French Grammar is Difficult!

Firstly, French grammar is notoriously complex, especially for English speakers. The language has gendered nouns, meaning that every noun in French is either masculine or feminine, and this determines the form of adjectives and articles used with it. Additionally, French has several verb tenses and moods, each with their own rules and irregularities. The use of subjunctive mood is particularly challenging for many learners of French, as it is used much more frequently in French than in English.

Here are some examples of why French grammar can be so challenging:

1. Gendered Nouns: Every noun in French is either masculine or feminine, and this determines the form of adjectives and articles used with it. For example, the word for “table” is “la table,” with the feminine article “la,” while the word for “desk” is “le bureau,” with the masculine article “le.”
2. Verb Conjugation: French has several verb tenses and moods, each with their own rules and irregularities. The use of subjunctive mood is particularly challenging for many learners of French, as it is used much more frequently in French than in English. For example, the present tense of the verb “aller” (to go) is “je vais,” “tu vas,” “il/elle va,” “nous allons,” “vous allez,” “ils/elles vont.”
3. Agreement of Adjectives: In French, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. For example, the adjective “petit” (small) has four different forms: “petit” (masculine singular), “petite” (feminine singular), “petits” (masculine plural), and “petites” (feminine plural).
4. Pronoun Usage: French has several types of pronouns, including subject, object, reflexive, and possessive pronouns. The usage of these pronouns can be complex and depends on the context of the sentence. For example, the object pronoun “me” changes to “m'” before a vowel sound. So, “Il me donne un livre” (He gives me a book) becomes “Il m’en donne un” (He gives me one).
5. Adverb Placement: The placement of adverbs in French can be complex, as they must be placed correctly in relation to the verb they modify. In general, adverbs of manner come after the verb and adverbs of time and frequency come before the verb. For example, “Je mange toujours des fruits le matin” (I always eat fruit in the morning).

These are just a few examples of the complexities of French grammar. Learning and mastering these grammar rules can be a challenge, but it is an essential step in becoming fluent in French.

French Pronunciation can be a challenge also!

Another aspect of French that adds to its complexity is pronunciation. French has a number of sounds that do not exist in English, including the nasal vowel sounds represented by the letters “an,” “en,” and “on.” These sounds can be difficult for English speakers to produce and distinguish, leading to frequent mispronunciation.

Additionally, French has a number of silent letters and liaisons, where the final consonant of one word is pronounced at the beginning of the next word. This can make French speech sound fluid and musical, but it can also be challenging for learners to master.

Some French words are really difficult for English speakers, here are some of the worst:

1. Régulièrement: This word means “regularly” in English, but the French “r” sound is pronounced differently than in English. The French “r” is a guttural sound produced in the back of the throat, which can be challenging for English speakers to master.
2. Œuvre: This word means “work” in English and contains a combination of letters that can be difficult for English speakers to pronounce. The “œ” sound is a unique French vowel sound that does not exist in English, and the “vre” sound requires a rounded lip position that is not common in English.
3. Serrurerie: This word means “locksmithing” in English and contains several French sounds that can be challenging for English speakers. The “rr” sound is pronounced with a trill, which is not used in English, and the “u” sound requires a rounded lip position that is not common in English.
4. Ananas: This word means “pineapple” in English, but the pronunciation can be challenging for English speakers. The French “nas” sound is pronounced with a nasal quality, which can be difficult to produce for English speakers.
5. Chaussette: This word means “sock” in English, and the “ch” sound is pronounced differently in French than in English. In French, the “ch” sound is pronounced as a soft “sh” sound.

Some French Words mean Lots of Different Things

In addition to grammar and pronunciation, French vocabulary is another aspect of the language that adds to its complexity. French has a large number of loanwords from Latin, Greek, and other languages, and many words have multiple meanings or connotations.

For example, the word “champ” can mean “field,” “champion,” or “sparkling wine,” depending on the context. Additionally, French has many idiomatic expressions and regional variations, which can make the language even more difficult to understand and use.

Here are a few more challenging examples:

1. Fleur: This word can mean “flower,” but it can also be used to describe a wheel of cheese that is shaped like a flower.
2. Ligne: This word can mean “line,” as in a straight line, but it can also refer to a railway line or a phone line.
3. Chat: This word can mean “cat,” but it can also be used as a verb to mean “to talk” or “to chat.”
4. Ver: This word can mean “worm,” but it can also refer to the greenish-blue color of oxidized copper.
5. Poêle: This word can mean “pan,” as in a frying pan, but it can also refer to a stove or a fireplace.
6. Voile: This word can mean “veil,” as in a piece of fabric worn over the head, but it can also refer to a sail on a boat.
7. Note: This word can mean “grade,” as in a score on an exam, but it can also refer to a musical note or a message.
8. Adresse: This word can mean “address,” as in a street address, but it can also refer to a skill or expertise in a particular area.

French Cultural Nuances

Finally, the cultural nuances of French can be difficult for learners to navigate. French culture places a high value on politeness and formality, and there are many rules and conventions for addressing people and expressing respect. Additionally, French has a number of cultural references and allusions that may be unfamiliar to non-native speakers. For example, references to French literature, history, and art are common in everyday conversation, and understanding these references is essential for fully understanding the language and culture.

Despite its complexity, however, there are many reasons why people choose to learn French. French is the official language of many international organizations, including the United Nations, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Red Cross. It is also spoken widely in many countries around the world, including Canada, Switzerland, and several African countries. Additionally, French is considered to be one of the most beautiful and romantic languages, and many people choose to learn it for its cultural and artistic significance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the complexity of the French language is due to a combination of factors, including its grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and cultural nuances. However, despite these challenges, learning French can be a rewarding and enriching experience, providing access to a rich cultural heritage and opening doors to new opportunities and experiences.

Additionally, the French language has a reputation for being formal and precise, which some people may interpret as being pretentious or pompous.

Finally, there may be cultural and historical stereotypes and biases that contribute to the perception that the French language is silly or frivolous. However, it is important to recognize that these opinions are subjective and do not reflect the true value or beauty of the French language.

What makes French grammar difficult to master?

French grammar is often considered to be complex and difficult to learn for non-native speakers, primarily due to its intricacies and irregularities. There are several reasons why French grammar can be challenging for learners:

1. Complex verb conjugation: French verbs are highly irregular and have many different forms depending on the tense, mood, and subject. Additionally, there are many exceptions to the rules of verb conjugation, making it difficult for learners to know when to use each form correctly.
2. Noun gender: Unlike in English, French nouns have a gender, either masculine or feminine, which must be memorized by learners. This can be difficult to remember, as there are often no clear rules or patterns for determining the gender of a noun.
3. Pronoun usage: French has several different types of pronouns, each with its own rules for usage. For example, the use of direct and indirect object pronouns can be confusing for learners, as they often differ from the English equivalents.
4. Adjective agreement: In French, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. This means that learners must memorize multiple forms of each adjective and learn how to use them correctly in a sentence.
5. Word order: French word order can be different from that of English, with adjectives often appearing after the noun and certain phrases or constructions requiring a specific order.

Overall, the complexity of French grammar can make it challenging for learners to master, particularly for those who are not familiar with a similar grammatical structure in their native language. However, with practice and dedication, it is possible to become proficient in French grammar and communicate effectively in the language.

Do you need to be precise when speaking French?

Precision can be an important element in the French language, and it is useful to be precise when speaking French to convey your intended meaning accurately. There are several reasons why precision is so important in French:

1. Homophones: French has many homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different meanings. For example, “la mer” means “the sea,” while “la mère” means “the mother.” If you are not precise in your pronunciation, you may end up saying a completely different word than the one you intended, leading to confusion and miscommunication.
2. Gender and number agreement: As previously mentioned, French nouns have gender and number, which means that the endings of words change depending on the gender and number of the noun they modify. If you are not precise in your use of gender and number agreement, it can lead to grammatical errors and misunderstandings.
3. Pronoun usage: French has many different pronouns, each with its own rules for usage. If you are not precise in your choice of pronoun, you may end up using the wrong one, which can change the meaning of your sentence entirely.
4. Verb tense and mood: French has many different verb tenses and moods, each with its own specific rules for usage. If you are not precise in your use of verb tense and mood, it can lead to confusion and ambiguity in your message.
5. Formality: French has formal and informal registers of language, and it is essential to be precise in your choice of register depending on the situation. Using the wrong register can be seen as impolite or disrespectful.

Overall, precision is crucial in the French language to avoid misunderstandings and effectively communicate your intended message. French speakers value precision and expect it in their conversations, so it is essential to strive for accuracy and clarity when speaking French.

The above doesn’t help when trying to learn it!

Is the French language frivolous?

It is a common stereotype that the French language is frivolous, or lacking in seriousness or importance. However, this stereotype is not accurate and is often based on misunderstandings or cultural biases.

One reason why some people may view the French language as frivolous is because of its association with fashion, luxury, and haute cuisine. French fashion and food are world-renowned, and many of the terms associated with these industries are in French. As a result, some people may view the French language as superficial or elitist, associating it with the glitz and glamour of the fashion and food industries.

Another reason why the French language may be perceived as frivolous is its reputation for being romantic and poetic. French has a long tradition of poetry and literature, and many famous love poems and romantic novels have been written in French. While this may give the language a reputation for being emotional or sentimental, it does not detract from its complexity or sophistication as a means of communication.

However, it is important to recognize that these perceptions of the French language are based on stereotypes and cultural biases, and do not reflect the true value or importance of the language. French is an official language of the United Nations and is spoken by millions of people around the world. It has a rich cultural and historical significance and is the language of diplomacy, international relations, and academic research.

So, while the French language may be associated with certain industries or emotions, it is not frivolous. It is a complex and sophisticated language with a rich cultural and historical significance, and should be valued and respected accordingly.

Conclusion

Some people may consider the French language to be “silly” due to their perception of its pronunciation, which includes nasal sounds and silent letters. Additionally, the language’s association with fashion, romance, and luxury may lead to it being perceived as frivolous or lacking in seriousness by some.

However, is there actually any truth in being able to learn French simply by watching movies? Well, the honest answer is yes and no.

Although watching movies and TV in French will definitely help your comprehension of some spoken French, you can’t solely rely on the process teaching you the language.

However, there are many other reasons to do this that can (and will) certainly accelerate your learning.

What’s the point of watching movies in French?

There are indeed many people who firmly believe that sitting in front of your television for hours on end, consuming as much French TV as possible, will somehow cause their brain to make connections which will magically make them start to understand what’s being said.

For someone who’s at the beginning stages of learning French, there’s really better things you can be doing at this time than watching French movies. You will understand very little and if anything, it’ll make you frustrated and may even be enough to put you off learning altogether!

However, where watching French films can be of benefit is if you’re more of an intermediate learner. It’s at this point where the benefits actually outway the negatives.

What can I learn from watching movies in French?

Assuming you’re not a total novice, there are a few things you’ll be able to get out of watching films and movies in French.

Firstly, it may help your comprehension of spoken French. The reason I say, ‘may’, is because some French in films and TV is spoken so fast it becomes very difficult to understand, even for an intermediate learner!

However, assuming the spoken French isn’t too fast, then it can not only help your comprehension but also your accent.

Will watching movies in French help me understand the language?

Yes, watching movies and TV in French can definitely help you understand the language, but only if you combine the technique with other learning methods. Don’t allocate all your learning time to watching films, it’s just not the best way to learn.

If you’re lucky and have a few hours each day to be able to progress your French learning, then it’s a great idea. Take a look at my study planner to see whether you have enough time to do this!

As I alluded to above though, comprehension of French isn’t the only thing you’re going to get out of this. Everyone who speaks French wants to sounds as close as possible to native French-speaking people. So, listening to how the French actors speak and trying to replicate this, is a great way to perfect your accent.

This isn’t an easy (or quick) thing to do and don’t expect it to work overnight. A great thing to do is to go onto YouTube and search for ‘Famous French Actors’, then find (obviously either a mail or female) actor/actress – and watch as many of their films and interviews as you can. It’s surprisingly good fun.

What are the best movies to watch in French?

Fortunately, with Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube and many other platforms, it’s easy to find things to watch in French these days. The below are my recommendations, as they worked well for me. Some of them aren’t films I know but I thought why not include them here, so here you are:

• Peppa Pig / Friends (I’m including these for beginners who have excess time to spend doing this)
• Call My Agent (otherwise known as ‘Ten Percent’), currently found on Netflix. There’s a British-produced version, but to be honest, I preferred the original French. It can be quite fast-paced but you’ll find you’ll be able to pick up a fair amount of what’s going on.
• Jean de Florette – a classic French film, starring Gérard Dépardieu, don’t let the fact that it was made 35 years ago put you off!
• Manon des Sources  – the sequel to the above, if you liked that, you’ll like this.
• Armour – Ranked no.18 in Timeout’s all-time best 100 French films, made in 2012, it’s a romantic drama that has won many awards.

Of course, there are hundreds of films and TV shows you can watch that were created originally in French. The above are just my favourites.

When will I be able to understand French movies?

If you’re a beginner, you won’t be able to understand them at all. Maybe, if you watch some popular programmes that you know (a popular example is ‘Friends’ as I mentioned in the list above) then perhaps you’ll be able to pick out some bits as you’ll remember what they said in English when you first watched it.

However, as I said above – unless you have a lot of time to spare, watching French films isn’t going to do you much good until you’re slightly more skilled.

Therefore, if we’re saying that you won’t understand French films until you’re an intermediate – then how long will that take? Well, the simple answer is that it depends on how much time you’ve got to learn each day.

If you’re a typical French learner, who started to learn from scratch (like me) and you only have an hour or two each day to put into it, then it’s probably not worth starting to even try watching films in French for around a year. Up to that point your time is better spent doing other things to try and get you up to the level needed to even understand some of what’s going on!

Conclusion

Watching French films (without subtitles) is a very good way to increase your comprehension of the spoken French language. However, trying to comprehend French films before you’re in a position to really understand them may send you in the wrong direction due to the shear frustration it can create.

I know how this feels first hand. In a similar manner, in the early days of studying I thought I was making progress and decided to listen to some French radio. It set me back (mentally) quite a bit when I discovered that actually, I knew nothing! I literally couldn’t understand a word!

So, by all means use this method if you have some half-decent comprehension of French already but otherwise, be prepared to discover your understanding isn’t quite as good as you’d hoped!

Of course, living in any non-English speaking country has its challenges, primarily the language difficulties. So, if you were considering moving to France to live, exactly how much French would you need to know? Could you get away with not knowing any?

For anyone considering moving to France to live, I would recommend their knowledge being at least the DELF A2 level. Although your knowledge would still be at a beginner level, you’d understand the basics. You’d be able to introduce yourself, understand simple spoken French and you’d be able to get by. Ideally though, prior to moving, your knowledge would be at the intermediate B1 level, which would really help you integrate better.

Could I live in France without knowing any French?

Yes, you could theoretically live in France without knowing any French, however it’s certainly not recommended. Apart from the obvious difficulties you may have performing the basic day-to-day tasks such as shopping and asking for a cup of coffee in a café, you would never be able to integrate properly with your local community.

According to a survey taken in 2018, around 90% of people who move to France are either learning French or are fluent. This makes sense, if you have a strong enough desire to move to the country, you will most likely have a strong desire to integrate and learn the language. I was surprised it was only 90%!

Although many French people do indeed speak English, as you may be moving to their country it should of course be you that tries to integrate with them, not the other way around.

What’s the minimum level of French I would need to live in France?

The very minimum level of French I’d recommend people who are considering moving to France would be the DELF A2 level. If you’re at this level, then you will know the basics. You’ll even be able to have basic conversations and dialogue with native speaking French people.

You’ll be able to read signs, write basic communications and you’ll be able to ask directions, go shopping and and create short sentences relating to things that interest you. You’ll still struggle to understand spoken French if it’s spoken at normal speed and you won’t be able to follow most French TV. Although, you will be able to pick out a lot from news reports and weather programmes.

If you’re interested in understanding the different French levels, take a look here where you’ll see the DELF French levels and what they actually correspond to. The great thing is if you’re prepared to immerse yourself in the culture then you’ll find your language learning skills will increase dramatically when there.

Do all French people speak English?

A few years ago I drove through France to Monaco on the South coast. I had a great few days there but was embarrassed about how little French I spoke and how much I relied on the French to speak English. It was arrogant of me and was actually the catalyst for me learning French.

Prior to the trip, I had the impression that everyone in France spoke good English and I wouldn’t have any problems when over there. I was wrong and actually most people I tried to communicate with couldn’t speak English – which caused some obvious problems.

It surprised me to learn that less than 40% of French people claim to be able to speak English, I’d assumed it was much higher. However, that 40% is a whole lot more than the amount of people in the UK (or the US) that can speak French!

So, I can categorically say that not all people in France can speak English.

Would French people get angry if you don’t try and speak French?

Having spent some time in France prior to learning the language, I have my own opinion and views on this. Of course, there are so many variables. The reaction you get when you don’t even try and communicate with a French person in French and put the emphasis on them to understand what you’re saying can depend on a few things:

• What kind of person you are and how you pose the question – are you kind and considerate? Or is your tone aggressive and demanding?
• What kind of person you’re speaking to? There are all types of people on this planet, regardless of what country you’re in. Some people will be short with you, regardless of how nice you are.
• Whether the person is in a rush or not
• Your location, if you’re in a tourist area where non-French speaking people frequent then you may encounter more patience than if you’re on a street corner in one of the larger cities in France.

What you may find, even if you’re really trying to make an effort and struggling with your French – the local may just switch to English and help you out. This can be a little frustrating if you’re really trying to learn the language but bear in mind it can also be frustrating for the native French-speaker who might just want to get on with things!

Advantages of knowing French when living there

Wow, there are literally no disadvantages to being able to converse in French whilst living there. Some of the obvious advantages are:

• Being able to socialise with locals, and just chatting with them. You’ll be able to make friends a lot easier when you can talk with people. When you’re trying to integrate with a local community, you’ll struggle to do this without being to talk (and listen) to people.
• You’ll be able to go out to cafes and restaurants and not have to stress that you’ll struggle to get what you want or you’ll not be able to understand what’s being asked with you. It just removes so much of the stress from these situations!
• You can watch French TV with native French-speaking people and not have to rely on subtitles (which won’t always be available).
• Telephone conversations are practically impossible without having a grasp of the language. Imagine moving to another country and not being able to use the phone!
• If you’re trying to work there, you’ll have to at some point write written communications (emails for example). Yes, you can use google translate but you’ll find using that, your language doesn’t flow and itt takes considerably longer!

Ultimately, you’ll find yourself being happier and enjoying life in France so much more if you’re able to speak their language!

Consequences of not knowing French when living there

There’s two sides to this – one with longer term problems and one with not. If you have aspirations of learning the language, and just don’t know it now, then these problems will go away. Also, the people you’re talking to will (mostly) appreciate the fact that you’re at least trying to learn the language and will most likely have a little more patience with you!

If you don’t know French and have no desire to learn it in the future, then you’ll struggle – primarily for these reasons:

• You will struggle to make friends outside of other English-speaking individuals.
• You will not be able to find work (if you need it)
• Any social event will be challenging and stressful
• Going out to cafes, restaurants, shops will need to involve a French-speaking friend (who also speaks English)
• You will be considered potentially arrogant for not even trying to learn the native language of where you now live.

I think the key here is to at least make an effort!

Conclusion – living in France and knowledge of their language

It will only be the most arrogant of people who would assume they can move to another country and think they can get away with not even trying to learn the host language whilst integrating into the country.

To be able to live in France and enjoy life then you really need to integrate, and the only way to do this is to learn their language. There can be no excuses, not even age – there’s no reason why someone older can’t start to learn French.

Learning another language can be the most rewarding thing you can do in your free time. Combine this with the benefits you’ll get whilst learning in that country is priceless.

The very best advice I could give to anyone wanting to learn French would be to ensure they spend every second of their precious free time on something that will actually help them move forward. It’s too easy to take the easy option and many new learners will get sucked into using apps that claim to be able to fast-track your learning.

The problem is that many of these apps are really good fun and make you believe you’re making progress. Which, in a way, you are, but slowly. They’re a long way from being the most efficient learning tools available to you and your learning progress will be a lot slower if you rely on these apps rather than if you allow them to simply complement your learning.

Therefore, what I’m presenting to you in this article is a simple guide on what you need to focus on when learning French, depending on how much time you have free.

How to use this guide

Depending on how long you have to spend each day will dictate exactly what you prioritise. For instance, smaller amounts of time each day will mean you will need to focus more on spoken French than grammar. The more time you have, the more time you can spend on more areas of the language.

Each section below will list one or more of the below techniques. Simply apply these for the amount of time suggested. It’s all about keeping it as simple as possible as when something becomes complicated – it’s natural for us to lose interest and start doing our own things.

The different categories are:

Conversational Practice

This is where you build up small elements of French conversation that you can use and insert into your language going forward. The method for this is very simple however putting it into practice is more challenging, as it should be. It can be frustrating – actually, I’d go as far as to say that it should be frustrating for you to know that you’re going in the right direction! Here are the steps:

1. Think of a subject that you’d like to be able to talk about in French, and write in English (or record in a video) what you want about it. Ensure that what you’ve recorded takes between a minute or two to read.
2. Convert what you’ve recorded into French without looking up words. This might mean that you have to translate the vast majority of the words from English into French, but that’s fine.
3. For any words you don’t know, create a flashcard using Anki (see below).
4. Repeat step 2 until you’re reasonably confident you know the words, if it’s taking too long – move on to a different subject from step 1.

There are many positives to this method. Firstly, you’re going to learn little snippets of conversation that you’ll be able to use when you first engage in conversation with someone in French. Secondly, your vocabulary will be forced to improve. Thirdly, your confidence will go through the roof.

The reason why this method is so effective is that you’re learning to talk about something that you’re familiar with. You’ll be more comfortable with it and more interested in it.

Vocabulary / Flashcards (via Anki)

You’re not going to get very far without knowing some actual French words, right? There are a few ways we’re going to improve vocabulary but the foundation of this will be via flashcards utilising Anki.

Anki uses spaced repetition in order to help you to remember the words you’re trying to remember. The underlying algorithm for this is a little complex, but in a nutshell what it means is that if you are continually able to get a word correct, you’ll see it less often. If you are struggling to remember a particular word, you’ll see it often.

It’s very important to understand that with Anki, you’re only going to get out of it as much as you put in. What I mean by this is that you need to put in enough information for you to be able to understand what you’re trying to learn.

For example, in the below – I could have simply stated the differences between ‘qui’ and ‘que’ – but that won’t help me actually understand it – so I put more information so I not only get the answer but the reason why. Here’s what I put:

Also, there are many ways to use Anki to determine what words you’re having trouble with. For instance, let’s take a look at a particular deck of cards. The higher the percentage, the easier I find them. So, you can see in the below, there are 3 cards in red. These are cards that I’m continually getting wrong:

If you were then to click into this red bar, you’d see all the cards that it consists of (i.e. the ones you’re struggling with). What you should then do is modify the card to provide more information that can be used in order for you to remember it. What’s in there at the moment, considering how many times those cards aren’t being committed to memory, obviously don’t have enough information to help you.

How you create these decks is up to you, however, I’ve found that for me, what works is by having a new deck for each month.

Anki is simple to use and every time you discover a new word you’re unfamiliar with, create a card for it but ensure that you have the ‘Basic (and reversed card)’ type selected. This will ensure that you are not only forced to remember the English -> French, but also the French -> English translation also. It’ll double the number of cards you need to get through but there’s no point in being able to translate only one way!

By the way, perhaps I should say here that I have no affiliation with Anki! Just I’ve used so many of these flashcard programmes – Anki is the best and the most configurable. Also, you can use it for free!

Comprehension Practice

Oh, how I wish I’d spent more time on this when I first started learning French! It’s all very well being able to get by and speak the language in the basic form, but if you can’t understand what’s being said back to you, it’s not going to be that much good to you.

This takes a lot of time. The French can speak very quickly and you simply don’t have the time to be able to translate each word from French to English as they’re speaking. You need to just ‘know’ what each word means otherwise by the time you’ve translated a particular word the sentence has finished and you’ve lost track of what’s going on.

The only way to do this is with a combination of vocabulary building (via Anki as mentioned above) and by practising listening to French.

There are a few ways to do this, but these are the best:

• Listening to French YouTube learning channels, initially with subtitles in English, then subtitles in French, then without altogether.
• Watching French programmes, a great example is a series called ‘Extra’ – just search for it on YouTube. It’s pretty poorly produced but good fun and the language is designed for beginners/lower intermediate viewers.
• Watching TV/films with French subtitles
• Listening to French radio

You’ll find that you won’t understand a lot of what’s being said, even after some time of learning. However, you are still learning. You’ll become more familiar with how the French speak (and the speed) and you’ll start to pick out one or two words that you actually understand.

For words that keep coming up that you don’t understand or can’t work out given the context, add them to your Anki vocabulary deck.

Writing / Grammar Practice

For those people who want to take formal qualifications or will have a requirement to write in French, you’re going to have to get to grips with the written language and its grammar. It does of course help if you have a decent understanding of English grammar but if you don’t – it doesn’t matter.

My grammar was pretty appalling prior to learning French but the great thing about learning a new language is that it will additionally improve your grammar.

Practice writing postcards, emails, little notes, etc. They don’t have to be long, just find topics that you think you’d like to talk about and go for it. Be honest and strict with yourself when checking your spelling – add the mistakes that you made to your Anki deck. This is actually something that Duolingo can help you with, more on that below.

French Courses

There are so many French courses available it’s easy to get lost and not know where to start. Some of them are video-based, some are audio-only and some are the old-fashioned book method.

But are they a good way to spend your time if that time is limited? Having spent too much time on one of these courses myself, I think I can categorically say no, spending all your time on one of these courses is not a good way to use your time.

However, they can be a good way to complement your language learning. If you’d like to check out my review of the Pimsleur learning course, take a look at my comprehensive review here. Don’t get me wrong, this was a fantastic course and really helped me set the foundations of my learning.

However, I spent too much time focused on just this and neglected other areas that were actually more important. This meant I was playing catch-up for some time after completing the course.

So, I would not discount courses totally as long as you manage them as part of the time you have each day correctly.

Apps (particularly Duolingo)

I’ve lost track of how many French apps I’ve downloaded since I started learning. Most of those were deleted a little after installing but some still remain.

I’m going to focus primarily on Duolingo here as this is the one that gets so much attention. Firstly, there’s nothing wrong with it as such – as long as you use it in the right way. What do I mean by this? Well, don’t use the app – for starters. Use the web-based version, it’s just better.

With the web-based version, you’re not restricted by how many mistakes you make. On the app, if you make a few you either need to buy it or wait until the next day. On the website version, it’s unlimited.

You also need to use it in the right way to get anything from it. When you’re giving your answers, you have a couple of ways of doing it. Either by using the ‘word bank’ where the possible correct (and wrong) answers appear on the screen and you need to choose them. Or, they don’t appear and you have to type in the answer manually.

Let me demonstrate, here’s the method using the word bank:

Here’s the method without using the word bank:

As you can see, the bottom screenshot doesn’t give you any help. So, here you can’t take the easy route – you have to get the answer correct as well as the spelling. You must use this method if you want to get anything out of Duolingo.

So, you can get something out of using it – your vocabulary can improve as well as your grammar (if you use it as I’ve suggested above). But don’t rely on it, you’ll never become fluent just using Duolingo.

How to learn French if you have 30 minutes a day

If you only have a short amount of time each day to spend learning French, you’re really going to have to focus on your priorities. These should be speaking and understanding French. Being able to write, understand grammar and read will come with time but the focus here is to be able to eventually engage in a conversation in French, and understand what is being said to you.

Therefore, your 30 minutes a day is going to be split between speaking and comprehension. This really isn’t a lot of time to utilise and we’re going to need to focus on just the basics.

20 minutes – Conversational Practice

Given the amount of time you have here, you’re unlikely to complete this in 20 minutes. So, you’ll need to just continue during the next session.

10 minutes – Vocabulary / Anki

You won’t always get time to complete all the words you have in your decks that are due for that day given the amount of time you have. Just do your best.

How long will it take to get to French B2 level if I study for 30 minutes a day?

Using the estimate of 650 hours to get to the French B2 level, it will take you around 3.5 years to get to this level of competency.

How to learn French if you have 1 hour a day

This is probably the most common amount of time that people have to learn French. Even just an hour every day can be hard to find sometimes.

25 minutes – Conversational Practice

15 minutes – Vocabulary / Anki

10 minutes – Writing / Grammar

10 minutes – Comprehension

How long will it take to get to French B2 level if I study for 1 hour a day?

Studying French using this method for one hour a day, every day, will get you to the French B2 level in just under 2 years. Remember, this isn’t just five days a week – it’s every single day.

How to learn French if you have 2 hours a day

30 minutes – Conversational Practice

25 minutes – Vocabulary / Anki

20 minutes – Writing / Grammar

30 minutes – Comprehension

15 minutes – Apps (Duolingo)

How long will it take to get to French B2 level if I study for 2 hours a day?

Studying French using the above method for two hours a day, every day, will get you to the French B2 level in under a year (possibly 10/11 months).

How to learn French if you have 3 hours a day

30 minutes – Conversational Practice

30 minutes – Vocabulary / Anki

30 minutes – Writing / Grammar

60 minutes – Comprehension

10 minutes – Apps (Duolingo)

20 minutes – Course

How long will it take to get to French B2 level if I study for 3 hours a day?

Studying French using this method for three hours a day, every day, will get you to the French B2 level possibly between 6 and 9 months.

How to learn French if you have 4 hours a day

40 minutes – Conversational Practice

40 minutes – Vocabulary / Anki

30 minutes – Writing / Grammar

80 minutes – Comprehension

20 minutes – Apps (Duolingo)

30 minutes – Course

How long will it take to get to French B2 level if I study for 4 hours a day?

Studying French using this method for four hours a day, every single day, will get you to the French B2 level possibly after around 6 months.

Bear in mind, that the more you study every day, the harder it is to maintain. Therefore, the actual chances of getting to this B2 French level in such a small timeframe are very difficult.

It’s very easy to become distracted and (I’ve noticed this myself) if I give myself an hour to do some part of French learning, often I find myself on Instagram or Facebook or getting a cup of tea. Basically, I procrastinate all the time. So, the point is – actually studying for these timeframes is really challenging and needs a lot of dedication.

Conclusion

I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to have a structured learning plan when learning French (or any language actually). The above plans are based not on science, but on experience. They are based on the mistakes I made whilst learning and what, looking back, I should have done which would have accelerated my learning.

If you can speak French at a language level of B2, then it means you are an advanced-intermeidate speaker. You have progressed beyond the initial beginner stages of the language and you can hold a reasonable conversation with native-speakers, but you are not yet considered fluent.

What are the different French language levels?

There are six main categories of proficiency when it comes to your mastery of the French language. Actually, not just the French language, but any. This makes it easy to know what level any individual is at, at any time, in any language – and it’s a globally accepted standard.

The laguage proficiency levels are split between A, B & C – and in each of these levels you have 1 & 2, where C is the most advanced and 2, in each case, is a higher level than 1. Therefore (graph needed):

• A1: Beginner – you’ll understand only the very basics at this level and similarly when speaking, you’ll be able to introduce yourself and your family/friends. You’ll be able to write a simple postcard.
• A2: Beginner – you’ll be able to understand other areas of daily life, such as shopping, personal information and information about your line of work. You’ll be able to speak about frequent tasks and talk about familiar subjects. Short exchanges of conversation will be possible although your vocabularly will be too limited to go far with this. Your writing skills will include notes and messages and slightly more complex letters.
• B1: Intermediate – you’ll be able to understand most of the conversations used in day-to-day work and other aspects of life such as school and social activities. Radio or TV programmes are starting to become more understandable at this level. As far as spoken French is concerned, you’ll be able to handle most environments now in places where French is spoken. You’ll be able to write personal letters relating to your own experiences.
• B2: Intermediate – complex discussions are now understandable and at this level, you’ll be able to follow most French TV news programmes and other productions in standard dialect. You’ll be able to converse more naturally with native speakers and engage in normal converstations comfortably. You’ll be able to write in French relating to a broad range of subjects.
• C1: Advanced – comprehension of complex conversations is possible and all TV should be understood without too much difficulty. Your speaking skills will be close to fluent and you’ll be able to construct dialogues as you wish in real-time.
• C2: Advanced – Any kind of spoken French is now achievable, you’ll be able to read all types of written French and can express yourself, about any subject, fluently.

Depending on what type of person you are, you’ll either be bothered about the above and use it as motivation to progress through the different levels – or, it simply won’t matter and you’ll just learn as much as you need and to the level that you want!

What level of French would I need for a French-speaking job?

If you search for this specific question online you’ll get a fair few different responses and if truth be told, it depends on quite a few factors. To give you an obvious example, if your French colleagues speak excellent English, then you could get away with even A1 or A2-level knowledge.

It would make sense, if you really wanted to fit in, that your knowledge equates to the intermediate, ‘B’ level. That way, you will be able to contribute to discussions in French and it would certainly help with integrating into their conversations without having to ask them to translate.

Of course, you will find that being emmersed with French-speaking colleagues, your own skill-level will improve dramatically. However, if you rely on them to speak in English all the time, you’ll be missing out on a golden opportunity to improve.

How long would it take to get to French B2 level?

The question around how long it will take to achieve a certain level in French is probably the most common question we get – and it’s a good one. I asked it initially a lot myself!

You’ll see a spread of numbers when you search this online, but having traveled this journey myself, I think a fair estimate is ~650 hours. However there are many variables involved, such as:

• What your initial level was in French.
• How well you understand grammar in your native language.
• How quickly you can absorb new information.
• Your approach to learning (spending 650 hours on Duolingo will not get you there for example).
• How many hours a day you can commit to learning, often and little is better than sporadic and a lot.
• Your motivation.

So, if we assume you’re putting in just one hour a day, including weekends, then that would equate of course to 650 days, or a couple of months short of two years.

For me, my initial level was zero – I knew next to nothing. I also had pretty poor grammar in English, and although this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to learn French, it means it may take just a little longer!

As far as absorbing new information is concerned, only you can know this but I’m certainly not anything special in this area. In fact, I’ve spent the last week trying to remember the phrase, “Ce n’est pas étonnant” (which means, ‘it’s not surprising’).

For some reason, the word ‘étonnant’, which means, ‘amazing/astonishing/surprising, etc.’ just doesn’t sink in! My point here is that it’s completely normal to have stumbling blocks, you’ve just got to push through them.

Is French B2 level as good as native-speakers?

Although being able to speak at a B2 level in French is very good, it’s still a long way from being fluent! That’s not a bad thing, it’s just the truth. However, you will be able to have a conversation with a native-speaking French person and you will definitely understand most of what’s being said (as long as they don’t speak too quickly!).

At the French B2 level, you’re a long way past the basics. You’ll be able to form opinions, negotiate and explain things in a good level of detail.

To give you the perfect example of why the French B2 level is regarded so highly, consider this. Universities in French would allow you to enter their universities if you have passed this exam. I think that says it all really. If you can get to this level, you will know enough to be able to get by.

Where you might struggle is listening to native French-conversations. They speak very fast. If you’ve listened to any French radio, you may have already encountered this. It’s very demoralising as you wonder how you can ever get to the point where you can understand what’s being said! It will take time but you’ll start to pick out more and more words that you understand over time.

Conclusion – what is the French B2 level?

So, there you go – if you can get to the French B2 level then you’re in a very good position! You’ll be able to watch most French television and follow films in French without the need for subtitles in English. You’ll be able to speak to native French-speaking people and you’ll be able to write in French about many things.

Having a goal of acquiring the French B2 level is a great goal and for all beginners should be something to aspire to – it was for me!

You’ll be pleased to know that there is no reason to start learning French when you’re over 50. In fact, there are several more reasons to start than there are to not. You will find that after reading the below, you’ll probably be convinced that it’s a great idea to delay no more!

Is there any point in starting?

I know how you feel. I’m over 50 myself and it’s totally understandable that you have these doubts. The longest and most difficult step you’ll take though is the first one.

I know this as I did exactly the same. There were several doubts that I had, but the main ones were:

• I don’t have the same mental ability that I used to
• I’m too old to enjoy the results
• I don’t have the time

The only real point of significance out of the above is the last point, but I’ll get onto this (and indeed the other points) in a bit.

The very best thing you can do now (well, after reading this) is to construct a simple plan to cover your learning for the first week. Learning French is quite a time-sink but you’ll soon get a feel for exactly how much time you can commit to it.

If you want to get to a decent level of learning, unless you’re some kind of super-human, is going to take you a long time, maybe years. It won’t take you years to have a conversation or understand the basics, but it will take you a long time if you want to comprehend French shows and films without relying on subtitles.

My point here is you won’t know how much time you really have to give to the learning process until you dive in. So, you should do just that – dive in, and without delay!

Will learning French be harder when you’re over 50?

Learning French when you’re over 50, unless you’re retired, will probably be harder than when you were in your 20s. But probably not for the reasons you think.

Your mental ability to consume knowledge when older does not diminish, despite what many think. Assuming you’re healthy and have no cognitive issues, the learning process will not be any more difficult.

The only reason why you may find it harder to learn French in your 50s compared to when you were younger is due to other things going on in your life at this age. Younger people typically don’t have as many responsibilities. You may be a parent (or a grandparent), have a job that consumes a lot of time and just have more distractions.

However, on the flip-side to this, you may well be better at managing your time than when you were younger and additionally you may be better at handling distractions. Or you might not – if you’re anything like me!

Does it take longer to learn French when you’re older?

The only reason why it can take longer to learn French when you’re older is that you don’t have the amount of free time that you used to when you were younger!

Of course, how long it’s going to take for you to get a good understanding of French depends on the type of person you are and how much time you can commit to it.

I had two challenges initially. Firstly, I was starting from literally nothing. It was a long time since I studied French at school and even back then I didn’t get a good grade. I knew only the very basics. The second challenge I had (and continue to have to some degree) was that my comprehension of English grammar wasn’t particularly good.

You certainly don’t need to have a good comprehension of grammar before starting to learn but it will definitely help you if you do! The good thing about learning another language is that by going through the learning process, you can’t help but improve the grammar of your native language.

What’s the best way to learn French if you’re over 50?

If you’re over 50, the best way to learn French is the same as if you were 30 years younger! Your age isn’t really relevant.

The best advice I can give is to form a plan in the early days as to how you’re going to approach your learning. You’ll know how many hours you can dedicate to the process every day. Split this up between the core essentials:

• Basics (grammar and simple sentences)
• Vocabulary – use a flashcard tool such as Anki to remember new words
• Writing – it’s tempting to ignore this but it’ll help you out no-end if from the very start you practise writing/spelling.
• Comprehension – listen to YouTube or watch programmes in French (but with subtitles). Comprehension is something I ignored in the early days and being able to listen to conversations and understand them is probably my biggest weakness.
• Fun stuff – get an app, such as Duolingo. You won’t be able to learn French fully using this but it’s easy to use and fun. Sometimes you just need to do something different – this can be that thing.

Conclusion

Hopefully, it’s quite clear now that there are no barriers related to age that should prevent you from starting to learn French.

I think sometimes people are looking for excuses not to start, and in theory, this is a great one. Except, it’s not. Your age does not mean you’re going to find learning French any harder than when you were younger, in fact, for the reasons I stated above, you may even find it easier.

The very best thing you can do is to just start. Starting today will make the process longer than if you started yesterday but you’ll find it quicker than if you wait until tomorrow.

So, what are you waiting for…get on with it!

You’ll be pleased to discover that French is such a useful language to learn there will be many uses for it long after its initial purpose has been served.

Discover why learning French can be nothing short of life-changing for those prepared to commit to the language, both personally and professionally.

How many people speak French in the world?

It is estimated that about 280 million people (but may be as high as 300 million) currently speak French, that’s 77 million native people and the rest are from other countries and territories. French is not an uncommon language. In fact, it’s the 5th most popular language on the planet!

What does this mean? It means that the new language you’ve spent months (or years) perfecting is of significant use in other parts of the world and there will be a large number of people in your country that speak it. It certainly won’t go to waste as you’ll find many other people will speak it also.

What countries can I visit that will speak French?

There are 29 countries that speak French as their native language, in alphabetical order, these are:

Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, France, Haiti, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Monaco, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo and Vanuatu.

However, that doesn’t show us the complete picture of course. In many European countries, you will find a large percentage of people speak French as a second language. Many other people have a good understanding of it.

So, when you are on holiday or perhaps considering working overseas, there is a good chance that you will encounter many others who have a solid understanding of French.

Will learning French help me get a new job?

Apart from the social side, learning French can open up new doors in your career. Firstly, just being able to say on your résumé that you can speak another language makes your profile more appealing. It demonstrates a level of intelligence and a curiosity for other cultures.

There are also many jobs that require French as a second language. For instance, many technical systems are developed in France. Therefore, there are IT positions required where contact is required with these developers, who obviously speak French. There are many similar opportunities available for French-speaking people located overseas.

Entertainment

This may be an area that you haven’t thought of but there are many fantastic French shows and films that are (obviously) in French. Yes, it’s possible these days to watch them with English subtitles but it doesn’t beat just watching them and understanding what’s going on as they were originally intended.

Whether it’s the Last Flight Home, or something older (much older) such as Les Enfants du Paradis – this is going to open up a whole new level of entertainment for you. I won’t bore you will a pointless list of all the films and shows that were produced in France – you can do that easily online, but do check it out – you’ll be surprised!

Alternatively, don’t forget that you have now the ability to read French literature and magazines!

Income Opportunities

This shouldn’t be an area you disregard. Learning French can be useful for more reasons than you initially thought. For instance, there are always people wanting to start learning French. And here you are, having just done this.

So, why not help those people that are learning by using the knowledge that you’ve now acquired? You can do this using lots of different ways but here are some examples of how you can make some extra money by helping others:

• Become a teacher – initially, this may be for those just starting out but you’re in an ideal position to teach others how to achieve what you’ve already completed.
• Start a YouTube channel – many are doing this and doing quite well out of it. You can give lessons online or you can just share your French language-learning journey with the public.
• Create a course – again, many people succeed in doing this. Create a course that simplifies what you’re learned and helps people avoid the mistakes that you made. Combine this with a website and use this (or the YouTube channel) to publicise your course!

Conclusion

Learning French will change your life, for the better. There are literally no downsides (if you don’t count the amount of time it will take you to initially learn it). It is one of the most popular languages on the planet and has many uses, so learning it will not be a regret.

Think about it this way – when you’re older, do you think that you’ll ever say, ‘boy, I wish I hadn’t learned French.’ – no, it will be something that can not only increase your professional status in the workplace but can increase your social skills and make you new friends.

It doesn’t have to cost you anything to learn but you can earn from it once you’ve achieved it. It will never fail to give a return.

All these methods can work, and do work – and they are typically combined with other methods.

However, one particular method is mentioned over and over again, particularly in recent times when it’s become so much easier to watch television in other languages. Is it therefore possible to learn a language by watching French TV?

Watching French TV is a fantastic way to improve your French. However, this method can only be used to complement your French learning – it can not be used as the only method. It should, however, be part of your French language learning and I’ll explain why below.

Can I learn French ONLY by watching French TV?

Learning French only by watching French television is not possible. At least not for the vast majority of us! Although you can get a feel for the language by watching programmes you’re familiar with (so you understand the general direction of it) – there will be many words that you simply don’t know.

Therefore, the bare minimum that you will need is something like Anki (flashcard software) to enable you to learn the many words that you’re not going to know.

Learning French just by watching television in French is not an efficient way to consume the French language. However, it should form part of your learning.

Will watching French TV help me to learn French?

Yes, watching French tv will absolutely help you in learning French and you should introduce this into your learning at an early point. There are several reasons why you should do this:

• Watching French TV will help you become more familiar with how fast the French speak and how they merge words together, just to make things even more difficult for you
• You will learn new words that most likely haven’t appeared in your coursework. Informal conversations in French can be improved by listening to and practising what you see.
• It’s a refreshing break from the normal methods of learning. Let’s face it, it can be boring spending hours in Anki trying to remember (for the 50th time) a single word.
• Your pronunciation of words will be improved.

Learning French by watching tv shows in French isn’t easy though. You will, at first, at least have to slow the speed down (not always possible) and you shouldn’t be tempted to have the English subtitles displayed as you’ll end up (believe me) just subconsciously looking at those instead of listening! Remember, if there’s an easy option available your brain will automatically want to take it.

What shows are best to teach me the French language?

Choosing what to watch in French is of course key to how much you’re going to get out of it. There’s literally no point in diving into some classic French film starring Gérard Depardieu. At least not initially, leave those for the 2nd year! As good as it may be, you’ll learn nothing from it. Initially, you’re going to need to start with something very simple, even cartoons.

These are my recommendations for what to take a look at, depending on your level. However, don’t expect this to be easy. You’re going to need to watch a bit, rewind, and watch again. Then repeat.

Beginner

Peppa Pig (Netflix / YouTube)- yes, it’s a cartoon but I remember being so disappointed when my son decided he was too old to continue to watch it, I used to love it! It’s short and aimed at kids. So, watching it in French is the perfect place to start.

French in Action – You can find episodes of this old series of programmes on YouTube. It teaches French in a different way – associating actions that you can see visually with words. So, you’re not asked to memorise an English word with a French word. You’re just expected to associate what you can see happening on the screen, with a French word.

For instance, you will see clips of some people rushing around with the narrator saying, ‘ils sont pressés’ – then clips of others relaxing where the narrator says, ‘ils ne sont pas pressés’.

This is a different way of learning but has been proven to have successful results – I’d definitely recommend it if you fancy trying something a bit different.

Extra French – slightly more advanced than the others but I like this as the actors speak slowly enough to allow you to follow a lot of it. It’s not as stressful as some other programmes for sure and it feels like it’s been designed just for this purpose.

Intermediate

10 per cent (Dix Pour Cent) – Definitely a step up from the beginner shows you can watch but this is a great show that’s a Netflix production, so you can find it there. It follows the story of the agents of famous actors (10% is the agent’s fee).

Le chalet – Another netflix production and definitely, again, for intermediate users. Some friends meet up in the Alps but things don’t go as well as they hoped. It’s not a long production but definitely worth watching.

Conclusion

Don’t try and learn the French language just by watching television. However, watching French TV shows (without English subtitles) is a great way to complement your learning once you’ve moved on from the very basics.

These days there are hundreds of different shows and films you can watch and many different methods you can use to consume them (YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, etc.) – we’re spoiled for choice!

It’s apparent that many have tried and some people swear by systems they claim to have found online that have some solution to this problem. All you need to do is pay them a large fee and all will be revealed. Many get suckered into this, thinking there’s a new way, a secret magical way to short-cut the pain of learning a language. It has parallels to get-rich-quick schemes!

However, It is clear that it is possible to learn French to a very good standard in just four months. However, this will require intensive study and many who attempt this won’t have the ability to complete it.

Let me explain what is and what is not possible in such a short timeframe.

What do you know already?

We have to assume your knowledge of French is at beginner level here and we’re trying to learn the language from scratch. We also have to assume you don’t already have a second language in the bag. For instance, if you already understand English and Spanish, then French will be slightly easier.

Both French and Spanish are Italic languages, whereas English belongs to the Germanic family. There are a lot of grammatical similarities and soundings between French and Spanish so someone who understands Spanish should find learning French easier, than someone who only knows English.

What do you want to achieve in 4 months?

It’s important to agree on what you expect to achieve after just four months. Do you expect to be fluent in the language with additionally a solid ability to write in French (so grammar is important) as well as comprehension of spoken French?

Four months is an incredibly short amount of time. To try and focus as much on the written language and grammar, as well as speaking and comprehension is going to be difficult to achieve in such a short time-frame. It’s going to take a mammoth effort and a lot of things will have to be put on hold for a while!

Let’s take a look at how much time you have and what’s possible in this time.

How much time do you have to learn French?

Let’s assume you have 120 days (i.e. 4 months) to learn French and you’re prepared to commit 8 hours a day, 100% on learning French. No weekend breaks and this is not including breaks for food, rest or anything. It’s an almost unobtainable, unreasonable schedule – but if you’re looking at doing this in the first place, you’ll accept that you won’t have time for anything else for the next 1/3 of a year.

This equates to 960 hours that you will have to learn French, is this enough time? What can you expect to achieve during this time if you stick to it?

According to two educational bodies, this is surprisingly more than enough time to learn French to B2, look at the tables below, the first is the defined language levels (i.e. B1/B2, etc.) and what they mean and the second table is the amount of hours typically required to get to this level.

Therefore, with 960 hours, It should be possible, in theory, to get to C1 level! This is an exceptional level to be at and is more than sufficient for every-day French use and also for most business requirements.

So, according to the stats – at least now we know one thing. It’s possible. Although not easy, it can be done.

What would you need to learn first?

You need to get the basics down so you’ll be focusing on simple French grammar and basic expressions and greetings. Other essentials like numbers will need to be covered. However, the day will need to be split between different categories – you won’t be able to focus on just one area for several hours per day. It’ll drive you nuts.

Basic conjugations will need to be explored early – but equally as important as this is comprehension of spoken French. It’s all very well being able to speak the language but if you can’t understand what’s being said to you, you’ve only solved half the problem.

So, therefore at least a couple of hours a day will need to be spent listening to spoken French. Whether that’s the radio, YouTube, Netflix or podcasts – that would need to be defined but I can’t stress the importance of this enough. The French speak fast. The earlier you get a feel for this speed and try and pick up the occasional word, the better.

How many new words in French would you need to learn a day?

Learning new words is of course essential to learning French but there is a limit to how many words you’re going to be able to learn (and absorb) daily. This will depend on the individual but you will be doing very well to learn more than 30 a day. I would certainly struggle with half of that amount but then I don’t learn for 8 hours a day.

30 new words a day, equates to 3,600 new French words over the course of 4 months which would be sufficient for you to converse in the language after this time. I wouldn’t assume you’d be able to do this day-in, day-out though and a more conservative estimate of 15-20 could perhaps be more realistic.

How to structure your day to maximise learning

You day must be structured to the minute if you’re to maintain 8 hours a day for 120 days. The schedule will need to adapt to your level of knowledge and how it will look at the beginning will be different to how it will look after a month.

There are some mandatory components that need to be in-place for this to work though, which must include the following – these three components will be with you throughout the four months:

• Anki – you’ll need this flashcard tool to learn new words every day. You’ll probably spend at least an hour a day on this initially, possibly more.
• Practice conversations – you should find subjects that you want to talk about, and try and do this in French. Have a new conversation topic every day – you’ll need to repeat it several times for it to sink in. This is a great way to learn little topics that will help you not only learn new words but will enable you to talk about a few subjects in French.
• Comprehension – You’ll need to spend at least a couple of hours a day just listening to spoken French. Initially, this will probably need to be slowed down via YouTube as you just won’t be able to understand it.

Other things that you will need to look at our podcasts and of course sessions with tutors (look at Italki).

How good will you be after 4 months?

According to the table above, you could, if you can put in the amount of hours required reach the C1 level, which would mean you would have no problems conversing with someone speaking French for a prolonged period.

Realistically though, having been learning myself for some time, I don’t believe this is realistic. Having to study for 8 hours a day doing anything is a challenge.

If you include some downtime, so you don’t study at all during weekends, it reduces your study time by at least 256 hours, which will mean you will have around 700 hours to study. This should still be sufficient for a high B2 or a lower C1 and may be more sustainable over that length of time.

Conclusion

There’s enough evidence out there to conclude that given enough focus, it is certainly possible to learn French in four months. Maybe not for everyone, like me. I don’t think that many people would be able to learn the amount of words you need every single day to increase your vocabulary and I don’t think there’s many people out there that would be able to sustain the intensity over a four-month period.