Do you want to improve your French while meeting new people? Good news: Paris is the perfect place for that! There’s no need to lock yourself away in intensive courses. There are plenty of fun, social, and local ways to practice the language in immersion. Here are our best tips and good plans to speak French with real Parisians—even if you’re just starting out.
☕ 1. Go to neighborhood cafés… and dare to strike up a conversation
Avoid chain restaurants or tourist cafés. Favor neighborhood cafés with genuine local ambiance (in the 11th, 12th, 18th arrondissements…). You can:
- Order in French (even if it’s basic)
- Chat with the waiter or waitress
- Sit at the counter to observe and listen to conversations
🧠 Tip: jot down phrases you hear in a small notebook—it’s like a living lesson.
💬 2. Join a language exchange
Every week, events are organized in bars or community spaces to practice a foreign language in pairs with French speakers who want to learn English, Spanish, etc.
📍 Where to find them:
- Meetup.com → “Language Exchange Paris”
- Franglish Paris → 1-to-1 evenings in nice bars
- Couchsurfing Events → often free, very welcoming
- The Social Bar (12th) or L’International (11th) → very sociable bars
💸 Often free or just a drink to purchase (5-6 €)
🧑🏫 3. Join a volunteer or community workshop
Some organizations welcome foreigners for free (or donation-based) conversation workshops.
👀 To try:
- The Refugee House (14th) → solidarity workshops
- The LAB (11th) → debate and language game nights
- The Accorderie of Paris → skills and time exchange, 100% local
🎯 The bonus: you practice French and discover a more human side of Paris
🎲 4. Play in French (quiz, board games, trivia)
Many bars and cafés host quiz nights, blind tests, or board games in French.
🎲 Where to go?
- The Social Bar (12th) → very open to foreigners
- Les Grands Voisins (14th) → community and festive atmosphere
- Café Meisia (3rd) → game bar + friendly welcome
➡️ You learn while playing and make friends without even realizing it!
🧳 5. Chat at the AIJ! (It’s a real training ground)
At the International Youth Hostel, you meet young Parisians and Francophone travelers every day.
Ask a simple question, suggest a coffee, play cards: anything is a pretext to talk.
Shy? Start by saying:
“Hi! Do you speak French? I want to practice a bit.”
You’ll see, most will be happy to help (and maybe chat in English too!)
📱 Bonus: apps for practicing
- Tandem: language exchange in person or online
- HelloTalk: text or voice conversations
- Meetup: in-person conversation events
- Français Facile / LingQ / TV5 Monde: to practice between outings
🧠 Helpful phrases to start a conversation:
- Hi, I’m [name]. I’m from [country].
- Are you from Paris?
- I want to practice my French. Do you want to talk a bit?
- What do you do for a living?
- Do you know a nice place here?
➡️ No need to be perfect. Smile, be bold, and listen!
🥐 In short
Practicing your French in Paris isn’t just academic:
- ✅ It’s social, lively, and full of natural opportunities
- ✅ You don’t need a lot of money
- ✅ You’ll meet amazing people at the same time
