David Beckham is learning French.

The England soccer legend has signed a five-month contract with Paris St Germain and is determined to learn the language so he can communicate well in press conferences.

He has seen fellow Englishman Joey Barton be ridiculed for his attempt at a French accent while he has been playing for Marseille and he doesn't want the same thing to happen to him.

He wants to avoid a repeat of the cringe-worthy press conference given by Marseille star Barton in which he spoke English but in a peculiar French accent.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: ''Becks isn't daft enough to make Joey's mistake. He has gone to great lengths to make sure he has a decent command of French. He wants to talk to the players, fans and the media in French. He's booked a tutor in France and has courses on his portable devices.''

David - who will live in a hotel in Paris while wife Victoria and their four children will stay in London - has begun lessons to talk to teammates and fans and when he cannot have classes he has a language course on his iPhone and iPad.