Frantastique
Frantastique is a creative and engaging online French language learning program created by Gymglish. Gymglish was founded in 2004 with a mission to provide innovative and entertaining online language learning experiences. The founders, a diverse group of language and technology enthusiasts, started by developing English courses before expanding to include French, driven by a desire to offer effective, enjoyable, and personalized language education globally. To date, the program has attracted over 7,000,000 users worldwide, demonstrating its popularity and effectiveness (Gymglish).
Differentiation:
Frantastique stands out with its unique narrative-driven approach, using humorous stories and cultural references to enhance learning. Each lesson features a mix of videos, audio recordings, text, and comics, often centered around whimsical characters, like aliens who explore French culture with historical figures like Victor Hugo. This not only makes learning French engaging but also ensures that vocabulary and grammar are remembered more effectively (FluentU) (Lawless French).
How to Get Started:
To begin with Frantastique, users can sign up for a free 7-day trial, which offers a taste of the program’s unique teaching style. Each lesson is designed to be short—typically 10 to 15 minutes long—making it ideal for busy schedules. The lessons are delivered daily to the learner's email, facilitating regular practice without overwhelming the learner (Lawless French).
How It Works:
Frantastique’s lessons are designed for daily engagement, with each session taking around 15 minutes to complete. The program is highly personalized, adjusting to the learner’s level based on initial assessments and ongoing performance. Lessons include a variety of interactive content such as fill-in-the-blanks, multiple-choice questions, and contextual exercises that relate directly to the video and audio clips provided. This setup supports both independent learning and minimal parent involvement, depending on the learner’s age and proficiency (FluentU) (FrenchCrazy).
Educational Content:
Comprehensive grammar and vocabulary exercises
Listening and pronunciation practice
Cultural insights through multimedia content
Regular reviews of previously learned material
Personalized feedback and corrections via email
What’s Good About It:
Users appreciate the engaging and interactive nature of the lessons, the cultural immersion, and the program’s use of storytelling to make learning memorable. The daily lessons are short enough to fit into a hectic schedule but substantial enough to ensure steady progress in language skills (FluentU) (FrenchCrazy).
What Could Be Improved:
While the program is generally well-received, some users find the cartoonish visuals a bit juvenile for adult learners. Additionally, the cultural references, while enriching, can sometimes feel disconnected from the learning objectives. Some users also note that the absence of a more structured speaking practice component is a limitation for those looking to enhance conversational skills (FrenchCrazy).
Advice from Parents:
Parents recommend integrating the lessons into the daily routine to build a habit of regular practice. They suggest supplementing the Frantastique curriculum with additional speaking practice, either through conversation with native speakers or using other resources focused on oral skills to round out the learning experience (FrenchCrazy).
Who It’s an Ideal Fit For:
Frantastique is perfect for learners who thrive with a structured, daily routine and those who enjoy learning through stories and multimedia content. It suits students who are visually and audibly engaged and can benefit from a context-rich learning environment (Lawless French).
Who It’s Probably Not a Fit For:
This program might not suit learners who prefer traditional learning methods with less emphasis on digital interaction or those who need a more rigorous focus on speaking skills from the outset (FrenchCrazy).
Grades:
Suitable for learners aged 15 and up.
Cost:
Frantastique offers various subscription plans starting from around 10 euros per month after the initial free trial period (Gymglish).
Ways to Get It:
Frantastique can be accessed through its website, with options for both web and mobile platforms, ensuring flexibility in how and where users choose to learn (Gymglish).
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links on our site are affiliate links, which means Modulo may earn a small commission if you purchase through them (at no cost to you). Rest assured, we only recommend resources we’ve rigorously vetted and truly love—affiliate link or not. Thank you so much for supporting our work!
Explore More French Programs We Recommend
Explore how Duolingo transforms language learning into an engaging, gamified experience with our comprehensive review, ideal for homeschoolers seeking a flexible educational tool.