How to choose an online English course as a French speaker
You have decided to get back into English. You open Google, search for ‘online English courses’, and find one offer after another.
Apps, videos, group classes, individual coaching… The promises sound similar, but the formats and fees differ.
How can you tell what will suit you?
Start with one question: what would you like to be able to do in English that you cannot easily do today? Your answer will help you compare courses based on what matters to you.
Define your goal through a specific situation
‘Improve my English’ expresses an intention. To choose a course, identify the situation in which you would like to feel more comfortable:
- Respond to an English-speaking customer without preparing every sentence.
- Take part in a meeting and explain your point of view.
- Understand the documents you use at work.
- Manage everyday situations while traveling.
- Prepare for a language exam.
These goals can complement one another, but they do not all require the same practice.
To prepare for an exam, check that the course works on its specific tasks. To participate in a meeting, look for activities that require you to explain, respond and react.
Ask for an example of an activity that matches your goal. It will tell you more than a general promise of improvement.
If you understand English but struggle to respond, our article on the gap between understanding and speaking can help you clarify your needs.
Check how the course supports French speakers
A course designed for French speakers should be able to explain concretely how it supports them.
When you do not understand an instruction, how does the trainer rephrase it? When you build an English sentence from French, how do they help you revise it? Are the explanations accessible at your level?
French can help clarify a difficulty. Also check how the activities then encourage you to use English yourself.
A useful criterion is the trainer’s ability to make a difficulty understandable and then give you a chance to practice.
Also ask how your level will be taken into account. A program may match your goal without matching your starting point.
Look at what you will actually do during classes
The length of a class does not tell you how much time you will spend participating.
During a class, will you mainly listen to explanations? Answer a few questions? Work with a partner? Describe a situation? Build an answer with the trainer’s help?
If your goal is to speak, these differences matter.
Group size calls for a specific question: what is the maximum number of participants? A small group can make speaking and individual support easier. In a larger group, pair activities can also create opportunities to practice.
Ask about both the group size and how interaction is organized.
An answer such as ‘everyone participates’ is still general. An example of a typical class will help you understand the role you will have.
Ask how you will receive feedback
During a conversation, you may not notice what makes your sentence difficult to understand. Feedback from the trainer can help you identify an unsuitable word, a structure to revise or pronunciation to work on.
Before enrolling, ask:
- Are corrections given during the conversation or afterward?
- Does the trainer explain what needs to change?
- Will you have an opportunity to use the corrected wording again?
Not every mistake needs to be corrected immediately. What matters is understanding what to work on and having a chance to try again.
To assess the support offered, you can also ask how your difficulties and progress will be observed over time.
Choose a format you can use regularly
Live classes, recorded videos and apps can meet different needs or complement one another.
| Format | What it can offer | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Live classes | Real-time interaction and the opportunity to ask questions. | Your participation, support and class times. |
| Recorded videos | The ability to revisit an explanation at your own pace. | The accompanying exercises and ways to get help. |
| App | Activities you can access when your schedule allows. | The nature of the interaction, the relevance of corrections and the limits of your chosen offer. |
| Blended program | Several ways to work between classes. | How the resources relate to your goal. |
To work on speaking, pay particular attention to opportunities to respond spontaneously, handle a follow-up question and rephrase an idea.
To work on comprehension, look at how you can check your understanding and clarify your mistakes.
The format gives you an initial indication. The activities and support allow you to assess the offer more precisely.
Consider your actual week, not your ideal week
A course may suit you on paper but be difficult to follow in everyday life.
If classes start while you are still at work or traveling, your participation may suffer. If you have to connect from a noisy place, conversations can become difficult.
Before committing, check:
- The days, times and stated time zone.
- Any work expected between classes.
- The equipment and internet connection required.
- The arrangements for absences.
If you plan to attend on a phone, ask whether the materials and activities are suitable for that use.
Choose a schedule to which you can realistically give time and attention.
Compare what the fee includes
Two English courses may charge different prices because they provide different kinds of support.
To compare them, look at the total amount payable as well as:
- Whether the format is group or individual.
- The number and length of classes.
- The place given to live interaction.
- The corrections and support provided.
- The resources included.
- Any additional fees.
- The conditions for absences, cancellation or refunds.
A high price does not guarantee quality. A lower price alone does not establish good value either.
Ask yourself: does what I pay give me access to the activities and support I need?
Finally, check that the cost remains compatible with your budget over time, under the terms of the offer.
Examine promises of results
A phrase such as ‘speak fluently in a few weeks’ attracts attention, but does not specify what you will be able to do.
What does ‘fluently’ mean in this offer? Managing an everyday conversation? Presenting a project? Taking part in a complex discussion?
Your starting point, practice and consistency matter. A stated time period alone cannot predict your result.
Look for specific goals, relevant activities and a clear way to observe progress. If a result is advertised, ask what conditions apply and how it will be assessed.
Questions to ask before paying
Keep this list to compare the courses that interest you:
- Which activities match my goal?
- How do you check that the program suits my level?
- How many participants are there, and how is speaking time organized?
- How are corrections and support provided?
- What are the class times, format and expectations for work between classes?
- What does the total price include?
- What happens if I am absent, stop attending or join a program at the wrong level?
If an answer remains vague, ask for an example or clarification before committing.
Choose a course that prepares you for the conversations you need
Return to your original situation: speaking to a customer, contributing to a meeting, traveling or understanding your documents.
Among the offers you have considered, which gives you opportunities to work on that situation, at your level, with support and a schedule that suit you?
That match can form the basis of your decision.
At English With Zac, programs emphasize speaking practice, guided feedback and bilingual thinking. Explore each program to check whether it suits your level and goals.
