How to Learn French on Your Own: The Best Resources from A1 to B1

Summary: This guide lists the most useful self-study resources for learning French from A1 (beginner) to B1 (intermediate), grouped by level and by skill: pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, listening and speaking. For each resource you will find what it is, who it suits, how to use it, and a link.

Key takeaways

• Beginners (A1) should pick one main course: the Busuu app, the Assimil book, or the free website Podcast Français Facile.
• Pronunciation is worth a focused effort in your first month. Short, free YouTube lessons are enough to fix the hardest sounds early.
• Verb conjugation is the hardest part of French for most learners. Practise one verb in one tense per day and build up from there.
• At A2, add slow French YouTube channels, shadowing, audiobooks, podcasts and a tandem partner.
• At B1, take the free Coursera course Étudier en France, use an intermediate grammar book, and switch to YouTube content made for native French speakers.
• Consistency beats intensity. 10 to 15 minutes a day, done every day, works.

Quick answer: the best resources to learn French by yourself

Before you start: set a realistic goal

Fast results, like reaching an advanced level within a year, usually come from unusual conditions: full-time study at an intensive language school, living in a French-speaking country, and no other work or studies. Most self-learners are not in that situation, and that is fine.

Pick a goal that matches your available time and experience. An ambitious target feels motivating, but a realistic one is healthier and more sustainable. If you have never learned a foreign language before, spend your first weeks finding a method you enjoy rather than building a heavy plan.

A1 level: French for beginners

What you should be able to do at A1

• Understand the basics of French pronunciation and sentence structure
• Use very common words
• Handle simple everyday conversations: greeting people, introducing yourself, asking for basic information

Tip for English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian speakers: you will recognize a lot of vocabulary. Take advantage of that, but do not pronounce French words the way you would in your own language. Pay close attention to the differences in sound.

Step 1: choose your main course (app, book or website)

Busuu (best app for beginners with little time)

Busuu breaks French into short lessons you can finish in 10 to 15 minutes. It includes videos of native speakers, so you hear French in real situations, which feels more lively than a textbook. The app also reminds you when to study and helps you set achievable goals.

• Best for: busy learners who want a fun, guided daily routine
• How to use it: one short lesson every day
• Link: Start learning with Busuu

Is 10 to 15 minutes a day really enough? Yes. Starting small and growing over time is one of the most effective strategies, because language learning depends on routine and consistency.

Assimil: Le français (best book for self-learners)

The Assimil method is designed for independent study. Each lesson usually takes under 30 minutes and comes with audio and exercises. The course takes you from beginner up to B2, and it is available with instructions in English, Spanish, Italian, German and Arabic.

• Best for: learners who like a clear structure and a physical book
• How to use it: one lesson per day, one every other day, or one chapter per week
• Pros: reliable content, useful phrases and dialogues, easy to plan around
• Cons: few interactive features; more expensive than free websites
• Link: Assimil: Apprendre le français

Podcast Français Facile (best free website for beginners)

Podcast Français Facile offers well-structured beginner lessons with dialogues, grammar points, exercises, video and audio. Each lesson is short and covers one specific point, for example Leçon 1: saluer, se présenter (greeting and introducing yourself) or un vs une.

• Best for: beginners who want a complete, free course
• How to use it: one or more lessons per day, depending on your time
• Link: podcastfrancaisfacile.com

TV5Monde Apprendre le français (save it for later)

TV5Monde offers free, high-quality articles, games, exercises and videos at several levels, mostly under the Langue française tab. The site is hard for complete beginners to navigate, so bookmark it now and add it to your routine once you know the basics.

• Best for: learners who already have some foundations
• Link: apprendre.tv5monde.com

Step 2: fix your pronunciation early

One of the best investments a beginner can make is a month of intensive pronunciation practice. Target the sounds that are hardest for speakers of your native language, such as the French R (regard), the nasal an/en (France) and in (intéressant). A few exercises a day from Les 500 Exercices de phonétique is enough. Over time you learn to hear the differences clearly and build a clear accent from the start.

There are also excellent free alternatives. Pick one, watch it, and practise. It takes little time and pays off for your whole learning journey.

• Learn French Pronunciation in 12 Minutes by FrenchPod101 (see also their episode on the top 5 French pronunciation mistakes)
• French Pronunciation Practice (with a real French speaker) by Comme une Française
• Phonetics exercises on Podcast Français Facile

Step 3: build a daily grammar and conjugation habit

Your main course (Busuu, Assimil or Podcast Français Facile) will cover basic grammar. On top of that, add a small daily verb conjugation exercise. Verbs let you talk about everything happening around you, and conjugation is one of the most challenging parts of French.

How to practise conjugation: start with one verb in one tense per day, then add more as you progress.

• Book: Conjugaison progressive du français, niveau débutant (A1 to A2.1), with CD
• Website: laconjugaison.fr
• Dictionaries: Reverso and Linguee are enough for every level, and Reverso also shows full conjugation tables

For extra grammar practice:

• Website: Français Facile. The design is old-fashioned, but it is very practical. Search for the grammar point you need (for example le futur simple) and you will find detailed explanations and exercises.
• Book: Grammaire progressive du français, niveau débutant (book, CD and interactive web book)

Step 4: grow your vocabulary faster

• Anki flashcards: download the shared deck "5000 Most Frequently Used French Words." It remains useful up to B1.
• French music: start a French playlist. Getting used to French songs builds interest and keeps you motivated.

A1 example study plans

These example plans are built from the resources above. Adapt or combine them to fit your schedule.

30 minutes a day

2 hours a day (intensive)

A2 level: elementary French

Everything recommended for A1 is still useful at A2. From this level, the big change is regular listening to French video and audio.

Watch French learning channels on YouTube

These channels use slow, clear French and teach basic vocabulary and grammar:

• Parlez-vous FRENCH: Learn French Online
• Français avec Pierre
• Inner French: interesting topics on French culture and society, spoken slowly

How to use them without getting lost: watch one video per day. Take notes, listen several times, and do shadowing (repeating the audio out loud right after the speaker).

When you are ready for a more natural speed, try channels about everyday life:

• French Mornings with Elisa
• Easy French
• Piece of French

Bring French into your daily life

• Readlang (Chrome extension): translates some words on the web pages you browse into French, so you learn while you read.
• Audiobooks with shadowing: Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry) and L'Étranger (Albert Camus) are good first books. Listen before bed and shadow one page, or even one paragraph, per day. Done consistently, this gets you through a whole book.
• Podcasts: listen as often as you can. The Inner French podcast is excellent at this level.

Practise speaking with a tandem partner

Find a language exchange (tandem) partner who can correct your pronunciation and grammar. A regular study buddy to chat with makes a big difference.

A2 example study plans

30 minutes a day

2 hours a day (intensive)

B1 level: intermediate French

Take the free Coursera course

Étudier en France: French Intermediate Course B1 to B2 is a free course created by experienced, professional French teachers. It includes course materials and homework, which makes it ideal for serious self-learners.

Level up your grammar

• Grammaire progressive du français, niveau intermédiaire
• Les 500 exercices de grammaire B1, with answer key
• Nouvelle Grammaire du Français (Sorbonne), for the most precise explanations

Advanced shadowing material

News in Slow French offers more advanced shadowing practice and vocabulary.

Switch to YouTube channels made for native speakers

All the channels from A2 still work. Now also start watching what French people themselves watch:

• Colas Bim: cute animated content with sentences that are not too fast or complex, and many colloquial expressions. There are only a few episodes, but it is a great fit.
• ELLE: short, fairly easy celebrity interviews from the Cannes Film Festival are excellent listening practice and an introduction to French cinema. The channel also covers yoga, cooking and make-up.
• Nassim Sahili: for learners interested in bodybuilding.
• Bref: very short episodes (1 to 2 minutes) with fast speech, perfect for learning French slang. Write down useful phrases and replay them. The series is no longer updated, but the existing episodes are still valuable.
• Student vlogs: search YouTube for vlog étudiant.

Tip: look for French channels on topics you already enjoy, such as nutrition, cooking, make-up, yoga, travel or daily vlogs. You will pick up everyday French naturally.

Watch films in French

On Disney+, watch films with French audio and French subtitles. Choose a film you already know, such as La Reine des Neiges (Frozen), so the story helps you follow along.

B1 example study plans

30 minutes a day

2 hours a day (intensive)

Frequently asked questions

Can you learn French on your own?

Yes. With a structured main course (an app, book or website), daily conjugation practice, early pronunciation work and regular listening, you can take yourself from A1 to B1 through self-study. Adding a tandem partner covers speaking practice.

What is the best way to learn French as a complete beginner?

Choose one main resource: Busuu if you want a short, fun daily routine; Assimil if you prefer a structured book; or Podcast Français Facile if you want a free, complete course. Spend your first month also working on pronunciation.

Is 10 to 15 minutes a day enough to learn French?

It is enough to make real progress if you do it every day. Consistency matters more than session length. Start small and increase your study time as the habit grows.

How long does it take to reach B1 in French?

It depends on your available time, your native language and your experience with other languages. Very fast progress usually requires full-time, intensive study in a French-speaking country, so most self-learners should set a longer, more realistic timeline.

What are the best free resources to learn French?

Podcast Français Facile, TV5Monde Apprendre le français, Français Facile, the Coursera course Étudier en France, Reverso and Linguee, the Anki 5000 words deck, and YouTube channels such as Français avec Pierre, Parlez-vous FRENCH, Easy French and Inner French.

How do I improve my French pronunciation by myself?

Do a short, focused pronunciation drill every day for your first month. Target the sounds that are hardest for speakers of your native language, such as the French R and the nasal vowels. Free resources include FrenchPod101's 12-minute pronunciation lesson, Comme une Française, and the phonetics section of Podcast Français Facile.

How can I practise speaking French if I study alone?

Use shadowing (repeating audio out loud right after the speaker) with YouTube videos, podcasts and audiobooks, and find a tandem language exchange partner who can correct your pronunciation and grammar.

What YouTube channels help you learn French?

For A2: Parlez-vous FRENCH, Français avec Pierre, Inner French, French Mornings with Elisa, Easy French and Piece of French. For B1: Colas Bim, ELLE, Nassim Sahili, Bref, and student vlogs (vlog étudiant).

What grammar books are best for learning French?

For beginners: Grammaire progressive du français (débutant) and Conjugaison progressive du français (A1 to A2.1). For intermediate learners: Grammaire progressive du français (intermédiaire), Les 500 exercices de grammaire B1, and the Sorbonne's Nouvelle Grammaire du Français.

Complete resource list with links

A1

• App: Busuu
• Book: Assimil: Le français
• Websites: Podcast Français Facile, TV5Monde Apprendre le français
• Pronunciation: FrenchPod101: Learn French Pronunciation in 12 Minutes, Comme une Française: French Pronunciation Practice, Podcast Français Facile: phonétique, Les 500 Exercices de phonétique
• Grammar: Conjugaison progressive du français, débutant (A1 to A2.1), Français Facile, Grammaire progressive du français, débutant
• Dictionaries: Reverso, Linguee
• Vocabulary: 5000 Most Frequently Used French Words deck on Anki

A2

• YouTube: Parlez-vous FRENCH, Français avec Pierre, French Mornings with Elisa, Easy French, Piece of French, Inner French
• Audiobooks: Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry), L'Étranger (Albert Camus)
• Podcast: Inner French
• Tools: Readlang Chrome extension, tandem language exchange

B1

• Online course: Coursera: Étudier en France, French Intermediate Course B1 to B2
• Grammar: Grammaire progressive du français, intermédiaire; Les 500 exercices de grammaire B1 (avec corrigés); Nouvelle Grammaire du Français (Sorbonne)
• Listening: News in Slow French
• YouTube: Colas Bim, ELLE, Nassim Sahili, Bref, vlog étudiant
• Films: French dubbed films on Disney+ (for example La Reine des Neiges)