Basic French Language Learning: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

For basic French, run a daily IPO routine—Input (10–15 minutes of listening/reading), Practice (10–15 minutes of targeted drills), Output (10–15 minutes of speaking/writing)—plus one weekly live session for feedback. With consistency, most beginners reach A1 in 6–10 weeks.

Who this guide is for

This guide is for absolute beginners who want a no-nonsense path into French that actually fits around studies, work, and family. It lays out the essential sounds, phrases and grammar in a sequence that builds momentum, then gives a simple 4-week plan anyone can follow. The approach comes from Gaëlle & French Tutors—native teachers offering lessons in London and online—whose beginners succeed because they keep sessions short, feedback regular, and goals visible.

Read more: How to Prepare for Your First French Lesson in London

What “basic French language learning” really means

At the basic level (A1 into early A2), learners aim to:

• Understand and use everyday expressions (greetings, directions, cafés, timetables).

• Handle simple exchanges: introduce themselves, ask for information, make small requests.

• Talk about the near future and recent past in simple, practical sentences.

• Pronounce clearly enough to be understood without constant repetition.

They do not need fancy grammar or rare vocabulary. They need clarity, repetition, and small wins that stack up.

Read more: How Learning French Can Boost Your London Trip Notes

Pronunciation first: the four fixes that unlock everything

British learners usually improve fastest by solving these early:

1. Nasal vowels: an/en/in/on. Keep them in the nose (no trailing “n” sound).

2. Vowel pairs: é /e/ vs è /ɛ/; peu /pø/ vs peur /pœʁ/.

3. Liaison and elision: link words smoothly (vous_avez, j’aime), drop the vowel where needed (l’école).

4. Rhythm: French is syllable-timed. Keep beats regular; avoid English-style stress spikes.

60-second drill (daily): pick a 1–2 sentence mini-script (e.g., ordering a coffee). Whisper it slowly (mouth shapes), then speak it at natural pace, then shadow a native clip. Learners record themselves once a week; the difference after 3–4 weeks is motivating.

Read more: The Importance of Native French Tutors for Accurate Pronunciation

Essential phrases (the first 40 they’ll really use)

Teach and practise chunks, not isolated words:

• Polite openers: Bonjour, excusez-moi, s’il vous plaît, merci, désolé(e).

• Requêtes: Je voudrais… Est-ce que je peux… ?

• Getting around: Où est… ? C’est loin ? À droite/gauche. Combien ça coûte ?

• Café & shops: Un café allongé, l’addition s’il vous plaît, je regarde seulement.

• Emergences: J’ai besoin d’aide. Je ne me sens pas bien. Pouvez-vous appeler… ?

• Social basics: Je m’appelle…, j’habite à…, je travaille/étudie…, j’aime…

Every phrase should be spoken aloud, first with a model, then solo. Learners then write a two-line personal example so it sticks.

Read more: How a Personalised French Tutor in London Can Boost Your Confidence

Core grammar in the only order that matters

Keep it practical and usable the same day:

1. Articles & gender: le, la, un, une + common nouns learners care about.

2. Present tense of être, avoir, aller, faire (the four power verbs).

3. Négation (ne… pas) and simple questions: intonation and est-ce que.

4. Near future (aller + infinitif) to unlock plans immediately: Je vais visiter Lyon.

5. Past starter (perfect with avoir for common verbs): J’ai réservé, j’ai mangé, j’ai pris.

6. Connectors for flow: et, mais, parce que, donc, puis, avant, après, quand, où, si.

Each grammar item gets used in micro-dialogues and short recordings so it turns into skill, not just knowledge.

Read more: How Long Does It Take to Learn French Language

Vocabulary that sticks (collocations > single words)

Learners retain better when they learn collocations and sentence frames:

• prendre le métro, faire des courses, avoir besoin de, poser une question, prendre rendez-vous, être en retard.

• Add one personal sentence to every flashcard (Anki/Quizlet), not a dictionary example.

• Build toolkits by context (home, travel, study, work) instead of A-Z lists.

Read more: Where to Take French Lessons Near Me? Discover Gaëlle & French Tutors in London

The IPO daily routine (15–45 minutes)

Place this near the top of the article for skimmers and AI snippets.

Block	Time	What to do	Concrete example
Input	10–15′	Listen or read for gist → key detail	Short podcast or news explainer → 3-sentence summary
Practice	10–15′	Drills (verbs, connectors, sounds)	Present of être/avoir + 6 mini Q&As; nasal-vowel drill
Output	10–15′	Speak or write something real	60–120 sec voice note or 8–12 lines; get feedback next session

Golden rule: end on a win and show up tomorrow. Consistency beats intensity.

Read more: How Many Tenses Does French Have? Chart, Examples & Study Order.

A 4-week beginner plan (printable)

This plan is intentionally light. It builds daily momentum and gets learners using French in simple, real ways.

Week 1 — Sounds & greetings

• Pronunciation: alphabet, accents, é/è/eu, liaison basics.

• Phrases: greetings, polite forms, names, where they live/work/study.

• Grammar: être/avoir (present); subject pronouns.

• Output: 60-second recording introducing themselves.

Week 2 — Places & plans

• Phrases: directions, transport, shops/cafés; prices and numbers.

• Grammar: aller + infinitif (near future); question forms.

• Output: 8–12 lines about the coming weekend; one mini role-play (café).

Week 3 — Daily routine & questions

• Phrases: time expressions, routine verbs (se lever, travailler, rentrer).

• Grammar: negation, adverbs of frequency, basic object pronouns (it/that).

• Output: 90-second description of a typical day; two simple Q&A dialogues.

Week 4 — Little stories

• Phrases: travelling, buying tickets, meeting friends.

• Grammar: passé composé with avoir for common verbs; connectors avant/après/puis.

• Output: 2-minute monologue: “My last weekend / trip” + one short email (80–120 words).

Learners repeat the plan with new content in Month 2, swapping in new topics while reusing the same structures.

Read more: How can I learn to Speak French

Common mistakes (and quick fixes)

• Translating word-for-word → Learn chunks and frames (Je voudrais…, Est-ce que je peux… ?).

• Skipping pronunciation → Two minutes a day on nasal vowels and liaison changes everything.

• No output → Speak or write every day, even if it’s brief. The hour they don’t do is the hour they don’t improve.

• Weekend marathons → Replace with the IPO routine five days a week.

• Too many apps → Pick one SRS (Anki/Quizlet), one listening source, and one tutor/partner for feedback.

Read more: How Many Lessons Are in Duolingo French?

Tools & resources (light and focused)

• One dictionary with audio (Larousse/WordReference).

• One graded podcast or slow-news source for daily input.

• One SRS app (Anki/Quizlet) with their own sentences.

• One feedback partner (ideally a tutor) who marks a short piece weekly and runs a 5–10 minute speaking check.

Avoid tool overload. A small, boring toolkit used daily beats a shiny stack used once a fortnight.

Why feedback matters (and how to get it)

Beginners improve fastest when someone listens and corrects the right things:

• Pronunciation micro-fixes (vowel, liaison, rhythm) so strangers can understand them.

• Grammar triage (one tense, one connector, one question form at a time).

• Rewrite briefs on short emails/messages so their writing gets tidier in weeks, not years.

That’s why many learners pair self-study with one live session per week. Ten minutes of honest corrections can save ten hours of guessing.

Read more: How to Prepare for DELF B1 & B2 (2025 Guide): Formats, 8-Week Plans

About Gaëlle & French Tutors (London & online)

Gaëlle & French Tutors are native teachers helping beginners start strong and stress-free. They teach in person across London and online worldwide, and they anchor every beginner’s week on the same routine taught here:

• Short, human sessions (no marathons).

• Clear, achievable goals (e.g., “order confidently”, “ask for directions”, “two-minute story”).

• Weekly feedback: marked mini-writing, a quick speaking scorecard, and 60-second pronunciation drills.

• Flexible packages so learners can keep momentum while life stays busy.

Anyone who wants a structured, friendly start can book an intro lesson to map a four-week plan and get their first pronunciation wins.

FAQs 

How long does basic French take to learn?

• With the IPO routine and weekly feedback, most reach A1 in 6–10 weeks. Progress depends on consistency, not talent.

Do they need grammar at the start?

• Yes—just the parts they’ll use today: present tense of four key verbs, negation, simple questions, aller + infinitif.

Is Duolingo enough for basics?

• Great for input and drills, but not for speaking. Pair it with daily output and weekly feedback.

How much time per day is realistic?

• 25–40 minutes on weekdays is ideal. If time is tight, do 15 minutes—but do it most days.

How can shy learners practise speaking?

• Start with whispered slow scripts, then record a private 60–90 second note, then speak live for just one minute. Confidence grows from small wins.

Next steps (copy-and-paste plan)

1. Pick a goal for four weeks (e.g., café orders + directions + a two-minute intro).

2. Use the IPO routine five days a week (15–45 minutes total).

3. Record once weekly and write one 80–120 word email or message in French.

4. Get feedback—ask a tutor to mark the writing and run a five-minute speaking check.

5. Repeat the plan with new topics in Month 2.

If they want the easiest possible start, they can book an intro session with Gaëlle & French Tutors. The team will map level and goals, share a printable 4-week beginner plan, and set up the first pronunciation drills so basic French language learning becomes simple, consistent and—most importantly—doable.