A good way to measure your abilities in the French language is the CEFR* framework which defines 7 levels (A0, A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2). Here is a summary of what each level represents:
*CEFR: Common European Framework of Reference (for languages)
Can interact in a very simple way if the other person speaks slowly and clearly.
Approx. Guided Learning Hours from Absolute Beginner: between 90 and 100 hours
Can handle short social exchanges and understand simple information.
Approx. Guided Learning Hours from Absolute Beginner: between 180 and 200 hours
Can deal with most situations while traveling, and talk about familiar topics.
Approx. Guided Learning Hours from Absolute Beginner: between 350 and 400 hours
Can interact with native speakers with a degree of fluency and spontaneity.
Approx. Guided Learning Hours from Absolute Beginner: between 500 and 600 hours
Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes.
Approx. Guided Learning Hours from Absolute Beginner: between 700 and 800 hours
Can understand virtually everything heard or read with ease.
Approx. Guided Learning Hours from Absolute Beginner: over 1000 hours
The table below summarises the average number of hours needed to reach each level starting from an absolute beginner. Keep in mind these figures are a guide only and different people will learn at different paces, and extra exposure to the French language alongside your lessons can make a big difference (see next sections for tips about this).
CEFR Levels | Descriptions | Hours |
A1 | Survival | 90-100 |
A2 | Everyday tasks | 180-200 |
B1 | Confident | 350-400 |
B2 | Fluent | 500-600 |
C1 | Near-Native | 700-800 |
C2 | Native-like | 1000+ |
Focusing on the oral aspect of French (speaking and listening) is often more effective, especially for beginners and intermediate learners.
Of course, it is entirely possible to reach a B1 or even B2 level more quickly if the learning is mainly focused on speaking and conversation rather than writing. It’s well known that writing is the most challenging aspect of learning French.
Here are some reasons why focusing on speaking can be a good way to accelerate your abilities in French:
Most people learn a language to communicate—whether for travel, work, relationships, or social situations. Being able to understand and respond in conversation is far more immediately useful than writing an essay.
French has many silent letters, liaisons, and nasal sounds that are not obvious when reading. By training your ear and mouth early on, you’ll build natural fluency and avoid bad pronunciation habits.
When you focus on speaking, you learn how to express yourself quickly and keep the conversation going, even with limited vocabulary. This builds confidence and makes learning more fun and practical.
Once you can speak and understand French, you’ll already know grammar patterns and sentence structures, which makes writing easier to learn later on. But starting with writing can slow you down and feel overwhelming.
Think about restaurants, reply to a phone call, asking for directions, working in teams, or making friends—all of these rely on spoken French. That’s why focusing on speaking early helps you use French in the real world much sooner.
You could therefore reach a B2 level in less than 500 hours if speaking is what you want to focus on, while having an A1–A2 level in writing.
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