Start here: your free beginner French roadmap
If you are starting from zero, focus on high-impact basics you can use immediately. In the first weeks your goal is to understand and produce short, clear sentences about yourself, family, time, and daily needs.
Use one main beginner PDF and keep it light: short units, clear examples, and audio if possible. Combine it with a one-hour routine and quick reviews. Progress comes from frequent, small wins.
- Introduce yourself, spell your name, ask basic questions
- Order food, buy tickets, ask for prices and times
- Understand common signs and simple forms
- Handle simple travel and accommodation situations
How to pick a good free French PDF
The right file saves time. Choose a beginner course PDF designed for A1–A2, with clear explanations in English and practical dialogues. Look for level labels, an answer key, and pronunciation help.
Check that the content is legal and actually free to use. Favor PDFs that pair with audio or video, and avoid scans with poor quality. Smaller, structured lessons are better than massive, unfocused dumps.
- Level markers (A1/A2) and a visible syllabus
- Audio links, QR codes, or transcripts for listening
- Answer key and sample dialogues for speaking practice
- Pronunciation tips: alphabet, liaison, silent letters
- Legal license (public domain or Creative Commons)
A 7-day, 1-hour study plan (using PDFs)
Use a simple one-hour block: 20 minutes new content from your PDF, 20 minutes exercises, 15 minutes speaking or shadowing, 5 minutes quick review. Set a timer and keep momentum.
Repeat the cycle daily and rotate skills. On the weekend, consolidate with a mini project: write a short paragraph or record a one-minute intro.
- Day 1: Alphabet, sounds, greetings; shadow a short dialogue
- Day 2: Introducing yourself; build a 6-line script
- Day 3: Numbers, prices, time; practice questions with combien/quelle heure
- Day 4: Food and cafes; order from a menu in role-play
- Day 5: Present tense of être/avoir; mix with everyday nouns
- Day 6: Directions and transport; ask for places and tickets
- Day 7: Review hour; rewrite notes, record a 60-second monologue
Core beginner language to learn first
Start with high-frequency words and simple patterns. Master the present tense, common question forms, and set phrases that unlock real conversations.
Pronunciation matters early. Spend a few minutes each hour on sounds, stress, and liaison so reading from a PDF turns into speech you can understand and produce.
- Sounds and spelling: alphabet, accents, liaison basics
- Survival phrases: greetings, thanks, apologies, requests
- Numbers, dates, time, prices, and simple measurements
- Key verbs: être, avoir, aller, faire; regular -er verbs
- Articles and gender; this/that; basic adjectives and agreement
- Questions and negation: est-ce que, inversion, ne...pas
Where to find quality free PDFs (legally)
Use trusted sources so your learning is accurate and ethical. Look for public domain or Creative Commons licenses and materials tailored to beginners.
Combine one main course with a few targeted PDFs for pronunciation, verbs, and exam samples. Search smart and verify the level before you download.
- Public domain courses: FSI French Basic Course (PDFs with audio)
- Official exam samples: DELF A1/A2 papers from France Education International
- Government or school portals: search site:.gouv.fr or site:.edu for A1 PDF
- University open courseware and Open Educational Resources repositories
- Creative Commons worksheets and mini-books on reputable educator sites
Boost learning with audio, apps, and habits
A PDF gives structure; audio and speaking make it stick. Shadow dialogues, record yourself, and recycle phrases in short chats or exchanges.
Use light tools to automate review. A spaced repetition deck for verbs and phrases, a simple recorder, and a monolingual dictionary later on will speed your progress.
- Shadowing: read aloud with audio for 5 minutes each hour
- Micro speaking drills: 10 quick question-answer pairs from your PDF
- SRS cards for verbs, chunks, and tricky spellings
- Weekly voice note to track progress and pronunciation
- Real input: slow podcasts, captions, and short YouTube clips
FAQ
- Can I learn French from a PDF alone?
- You can cover a lot with a good beginner course PDF, especially grammar, vocabulary, and reading. For balanced learning, add audio for listening and short speaking practice daily. PDFs guide you; your voice builds fluency.
- How many hours to reach A1 or A2?
- A1 often takes around 60–80 hours; A2 can take 160–200 hours, depending on consistency. With one focused hour a day, beginners typically reach A1 in 2–3 months and A2 in 5–7 months.
- What is the best structure for a beginner course?
- Short units that cycle vocabulary, a clear grammar point, and a dialogue work best. Each lesson should lead from comprehension to controlled practice to free production. Always include review and pronunciation.
- Are FSI French PDFs a good free course?
- Yes. The FSI French Basic Course is public domain, thorough, and includes audio drills. It is older and dense, so pair selected units with a modern A1 PDF for friendlier explanations.
- How do I practice speaking if I study from PDFs?
- Turn dialogues into role-plays, record 60-second monologues, and answer questions aloud. Use language exchanges or short tutor sessions for live feedback. Even 10 minutes of speaking each hour accelerates learning.