Better French Blog

Guides, comparisons, and tips for understanding France and improving your French.

Comparison 8 min read

Better French vs Duolingo: Which Is Better for Learning French?

Duolingo gamifies vocabulary drills. Better French immerses you in real news. We compare both approaches so you can pick the right tool for your goals.

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Comparison 7 min read

Better French vs News in Slow French: An Honest Comparison

Both use French news to teach the language. One slows it down, the other gives you tools to read at full speed. Here's how they differ.

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Guide 12 min read

Best French Learning Apps in 2026: An Honest Comparison

I've tested every app on this list. Some I use daily. Some I deleted after a week. An honest comparison from the founder of Better French.

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Guide 10 min read

Living in France With a Language Barrier: A Practical Guide

Moving to France without fluent French? Real advice from expats on navigating daily life, admin, and social situations while you learn.

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Guide 6 min read

French News in English: Best Sources and Why You Should Switch to French

The best English-language sources for French news, plus why transitioning to reading in French is easier than you think.

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Guide 8 min read

Learn French With News: Why It Works and How to Start

Research shows that reading real-world content accelerates language acquisition. Here's how to use French news as your primary learning tool.

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Guide 7 min read

How to Read French News (At Any Level)

The best sources for every level, a 15-minute daily routine, and 5 techniques that actually build comprehension.

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Reference 10 min read

Best French News Sources: A Complete Guide for Learners

From Le Monde to France Info, a curated list of French news sources ranked by difficulty, topic focus, and usefulness for language learners.

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Guide 9 min read

How I Went From Struggling With Le Monde to Reading It Over Coffee

The specific changes that took me from understanding one sentence in five to reading French news daily. No theories -- just what worked.

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Guide 7 min read

Build French Vocabulary Through News: A Smarter Approach

Forget flashcards. Learn how reading news builds contextual vocabulary that actually sticks, with a method you can start today.

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Guide 8 min read

French Immersion at Home: Create a French Environment Without Moving to Paris

You don't need to live in France to immerse yourself. Practical tips to surround yourself with French in your daily routine.

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Guide 11 min read

French Administrative Vocabulary You Actually Need

The essential terms for navigating the préfecture, taxes, healthcare, housing, and banking in France.

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Guide 11 min read

Understanding French Mail: A Guide for Foreigners

How to decode official letters from the tax office, CPAM, CAF, and préfecture. Key phrases, urgency levels, and what to do.

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Guide 12 min read

How to Follow French Politics as a Foreigner

The French political system explained clearly: parties, elections, key vocabulary, and the best news sources to stay informed.

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Culture 11 min read

French Workplace Culture: What Nobody Tells You

The unwritten rules of French offices -- from the sacred lunch break to the politics of tu vs vous.

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Guide 10 min read

A2 French: How to Start Reading Real Content

You do not need to wait until B1 to start reading real French. Here is what is accessible at A2 and how to begin.

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Guide 11 min read

B1 French: Breaking Through the Intermediate Plateau

Why progress slows at B1, what strategies actually work to break through, and realistic timelines for reaching B2.

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Guide 10 min read

B2 to C1: Advanced French Through News

How to use French news editorials and opinion writing to push from upper-intermediate to advanced proficiency.

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Culture 11 min read

French Social Customs That Confuse Foreigners

La bise, dinner etiquette, the bonjour rule, and why the French seem cold at first but are not.

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Culture 10 min read

Why French People Complain (And Why It Matters)

Complaining in France is not negativity -- it is critical engagement rooted in Enlightenment thinking and revolutionary heritage.

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Culture 11 min read

Understanding the French Education System

How French schools work from maternelle to grandes écoles -- and why it shapes how the French think.

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Culture 10 min read

French Food Culture: Beyond the Stereotypes

What French food culture actually looks like in daily life -- meal structure, markets, and why food is identity.

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Guide 11 min read

Why You Can Read French But Can't Understand It Spoken

You can read Le Monde but can't follow a conversation. Here's why spoken French feels like a different language -- and what fixes it.

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Reference 11 min read

French False Friends: 50 Words That Will Trick You

50 French words that look like English but mean something completely different. A practical reference.

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Guide 11 min read

My Daily French Routine (And Why It Works)

The exact 35-minute morning routine I use to improve my French every day. Step by step, with the science behind why each part works.

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