Doing anything for the first time can be a little scary, and starting French lessons online is no exception. It is hard to know what to expect especially when you are taking lessons in a non-traditional manner. So, how exactly should one prepare for your online French tutor? First, it is a good idea to know what you want to get out of the lessons.

Ask yourself these questions:

Why do I want to learn French?

What is my goal and timeframe to achieve it?

What is my current level of fluency?

After you have answered these questions, you will be better able to explain what you want to achieve to your teacher. Second, you should have some questions ready to ask your teacher. You will want to find out if they are a good fit for you and if they know the things you want to learn. Asking these questions at your first meeting will help you choose the teacher that works best for you.

1. What is your teaching style?

Some teachers like to use textbooks while others prefer to teach using songs. Which way would you prefer? Maybe you would like to try them both.

Take some time to think about what your learning style is. Do you learn best by hearing, reading or using new words and ideas? Do you prefer the structure of a textbook or would you enjoy learning through music more.

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you find a tutor whose teaching style is a match for the way you learn best.

2. Do you use a textbook?

Many beginning students like to have a textbook to use as reference and to keep all of the new information together in one handy place. Ask your teacher if they use a textbook and if so, is it free?

There is a good textbook from the University of Texas that is free and available online. It has everything a traditional textbook has - vocabulary, grammar, and cultural information. It also has interactive exercises that are a great tool for practicing in between lessons.

3. Are there other resources that you will share with me?

When learning a new language, you can never have enough reference material. It is a good idea to practice your French everyday, whether you have a lesson or not. If you have access to materials to help you, it will be much easier. A great site to use for reference is Lawless French.

You have to subscribe for some content, but the free information is plentiful and precise.

4. What dialect(s) do you know?

Are you learning French because you want to go to Belgium or Quebec? Do you need to speak with people from The Democratic Republic of Congo or Haiti? Or are you just learning French because you want to speak the language in general?

Just as the accent and vocabulary between British and American English are vastly different, so too are those of different French speaking countries. In the DRC, for example, they roll their Rs, similar to Spanish. And in Belgium, they say septante for seventy instead of soixante-dix.

Ask your teacher if they know the dialect of the specific francophone country you plan on using your French in. The French of Paris is the standard form of the language and the one you want to learn if you don’t need to know any specific dialect.

5. How did you learn French?

It's a good idea to find out how your teacher learned French because just like English, people speak one way in an academic or business setting and another way in the street. If you are planning on doing business in French, for example, you would want to make sure your coach has been formally educated in the language.

There is no room for poor grammar and usage in business. However, if you are taking a trip to France or if you already know French formally and are looking to learn the everyday slang and habits, then it wouldn’t matter if they were formally educated. What would matter more is that they be a native speaker or at least have been living in their francophone country for some time.

6. What are your typical hours of availability?

If you are the type of person who likes to pick one teacher and stick with them, then this will be very important for you. Some coaches travel frequently or have other reasons for changing their hours of availability throughout the year. Other teachers maintain a standard schedule on a regular basis, only becoming unavailable for vacation days.

If you have a limited availability, make sure to find out if the times you are free will be offered by them for the foreseeable future.  If you are more of a social butterfly and you are okay with changing teachers from time to time, hen maybe this question isn’t necessary for you to ask.

7. Are my goals realistic?

During your first lesson with any Rype coach, you will probably be asked what your goals are with French. Are you starting to learn French from scratch and want to be fluent in one year?

Your teacher can help you determine if your goal is achievable based on the amount of time you intend to practice each day. They can also help you modify your goal to make it achievable.