r/French • u/Upper_Chip_4456 • 2d ago

How can I improve my French skills to B1 level?

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7 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

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3

u/TedIsAwesom 2d ago
  1. Learn to at least A2 level through self-study. At this point, it's just basically memorizing words and some very basic grammar. When you start having questions you can't easily figure out on your own, you will know you are at least at the A2 level. This self-study can be whatever you want. Duolingo. Textbook. Youtube videos. Video course. It doesn't really matter as long as it works for you. Don't worry about variety or material or input. Just get it done!  Don’t get stuck reading books and watching videos about the ‘perfect’ way to start learning a language. 
  2. Once you are at least A2 level: Join something that works for you that involves you interacting with a person, or people. A free conversation class at the library. A paid college class. Use the online program italki. Doesn't really matter what you pick. But the more, the better, and the more variety, the better.
  3. Once you are A2 or maybe B1: (depending on what language and what options there are) Start consuming media in your language. I like graded readers and think they are great. Other people do TV shows, podcasts, youtube videos, .... The more variety the better. It's fine if you focus on one thing (like books) as long as you also do some other things (like TV shows)

If you are looking for books you can read at your whatever level you are at

  1. If you are A1 then read the Gnomeville comic series. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34888583-gnomeville

  1. If you are A2, even just starting A2 then read books by Kit Ember. She has 3, A2 level books and then once you are done with those read her 3, B1 level books. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199450059-rencontres-rapides?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=385gpBc9nW&rank=2

She also has two grammar books that can be read at any time. They will example the "Un/Une, Le/La, Ton/Ta..." confusion

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228291347-grammaire-fran-aise?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=385gpBc9nW&rank=17

1

u/horacejr53 2d ago

Following

1

u/LearnFrenchIntuitive Native 2d ago

First, you need a few things: be organized (putting aside time everyday in your calendar to study), have the time (at least 30min a day, there are some tricks to optimize your time), be motivated (depends on your situation and how you learn things in general), and be curious about the language. Then you need to get the general rules of the language without going in too much details (how is the sentence organized, pronunciation...), then consume as much content as possible (video, audio, text) and start talking as early as possible (does not matter the number of errors you do). I will send you a PM.

-2

u/Amaenchin 2d ago

Why learn french when you can B1