Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to France without speaking French is a bit like hiking in bad shoes: you make progress, but every step is more complicated than it should be. For an expat, language isn’t a “bonus,” it’s the central tool for finding a job, understanding administration, making friends, following your children’s schooling, or simply chatting with a neighbor.
This article presents a structured method for learning French in France, based on the official framework of levels (CEFR), schools, apps, online resources, immersion, professional French, and language tandems. The goal is to turn language into a lever for integration rather than an obstacle.
Understanding Where You’re Going: CEFR Levels and What They Change for an Expat
Before choosing a course or an app, it’s useful to know what “speaking French” really means. In Europe, everything revolves around the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), used by schools, universities, employers, and government agencies.
The CEFR breaks down progression into six levels (plus a starting level A0):
| CEFR Level | Category | Overall Ability (Summary) | Typical Use in France for an Expat |
|---|---|---|---|
| A0 | Absolute Beginner | No or almost no contact with French | Starting at a school or with an app, minimal survival |
| A1 | Basic User 1 | Very simple sentences, introducing oneself, concrete needs if the other person speaks slowly | Asking for directions, making small purchases with help |
| A2 | Basic User 2 | Frequent everyday phrases, routine, immediate environment | Handling simple procedures, small exchanges with colleagues/neighbors |
| B1 | Independent User 1 | Understanding main points, handling travel situations, talking about personal experiences | Being self-sufficient in daily life, starting to work in French |
| B2 | Independent User 2 | Understanding more complex texts, interacting with ease, arguing a point | Working in France, pursuing studies, functioning without major issues |
| C1 | Proficient User 1 | Long, demanding texts, implicit meaning, flexible and effective language in social and professional contexts | Skilled positions, advanced studies, presentations, complex meetings |
| C2 | Proficient User 2 | Near-total comprehension, subtle nuances, maximum precision | Mastery close to a native speaker in most contexts |
For an expat, certain thresholds are particularly strategic:
The CEFR levels illustrate a progression towards autonomy: at level A2, you survive without an interpreter but the effort is constant. B1 allows you to live without being lost. At B2, you can work, study, and handle everyday situations. Levels C1 and C2 are required for demanding professions like diplomacy, teaching, writing, senior management, or advanced medicine.
Many universities or programs in France require B2 or C1 for admission to a francophone course of study, and numerous skilled professions require proof of level (DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF…).
How Long Does It Take to “Speak Well” in French While Living in France?
The necessary study hours vary depending on sources and profiles, but a consistent range emerges. These refer to cumulative hours of work, in class and through independent study.
| Level Progression | Observed Hour Ranges (Cumulative) |
|---|---|
| A0 → A1 | ≈ 60 to 100 hrs |
| A1 → A2 | ≈ 100 to 200 hrs |
| A2 → B1 | ≈ 200 to 400 hrs |
| B1 → B2 | ≈ 300 to 650 hrs |
| B2 → C1 | ≈ 700 to 950 hrs total from A0 |
| C1 → C2 | ≈ 1,000 to 1,200 hrs total from A0 |
In France, with daily immersion, these figures are often more favorable, provided you don’t stay locked in an English-speaking bubble or other linguistic bubble.
A few realistic benchmarks in an expatriation context:
This is the number of months needed, at a pace of about 20 hours per week, to reach B2 level in French.
These figures are not promises but rough estimates. Speed also depends on your native language (a Spanish speaker often progresses faster than a Chinese speaker), age, language learning experience, and above all… consistency.
Setting Useful Goals When Living in France
Living on-site doesn’t prevent going in circles if you don’t know where you want to go. Research on learning shows that clear goals significantly increase motivation and perseverance.
An effective approach for an expat involves:
1. Clarify your ultimate goal
Examples: “work in my field within a year“, “enroll my children in the French school system without a translator“, “pass the DELF B2“, “practice as a doctor in a hospital setting“.
2. Break down this goal into concrete steps, linked to real life in France
For example, for a new arrival:
– open a bank account without assistance,
– manage a doctor’s appointment alone,
– speak up in a team meeting.
Rather than a vague goal like ‘learn 1000 words’, it’s more effective to formulate precise micro-goals on a theme over 1 to 3 months. For example: ‘Within 8 weeks, I want to be able to clearly explain my work in French to a colleague’ or ‘In 4 weeks, I need to be able to call my child’s school to justify an absence’.
4. Rely on the CEFR “I can…” descriptors
These are phrases like “I can explain my plans”, “I can describe a health problem”, very useful for building an action plan aligned with French realities (administration, work, health…).
5. Review your goals every month
Expat life moves fast: a new job, a move from Paris to Lyon, a new baby… Language priorities change, it’s better to adjust course regularly.
Choosing Your City and Your Type of French Course in France
The good news: France has over 100 language schools specializing in FLE (French as a Foreign Language). Certain cities concentrate the offerings and allow you to mix courses, cultural life, and professional opportunities.
The Main French Course Hubs
According to language stay comparators, 113 schools are listed in the country. Some key cities:
| City | Number of Schools | Average Student Rating | Assets for an Expat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | 20 | 4.8 / 5 (≈ 900 reviews) | Immense offerings, cultural life, professional networks, universities |
| Nice | 13 | 4.6 / 5 | Climate, French Riviera, tourism, seasonal jobs |
| Montpellier | 9 | 4.6 / 5 | Student city, youthful vibe, lower cost of living |
| Lyon | 7 | 4.7 / 5 | Dynamic metropolis, industry, gastronomy |
| Bordeaux | 7 | 4.7 / 5 | Wine, tourism, developing economy |
Other smaller cities – Annecy, Biarritz, Tours, Nantes, Vichy, etc. – offer well-rated schools, interesting if you’re looking for a calmer environment or outdoor activities (Alps, Atlantic coast…).
Which Course Format for Which Expat Profile?
French schools generally offer their courses in several formats:
– Standard Course
About 20 lessons per week, four lessons a day, focused on the four skills (oral/written comprehension and expression), grammar, and vocabulary. Ideal if you work part-time or come to France specifically for the language.
Intensive or super-intensive courses, with up to 30 lessons per week or more, are the best choice for quickly reaching a language level required by an employer or university, particularly when you have a few months between arriving in the country and starting the position.
– Combined Courses (Group + Individual)
A mix of group classes (dynamic, listening to various accents) and private lessons targeted to your needs (legal French, project presentation, job-specific vocabulary…).
– Evening or Part-Time Courses
Valuable for those already working during the day. The pace is slower but more sustainable, provided you add personal work.
For serious preparation for exams like DELF, DALF, TCF, or TEF, opt for an intensive format of at least 30 lessons per week. This pace is necessary to master specific exam strategies, practice long written productions, and develop solid argumentation skills.
– Courses for Families, Au Pairs, or Seniors
Several schools structure their programs by age or profile, for example with “au pair” courses at adapted hours, or “50+” stays including more cultural activities.
Prices vary greatly depending on the city, school size, number of lessons, and accreditations, but a standard course week in France starts around €170, excluding accommodation.
Focus on a Few Parisian Schools with Very Different Profiles
To illustrate the range of styles, here are examples of schools in Paris, with their key characteristics:
| School (Paris) | Standard Format (e.g.) | Max Class Size | Price 3 Weeks (Standard Course) | Particularities for an Expat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L’Atelier 9 | 20 lessons / week (50 min) | 10 | €940 (≈ €18.80/60 min) | “Parisian apartment” atmosphere, very communicative, no hidden fees |
| Les ateliers FL | 20 lessons / week (45 min) | 14–18 | €1,110 + €80 registration | Reputable school, many accreditations, large international network |
| Bayswater Paris | 20 lessons / week (45 min) | 15 | €754 + €85 registration | Good value for money, social values, modern facilities |
| LSI Paris | 20 lessons / week (50 min) | 16 | €1,200 + €105 registration | Advanced technology, varied courses, TEF exam center |
| Elfe | 15 lessons / week (60 min) | 10 (15 for au pairs) | €1,350 + €90 + €30 materials | Focused on small groups, thematic options (wine, art, cooking…) |
We see that some schools focus on friendliness and small group size, others on technology, exam access, or the diversity of specialized courses. For an expat, criteria like location, schedule flexibility, preparation for specific tests, or the possibility of evening/company courses can weigh more heavily than ambiance alone.
Total Immersion or Online Courses: How to Combine Both While Living in France
It’s tempting to think that living in France is enough to learn “naturally”. In reality, many expats spend years without progressing beyond A2-B1 because they live and work in English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, Arabic-speaking bubbles, etc.
Experience shows that the fastest progress comes from combining:
– a structured framework (school, online tutor, intensive program),
– and voluntary immersion in French daily life (housing, leisure, media, exchanges).
In-Person Courses + Online Tutor: The Winning Duo
Platforms like Preply, italki, LanguaTalk, Lingoda, Verbling, Live-French, or the online courses from the Alliance Française allow you to:
Our courses go beyond the classroom to prepare you for the concrete situations of expat life.
Practice real conversation with French speakers outside of class for authentic immersion.
Practice specific situations: job interview, Zoom meeting, call to the CAF (social security), medical appointment, etc.
Benefit from instant corrections on your pronunciation, grammar, and language register.
A few price benchmarks:
| Platform | Hourly Price Range (approx.) | Specific Features Interesting for Expats in France |
|---|---|---|
| Preply | From ~$3, average ~$21 | > 5,100 tutors, varied profiles, DELF/DALF/TCF/TEF preparation |
| italki | ≈ $4–70 (many between $10–20) | Huge choice, native teachers from France, Canada, Africa, etc. |
| LanguaTalk | ≈ $14–40 | Selective platform (≈10% of applications accepted) |
| Lingoda | Subscription ≈ €45–56/month | Structured group classes 24/7, ideal if schedules vary |
| Verbling | From $4–5 | Individual classes, filtering by accent, specialty, availability |
Compared to classic in-person courses (€20–60/h in France), these solutions often remain more affordable, flexible (24h cancellation with some), and complementary to direct contact with French society.
Apps and Self-Study: A Permanent Safety Net
On an expat’s smartphone, certain apps quickly become indispensable:
A selection of digital tools and platforms to progress in French, organized by learning type.
Apps using spaced repetition systems to memorize vocabulary: Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, Memrise, MosaLingua, Lingvist, Clozemaster.
Anki: very powerful and effective flashcards for reaching a critical mass of about 1,500 basic words.
Tools to check a word or phrase in real sentences and avoid false friends: Reverso Context, WordReference, Linguee.
Practical on the go, these methods focus on oral comprehension and expression: Pimsleur, Rocket French, FrenchPod101, Glossika.
Ideal for intermediate levels to improve listening comprehension: Français Authentique, innerFrench, Coffee Break French.
Platforms offering videos and shows with subtitles, slowdown, and exercises: Yabla, Lingopie, FluentU, TV5MONDE, Radio France.
The average cost of a subscription is around €10 to €15/month, often with free trials (7 to 14 days) and significant discounts.
Accommodation and Immersion: Why the Choice of Housing Changes Everything
For an expat arriving with a low or intermediate level, the place of residence is a major factor in progression – or stagnation.
– Homestay (Host Family)
Preferred solution by language schools. You share the daily life of a French family, you practice the language at breakfast, dinner, during outings. This is the most direct form of immersion, very effective if you dare to speak and listen.
For a long stay, especially in a student city like Montpellier, Lyon, Toulouse, or Bordeaux, shared accommodation with French speakers is an interesting alternative. It allows you to escape an entirely English-speaking environment and be exposed to more informal French, often sprinkled with common slang (e.g., boulot, coloc, boîte).
– Student Residence or Independent Apartment
More comfortable and sometimes necessary for a family, but beware of the risk of being surrounded only by foreigners with whom you speak English.
To fully exploit immersion:
– systematically greet (“Bonjour”, “Bonne journée”, “Au revoir”) your neighbors, shopkeepers, colleagues,
– accept francophone social activities (drinks, sports clubs, parent-teacher associations, cultural associations),
– favor neighborhood shops where you see the same faces, rather than anonymous supermarkets.
Language Tandems and Exchanges: Talking with “Real People” Without Breaking Your Budget
Even with a good course and a tutor, an expat gains a lot by multiplying informal conversations with French people. Language exchange platforms facilitate this type of meeting:
Discover the main platforms and events to practice a language with native speakers, online or in-person in France.
Very popular app with over 54,000 members in France and 500,000 monthly visitors. Filters by city, language, age, and format (text, audio, video, meetup).
HelloTalk, Speaky, My Language Exchange, Conversation Exchange and InterPals. These platforms have millions of users and are largely free.
Organized via Meetup, BlaBla Language Exchange, Alliance Française, Institut Français, or language cafes in many French cities.
To avoid unbalanced exchanges where you mostly speak English, it’s useful to set a few simple rules:
– time each language (e.g., 30 min only in French, then 30 min in the other person’s language),
– prepare topics in advance related to life in France (housing, school, work, transport, local news),
– note down a few useful expressions heard from a native speaker after each session.
Pedagogical research shows that this type of active practice is far more effective than simple passive review.
General French, Survival French, Professional French: Adapt Your Strategy to Your Project
A point often overlooked: not all expats have the same needs. A telecom engineer, a nurse, a design student, or a “trailing spouse” don’t need the same French at the same time.
Daily Life French: Absolute Priority for the First Months
In the first months, the urgency is often the same for everyone:
– introducing oneself, talking about one’s family, explaining where you’re from,
– reading a letter from the town hall or health insurance,
– doing simple procedures: phone subscription, general practitioner, children’s school,
– understanding announcements on public transport, at work, at school.
The A1-A2 levels of the CEFR already target these needs. They cover:
– basic tenses (present, passé composé, near future),
– essential structures (il y a, c’est, j’ai besoin de…, je voudrais…),
– negation (“je ne comprends pas“, “je n’ai pas reçu le courrier“),
– vocabulary related to family, housing, shopping, basic health.
A realistic goal for a motivated new arrival is to aim for A2 in 6 months, by combining:
This is the minimum number of minutes per day to dedicate to listening or reading in French to progress effectively.
Professional French: Health, Business, and Other Sectors
Once the basics are in place, many expats need to quickly specialize in French for Specific Purposes (FOS): health, business, law, tourism, etc.
Health: A Field Where Approximation Is Not Permitted
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, dentists, veterinarians… face situations where linguistic precision is critical (pre-op, informed consent, emergency, chronic illness follow-up). For them, there are:
– dedicated Medical French courses (often starting from A2/B1),
– specialized manuals (e.g., Le Français Médical, Communication en Médecine, Manuel de Français Médical),
– certifications like TCF Santé or DFP Médical,
– recommended methods like shadowing (repeating medical dialogues aloud), role-playing (consultation, emergency room visit), analyzing patient cases in French.
Intensive courses for healthcare workers often run around 100 to 120 hours, modular, to cover history-taking, clinical examination, explaining treatments, safety instructions, medical records.
Business French: Cultural Codes and Office Vocabulary
For executives, salespeople, consultants, engineers, lawyers, or HR managers, professional French isn’t just about a few technical words.
You need to grasp:
– French corporate culture: hierarchy, work/life separation, importance of formality in emails and meetings, more marked dress codes than elsewhere,
– the contractual system: CDI (permanent contract), CDD (fixed-term contract), full-time, part-time, probation period,
– common interactions: meetings (agenda, minutes, follow-up), job interview, negotiation, conflict management.
A frequent misstep: switching to the informal “tu” (tutoiement) too quickly. In France, the formal “vous” remains the norm in many professional environments, especially with superiors or external partners. Observing colleagues is crucial, as is explicitly asking when to switch to “tu”.
Specialized Business French training often offers:
– realistic scenarios (phone calls, PowerPoint presentations, project pitches, client visits),
– a structured lexicon (types of companies, departments, positions, accounting, HR, marketing),
– modules on professional writing (emails, reports, business proposals).
For those aiming for a responsible position in France, a solid B2 level is considered a minimum, with C1 offering real comfort.
Officially Proving Your Level: DELF, DALF, TCF, TEF
For university enrollment, secondary immigration projects (Canada, Québec), or certain regulated professions, it’s not enough to say “I speak French well”. You need an official score aligned with the CEFR.
The main exams:
| Exam | Levels Covered | Features Useful for Expats |
|---|---|---|
| DELF | A1 to B2 | Official diplomas, highly recognized, with a Junior version for teens |
| DALF | C1 and C2 | For advanced levels, valuable for university, skilled positions |
| TCF | A1 to C2 | Standardized test used by government agencies, sometimes specific modules |
| TEF & TEF Canada | A1 to C2 | Indispensable for certain immigration procedures, notably Canada |
French schools offer dedicated preparation, often intensive, to familiarize yourself with:
The exam assesses listening/reading comprehension and individual writing/speaking skills. Grading is based on coherence, lexical richness, and grammatical accuracy. Good time management is crucial to succeed in all parts.
Some institutions require a minimum hourly volume (e.g., 30 lessons per week). For candidates already at B2 who just want to prepare for the format, there are also shorter, lighter workshops.
Learning for Free or on a Small Budget: Public Resources and Self-Study
Living in France gives you access to a whole galaxy of free or almost free resources:
To practice and improve your French, turn to French-language media (Radio France, France 24, TV5MONDE, free newspapers, sites like 1jour1actu). Use municipal libraries and media libraries to access books, comics, and DVDs. Explore institutional platforms like QIOZ (depending on your region) or educational sites from TV5MONDE and RFI. Finally, take advantage of the abundant offering of educational YouTube channels (Français Authentique, Easy French, etc.) and podcasts adapted to all levels.
The real challenge isn’t a lack of material, but sorting through it. To avoid getting lost, a good strategy is to build yourself a small, fixed ecosystem:
– 1 vocabulary app (Memrise / Anki / MosaLingua),
– 1 or 2 YouTube channels suited to your level,
– 1 regular podcast,
– 1 dictionary/context tool (WordReference, Reverso),
– 1 tutor or weekly class to correct your trajectory.
Building a (Realistic) Daily Routine When You Work or Have a Family
Research in language teaching and cognitive psychology converges: consistency trumps sporadic quantity. For an expat busy with work, family, and paperwork, it’s often more effective to establish small daily rituals than to aim for large, unrealistic study blocks.
Example of a 20–30 minute daily routine: 1. Warm-up (5 minutes): stretches and light exercises. 2. Cardio (10 minutes): running, cycling, or jump rope. 3. Muscle strengthening (10 minutes): push-ups, squats, and sit-ups. 4. Cool-down (5 minutes): stretches to relax muscles.
– 5 minutes
Keep a mini-journal in French: three sentences about your day or your goals. You consolidate basic grammar and personal vocabulary.
To practice listening comprehension, listen to a podcast like innerFrench, Français Authentique, or Coffee Break French, or a YouTube video, with or without French subtitles. The main goal is to focus on understanding the overall content, without trying to grasp every detail.
– 5–10 minutes
Review vocabulary via Anki, Memrise, or another SRS app. You consolidate words encountered during the day or in classes.
Beyond that, every expat can “Frenchify” their downtime:
– listen to the radio in the car (France Inter, France Info…),
– put on French subtitles on Netflix or YouTube,
– follow some French-speaking content creators on social media (humor, travel, cooking, history…),
– switch your phone and apps to French as soon as possible.
The Classic Obstacles for Expats… and How to Overcome Them
Even when motivated, you encounter typical difficulties:
– The fear of speaking and making mistakes
Very common among adults, especially in a professional context. Yet the CEFR emphasizes an action-oriented approach: the goal is to do things with the language, not to be perfect. It’s useful to remember that approximate but active French allows for more integration than “perfect-on-paper” French that’s never used.
– Grammar that seems “endless”
Conjugations, agreements, subjunctive, conditional, reported speech… The key is to prioritize:
– first the tenses useful for daily life (present, passé composé, near future, imperfect),
– then, when the need arises, the more advanced structures (subjunctive, conditional, reported speech).
To overcome comprehension difficulties during fast conversations, even while immersed in France, it is recommended to regularly use specific resources. Methods like Pimsleur, Rocket French, or Speechling, as well as video platforms offering slowdown and subtitles (like Yabla, Lingopie, or FluentU), are particularly effective for training your ear and getting used to the natural rhythm of the language.
– The progress plateau
After A2/B1, many feel like they’re “no longer progressing”. This is often the time to:
– diversify input (read simple novels, listen to shows, follow a series),
– increase the share of production (write more, speak more, take on public challenges: presentations, explanations to colleagues),
– set a new clear goal (DELF B2, job change, leading a meeting, etc.).
Special Case: Studying or Working in France at University or in a Highly Skilled Sector
For international students, reaching B2 or C1 is often mandatory to join a francophone program. The same requirement applies to many highly skilled professions: teaching, diplomacy, international negotiation, certain legal or medical functions.
In practice, this means:
Reaching C1 level from a beginner level requires a substantial investment, estimated between 700 and 950 cumulative hours of work. This level is characterized by mastery of advanced academic and professional skills, notably understanding long and dense texts (scientific articles, reports, essays), argumentative writing (dissertations, theses, reports), and structured speaking (presentations, defenses, complex meetings).
In these cases, a simple general course is no longer enough. It is recommended to: adapt to the specific needs of learners.
– take targeted modules (academic writing, oral presentation, argumentation),
– have texts regularly corrected by specialized teachers or tutors,
– practice French university exam formats (explication de texte, dissertation, structured presentation).
Cultural Integration: Language as an Entry Point, Not an End in Itself
Learning French while living in France isn’t just about accumulating words and grammar points. It’s also about understanding what’s behind certain practices:
– The length of lunches at work, holidays and public holidays, the value placed on private life.
– Forms of politeness: saying “Bonjour” when entering a shop, “Au revoir” when leaving, thanking systematically.
– The workings of associations, parent-teacher groups, neighborhoods (building parties, village festivals…).
Participating in this local life – sports clubs, cultural associations, cooking workshops, volunteering, neighborhood parties – gives French a living function and speeds up language anchoring.
—
Learning the local language in France is a demanding but profoundly structuring project for expat life. The CEFR offers a clear compass to locate yourself and move forward. FLE schools, online tutors, apps, and language exchanges provide the tools. It remains to assemble them into a coherent system, aligned with your concrete goals (working, studying, practicing medicine, raising your children here) and fueled by voluntary immersion in French society.
France doesn’t lack resources for learning French. What really makes the difference is the combination of three elements: a precise direction, daily practice, and a real presence in local life. With these three pillars, language stops being a barrier and becomes your main ally in your new life in France.
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
