10 Ways To Speak French When You Are Retired or Over 60

Want to Speak French After 60? Here is Your (Almost) Effortless Guide to Get You Started

You’ve finally retired. No more deadlines, no more stress. Now you have time to enjoy life: travel, meet new people, and maybe even learn French! You sit down with your morning coffee, open your phone, and think, “Maybe I’ll start learning French today.”

But where to start? Another boring grammar book? Endless flashcards? No thanks.

Here’s the secret: you don’t need to study French like a schoolkid. The best way to learn French when you’re over 60 is to mix it with things you already love.

• Love doing crosswords? Try them in French.
• Love wine? Take a tasting class in French.
• Love golf? Join a group of French players.
• Love movies? Watch a French film with subtitles.

The trick isn’t to study harder. It’s to have more fun. Let’s explore the most enjoyable ways to make French part of your daily life.

1. Master French Vocabulary with Crosswords

Who doesn’t love a good crossword puzzle? Crosswords aren’t just fun… They sharpen your brain and strengthen your vocabulary. And when you do them in French, you’ll naturally pick up new words and expressions without even realizing it.

To get you started, I’ve created a special French crossword on the theme of la retraite (retirement). It’s designed to be fun and accessible, even if you’re not fluent yet.

Other Websites for French Crosswords

Once you’ve warmed up, try these websites for more French crosswords:

• Mots Croisés – Themed crosswords for all levels
• Jeux de Mots – Beginner-friendly puzzles
• Culture French – Word games and crosswords

Useful French Phrases for Crosswords

Here are some useful French phrases that will help you while doing crosswords:

👉 Pro Tip: Make it a habit — try doing one crossword a day with your morning coffee.

2. Speak French While Joining a Board Game or Card Game Club

French people love board games. They’re a perfect way to practice conversational French without pressure.

Picture this: you’re sitting at a cozy board game café in a small French town. Someone hands you a deck of cards. You fumble through the instructions, but the person next to you smiles and says, “Je vais t’expliquer” (I’ll explain it to you). Suddenly, you’re chatting in French without even trying.

If you live in France, check your local community center or city hall for board game nights (soirées jeux).
If you live elsewhere, try looking for a French-speaking meetup or a language exchange group.

French Board Games to Try:

• Scrabble – The French version will challenge your spelling!
• Carcassonne – A tile-based strategy game
• Time’s Up! – Fast-paced and hilarious

You can also play French games online:

• Board Game Arena – Play with French-speaking players
• Tabletopia – Many French games available

Useful French Phrses for Board Games

French Board Game Vocabulary (French/English)

3. Practice French With Book Clubs or Cinema Clubs

Reading and watching movies are two of the best ways to immerse yourself in French. But doing it in a group makes it even better.

Join a Reading Club

Many French libraries and bookstores host reading clubs (clubs de lecture) where you can discuss French books in a relaxed setting.

Easy French Books to Start With:

✔︎ Le Petit Nicolas – Funny and easy to follow

✔︎ L’Étranger by Albert Camus – Simple language but deep meaning

✔︎ Ensemble, c’est tout by Anna Gavalda – A heartwarming story

If you want to know more about it, you can read our article : 15 Novels to Read in French.

Useful French Phrases for Book Clubs

Join a French Cinema Club

Many French cultural centers and Alliance Française branches organize cinema nights.

Easy French Films to Start With:

• “Les Choristes” – About a choir of troubled boys
• “Amélie” – A whimsical Parisian love story
• “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis” – A hilarious story about life in Northern France

Useful French Phrases for Films

French Vocabulary for Books and Films

4. Speak French When Your Retired on the Golf Course

Golf might not seem like the most obvious way to learn French… But it’s actually one of the best! Golf provides the perfect mix of social interaction, casual conversation, and focused concentration. It gives you plenty of opportunities to practice French in a low-pressure, natural setting while also immersing yourself in French culture.

Imagine this: you’re on the 10th hole of a beautiful course in Provence. The golfer next to you leans over and says, “Magnifique swing !” (Magnificent swing!). You smile, respond with a simple, “Merci !” (Thank you!), and suddenly the conversation shifts to the course, the weather, and maybe even a little local gossip.

On the golf course, the conversation flows naturally. There’s no pressure to speak perfectly; the relaxed pace of the game gives you time to think and respond. And because golf has its own set of terms and expressions, you’ll expand your vocabulary quickly.

⛳ Where to Find French Golf Partners and Clubs

If you live in France, joining a golf club (club de golf) is one of the easiest ways to meet French people and practice conversational French. Most clubs offer regular events and tournaments, which are perfect opportunities to meet new people and improve your game.

If you’re outside France, you can still find French-speaking golf partners through:

• Meetup – Search for French-speaking golf groups.
• Local golf clubs – Some larger clubs in the UK and US have French-speaking members.
• Expat communities – Look for French expat groups on Facebook or WhatsApp.

French Golf Vocabulary

Common French Phrases on the Golf Course

French wine culture is legendary and it’s deeply intertwined with the French language. Taking a wine tasting class (dégustation de vin) in French is not only an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon but also an incredible opportunity to expand your vocabulary and refine your conversational skills.

Picture yourself at a vineyard in Bordeaux. The sommelier hands you a glass of red wine and says, “Vous sentez des notes de fruits rouges ?” (Do you smell notes of red fruits?) You pause, take a sip, and reply, “Oui, c’est fruité, avec une touche de vanille.” (Yes, it’s fruity, with a hint of vanilla.) You’re already engaging in real conversation — without even realizing it.

Where to Find Wine Tasting Classes

• Vineyards – Most French wine regions (like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley) offer guided tastings in French.
• Wine Bars – In cities like Paris and Lyon, you’ll find specialized wine bars that organize tastings.
• Cultural Centers – French cultural organizations often organize tastings as social events.
• Online Classes – Websites like Masterclass and Airbnb Experiences offer virtual wine tastings in French.

Essential Wine Vocabulary

Common Phrases Used in Wine Tastings

Pro Tip:

When tasting wine, the vocabulary you’ll use goes beyond just describing the taste. You’ll hear and use expressions about color (la robe), smell (le nez), and texture (la texture). Taking notes in French during the tasting will help reinforce the vocabulary.

Wine tasting isn’t just about the wine — it’s about the conversation that happens around the glass. After a few tastings, you’ll be able to hold your own in any French dinner party!

6. Try Yoga or Fitness Classes in French

Learning French doesn’t have to be a mental workout — it can be a physical one too. Joining a yoga, Pilates, or fitness class in French is a fantastic way to strengthen both your body and your language skills. Because many fitness classes use repetitive instructions, you’ll quickly absorb key phrases without needing to focus too hard.

Imagine stepping into a small yoga studio in Paris. The instructor says, “Inspirez profondément… expirez lentement.” (Inhale deeply… exhale slowly.) As you settle into the pose, you start to understand more and more of the instructions. Over time, you begin to anticipate the next move without needing to translate it in your head.

Where to Find French-Language Fitness Classes

• Yoga studios – In France, most cities have yoga studios that offer beginner and advanced classes.
• Community centers – Many local gyms and community centers offer fitness classes in French.
• Online platforms – Websites like Yoga Connect and Doctolib allow you to book classes with French instructors.
• YouTube – There are many free French yoga and fitness classes available online.

Fitness and Yoga Vocabulary

Useful French Phrases for Fitness and Yoga

Pro Tip:

Even if you don’t understand every word, the physical nature of yoga or fitness helps you associate the language with movement. The more you practice, the more you’ll understand.

7. Volunteer for a French Association

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding and effective ways to immerse yourself in French culture while giving back to the community. When you volunteer in a French-speaking environment, you engage in authentic, real-life conversations — the kind you can’t learn from a textbook.

Imagine helping out at a local food bank in a small French village. Someone asks you, “Vous pouvez mettre ces boîtes sur l’étagère ?” (Can you put these boxes on the shelf?) You respond, “Bien sûr ! Où exactement ?” (Of course! Where exactly?) Before you know it, you’re discussing schedules, organizing supplies, and chatting with other volunteers — all in French.

Where to Find Volunteering Opportunities

• Food banks – (Banques alimentaires) – Volunteers are often needed for sorting and distribution.
• Charity shops – (Friperies) – Help with organizing and customer service.
• Community centers – (Maisons de quartier) – Assist with events or language exchanges.
• Environmental groups – Tree planting, beach clean-ups, and nature conservation.
• Animal shelters – (Refuges) – Help care for animals or assist with adoption events.

Useful French Phrases for Volunteering

French Volunteering Vocabulary

9. Join a Knitting, Crochet, or Sewing Group

Knitting (tricot), crochet (crochet), and sewing (couture) aren’t just creative outlets — they’re also social activities where conversation happens naturally. Whether you’re knitting a scarf, crocheting a blanket, or sewing a dress, you’ll find that craft groups are friendly, welcoming, and often chatty.

Picture this: you’re sitting in a sunlit craft shop in France, working on a knitting project. Someone says, “Tu utilises quelle taille d’aiguille ?” (What size needle are you using?) You pause, hold up the needle, and say, “Je crois que c’est du cinq.” (I think it’s a size five.) From there, the conversation flows naturally — about yarn, patterns, and life in general.

The repetitive nature of knitting, crochet, and sewing allows you to focus on the conversation without feeling overwhelmed. It’s a great way to learn practical, real-world French while doing something you enjoy.

Where to Find Knitting, Crochet, and Sewing Groups

If you live in France, finding a craft group is relatively easy:

• Local yarn shops (magasins de laine) – Many host weekly or monthly craft circles.
• Fabric shops (merceries) – These often have sewing clubs and offer workshops.
• Community centers (maisons de quartier) – Craft and sewing classes are often listed on the notice boards.
• Library clubs – Some French libraries host knitting and crochet circles.
• Senior centers – Many senior centers (maisons de retraite) offer knitting and sewing groups.

If you’re not in France, you can still find French-speaking craft groups:

• Meetup – Search for “French knitting” or “French sewing” groups.
• Facebook groups – Look for expat or French-speaking crafting groups.
• Ravelry – The international knitting and crochet platform has French-language groups.
• YouTube – There are many French-language knitting and sewing tutorials online.

French Vocabulary for Knitting, Crochet, and Sewing

Common French Phrases for Knitting, Crochet, and Sewing

Specialized Vocabulary for Sewing

Why Knitting, Crochet, and Sewing Are Perfect for Learning French

✅ Relaxed environment – No pressure to speak perfectly — just chat while working with your hands.
✅ Natural repetition – Repeating stitches helps reinforce the vocabulary naturally.
✅ Visual learning – Seeing the actions linked to the language helps lock in the vocabulary.
✅ Sense of community – Craft groups are typically supportive and welcoming.
✅ Easy to practice at home – You can follow French-language patterns and tutorials anytime.

10. Learn French Through Drawing and Painting

Drawing (le dessin) and painting (la peinture) are perfect for language learning because they engage your brain creatively while allowing you to focus on French vocabulary naturally. Whether you’re sketching a landscape or painting a still life, art provides a relaxed environment where conversation flows easily.

Imagine sitting in a French art class, working on a watercolor of a countryside scene. The instructor says, “Ajoutez une touche de bleu ici.” (Add a touch of blue here.) You respond, “Comme ça ?” (Like this?) — and before you know it, you’re not only creating art but actively improving your French.

Art classes tend to be low-pressure and conversational, which makes them an ideal setting for practicing French without worrying about perfection.

French Vocabulary for Drawing and Painting

Common French Phrases for Art Classes

Stay Motivated With Small Wins

Learning French isn’t a sprint — it’s a process. The key is to keep it light and enjoyable. Small, consistent efforts will help you improve without feeling overwhelmed.

✅ Start small – Try one crossword a week, watch one French movie, or attend one conversation group.
✅ Track your wins – Celebrate when you remember a new word or successfully follow a conversation.
✅ Mix it up – Don’t stick to just one method — rotate between crosswords, films, knitting, and social activities to keep things fresh.

Make French Part of Your Lifestyle

The secret to learning French after 60 isn’t hard work: it’s about finding joy in the process. When you connect language learning to activities you already love, the language starts to stick naturally.

Start where you feel most comfortable:

• If you like word games, start with crosswords.
• If you prefer creative hobbies, join a French art or knitting group.
• If you love socializing, try a board game night or a local conversation club.
• If you enjoy staying active, take a yoga class or hit the golf course.
• If you love food and drink, attend a wine or cooking class.

When learning feels like a natural extension of your daily life, it becomes easier and more rewarding.

Voilà! It was quite a long article and I hope you found valuable information. I recently created a Facebook page “Retire in France and Learn French” where I share tips and ressources. Feel free to join.

Aurevoir!

If You’re Dreaming of Retiring in France, This Is for You

April 20, 2025 No Comments

Retiring in France as an American might start as a romantic idea: sun-drenched vineyards, fresh…

Read More

France Retirement Visa: How to Retire in France Without a Headache

April 19, 2025 No Comments

France Retirement Visa, Retire in France, Move to France as an American, French long stay…

Read More

Best Blogs For & By American Expats in France

April 11, 2025 2 Comments

Moving to France is an adventure filled with excitement and challenges. While the allure of…

Read More

Moving to France? Books & Movies to Help You Choose the Best Region

April 5, 2025 No Comments

Moving to France is not just about filling out paperwork or learning how to say…

Read More

France’s 2026 Language Test Requirement(Key Info for Retirees 60+)

March 19, 2025 No Comments

If you’re planning to apply for a French residency card or citizenship, important changes to…

Read More

French Vocabulary for Retirement: Essential Phrases and Expressions With Audio Recordings

March 14, 2025 No Comments

Retirement is a time for relaxation, new experiences, and perhaps even a new adventure like…

Read More