Start here: your first week of French
As a beginner, focus on sounds, high‑frequency words, and polite phrases. In your first week, aim to pronounce the alphabet and greetings, learn numbers and prices, and build a few core sentences. Keep it light: short, daily learning beats marathon sessions for most beginners.
Use a free course playlist to guide you. Pair each short lesson with quick speaking practice and a printable pdf cheat sheet so you remember what you learn. Start from what you can say today and expand naturally.
- Day 1: Sounds and alphabet; imitate audio for 10–15 minutes.
- Day 2: Greetings, names, and introductions (je m’appelle...).
- Day 3: Numbers 0–100, prices, and asking for total.
- Day 4: être and avoir in the present; simple descriptions.
- Day 5: Gender, articles (un/une/le/la), and plurals.
- Day 6–7: Review with a pdf phrase list; record yourself.
Free tools to learn French online
Mix a structured course with bite‑size practice apps and real audio. You want clear explanations, lots of example sentences, and consistent listening so your ear adapts to French rhythms.
Rotate two or three tools so learning stays fresh, but keep one main course for steady progress and revision.
- FSI Basic French Course (audio + pdf): old‑school but thorough and free.
- TV5MONDE Apprendre: graded videos with exercises from A1 upward.
- Duolingo or Memrise: quick vocabulary reps for beginners on the go.
- Anki spaced repetition decks: review words and phrases efficiently.
- Forvo + YouGlish: hear authentic pronunciation from many speakers.
- Lawless French (A1–A2): concise grammar notes, drills, and tips.
Pronunciation and spelling fixes fast
French spelling maps to sound more regularly than English once you see the patterns. Train your mouth early and you’ll learn faster, because you can hear and self‑correct while speaking.
Record short sentences, compare to native audio, and fix one detail at a time. A few targeted minutes each day beat a long, unfocused hour.
- Master nasal vowels: an, en, on, un (bon, vin, blanc).
- Tame the French r: light throat sound, not an English r.
- Watch silent letters: final s, t, d often drop (mais, et, froid).
- Learn liaison basics: les amis → lezami, petit ami → peti‑ta‑mi.
- Spot the schwa (e muet): often disappears in fast speech.
Essential grammar and phrases for beginners
At A1–A2, keep grammar practical: subject + verb + object, articles and gender, present tense of core verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire), and question patterns (est‑ce que, intonation, inversion).
Collect phrases you’ll actually use, then swap words to create new sentences. Recycle them in speaking drills so they stick.
- Je suis anglais/anglaise — I am English.
- J’ai 25 ans — I am 25 (I have 25 years).
- Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plaît — I would like a coffee, please.
- Combien ça coûte ? — How much is it?
- Où est la gare ? — Where is the station?
- Je ne comprends pas, pouvez‑vous répéter ? — I don’t understand, can you repeat?
A one‑hour study routine you can keep
Short on time? If you can spare an hour, use a tight plan that touches all skills: listening, speaking, reading, and a little writing. If not, split it into two 30‑minute blocks—consistency beats intensity.
Track progress in a simple pdf log: date, lesson, five new words, one sentence you can say from memory. Small wins fuel motivation.
- 10 min: Review spaced‑repetition cards (Anki or app).
- 20 min: Main free course lesson (video or audio + notes).
- 10 min: Pronunciation drill; record and compare.
- 10 min: Speak aloud; transform model sentences (I/you/he… today/tomorrow).
- 10 min: Quick write; turn your speech into a mini paragraph.
FAQ
- How many hours to reach A1–A2 in French?
- Roughly 120–180 focused hours. With one hour daily, many beginners reach solid A1 in 4–6 months.
- Can I learn French free from scratch?
- Yes. Combine a free course, daily listening, SRS flashcards, and pdf worksheets. Consistency matters most.
- What is a good free beginner course?
- Try FSI Basic French (audio + pdf) or TV5MONDE Apprendre for structured lessons from A1 with exercises.
- Should I use pdf textbooks or apps?
- Use both: apps for quick practice; pdf guides for clear explanations and offline review. They complement each other.
- How can a beginner practice speaking online?
- Shadow videos, record yourself daily, and book short language exchanges. Start with set phrases, then vary them.