Private French lessons online for absolute beginners
It’s never too late to start French from zero. Whether you’ve never opened a textbook or you remember a few phrases from school, this private online course takes you from absolute beginner to a confident A2 level, one Zoom lesson at a time, with a native French teacher who also speaks English.
This course is built for: adults learning French as a hobby | expats settling in France, Belgium or Switzerland | travelers preparing for a trip | professionals starting a French-speaking role | partners and family members of francophones | retirees picking up a long-postponed project
Start with a free 30-minute trial lesson
A structured A1 to A2 course
The French for Beginners program is a 20-unit course built around the A1 level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference), with reviews every 5 units so the material sticks. Each unit takes about 2 to 3 lessons to complete. Because lessons are private, your teacher adjusts the pace to you, not to a group.
Each lesson covers:
- everyday vocabulary you can use the same week
- grammar explained simply, in English when needed
- pronunciation drilled from day one so habits form correctly
- short dialogues so you start speaking from the first lesson
- light homework to keep momentum between sessions
To reach A2 in a reasonable timeframe, we recommend three 30-minute lessons per week with homework in between. At that pace, most beginners finish the course in 3 to 4 months.
Our French for beginners teachers
Every Live French teacher on the beginners track is a native French speaker who also speaks English well enough to explain grammar, translate vocabulary on the fly, and answer your questions in your own language when you need it. As you progress, your teacher will switch more and more into French, so the English support fades naturally as you stop needing it.
Our teachers are patient with beginners and put serious emphasis on correct pronunciation from the first lesson. Bad pronunciation habits are hard to undo later, so we’d rather slow down at the start than fix it at B1.
Learn more about our online French tutors.
How to learn French as a beginner: comparing the main methods
Most adults learning French from zero pick between five paths. Each works, but they don't all get you to the same place in the same time. Here's a side-by-side comparison so you can choose what fits your goals, schedule, and budget.
| Method | Best for | Speaking practice | Cost (approx.) | Time to A2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language apps (Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise) |
Vocabulary drilling, daily streaks, no schedule pressure | Limited, mostly scripted | Free to €15 / month | 12 to 24 months |
| Self-study with a textbook | Independent learners with strong discipline | None unless paired with a tutor | €20 to €50 one-off | 18 to 30 months |
| Group classes (online or in-person) |
Social learners on a fixed weekly schedule | Some, shared with 5 to 15 students | €10 to €25 / hour | 9 to 18 months |
| Private online lessons (Live French) Recommended |
Personalized pace, focused speaking time, busy schedules | Maximum, one-to-one with a native teacher | See pricing | 6 to 12 months at 3 lessons / week |
| Immersion (living in a French-speaking country) |
Full-time learners, expats, students | Constant | Cost of relocation | 6 to 12 months |
Estimates assume an adult learner with no prior French and a steady weekly commitment. Pace varies with prior language experience, exposure to French outside lessons, and study time between sessions.
How long does it take to go from zero to A2?
It depends on many parameters. Here are a few things that help:
- Have you learned another language before? People who've already done one second language tend to be roughly 30 to 40% faster at the second one.
- Do you live in a French-speaking country? Daily passive exposure (signs, overheard conversations, radio) compounds fast.
- Do you know another Latin language (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese)? Vocabulary overlap saves months.
- How much time can you put in between lessons? 20 minutes a day of homework outpaces a single long lesson per week.
The CEFR splits language ability into six levels: A1 and A2 (beginner), B1 and B2 (intermediate), C1 and C2 (advanced). At three lessons of 30 minutes per week with homework, most learners need 3 to 4 months to finish A1 and another 4 to 6 months to consolidate A2. Slower paces stretch this out proportionally.
If you’re not sure where you stand today, take our free French level test.
Your French beginners ebook
The course comes with an ebook your teacher uses with you during lessons. It covers the full A1 syllabus: vocabulary lists, grammar tables, dialogues, and exercises. You can download the first two units for free below to see how it’s structured before you commit.
Download the French for beginners ebook's sample units for free
Frequently Asked Questions about our French for Beginners Classes
Yes. On the beginners track, every teacher speaks English. Grammar, vocabulary, and instructions are explained in English at the start and shift to French gradually as your level grows. You’ll never be lost.
30 minutes by default for the beginners course. Short lessons work better at A1 because attention and retention drop fast in a language you don’t yet speak. Most beginners take three 30-minute lessons per week.
No. The Live French beginners ebook covers the full A1 syllabus and your teacher uses it with you during lessons. The first two units are free.
Yes, Zoom works on phone, tablet, or computer. A computer or tablet is more comfortable for reading and writing exercises, but the phone is fine if that’s what you have.
The course is built around the A1 syllabus. Most learners finish at a solid A1 and are well-positioned to push into A2. From there, the natural next step is our French conversation course or continued private lessons.
Cancel at least 12 hours in advance and the lesson is rescheduled with no penalty. Last-minute cancellations are charged.
Yes. No credit card required. You meet a teacher on Zoom, talk about your goals, and try a short lesson. If it’s not for you, that’s it. See our pricing if you want to see the packages first.
Register for a free trial lesson and meet a Live French teacher on Zoom.
You’ll talk about your goals, your timeline, and what level you want to reach. No credit card, no commitment.
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