French Lessons in Miami

According to the 2020 census, French is listed as one of the most commonly used languages in Miami. This is hardly surprising, as the city is home to a large Francophone community, consisting of French expatriates, French Canadians, and Haitians, most of whom speak French in addition to Haitian Creole, a separate language partly derived from French. The strong presence of the language in Miami has caused many locals to become interested in French, which is now the fourth most spoken language after English, Spanish, Portuguese and Haitian Creole.

As you can imagine, there are many benefits to learning French in Miami. For once, if you decide to be part of the local group of francophiles, you’ll make many new friendships and acquaintances with people from the various francophone communities in the city. You will also become much more employable, as speaking French is a valuable skill that can open many opportunities in the city and abroad. Lastly, you’ll learn about francophone cultures in-depth, which will change the way you see and understand the complex relationships between these communities.

Learn French for Work and Travel

As the official language of 29 countries, French is one of the most useful skills to have if you want to access better-paid positions in any city. Miami, of course, is no exception, as there are great positions available for bilingual speakers like Customer Support Lead for DZConnex Media, Account Development Representative for Samsara, and Passenger Services Agent for Swissport International.  What’s more, learning French will open many possibilities for you to work in one of the city’s top industries, which is tourism, as employers in this sector are always looking for multilingual applicants who can communicate fluently with the vast amount of francophone tourists that visit the city every year.

Learn French for Social

Anyone interested in immersing themselves in the French language should check out the events held by the Consulate General of France in Miami. These events are completely free and open to the general public, and because they are so varied, you could say there’s something for everyone. If you have children, there are excellent French art workshops at the Miami Shores Community Church School, located at 9823 NE 4th Ave. For yoga-lovers, there are free lessons that are conducted in French at the Florida International University Campus, a perfect chance to learn the specific vocabulary French yogis use. Lastly, if you like reading, there are many book discussions in French held at the FIU Campus where you can learn about contemporary authors and share your ideas with other people who are just as passionate about the language as you are.

If you’re interested in learning about the different cultures where French is spoken, a great idea is to visit some of the local restaurants owned by foreign-born residents. Due to the high number of Haitian people living in Miami, you’ll find many great restaurants that celebrate their culture and promote their delicious cuisine. A great place you should check out is Bon Gout BBQ, located at 99 NW 54th St, where you’ll get to enjoy all sorts of Haitian-style smoked meats. The best thing to get here is their griot taco, which is a fried pork taco with a strip of melted fresh cheese. Visiting this restaurant will expand your knowledge of Haitian culture and give you the unique chance to listen to other French variants.

Learn French for Culture

Many French enthusiasts in Miami meet regularly to practice their language skills and make new friendships. If you want to join them, you should consider attending the events held by the Alliance Française Miami Metro, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting French culture and language throughout the world. They organize free monthly meetings at the Consulate General of France in Miami, located at 1395 Brickell Ave, or nearby bars where in addition to enjoying great French conversation, you can sip a glass of wine and taste a bit of cheese.  On top of that, the organization holds other interesting events like French film screenings and friendly online competitions with other Alliances throughout the country where you can meet learners and put your skills to the test. 

Where to learn French in and around Miami?

If you enjoy watching French films to boost your listening skills and expand your vocabulary, you should check out any of the Miami-Dade Public Library System branches around the city. Here you’ll find avant-garde French films like Le sang d'un poète, directed by Jean Cocteau, one of the great experiments in 20th-century cinema that explores a poet's obsession with the struggle between the forces of life and death. Another great film that you can’t miss is Molière, directed by Laurent Tirard in 2007, which tells the story of a famous French actor and playwright from the 17th century who is considered one of the greatest writers in the French language. As useful as watching films can be, if you truly want to develop all the skills that are necessary to communicate seamlessly in French, starting a language course at Listen & Learn is the best way to go. Just send us a quick inquiry now and one of our team members will make sure you are paired up with a native French teacher that will tailor a unique language course just for you. Additionally, we offer free French-level tests on our website that will help you have a better understanding of our current French skills.