The essentials in 30 seconds
- 1Aim for a solid A1 in 90 days, not fluency: introduce yourself, ask simple questions, follow slow and clear speech.
- 245 minutes a day adds up to about 68 hours over 90 days — and daily beats a long weekend session.
- 3Learn how French sounds before grammar tables: spelling hides pronunciation.
- 4Speak from week two, badly. Waiting until you feel ready is how beginners stall.
Contents
Part 1What 90 days can realistically give you
600–750
class hours to professional level (FSI)
45 min
a day is enough to start
≈ 68 h
of practice in 90 days
The Foreign Service Institute ranks French among the languages closest to English. Even so, professional fluency is a matter of hundreds of hours. What 90 days can give you is a solid A1: you can introduce yourself, talk about your day in simple sentences, ask for what you need, and follow French spoken slowly and clearly.
Where the first 90 days take you
- Day 1Zero
- Day 30Survival phrases
- Day 60Simple sentences about you
- targetDay 90Solid A1
- LaterA2, B1, B2…
Your 90 days at a glance
- Days 1–30 — sounds and survival
- Days 31–60 — build your own sentences
- Days 61–90 — real conversations
Part 2Days 1–30: sounds before grammar
French spelling is a poor guide to French sound: final letters are often silent, and some vowels are pronounced through the nose. Learn the sound system first and everything you read afterwards will come out right.
- Silent endings: petit, grand, ils parlent — the last letters are not pronounced.
- Nasal vowels: the difference between vin, vent and vont changes the meaning.
- The French « u »: tu and tout are two different sounds, and two different words.
- Nouns come with their article: learn une table, not table — the gender travels with the word.
- Twenty survival phrases: greetings, please and thank you, « Je ne comprends pas », « Vous pouvez répéter ? ».
liaison/ljɛ.zɔ̃/noun, feminine
- 1.Pronouncing a normally silent final consonant when the next word begins with a vowel sound.
- 2.Example: les amis is said « lé-z-ami », but les copains stays « lé copain ».
Beginners who learn liaison early sound natural far sooner.
Part 3Days 31–60: build your own sentences
- 1
Master four verbs
être, avoir, aller and faire in the present tense. Together they carry a huge share of everyday speech.
- 2
Learn to ask questions
« Est-ce que… ? » turns any statement into a question. It is the fastest route to real conversation.
- 3
Write about yourself
Ten sentences about your life, work and plans. Have them corrected, then learn the corrected version.
- 4
Talk about the past
The passé composé with avoir — « J’ai mangé », « J’ai travaillé » — lets you tell someone about your day.
A day-45 self-introduction
« Bonjour, je m’appelle Sarah. J’habite à Toronto et je travaille dans un hôpital. J’apprends le français depuis six semaines parce que je veux vivre au Québec. Le week-end, j’aime marcher et cuisiner. Hier, j’ai regardé un film en français ! »
Hello, my name is Sarah. I live in Toronto and work in a hospital. I have been learning French for six weeks because I want to live in Québec. At weekends I like walking and cooking. Yesterday I watched a film in French!
Part 4Days 61–90: talk to real people
- Two conversations a week, with a tutor, a class or a language-exchange partner.
- Shadowing: play a short clip, pause, repeat it out loud copying the rhythm.
- Record yourself once a week and compare with your recording from the month before.
Part 5A 45-minute daily routine
| Time | Activity | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 10 min | Listen to slow, clear French | Your ear is the slowest skill to train |
| 15 min | One grammar point or set of phrases | Small, finished pieces stick |
| 10 min | Review words with spaced repetition | Recall beats rereading |
| 10 min | Say or write sentences of your own | Using French is what fixes it in memory |
Not sure where to find listening material? Our list of free French podcasts and news for beginners sorts them by level.
Part 6If your goal is Canada
Immigration to Canada in French is measured with the TCF Canada or the TEF Canada, and most programs need NCLC 7 — a solid B2. That is a longer road than 90 days, but the foundation is the same. Once you reach B1, the 8-week plan to B2 picks up where this one ends.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn French?
The U.S. Foreign Service Institute estimates 600 to 750 class hours for an English speaker to reach professional working proficiency. In 90 days of steady daily practice, a beginner can reach a solid A1.
What should I learn first in French?
Start with pronunciation — silent endings, nasal vowels and liaison — plus a set of survival phrases. Then move to the present tense of être, avoir, aller and faire, and how to ask questions.
Can I learn French on my own?
You can build vocabulary and listening on your own, but speaking needs other people. Plan regular conversations with a tutor, a class or a language-exchange partner from the second month.
How much time should I spend on French each day?
About 45 minutes a day is enough to make steady progress. Daily practice works better than one long session at the weekend.
About the author
Daniel Maurise
French coach — France, DELF and English-speaking candidates
Works with Felix Academy learners heading to France, preparing DELF or DALF, and English-speaking candidates.
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