t break the bank, perfect for solo travelers also looking to connect with others.
Best for:
- Solo travelers
- Budget travelers
- Young adults and students
- Short-term visitors
- Those seeking international connections
- Beginners wanting low-pressure practice
The History Buff Alternative – Build a Medieval Castle
Did you know they’re building a castle in France…and they’re recruiting volunteers?! If you’ve ever wanted to learn how castles are built using 13th-century techniques or come home with an incredible conversation starter, you might want to check out Guédelon.
Though building a castle wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I know several people who participated and raved about the experience. They had the option of changing assignments each day so they could contribute to this massive project in many ways. And there really is something for everyone, regardless of fitness level. Some tasks included pounding out the clay tiles for the roof, while others would crush the rocks that would become paint, while yet others were walking in a giant human-sized hamster wheel to lift stones and materials to the top levels of the castle.
Best for:
- History enthusiasts
- Those seeking unique experiences
- Medium-term visitors
- Intermediate French speakers
- Adventure seekers
The French Newbie Alternative – Take a Partner Dance Class
“But I don’t speak any French!” you might ask. “How can I participate in any of these activities without making a wild fool of myself?”
Though taking a dance class may not solve the problem of you making a fool of yourself, it’s one of the few activities where you don’t need to understand a word of what the teacher says to follow along.
I particularly recommend partner dance classes as these attract the most beginners (though if you’ve always wanted to take a ballet class in Paris, have at it!). When I took a salsa class in Mexico City and the instructors split the class into beginner and advanced, 80% of the people went into the beginner class, and many of them had never danced before.
Other than “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,” I didn’t understand a word of what the teacher was saying, but that didn’t matter.
I’ll still remember the moment the Mexican salsa teacher tried to give me a correction in Spanish.
Salsa teacher: “Paraperetesalsamatredomaspasaladasmispastu!”
Me: …
Salsa teacher: “Non hablas español?” (Finally something I understood!)
Me: “No…” (cute smile?)
But hey, I was flattered that she thought I spoke Spanish since I had been able to follow along up to that point!
I’ve tried the same thing in China, taking a traditional Chinese dance class, and there I understood even less of what the teacher was saying (”position your fingers like the wings of a sparrow” just didn’t happen to be in my Chinese flashcards at the time), I was still able to follow along and took away some of my best memories of that trip to China from that experience.
Best for:
- Complete beginners
- Those who enjoy social activities
- Short-term to medium-term visitors
- Those seeking structured but fun learning
Take a Cooking Class – The Foodie Alternative
Though having basic knowledge of some ingredients may help, like the dance class option, you are mostly following along with what your instructor and your fellow classmates are doing.
I would still try to prepare for this by learning the words of a few relevant ingredient names, basic kitchen utensils, and common cooking verbs, but regardless of whether you understand 1% or 100%, you’ll have learned a new authentic recipe you can take back home with you.
Best for:
- Food enthusiasts
- Short-term visitors
- Those wanting practical vocabulary
- People seeking structured activities
- Those wanting tangible results
Creating Your Perfect French Immersion Experience in France
The best way to learn French in France isn’t always the most expensive or structured option. Whether you’re chatting with locals at a café, learning medieval construction techniques, or following along in a dance class, the key is finding activities that match your interests and comfort level.
Remember:
- Start learning basic French before your trip
- Choose activities that excite you
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
- Mix and match different alternatives
- Focus on progress, not perfection
Most importantly, let go of the idea that there’s only one “right” way to learn French. The most effective method is the one that keeps you engaged and motivated to continue learning. By choosing alternatives that align with your interests and travel style, you’ll create memorable experiences while naturally improving your French skills.
Ready to start planning your French learning adventure? Consider combining several of these alternatives to create your perfect blend of language practice and cultural exploration. After all, the best souvenirs are the ones that can’t be packed in a suitcase.
Hello.
Good cheer to all on this beautiful day!!!!!
Good luck 🙂