The Best French Classes in Toronto (2026 Review)

Key takeaways

• Best for improving spoken French through personalized lessons: italki
• Best for DELF and TCF Canada exam preparation: Alliance Française de Toronto
• Best for structured university courses: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
• Best for evening classes for beginners: George Brown Polytechnic Continuing Education
• Best for workplace French classes: Glendon Campus, York University

The best French classes in Toronto fit both your goal and your weekly schedule. Many adults in Toronto learn French for a bilingual job, for conversations with francophone colleagues and family, or for a passing score on TEF Canada or TCF Canada, the two French tests accepted for Canadian permanent residence (Canadian PR). Some Toronto adults studied in French immersion at school and want to recover their French language skills. Adult French learners in Toronto need regular speaking practice and corrections, often alongside a full-time job.

italki provides regular speaking practice and corrections through one-on-one online French lessons that fit around work. A French tutor in Toronto on italki plans each lesson around your goal, such as a job interview or the speaking section of a French proficiency test, and corrects your pronunciation and grammar in real time. italki offers flexible scheduling, with French tutors available early in the morning, late in the evening, and on weekends, from a platform of more than 30,000 teachers and tutors across 150+ languages.

This guide to French classes in Toronto is for working professionals, university students, and newcomers, from downtown to North York and the surrounding suburbs. The guide compares italki with four French programs at language schools, universities, and colleges by speaking time, format, schedule, price, and exam support, so you find the right French class for your goal, budget, and week.

Book a trial lesson with one of the French teachers in Toronto on italki and practice the French you need from your first session.

How we chose the best French classes in Toronto

We chose the best French classes in Toronto by comparing each option on seven criteria: speaking time per lesson, quality of feedback, teacher qualifications, level structure, schedule flexibility, location and access, and exam support.

Evaluation criterion	What we evaluated
Speaking time per lesson	Minutes each learner spends speaking French in a typical lesson, based on class size and lesson length
Quality of feedback	How teachers correct pronunciation, grammar, and verb tenses, and how often learners receive feedback
Teacher qualifications	Certified instructors or training in teaching French as a second language, plus learner reviews
Level structure	Alignment with the six levels (A1 to C2) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) or the Canadian Language Benchmarks
Schedule flexibility	Morning, evening, and weekend options, and the option to reschedule without losing a lesson
Location and access	Campuses in Toronto and the suburbs, and the availability of live online classes
Exam support	Preparation for official French proficiency exams such as the DELF, TCF Canada, and TEF Canada, including mock tests, and access to a test center

Best French classes in Toronto at a glance

Course	Best for	Format	Typical pricing
italki	Improving spoken French through personalized lessons	Online one-on-one lessons	From US$4 (about C$5.70) per lesson
Alliance Française de Toronto	DELF and TCF Canada exam preparation	In-person and online group classes	From C$485 per session
University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies	Structured university courses	In-person and live online group classes	C$495 per course
George Brown Polytechnic Continuing Education	Evening classes for beginners	Live online group classes	C$342.81 per course
Glendon Campus, York University	Workplace French classes	In-person group classes	From C$300 per course

Prices were checked in October 2026 and may change depending on level, schedule, and format. Confirm current rates on each provider’s website before booking.

Where to take French classes in Toronto

1. italki: best for improving spoken French through personalized lessons

• Format: Live one-on-one video lessons
• Price: From US$4 (about C$5.70) per lesson
• Location: Online, anywhere in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Professionals, students, and newcomers who want more speaking practice on a flexible schedule

italki is an online language learning platform that connects you with French teachers for live one-on-one lessons, from absolute beginners to advanced learners. You pick a tutor by specialty, accent, and availability, then book lessons at times that fit your week. Your tutor shapes each lesson around your level and goal and adjusts the next one based on the mistakes you make. Toronto learners who work with colleagues or clients in Quebec also find tutors who show them how to learn Quebec French, including its accent and everyday expressions.

Many French tutors on italki specialize in a specific goal, so your lessons match the exam or work situation you are preparing for:

• DELF tutors prepare you for the DELF exam, an official diploma for non-native speakers issued by the French ministry of education.
• TCF tutors and TEF tutors focus on TCF preparation and TEF Canada preparation, the French tests used for Canada PR and citizenship applications. Our TEF vs TCF exam comparison explains how the two tests differ.
• Business French tutors teach the workplace French that bilingual professionals use to lead meetings, write emails, and answer job interview questions, including common French for business phrases.

Pros

• Personalized one-on-one lessons. Lessons focus on practical communication: you spend most of each lesson speaking French about your own situations, such as your job, a TEF Canada speaking task, or a trip to France. Your tutor adapts the teaching approach to your level and corrects pronunciation, grammar, and word choice as you speak.
• Learn on your schedule. italki lessons happen online, so you take each lesson from home or the office at the time you booked, with no travel to a campus. Toronto workers already spend about 31 minutes on a one-way commute, compared with about 24 minutes across Canada (City of Toronto, 2021 Census backgrounder). Without an extra trip, a French lesson fits before work, during a lunch break, or after dinner.
• Review support between lessons. italki Plus summarizes each lesson and turns it into review exercises and flashcards for the days between sessions.
• Proven to improve speaking skills. An independent study found that 71.6% of italki learners moved up at least one level on the oral proficiency scale of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) after about 16 hours of lessons over two months (Vesselinov and Grego, 2018).

Cons

• Lessons happen online, with no in-person classmates
• Results depend on regular lessons and practice between sessions

What learners say about italki

Learner reviews of italki on Trustpilot highlight three strengths:

• Speaking practice with real-time feedback: One italki learner says their tutor gives real-time corrections and helps them use what they learn in real conversations.
• A wide choice of teachers: One reviewer says italki’s large variety of teachers makes it easy to find one who fits their needs, and that the video lesson technology works well.
• Balanced, enjoyable lessons: Another italki learner describes weekly lessons that balance structured learning with natural conversation.

“I really enjoy the quality of speaking practice on italki, especially having a tutor who provides real-time corrections and feedback. My tutor has helped me apply what I’ve learned in my lessons to real conversations, making my language-learning journey more practical, engaging, and effective.”

— Trustpilot review

“italki offers a large variety of teachers from which to choose, allowing you to find the perfect teacher for your personal needs. Technology used for video meetings works great too.”

— Trustpilot review

“I’ve been having weekly sessions with Marte and every class is an absolute joy. She makes learning engaging, stress-free, and thoroughly enjoyable. Every single lesson is perfectly balanced between structured learning and natural conversation, making each session something I truly look forward to.”

— Trustpilot review

Speak French with more ease in every lesson, with real-time corrections from a tutor who knows your goal. Choose from French online tutors in Toronto and book your trial lesson this week.

2. Alliance Française de Toronto: best for DELF and TCF Canada exam preparation

• Format: In-person and online group classes
• Price: From C$485 per session
• Location: Spadina (downtown), North York, Mississauga, Markham, Oakville, and online
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Learners who want a structured group course and plan to take an official French exam

Alliance Française de Toronto, often called Alliance Française Toronto, belongs to the worldwide Alliance Française network of language institutes and has taught French in the city since 1902. The school runs group courses aligned with the six CEFR levels for all age groups, including conversation, business French, and exam preparation courses. It is also an official test center for the TCF Canada and the DELF.

Pros

• Courses follow clear CEFR levels, from first-time beginners to near-fluent learners
• Exam preparation and testing are available at the same institution
• Film screenings and cultural events introduce French culture and give extra practice outside class

Cons

• Sessions follow fixed start dates, so new students join at the start of a term
• Course materials are not included in the course fee
• The most advanced levels run online only

3. University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies: best for structured university courses

• Format: In-person and live online group classes
• Price: C$495 per course
• Location: St. George campus (downtown) and online
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Learners who want structured courses with a clear level sequence

The University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (SCS) offers French courses from Level I to Level VII, plus a course for absolute beginners and electives such as French through film. Courses start in fall, winter, and spring, with evening and Saturday sections.

Pros

• Classes run in person downtown or live online
• A dedicated course for absolute beginners comes before Level I
• An advanced French writing elective suits learners at higher levels

Cons

• Courses follow term dates and a fixed syllabus
• Textbooks cost extra
• Classes meet on set days and times each week

4. George Brown Polytechnic Continuing Education: best for evening classes for beginners

• Format: Live online group classes
• Price: C$342.81 per course
• Location: Online
• Level: Beginner
• Ideal for: Beginners who want one live class a week in the evening

George Brown Polytechnic, a college in downtown Toronto, offers three part-time beginner courses: French Fundamentals 1, 2, and 3. French Fundamentals 1 meets online one evening a week and introduces French pronunciation, basic grammar, and common expressions. French Fundamentals 2 and 3 continue from that level.

Pros

• Live classes with a teacher, without traveling to a campus
• Courses count toward the college’s French Language Fundamentals Program
• French Fundamentals 1 explains how Quebec French differs from European French

Cons

• Courses cover beginner levels only
• Classes follow semester start dates
• French Fundamentals 1 classes last three hours

5. Glendon Campus, York University: best for workplace French classes

• Format: In-person group classes
• Price: From C$300 per course
• Location: Glendon Campus, midtown Toronto
• Level: Beginner to upper intermediate
• Ideal for: Professionals and job seekers who want French for work

Glendon Campus is York University’s bilingual campus in Toronto, Ontario. Its French in the Workplace course runs at four levels, from beginner to upper intermediate, with one class a week on Saturday mornings.

Pros

• Course content focuses on French for professional settings
• Each completed level earns a micro-credential
• General group classes are available for every level

Cons

• Classes are in person only
• Classes meet once a week, on Saturday mornings
• A class runs only when enough students register

Each of the best French classes in Toronto fits a different goal, such as exam preparation, a university course, evening classes for beginners, or workplace French. For one-on-one speaking practice at times that fit your week, compare French teachers online in Toronto on italki and book a trial lesson.

Online vs. in-person French classes in Toronto: which should you choose?

Online one-on-one lessons suit learners who want speaking practice and corrections on their own schedule. In-person group classes suit learners who want a fixed routine, a classroom community, and a set curriculum.

Factor	Online one-on-one lessons (italki)	In-person group classes
Flexibility	Book lessons any day, from early morning to late evening	Fixed weekly class times and term dates
Individual attention	The full lesson centers on one learner	The teacher works with the whole group, with pair and group activities
Speaking time	You speak for most of the lesson	Speaking practice through class discussion, role plays, and pair work
Personalized feedback	Real-time corrections on your recurring errors	General corrections, with some individual feedback
Cost structure	Pay per lesson, no term commitment	Pay per course or session, upfront
Social experience	One-to-one with your tutor	Classmates, cultural events, and a shared routine
Commute	None	Travel to a campus in Toronto or the suburbs

• Choose online one-on-one lessons if you want to speak French for most of each lesson, get real-time corrections on your own mistakes, and work with a tutor who plans every lesson around your goal, at times you choose and from wherever you are.
• Choose in-person group classes if you learn best in structured courses with a fixed routine, enjoy studying with classmates, and live or work near a campus.

Many learners combine group classes at a language school for structure and private tutoring with French tutors to improve French speaking and communication skills. Add a weekly one-on-one lesson and practice speaking about what your class covers.

Which French class in Toronto is best for you?

• Choose italki if you want to speak French more confidently, need lessons that fit around work, or are preparing for a specific goal such as TEF Canada, TCF Canada, or a job interview as a bilingual candidate.
• Choose Alliance Française de Toronto if you plan to take the DELF or TCF Canada and want a structured group course with an on-site test center.
• Choose the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies if you prefer a university course with seven levels and a fixed syllabus.
• Choose George Brown Polytechnic Continuing Education if you’re a beginner on a budget and want one evening class a week.
• Choose Glendon Campus, York University if you want French for work, prefer a Saturday morning class, and want a micro-credential to show employers.

Related reading: Best French Classes in Montreal, Best French Classes in Paris, and Best French Class in NYC

Ready to start speaking French in Toronto?

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FAQ

How long does it take to learn French?

English speakers need about 600 to 750 class hours to reach professional working proficiency in French, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute (U.S. Department of State). Your timeline depends on your starting level and weekly study hours.

How much do French classes cost in Toronto?

Online one-on-one lessons on italki start at US$4 per lesson, with no term fee, and French tutor cost varies with the tutor’s experience and lesson type. Group courses in Toronto typically cost about C$300 to C$495 per course, often paid upfront.

How many Express Entry points does French add?

Up to 50 points. Strong French in all four skills adds 25 points, or 50 if your English is also at an intermediate level (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).

Should I learn Quebec French or European French in Toronto?

Both work in Toronto. Quebec French and European French share the same grammar and spelling and differ mainly in pronunciation and some vocabulary. If you work with people in Quebec, choose a tutor from Quebec.