How to learn French: a realistic 6-step method
By Thierry Gustin
Published
Updated
4 min read
Contents
Do you want to learn French but don't know where to start, or have you been studying for a while and feel you're not making progress? After more than ten years of teaching, I've seen what works and what wastes months. This is the method I recommend, in six steps.
1. Why do you want to learn French?
A vague goal ("I want to speak French") gets abandoned within a few weeks. A concrete goal with a date keeps you going:
- "Pass the DELF B1 in the May session."
- "Be able to hold a meeting in French in six months."
- "Understand a French series without English subtitles this year."
Your goal decides what to prioritise: preparing for an exam is not the same as preparing to move to Lyon.
2. Practise a little, but every day
Regularity beats intensity. Twenty or thirty minutes a day are more effective than three hours on a Sunday, because memory is consolidated through spaced repetition.
| When | Length | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 10 min | Listen to a podcast or the news in easy French |
| Commute | 10 min | Review vocabulary with flashcards (Anki or on paper) |
| Evening | 10 min | Read a short text or write three sentences about your day |
3. Listen to real French from day one
The biggest obstacle for English speakers is not grammar but the ear: spoken French links words together and drops sounds. The solution is plenty of exposure:
- Beginners: RFI's Journal en français facile, and content with French subtitles.
- Intermediate level: series with French subtitles (not English ones), themed podcasts.
- Advanced level: radio (France Inter), debates, films without subtitles.
4. Speak from the start (even if you make mistakes)
Many learners wait until they "know enough" to speak… and that moment never comes. Speaking is a skill you train by speaking. From the first week, you can introduce yourself, describe your day or say what you did at the weekend.
Who with? A teacher, a language exchange partner or even yourself: describing aloud what you're doing while you cook is an excellent exercise.
5. Get someone to correct your mistakes
Without correction, mistakes become fossilised: you repeat them so often that they become automatic. This is what happens to many learners who have taught themselves with apps. A teacher spots your recurring mistakes (often the same five or six) and helps you get rid of them one by one.
In my lessons, I note them down in a shared "mistake notebook" that you review before each lesson. It is the tool that speeds up progress the most.
6. Make the most of your English
French and English share a large part of their vocabulary. Use this to your advantage:
- Many words ending in -tion translate directly: nation, information, solution.
- So do most adjectives ending in -ble: possible, probable, terrible.
- Many everyday words are recognisable in writing: la question, le restaurant, important. Verb tenses are another story, and the past is where English speakers need the most practice, as I explain in passé composé vs imparfait.
That said, beware of false friends and pay attention to pronunciation, which is very different from the spelling.
Can you learn French on your own?
Yes, up to a point. With consistency, good resources and plenty of listening, you can reach an intermediate level of comprehension. But to speak fluently and write without mistakes, you need interaction and correction. The most effective approach is usually to combine daily personal work with one or two private lessons a week. If you're wondering how long it will take, I explain it in how long it takes to learn French, and if you're looking for tools, in the best apps to learn French.
Frequently asked questions
Is French hard to learn for an English speaker?
It is one of the more accessible languages for an English speaker, especially in vocabulary. The hardest parts are pronunciation and listening, which you need to work on from the start.
How much time should I study French each day?
Between 20 and 30 minutes a day, every day, is a good foundation. More time speeds up progress, but regularity matters more than quantity.
What should I learn first in French?
Basic pronunciation, phrases to introduce yourself and the verbs être, avoir, aller and faire, which make up a large part of everyday sentences.
Is it better to learn with a teacher or with an app?
Apps are useful for vocabulary and consistency; a teacher is essential for speaking, correcting mistakes and preparing for an exam. Ideally, combine both.
If you'd like a plan tailored to you, with a native teacher to correct and guide you, see how my private online French lessons work.
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