🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 150 (from laksa109)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa150.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/","crawl_time":1776531685,"first_indexed_time":1558149489,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,frenchtoday!www,\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/ s443","src_root_hash":"1510784334078464550","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"How to Start Learning French Efficiently - Priorities and Organisation of Topics","meta_descriptions":["What should you first study when you start French? What's the best French curriculum for beginners? What's the best sequence to learn French? Here is my list."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"What should you first study when you start French? What's the best French curriculum for beginners? What's the best sequence to learning French? Here is my list.\nThe other day, Oliver Gee from the Earful Tower interviewed me on “how to start French”. You can ear our conversation and the tips I gave him on his podcast\nhere\n.\nI figured I had even more tips to share with beginner students of French. I also wanted to give you a clear list of what French grammar and vocabulary points should be studied first, in other words, the priorities and organisations of topics to\nlearn French\n.\n1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student?\nWhen it comes to starting to learn French, a student enrolled in a French school and self French learner are not necessarily going to have the same priorities.\nIf you are starting French on your own, you need to first assess your priorities. Why do you want to learn French? Is-it to travel to France and communicate with the French? To write songs or poems in French? To read French literature in French? Your approach should not be the same whether the focus is on speaking or reading or writing French.\nIf you are studying school in French, your teacher should provide a French curriculum. Whether it will teach you French or not, that’s what you need to study to ace the class.\n2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners\nTraditional methods will pretty much all follow the same French curriculum for beginners (A1 level):\nFrench politeness and greetings\nFrench verb\nconjugations for regular ER, IR, RE verbs\nPresent conjugations of être, avoir, aller, prendre, pouvoir, devoir… about 30 common irregular French verbs\nFrench articles: definite, indefinite, partitive\nAsking questions with est-ce que and inversion\nRegular and Irregular adjectives, possessive, demonstrative adjectives…\nObject Pronouns\nIntroduction to Passé-composé and soon after\nImparfait\n, futur… more French verb conjugations.\nAll mixed with some useful vocabulary and written dialogues introducing a lot of new words each time.\nThe progression is super fast. These methods assume you know or remember what a subject, a pronoun, an adjective or a direct object are. They make you memorize a ton of new info, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.\nThere is almost no repetition: each chapter comes with its mountain of new words, expressions,\ngrammatical\nrules and conjugations to memorize.\nIf you are studying French to communicate in French – not only to pass school grades – there is a different way: a much less painful, and really effective way to start learning French, which is both logical and gradual. Here it comes :-)\n3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio\nFirst thing, if you are studying French to communicate in French, you must study with audio. It’s extremely unlikely you will achieve a decent French pronunciation if you are studying French only with books since\nspoken and written French are so different\n.\nThe French audio you follow needs to come from a French native from France (if you want to learn French from France that is) and feature:\nenunciated French so you can start French by learning the right sounds,\nbut also modern spoken French. I’m not talking about a slang street language here, but just the natural way the French speak French in their daily life – the pronunciation is quite different than when they enunciate.\nYou need to understand both enunciated French, and the more natural daily life spoken French if you are to communicate effectively with the French. Watch-out! Most methods only feature the slow enunciated\nFrench pronunciation\n! Then\nstudents don’t understand the French when they speak\n!\n4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies\nThe next thing to do is to prioritize. You cannot learn everything at once.\nWith so many free tools to learn French, it’s really easy to jump for one funny video to the next and learn bits here and bits there but lack a solid path to link and hold your new French knowledge.\nTo start French efficiently, you need a structure.\nA logical approach.\nA\nbeginner French method\nthat will cover the basic French vocabulary and grammatical tenses, teach you daily French vocabulary and the right pronunciation.\nÀ Moi Paris Audiobook Method\nA new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.\n(836 Reviews)\nMore Details & Audio Samples\nIf you are learning French to communicate in French, and are an English speaker, here are my tips to begin French efficiently\nStay in the present tense.\nFrench conjugations are overwhelming. Yes, they are an important part of the French language, but the tense you will use the most in everyday interactions is the present tense. You need to start somewhere. Start with the present tense and only the present tense. It’s already a lot.\nMaster the affirmative and the negative\nYou’ll use your verbs as much in the affirmative as in the negative. You may understand the logic, but you need to drill to get it fast when you speak! Repeat, repeat, repeat!\nLearn daily vocabulary essential to communicate\nFood. Travels. Family. Weather. Work & Hobbies.\nThese are among the most common topics of conversations. Health also but maybe you’re not going to discuss your health right away with a friendly waiter, hein… So, aim for the likely conversations that are relevant to your life, and learn that vocabulary.\nAsk basic questions\nQuestions are the base of communication.\nIf you can’t ask\/understand a question, you cannot communicate.\nThere are many ways of asking questions in French. Start with the simpler one, which I call “street or modern French” in my\nFrench audiobooks\n. It’s not really grammatically correct, but it’s the one the French use in their daily life. And it’s simple and to the point.\nAs a beginner in French, there are many things to study. You will feel you progress fast because each new word, each new topic opens up a world of opportunity.\nBut if you are not careful about how you organize the info, you won’t learn efficiently: you will soon forget things, and the logic of French won’t fall into place, and everything will crumble. You need to slow down, follow a method and study efficiently.\n5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order\nI’ve been teaching French to adult English speakers for over 20 years. Here is the most logical gradual approach to start learning French for a total beginner English speaking student.\nThis is what you’ll learn in the first audiobook of my gradual\nFrench audiobook learning method for beginners\n.\nAs stated above, the vocabulary priorities are up to you. And of course, my French learning method will teach you a lot of vocabulary as well since all the rules are illustrated by a fun, level-adapted novel.\nBut here are the French rules I recommend you study when you start your French journey.\n1 – First French goal\nFirst, go for the essentials: being polite, subject pronouns, tu ≠vous, the concept of “conjugating” a verb\nBasic greetings and politeness words – different ways to say “hi”\nSingular subject pronouns – je, tu, il, elle, on\nYou in French, the difference between tu, toi, te, t’ and vous\nPlural subject pronouns – nous, vous, ils, elles watch out the “s” are silent!\nAller in the present indicative tense\nAsking and answering “how are you”\nThank you, you’re welcome and please – because you always need to be polite\nAsking “and you” is essential – never forget it.\nIntroducing yourself, your family\nThe many ways of saying good bye, see you soon… more or less formal French\nPAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n2 – Second French priority\nYour next priority is to get the pronunciation of your ER verbs right and understand the difference between spoken and written French\nPresent indicative tense of “to be”\nHow to learn your French verbs: there is a write way and a wrong way\nVerbs in ER + consonant – Pronunciation only. That’s the most important thing!\nVerbs in ER + consonant – written form. But don’t let the silent letters fool you\nMastering “elision” + drills\nMastering “liaison” + drills\nVerbs in ER + vowel or h – pronunciation: liaison, elision, glidings with the pronouns\nPAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises,\nFrench verb drills\netc…\n3 – Third priority for French beginners\nNow you’ll start forming basic sentences together with nouns, and study the use and pronunciation of Le, la, les.\nLe, la, l’, les – pronunciation differences and use\nAimer – a verb that can be tricky (to be in love ≠ to like)\nThe verb préférer – spelling and pronunciation\nMaking a noun plural – the silent S in French\nIrregular plural – OK, but they are less common than regular ones!\nMoi, toi, lui… The stress pronouns and how to use them\nPAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n4 – The fourth point French beginners should master are the differences between articles\nWhen to use le, la, les ≠ un, une, des\nUn, une: use and pronunciation\nDes = more complex than “some” + liaison in Z\nIntroduction to Se or S’ verbs and the glided pronunciation of\nreflexive pronouns\nS’appeler + cultural explanations on the many ways of introducing yourself in French\nHow to say French and France – introducing the French adjective\nContinent, countries, nationalities – Nouns ≠ adjectives in French\nWhere do you come from? Prepositions of place\nPAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n5 – Next: describing what you have, asking for things\nMaking a verb negative. Why can’t I hear this “ne”?\nWhat happens when 2 verbs follow each other ? The infinitive construction and lack of “to”.\nUnspecific quantities – du, de la, des and how to use them – why you can’t say ‘je voudrais une eau”\nSpecific quantities – why you say “je ne veux pas d’eau”\nThe verb avoir – affirmative, negative… A verb you need to really know by heart and why\nThe verb pouvoir – how to extend an invitation in French\nPAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n6 – The next logical French topics are numbers and telling the time\nFrench Numbers 1-29\n– pronunciation alone and with liaison\nNumbers 30-100 – don’t learn them as a logical deduction: learn them as one sound\nThe many ways to tell the time – understand them all. Pick one to use yourself.\nPAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n7  – Finally, practice asking questions in French\nIl y a ≠ il n’y a pas and their modern spoken pronunciation (ya, yapa)\nAsking questions –  detailed explanation\nà + le & de + le = the mutant forms and how to use them\nPAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n6 – Starting French – What to Study Next\nNow that you have a solid organization and understanding of the basis of the language, you can start filling up the filing cabinet that’s your brain.\nLoad up words of vocabulary, verb conjugations (in the present tense only, hein! You don’t know the rules which govern the other tenses yet!) Learn idioms too, they are fun.\nWatch out: your French pronunciation is still fresh… you need to know how to pronounce a word before you memorize it. So learning everything, including verbs, with audio is a must.\nCheck out the next level of my\nFrench learning method\n. “À Moi Paris level 2, Meet the Gang” features a longer story (still in the present tense), lots of vocabulary and idiom lists, verb conjugations and a Q&A sections so you can practice out-loud.\nAnd if you are learning French to communicate, then you need to practice. There is a huge psychological fear to get over when you start speaking a language. You won’t be able to present the real you: you can’t yet be smart, you can’t yet be funny. You will make mistakes. Sometimes, people may laugh at them… These are things you want to get used to: they are part of your French journey. So, I recommend you find a tutor to practice with.\nHere again, choosing a professional who can guide you, check your pronunciation, encourage you without pressuring you is the key. There are many ways to do lessons exchanges or conversations with a native, but I believe they can be more harmful than anything else for a beginner.\nYou need your emerging self-confidence in French cherished, not crushed by someone who will correct all your mistakes (without offering any explanations for them…) mock you or be impatient.\nGo for a professional\nFrench teacher by Skype\n, ask for a trial lesson before committing to more to see if you like the teacher.\nThere is a right and a wrong way to start French. If you start French the right way, the smart way, I promise you will feel empowered and start speaking French in no time.","attrs_markdown":"[Skip to content](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/#content \"Skip to content\")\n\n[frenchtoday](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/)\n\n**🌍 EARTH DAY SALE** – 20% OFF ALL AUDIOBOOKS **[ENDS APRIL 26](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french\/)**\n\n[frenchtoday](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/)\n\nMENU\n\n- [French Audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french\/)\n  - [Beginner French Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/)\n  - [Intermediate French Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-intermediate\/)\n  - [Upper Intermediate Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-upper-intermediate\/)\n  - [Advanced French Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-advanced\/)\n  - [Exercise Audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-exercise-audiobooks\/a-moi-paris-beginner-exercise-book\/)\n  - [French Audio Novels](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-novels\/une-semaine-a-paris-audiobook\/)\n  - [French Verb Drills](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-verb-drills\/verbs-vol-1\/)\n  - [All Our French Audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french\/)\n- [Audio Magazine](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/misc\/monthly-audio-magazine\/)\n- [Free Lessons](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/)\n  - [Latest Lessons](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/)\n  - [How To Learn French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/)\n  - [French Vocabulary](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-vocabulary\/)\n  - [French Grammar](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-grammar\/)\n  - [French Pronunciation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-pronunciation\/)\n  - [French Verb Conjugation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/)\n  - [French Stories](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-story\/)\n  - [Traditional French Food & Wine](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-food-wine\/)\n  - [French Culture](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-culture\/)\n  - [French Poetry](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-poetry-reading\/)\n- [Immersion](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-immersions\/)\n- [More](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/)\n  - [About Us\/ Contact](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/about-us\/)\n  - [Support\/FAQ](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/support\/)\n  - [French Level Quiz](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-language-audio-quiz-test\/)\n  - [French Lessons by Zoom](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/worldwide-french-lessons-via-phone-skype\/)\n  - [Our Unique French App](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/unique-french-app\/)\n  - [Cool Merchandise](https:\/\/merch.frenchtoday.com\/)\n  - [Subscribe To Newsletter](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/newsletter\/)\n\n[Free AUDIOBOOK](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/free\/)\n\nMENU\n\n- [French Audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french\/)\n  - [Beginner French Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/)\n  - [Intermediate French Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-intermediate\/)\n  - [Upper Intermediate Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-upper-intermediate\/)\n  - [Advanced French Method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-advanced\/)\n  - [Exercise Audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-exercise-audiobooks\/a-moi-paris-beginner-exercise-book\/)\n  - [French Audio Novels](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-novels\/une-semaine-a-paris-audiobook\/)\n  - [French Verb Drills](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-verb-drills\/verbs-vol-1\/)\n  - [All Our French Audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french\/)\n- [Audio Magazine](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/misc\/monthly-audio-magazine\/)\n- [Free Lessons](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/)\n  - [Latest Lessons](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/)\n  - [How To Learn French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/)\n  - [French Vocabulary](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-vocabulary\/)\n  - [French Grammar](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-grammar\/)\n  - [French Pronunciation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-pronunciation\/)\n  - [French Verb Conjugation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/)\n  - [French Stories](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-story\/)\n  - [Traditional French Food & Wine](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-food-wine\/)\n  - [French Culture](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-culture\/)\n  - [French Poetry](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-poetry-reading\/)\n- [Immersion](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-immersions\/)\n- [More](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/)\n  - [About Us\/ Contact](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/about-us\/)\n  - [Support\/FAQ](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/support\/)\n  - [French Level Quiz](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-language-audio-quiz-test\/)\n  - [French Lessons by Zoom](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/worldwide-french-lessons-via-phone-skype\/)\n  - [Our Unique French App](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/unique-french-app\/)\n  - [Cool Merchandise](https:\/\/merch.frenchtoday.com\/)\n  - [Subscribe To Newsletter](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/newsletter\/)\n\n[Free AUDIOBOOK](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/free\/)\n\n## FREE LESSONS\nClick To Select Topic\n\n- [How To Learn French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/)\n- [French Pronunciation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-pronunciation\/)\n- [French Grammar](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-grammar\/)\n- [French Conjugation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/)\n- [French Vocabulary](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-vocabulary\/)\n- [French Culture](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-culture\/)\n- [Food & Wine](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-food-wine\/)\n- [French Stories](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-story\/)\n\n[How To Learn French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/)\n\n# How to Start Learning French Efficiently – Priorities and Organisation of Topics\nBy [Camille Chevalier](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/author\/camille-chevalier-karfis\/)\n\nUpdated:\n\nAug 18, 2021\n\n![Author: Camille Chevalier](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2025\/08\/camille-chevalier-immersion-en-france-150x150.jpeg)\n\nWhat should you first study when you start French? What's the best French curriculum for beginners? What's the best sequence to learning French? Here is my list.\n\n![Start French - What Orderm- how should I start French - what to study first when you start french french for beginners - order structure organization](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2019\/03\/Start-French-What-Order-660x456.jpg)\n\nThe other day, Oliver Gee from the Earful Tower interviewed me on “how to start French”. You can ear our conversation and the tips I gave him on his podcast [here](https:\/\/theearfultower.com\/2019\/03\/21\/tips-for-how-to-start-learning-french\/).\n\nI figured I had even more tips to share with beginner students of French. I also wanted to give you a clear list of what French grammar and vocabulary points should be studied first, in other words, the priorities and organisations of topics to [learn French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-top-12-tips\/ \"learn French\").\n\n**Table of Contents**\n\n[1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student?](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/#1-starting-to-learn-french-school-student-or-self-student)\n\n[2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/#2-traditional-french-curriculum-for-beginners)\n\n[3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/#3-start-learning-french-the-smart-way-study-with-audio)\n\n[4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/#4-french-starter-prioritize-your-french-studies)\n\n[5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/#5-best-way-to-start-learning-french-list-of-topics-and-order)\n\n[6 – Starting French – What to Study Next](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-start-french-order-topics\/#6-starting-french-what-to-study-next)\n## 1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student?\nWhen it comes to starting to learn French, a student enrolled in a French school and self French learner are not necessarily going to have the same priorities.\n\nIf you are starting French on your own, you need to first assess your priorities. Why do you want to learn French? Is-it to travel to France and communicate with the French? To write songs or poems in French? To read French literature in French? Your approach should not be the same whether the focus is on speaking or reading or writing French.\n\nIf you are studying school in French, your teacher should provide a French curriculum. Whether it will teach you French or not, that’s what you need to study to ace the class.\n\n## 2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners\nTraditional methods will pretty much all follow the same French curriculum for beginners (A1 level):\n\n1. French politeness and greetings\n2. [French verb](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/ \"French verb\") conjugations for regular ER, IR, RE verbs\n3. Present conjugations of être, avoir, aller, prendre, pouvoir, devoir… about 30 common irregular French verbs\n4. French articles: definite, indefinite, partitive\n5. Asking questions with est-ce que and inversion\n6. Regular and Irregular adjectives, possessive, demonstrative adjectives…\n7. Object Pronouns\n8. Introduction to Passé-composé and soon after [Imparfait](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/passe-compose-versus-imparfait\/), futur… more French verb conjugations.\n\nAll mixed with some useful vocabulary and written dialogues introducing a lot of new words each time.\n\nThe progression is super fast. These methods assume you know or remember what a subject, a pronoun, an adjective or a direct object are. They make you memorize a ton of new info, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.\n\nThere is almost no repetition: each chapter comes with its mountain of new words, expressions, [grammatical](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-grammar\/guide\/ \"grammatical\") rules and conjugations to memorize.\n\nIf you are studying French to communicate in French – not only to pass school grades – there is a different way: a much less painful, and really effective way to start learning French, which is both logical and gradual. Here it comes :-)\n\n## 3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio\nFirst thing, if you are studying French to communicate in French, you must study with audio. It’s extremely unlikely you will achieve a decent French pronunciation if you are studying French only with books since [spoken and written French are so different](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/understand-spoken-french-modern-french-language-pronunciation).\n\nThe French audio you follow needs to come from a French native from France (if you want to learn French from France that is) and feature:\n\n- enunciated French so you can start French by learning the right sounds,\n- but also modern spoken French. I’m not talking about a slang street language here, but just the natural way the French speak French in their daily life – the pronunciation is quite different than when they enunciate.\n\nYou need to understand both enunciated French, and the more natural daily life spoken French if you are to communicate effectively with the French. Watch-out! Most methods only feature the slow enunciated [French pronunciation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-pronunciation\/audio-guide\/ \"French pronunciation\")! Then [students don’t understand the French when they speak](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/the-best-way-to-study-french-for-listening-and-understanding)\\!\n\n## 4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies\nThe next thing to do is to prioritize. You cannot learn everything at once.\n\nWith so many free tools to learn French, it’s really easy to jump for one funny video to the next and learn bits here and bits there but lack a solid path to link and hold your new French knowledge.\n\nTo start French efficiently, you need a structure.  \nA logical approach.  \nA [beginner French method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/) that will cover the basic French vocabulary and grammatical tenses, teach you daily French vocabulary and the right pronunciation.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2019\/08\/A-Moi-Paris-Method-Full-Method@300x-230x230.jpg)\n\nÀ Moi Paris Audiobook Method\n\nA new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.\n\n(836 Reviews)\n\n[**More Details & Audio Samples**](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/)\n\nIf you are learning French to communicate in French, and are an English speaker, here are my tips to begin French efficiently\n\n### Stay in the present tense.\nFrench conjugations are overwhelming. Yes, they are an important part of the French language, but the tense you will use the most in everyday interactions is the present tense. You need to start somewhere. Start with the present tense and only the present tense. It’s already a lot.\n\n### Master the affirmative and the negative\nYou’ll use your verbs as much in the affirmative as in the negative. You may understand the logic, but you need to drill to get it fast when you speak! Repeat, repeat, repeat\\!\n\n### Learn daily vocabulary essential to communicate\nFood. Travels. Family. Weather. Work & Hobbies.  \nThese are among the most common topics of conversations. Health also but maybe you’re not going to discuss your health right away with a friendly waiter, hein… So, aim for the likely conversations that are relevant to your life, and learn that vocabulary.\n\n### Ask basic questions\nQuestions are the base of communication.  \nIf you can’t ask\/understand a question, you cannot communicate.  \nThere are many ways of asking questions in French. Start with the simpler one, which I call “street or modern French” in my [French audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french\/). It’s not really grammatically correct, but it’s the one the French use in their daily life. And it’s simple and to the point.\n\nAs a beginner in French, there are many things to study. You will feel you progress fast because each new word, each new topic opens up a world of opportunity.\n\nBut if you are not careful about how you organize the info, you won’t learn efficiently: you will soon forget things, and the logic of French won’t fall into place, and everything will crumble. You need to slow down, follow a method and study efficiently.\n\n![how to begin french - what to study firs](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/\/assets\/2019\/03\/how-to-begin-french-what-to-study-first-500x334.jpg)\n\n## 5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order\nI’ve been teaching French to adult English speakers for over 20 years. Here is the most logical gradual approach to start learning French for a total beginner English speaking student.\n\nThis is what you’ll learn in the first audiobook of my gradual [French audiobook learning method for beginners](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/).\n\nAs stated above, the vocabulary priorities are up to you. And of course, my French learning method will teach you a lot of vocabulary as well since all the rules are illustrated by a fun, level-adapted novel.\n\nBut here are the French rules I recommend you study when you start your French journey.\n\n### 1 – First French goal\nFirst, go for the essentials: being polite, subject pronouns, tu ≠vous, the concept of “conjugating” a verb\n\n1. Basic greetings and politeness words – different ways to say “hi”\n2. Singular subject pronouns – je, tu, il, elle, on\n3. You in French, the difference between tu, toi, te, t’ and vous\n4. Plural subject pronouns – nous, vous, ils, elles watch out the “s” are silent\\!\n5. Aller in the present indicative tense\n6. Asking and answering “how are you”\n7. Thank you, you’re welcome and please – because you always need to be polite\n8. Asking “and you” is essential – never forget it.\n9. Introducing yourself, your family\n10. The many ways of saying good bye, see you soon… more or less formal French\n11. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 2 – Second French priority\nYour next priority is to get the pronunciation of your ER verbs right and understand the difference between spoken and written French\n\n1. Present indicative tense of “to be”\n2. How to learn your French verbs: there is a write way and a wrong way\n3. Verbs in ER + consonant – Pronunciation only. That’s the most important thing\\!\n4. Verbs in ER + consonant – written form. But don’t let the silent letters fool you\n5. Mastering “elision” + drills\n6. Mastering “liaison” + drills\n7. Verbs in ER + vowel or h – pronunciation: liaison, elision, glidings with the pronouns\n8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises, [French verb drills](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-verb-drills\/verbs-vol-1\/) etc…\n### 3 – Third priority for French beginners\nNow you’ll start forming basic sentences together with nouns, and study the use and pronunciation of Le, la, les.\n\n1. Le, la, l’, les – pronunciation differences and use\n2. Aimer – a verb that can be tricky (to be in love ≠ to like)\n3. The verb préférer – spelling and pronunciation\n4. Making a noun plural – the silent S in French\n5. Irregular plural – OK, but they are less common than regular ones\\!\n6. Moi, toi, lui… The stress pronouns and how to use them\n7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 4 – The fourth point French beginners should master are the differences between articles\nWhen to use le, la, les ≠ un, une, des\n\n1. Un, une: use and pronunciation\n2. Des = more complex than “some” + liaison in Z\n3. Introduction to Se or S’ verbs and the glided pronunciation of [reflexive pronouns](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/secret-to-master-french-verb-conjugation\/)\n4. S’appeler + cultural explanations on the many ways of introducing yourself in French\n5. How to say French and France – introducing the French adjective\n6. Continent, countries, nationalities – Nouns ≠ adjectives in French\n7. Where do you come from? Prepositions of place\n8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 5 – Next: describing what you have, asking for things\n1. Making a verb negative. Why can’t I hear this “ne”?\n2. What happens when 2 verbs follow each other ? The infinitive construction and lack of “to”.\n3. Unspecific quantities – du, de la, des and how to use them – why you can’t say ‘je voudrais une eau”\n4. Specific quantities – why you say “je ne veux pas d’eau”\n5. The verb avoir – affirmative, negative… A verb you need to really know by heart and why\n6. The verb pouvoir – how to extend an invitation in French\n7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 6 – The next logical French topics are numbers and telling the time\n1. [French Numbers 1-29](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-vocabulary\/how-to-best-learn-french-numbers-with-audio\/) – pronunciation alone and with liaison\n2. Numbers 30-100 – don’t learn them as a logical deduction: learn them as one sound\n3. The many ways to tell the time – understand them all. Pick one to use yourself.\n4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 7 – Finally, practice asking questions in French\n1. Il y a ≠ il n’y a pas and their modern spoken pronunciation (ya, yapa)\n2. Asking questions – detailed explanation\n3. à + le & de + le = the mutant forms and how to use them\n4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n## 6 – Starting French – What to Study Next\nNow that you have a solid organization and understanding of the basis of the language, you can start filling up the filing cabinet that’s your brain.\n\nLoad up words of vocabulary, verb conjugations (in the present tense only, hein! You don’t know the rules which govern the other tenses yet!) Learn idioms too, they are fun.\n\nWatch out: your French pronunciation is still fresh… you need to know how to pronounce a word before you memorize it. So learning everything, including verbs, with audio is a must.\n\nCheck out the next level of my [French learning method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/). “À Moi Paris level 2, Meet the Gang” features a longer story (still in the present tense), lots of vocabulary and idiom lists, verb conjugations and a Q\\&A sections so you can practice out-loud.\n\nAnd if you are learning French to communicate, then you need to practice. There is a huge psychological fear to get over when you start speaking a language. You won’t be able to present the real you: you can’t yet be smart, you can’t yet be funny. You will make mistakes. Sometimes, people may laugh at them… These are things you want to get used to: they are part of your French journey. So, I recommend you find a tutor to practice with.\n\nHere again, choosing a professional who can guide you, check your pronunciation, encourage you without pressuring you is the key. There are many ways to do lessons exchanges or conversations with a native, but I believe they can be more harmful than anything else for a beginner.\n\nYou need your emerging self-confidence in French cherished, not crushed by someone who will correct all your mistakes (without offering any explanations for them…) mock you or be impatient.\n\nGo for a professional [French teacher by Skype](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/worldwide-french-lessons-via-phone-skype), ask for a trial lesson before committing to more to see if you like the teacher.\n\nThere is a right and a wrong way to start French. If you start French the right way, the smart way, I promise you will feel empowered and start speaking French in no time.\n\n![Author: Camille Chevalier](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2025\/08\/camille-chevalier-immersion-en-france-150x150.jpeg)\n\n#### Camille Chevalier\nBorn and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable [French audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french) focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive [French immersion homestay with me in Brittany](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-immersion\/teacher-homestay-paimpol-brittany\/).\n\nMore Articles from [Camille Chevalier](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/author\/camille-chevalier-karfis\/)\n\n## You Might Also Enjoy...\n[![French woman checking the various French learning methods](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2018\/09\/learn-French-best-method--285x147.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-pick-the-very-best-learning-method-and-avoid-scams\/)\n\n[French Learning Methods : Scams + Pros & Cons](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-pick-the-very-best-learning-method-and-avoid-scams\/)\n\n[![Old picture woman with beret using dictaphone](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2021\/03\/how-to-spell-in-french.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-spell-in-french\/)\n\n[How to Spell in French?](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-spell-in-french\/)\n\n[![How to make flashcards to study French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2016\/03\/IMG_1248.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-make-flashcards-for-french-studies\/)\n\n[My 9 Tips To Make French Flashcards](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-make-flashcards-for-french-studies\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2010\/08\/6cdb4ac6ccf86fc9922b1b1ecf5faa0d.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/scared-to-speak-in-french-how-to-get-over-speaking-anxiety\/)\n\n[Scared To Speak in French – 10 Tips To Get Over Speaking Anxiety](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/scared-to-speak-in-french-how-to-get-over-speaking-anxiety\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2020\/05\/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-FrenchToday.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-top-12-tips\/)\n\n[How to Learn French Efficiently – 12 Top Tips](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-top-12-tips\/)\n\n[![French language register formal casual street slang French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2019\/03\/My-Post.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/french-language-register-everyday-formal-modern\/)\n\n[Which French Language Register Should I Learn?](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/french-language-register-everyday-formal-modern\/)\n\n[![French teacher and adult French student drinking coffee and laughing](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2021\/01\/french-immersion-homestay-in-france.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/why-learn-french-in-france\/)\n\n[Why You Need to Learn French in France at an Immersion Homestay](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/why-learn-french-in-france\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2019\/04\/Learning-French-While-Living-In-France-is-not-easy.jpg)](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/learning-french-when-living-in-france\/)\n\n[Learning French While Living in France is Easy. Wrong\\!](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/learning-french-when-living-in-france\/)\n\n[View More Articles](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/)\n\n#### Comments\nPlease enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.](https:\/\/disqus.com\/?ref_noscript)\n\n#### More free lessons\n- [How to learn French efficiently](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-top-12-tips\/)  \n  My 12 top tips\n- [French placement test](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-language-audio-quiz-test\/)  \n  Audio based French quiz with immediate answers & explanations\n- [Beginner French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french-audio\/french-beginner-level\/)  \n  How to start learning French with confidence\n- [How to get past the French intermediate frustration?](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/french-intermediate-level-b1-b2\/)  \n  Setting realistic goals & a strong study plan\n- [Advanced French speaker](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/how-to-learn-french-audio\/french-advanced-level\/)  \n  How to understand everything and speak without thinking\n- [How to choose the best French learning method?](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-pick-the-very-best-learning-method-and-avoid-scams\/)  \n  Pros & cons, scams\n- [I’m scared to speak in French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/scared-to-speak-in-french-how-to-get-over-speaking-anxiety\/)  \n  Lots of people are. 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The French everybody speaks in France today is NOT the overly enunciated, extremely formal French usually taught to foreigners.\n\n[**Take Your Free Audio Test Now**](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/french-language-audio-quiz-test\/?utm_source=How+To+Learn+French&utm_medium=pop)\n\n0","attrs_readable_markdown":"What should you first study when you start French? What's the best French curriculum for beginners? What's the best sequence to learning French? Here is my list.\n\nThe other day, Oliver Gee from the Earful Tower interviewed me on “how to start French”. You can ear our conversation and the tips I gave him on his podcast [here](https:\/\/theearfultower.com\/2019\/03\/21\/tips-for-how-to-start-learning-french\/).\n\nI figured I had even more tips to share with beginner students of French. I also wanted to give you a clear list of what French grammar and vocabulary points should be studied first, in other words, the priorities and organisations of topics to [learn French](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-top-12-tips\/ \"learn French\").\n\n## 1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student?\nWhen it comes to starting to learn French, a student enrolled in a French school and self French learner are not necessarily going to have the same priorities.\n\nIf you are starting French on your own, you need to first assess your priorities. Why do you want to learn French? Is-it to travel to France and communicate with the French? To write songs or poems in French? To read French literature in French? Your approach should not be the same whether the focus is on speaking or reading or writing French.\n\nIf you are studying school in French, your teacher should provide a French curriculum. Whether it will teach you French or not, that’s what you need to study to ace the class.\n\n## 2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners\nTraditional methods will pretty much all follow the same French curriculum for beginners (A1 level):\n\n1. French politeness and greetings\n2. [French verb](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/ \"French verb\") conjugations for regular ER, IR, RE verbs\n3. Present conjugations of être, avoir, aller, prendre, pouvoir, devoir… about 30 common irregular French verbs\n4. French articles: definite, indefinite, partitive\n5. Asking questions with est-ce que and inversion\n6. Regular and Irregular adjectives, possessive, demonstrative adjectives…\n7. Object Pronouns\n8. Introduction to Passé-composé and soon after [Imparfait](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/passe-compose-versus-imparfait\/), futur… more French verb conjugations.\n\nAll mixed with some useful vocabulary and written dialogues introducing a lot of new words each time.\n\nThe progression is super fast. These methods assume you know or remember what a subject, a pronoun, an adjective or a direct object are. They make you memorize a ton of new info, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.\n\nThere is almost no repetition: each chapter comes with its mountain of new words, expressions, [grammatical](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-grammar\/guide\/ \"grammatical\") rules and conjugations to memorize.\n\nIf you are studying French to communicate in French – not only to pass school grades – there is a different way: a much less painful, and really effective way to start learning French, which is both logical and gradual. Here it comes :-)\n\n## 3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio\nFirst thing, if you are studying French to communicate in French, you must study with audio. It’s extremely unlikely you will achieve a decent French pronunciation if you are studying French only with books since [spoken and written French are so different](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/understand-spoken-french-modern-french-language-pronunciation).\n\nThe French audio you follow needs to come from a French native from France (if you want to learn French from France that is) and feature:\n\n- enunciated French so you can start French by learning the right sounds,\n- but also modern spoken French. I’m not talking about a slang street language here, but just the natural way the French speak French in their daily life – the pronunciation is quite different than when they enunciate.\n\nYou need to understand both enunciated French, and the more natural daily life spoken French if you are to communicate effectively with the French. Watch-out! Most methods only feature the slow enunciated [French pronunciation](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-pronunciation\/audio-guide\/ \"French pronunciation\")! Then [students don’t understand the French when they speak](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/how-to-learn-french\/the-best-way-to-study-french-for-listening-and-understanding)\\!\n\n## 4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies\nThe next thing to do is to prioritize. You cannot learn everything at once.\n\nWith so many free tools to learn French, it’s really easy to jump for one funny video to the next and learn bits here and bits there but lack a solid path to link and hold your new French knowledge.\n\nTo start French efficiently, you need a structure.  \nA logical approach.  \nA [beginner French method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/) that will cover the basic French vocabulary and grammatical tenses, teach you daily French vocabulary and the right pronunciation.\n\n![](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/assets\/2019\/08\/A-Moi-Paris-Method-Full-Method@300x-230x230.jpg)\n\nÀ Moi Paris Audiobook Method\n\nA new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.\n\n(836 Reviews)\n\n[**More Details & Audio Samples**](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/)\n\nIf you are learning French to communicate in French, and are an English speaker, here are my tips to begin French efficiently\n\n### Stay in the present tense.\nFrench conjugations are overwhelming. Yes, they are an important part of the French language, but the tense you will use the most in everyday interactions is the present tense. You need to start somewhere. Start with the present tense and only the present tense. It’s already a lot.\n\n### Master the affirmative and the negative\nYou’ll use your verbs as much in the affirmative as in the negative. You may understand the logic, but you need to drill to get it fast when you speak! Repeat, repeat, repeat\\!\n\n### Learn daily vocabulary essential to communicate\nFood. Travels. Family. Weather. Work & Hobbies.  \nThese are among the most common topics of conversations. Health also but maybe you’re not going to discuss your health right away with a friendly waiter, hein… So, aim for the likely conversations that are relevant to your life, and learn that vocabulary.\n\n### Ask basic questions\nQuestions are the base of communication.  \nIf you can’t ask\/understand a question, you cannot communicate.  \nThere are many ways of asking questions in French. Start with the simpler one, which I call “street or modern French” in my [French audiobooks](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/audiobooks-to-learn-french\/). It’s not really grammatically correct, but it’s the one the French use in their daily life. And it’s simple and to the point.\n\nAs a beginner in French, there are many things to study. You will feel you progress fast because each new word, each new topic opens up a world of opportunity.\n\nBut if you are not careful about how you organize the info, you won’t learn efficiently: you will soon forget things, and the logic of French won’t fall into place, and everything will crumble. You need to slow down, follow a method and study efficiently.\n\n![how to begin french - what to study firs](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/\/assets\/2019\/03\/how-to-begin-french-what-to-study-first-500x334.jpg)\n\n## 5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order\nI’ve been teaching French to adult English speakers for over 20 years. Here is the most logical gradual approach to start learning French for a total beginner English speaking student.\n\nThis is what you’ll learn in the first audiobook of my gradual [French audiobook learning method for beginners](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/).\n\nAs stated above, the vocabulary priorities are up to you. And of course, my French learning method will teach you a lot of vocabulary as well since all the rules are illustrated by a fun, level-adapted novel.\n\nBut here are the French rules I recommend you study when you start your French journey.\n\n### 1 – First French goal\nFirst, go for the essentials: being polite, subject pronouns, tu ≠vous, the concept of “conjugating” a verb\n\n1. Basic greetings and politeness words – different ways to say “hi”\n2. Singular subject pronouns – je, tu, il, elle, on\n3. You in French, the difference between tu, toi, te, t’ and vous\n4. Plural subject pronouns – nous, vous, ils, elles watch out the “s” are silent\\!\n5. Aller in the present indicative tense\n6. Asking and answering “how are you”\n7. Thank you, you’re welcome and please – because you always need to be polite\n8. Asking “and you” is essential – never forget it.\n9. Introducing yourself, your family\n10. The many ways of saying good bye, see you soon… more or less formal French\n11. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 2 – Second French priority\nYour next priority is to get the pronunciation of your ER verbs right and understand the difference between spoken and written French\n\n1. Present indicative tense of “to be”\n2. How to learn your French verbs: there is a write way and a wrong way\n3. Verbs in ER + consonant – Pronunciation only. That’s the most important thing\\!\n4. Verbs in ER + consonant – written form. But don’t let the silent letters fool you\n5. Mastering “elision” + drills\n6. Mastering “liaison” + drills\n7. Verbs in ER + vowel or h – pronunciation: liaison, elision, glidings with the pronouns\n8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises, [French verb drills](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-verb-drills\/verbs-vol-1\/) etc…\n### 3 – Third priority for French beginners\nNow you’ll start forming basic sentences together with nouns, and study the use and pronunciation of Le, la, les.\n\n1. Le, la, l’, les – pronunciation differences and use\n2. Aimer – a verb that can be tricky (to be in love ≠ to like)\n3. The verb préférer – spelling and pronunciation\n4. Making a noun plural – the silent S in French\n5. Irregular plural – OK, but they are less common than regular ones\\!\n6. Moi, toi, lui… The stress pronouns and how to use them\n7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 4 – The fourth point French beginners should master are the differences between articles\nWhen to use le, la, les ≠ un, une, des\n\n1. Un, une: use and pronunciation\n2. Des = more complex than “some” + liaison in Z\n3. Introduction to Se or S’ verbs and the glided pronunciation of [reflexive pronouns](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-verb-conjugation\/secret-to-master-french-verb-conjugation\/)\n4. S’appeler + cultural explanations on the many ways of introducing yourself in French\n5. How to say French and France – introducing the French adjective\n6. Continent, countries, nationalities – Nouns ≠ adjectives in French\n7. Where do you come from? Prepositions of place\n8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 5 – Next: describing what you have, asking for things\n1. Making a verb negative. Why can’t I hear this “ne”?\n2. What happens when 2 verbs follow each other ? The infinitive construction and lack of “to”.\n3. Unspecific quantities – du, de la, des and how to use them – why you can’t say ‘je voudrais une eau”\n4. Specific quantities – why you say “je ne veux pas d’eau”\n5. The verb avoir – affirmative, negative… A verb you need to really know by heart and why\n6. The verb pouvoir – how to extend an invitation in French\n7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 6 – The next logical French topics are numbers and telling the time\n1. [French Numbers 1-29](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/blog\/french-vocabulary\/how-to-best-learn-french-numbers-with-audio\/) – pronunciation alone and with liaison\n2. Numbers 30-100 – don’t learn them as a logical deduction: learn them as one sound\n3. The many ways to tell the time – understand them all. Pick one to use yourself.\n4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n### 7 – Finally, practice asking questions in French\n1. Il y a ≠ il n’y a pas and their modern spoken pronunciation (ya, yapa)\n2. Asking questions – detailed explanation\n3. à + le & de + le = the mutant forms and how to use them\n4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc…\n## 6 – Starting French – What to Study Next\nNow that you have a solid organization and understanding of the basis of the language, you can start filling up the filing cabinet that’s your brain.\n\nLoad up words of vocabulary, verb conjugations (in the present tense only, hein! You don’t know the rules which govern the other tenses yet!) Learn idioms too, they are fun.\n\nWatch out: your French pronunciation is still fresh… you need to know how to pronounce a word before you memorize it. So learning everything, including verbs, with audio is a must.\n\nCheck out the next level of my [French learning method](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/learn-french\/french-audio-books\/a-moi-paris-method-beginner\/). “À Moi Paris level 2, Meet the Gang” features a longer story (still in the present tense), lots of vocabulary and idiom lists, verb conjugations and a Q\\&A sections so you can practice out-loud.\n\nAnd if you are learning French to communicate, then you need to practice. There is a huge psychological fear to get over when you start speaking a language. You won’t be able to present the real you: you can’t yet be smart, you can’t yet be funny. You will make mistakes. Sometimes, people may laugh at them… These are things you want to get used to: they are part of your French journey. So, I recommend you find a tutor to practice with.\n\nHere again, choosing a professional who can guide you, check your pronunciation, encourage you without pressuring you is the key. There are many ways to do lessons exchanges or conversations with a native, but I believe they can be more harmful than anything else for a beginner.\n\nYou need your emerging self-confidence in French cherished, not crushed by someone who will correct all your mistakes (without offering any explanations for them…) mock you or be impatient.\n\nGo for a professional [French teacher by Skype](https:\/\/www.frenchtoday.com\/worldwide-french-lessons-via-phone-skype), ask for a trial lesson before committing to more to see if you like the teacher.\n\nThere is a right and a wrong way to start French. If you start French the right way, the smart way, I promise you will feel empowered and start speaking French in no time.","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	What should you first study when you start French? What's the best French curriculum for beginners? What's the best sequence to learning French? Here is my list. The other day, Oliver Gee from the Earful Tower interviewed me on “how to start French”. You can ear our conversation and the tips I gave him on his podcast here . I figured I had even more tips to share with beginner students of French. I also wanted to give you a clear list of what French grammar and vocabulary points should be studied first, in other words, the priorities and organisations of topics to learn French . 1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student? When it comes to starting to learn French, a student enrolled in a French school and self French learner are not necessarily going to have the same priorities. If you are starting French on your own, you need to first assess your priorities. Why do you want to learn French? Is-it to travel to France and communicate with the French? To write songs or poems in French? To read French literature in French? Your approach should not be the same whether the focus is on speaking or reading or writing French. If you are studying school in French, your teacher should provide a French curriculum. Whether it will teach you French or not, that’s what you need to study to ace the class. 2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners Traditional methods will pretty much all follow the same French curriculum for beginners (A1 level): French politeness and greetings French verb conjugations for regular ER, IR, RE verbs Present conjugations of être, avoir, aller, prendre, pouvoir, devoir… about 30 common irregular French verbs French articles: definite, indefinite, partitive Asking questions with est-ce que and inversion Regular and Irregular adjectives, possessive, demonstrative adjectives… Object Pronouns Introduction to Passé-composé and soon after Imparfait , futur… more French verb conjugations. All mixed with some useful vocabulary and written dialogues introducing a lot of new words each time. The progression is super fast. These methods assume you know or remember what a subject, a pronoun, an adjective or a direct object are. They make you memorize a ton of new info, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. There is almost no repetition: each chapter comes with its mountain of new words, expressions, grammatical rules and conjugations to memorize. If you are studying French to communicate in French – not only to pass school grades – there is a different way: a much less painful, and really effective way to start learning French, which is both logical and gradual. Here it comes :-) 3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio First thing, if you are studying French to communicate in French, you must study with audio. It’s extremely unlikely you will achieve a decent French pronunciation if you are studying French only with books since spoken and written French are so different . The French audio you follow needs to come from a French native from France (if you want to learn French from France that is) and feature: enunciated French so you can start French by learning the right sounds, but also modern spoken French. I’m not talking about a slang street language here, but just the natural way the French speak French in their daily life – the pronunciation is quite different than when they enunciate. You need to understand both enunciated French, and the more natural daily life spoken French if you are to communicate effectively with the French. Watch-out! Most methods only feature the slow enunciated French pronunciation ! Then students don’t understand the French when they speak ! 4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies The next thing to do is to prioritize. You cannot learn everything at once. With so many free tools to learn French, it’s really easy to jump for one funny video to the next and learn bits here and bits there but lack a solid path to link and hold your new French knowledge. To start French efficiently, you need a structure. A logical approach. A beginner French method that will cover the basic French vocabulary and grammatical tenses, teach you daily French vocabulary and the right pronunciation. À Moi Paris Audiobook Method A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers. (836 Reviews) More Details & Audio Samples If you are learning French to communicate in French, and are an English speaker, here are my tips to begin French efficiently Stay in the present tense. French conjugations are overwhelming. Yes, they are an important part of the French language, but the tense you will use the most in everyday interactions is the present tense. You need to start somewhere. Start with the present tense and only the present tense. It’s already a lot. Master the affirmative and the negative You’ll use your verbs as much in the affirmative as in the negative. You may understand the logic, but you need to drill to get it fast when you speak! Repeat, repeat, repeat! Learn daily vocabulary essential to communicate Food. Travels. Family. Weather. Work & Hobbies. These are among the most common topics of conversations. Health also but maybe you’re not going to discuss your health right away with a friendly waiter, hein… So, aim for the likely conversations that are relevant to your life, and learn that vocabulary. Ask basic questions Questions are the base of communication. If you can’t ask/understand a question, you cannot communicate. There are many ways of asking questions in French. Start with the simpler one, which I call “street or modern French” in my French audiobooks . It’s not really grammatically correct, but it’s the one the French use in their daily life. And it’s simple and to the point. As a beginner in French, there are many things to study. You will feel you progress fast because each new word, each new topic opens up a world of opportunity. But if you are not careful about how you organize the info, you won’t learn efficiently: you will soon forget things, and the logic of French won’t fall into place, and everything will crumble. You need to slow down, follow a method and study efficiently. 5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order I’ve been teaching French to adult English speakers for over 20 years. Here is the most logical gradual approach to start learning French for a total beginner English speaking student. This is what you’ll learn in the first audiobook of my gradual French audiobook learning method for beginners . As stated above, the vocabulary priorities are up to you. And of course, my French learning method will teach you a lot of vocabulary as well since all the rules are illustrated by a fun, level-adapted novel. But here are the French rules I recommend you study when you start your French journey. 1 – First French goal First, go for the essentials: being polite, subject pronouns, tu ≠vous, the concept of “conjugating” a verb Basic greetings and politeness words – different ways to say “hi” Singular subject pronouns – je, tu, il, elle, on You in French, the difference between tu, toi, te, t’ and vous Plural subject pronouns – nous, vous, ils, elles watch out the “s” are silent! Aller in the present indicative tense Asking and answering “how are you” Thank you, you’re welcome and please – because you always need to be polite Asking “and you” is essential – never forget it. Introducing yourself, your family The many ways of saying good bye, see you soon… more or less formal French PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… 2 – Second French priority Your next priority is to get the pronunciation of your ER verbs right and understand the difference between spoken and written French Present indicative tense of “to be” How to learn your French verbs: there is a write way and a wrong way Verbs in ER + consonant – Pronunciation only. That’s the most important thing! Verbs in ER + consonant – written form. But don’t let the silent letters fool you Mastering “elision” + drills Mastering “liaison” + drills Verbs in ER + vowel or h – pronunciation: liaison, elision, glidings with the pronouns PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises, French verb drills etc… 3 – Third priority for French beginners Now you’ll start forming basic sentences together with nouns, and study the use and pronunciation of Le, la, les. Le, la, l’, les – pronunciation differences and use Aimer – a verb that can be tricky (to be in love ≠ to like) The verb préférer – spelling and pronunciation Making a noun plural – the silent S in French Irregular plural – OK, but they are less common than regular ones! Moi, toi, lui… The stress pronouns and how to use them PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… 4 – The fourth point French beginners should master are the differences between articles When to use le, la, les ≠ un, une, des Un, une: use and pronunciation Des = more complex than “some” + liaison in Z Introduction to Se or S’ verbs and the glided pronunciation of reflexive pronouns S’appeler + cultural explanations on the many ways of introducing yourself in French How to say French and France – introducing the French adjective Continent, countries, nationalities – Nouns ≠ adjectives in French Where do you come from? Prepositions of place PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… 5 – Next: describing what you have, asking for things Making a verb negative. Why can’t I hear this “ne”? What happens when 2 verbs follow each other ? The infinitive construction and lack of “to”. Unspecific quantities – du, de la, des and how to use them – why you can’t say ‘je voudrais une eau” Specific quantities – why you say “je ne veux pas d’eau” The verb avoir – affirmative, negative… A verb you need to really know by heart and why The verb pouvoir – how to extend an invitation in French PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… 6 – The next logical French topics are numbers and telling the time French Numbers 1-29 – pronunciation alone and with liaison Numbers 30-100 – don’t learn them as a logical deduction: learn them as one sound The many ways to tell the time – understand them all. Pick one to use yourself. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… 7 – Finally, practice asking questions in French Il y a ≠ il n’y a pas and their modern spoken pronunciation (ya, yapa) Asking questions – detailed explanation à + le & de + le = the mutant forms and how to use them PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… 6 – Starting French – What to Study Next Now that you have a solid organization and understanding of the basis of the language, you can start filling up the filing cabinet that’s your brain. Load up words of vocabulary, verb conjugations (in the present tense only, hein! You don’t know the rules which govern the other tenses yet!) Learn idioms too, they are fun. Watch out: your French pronunciation is still fresh… you need to know how to pronounce a word before you memorize it. So learning everything, including verbs, with audio is a must. Check out the next level of my French learning method . “À Moi Paris level 2, Meet the Gang” features a longer story (still in the present tense), lots of vocabulary and idiom lists, verb conjugations and a Q&A sections so you can practice out-loud. And if you are learning French to communicate, then you need to practice. There is a huge psychological fear to get over when you start speaking a language. You won’t be able to present the real you: you can’t yet be smart, you can’t yet be funny. You will make mistakes. Sometimes, people may laugh at them… These are things you want to get used to: they are part of your French journey. So, I recommend you find a tutor to practice with. Here again, choosing a professional who can guide you, check your pronunciation, encourage you without pressuring you is the key. There are many ways to do lessons exchanges or conversations with a native, but I believe they can be more harmful than anything else for a beginner. You need your emerging self-confidence in French cherished, not crushed by someone who will correct all your mistakes (without offering any explanations for them…) mock you or be impatient. Go for a professional French teacher by Skype , ask for a trial lesson before committing to more to see if you like the teacher. There is a right and a wrong way to start French. If you start French the right way, the smart way, I promise you will feel empowered and start speaking French in no time.
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[French Stories](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-story/) [How To Learn French](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/) # How to Start Learning French Efficiently – Priorities and Organisation of Topics By [Camille Chevalier](https://www.frenchtoday.com/author/camille-chevalier-karfis/) Updated: Aug 18, 2021 ![Author: Camille Chevalier](https://www.frenchtoday.com/assets/2025/08/camille-chevalier-immersion-en-france-150x150.jpeg) What should you first study when you start French? What's the best French curriculum for beginners? What's the best sequence to learning French? Here is my list. ![Start French - What Orderm- how should I start French - what to study first when you start french french for beginners - order structure organization](https://www.frenchtoday.com/assets/2019/03/Start-French-What-Order-660x456.jpg) The other day, Oliver Gee from the Earful Tower interviewed me on “how to start French”. You can ear our conversation and the tips I gave him on his podcast [here](https://theearfultower.com/2019/03/21/tips-for-how-to-start-learning-french/). I figured I had even more tips to share with beginner students of French. I also wanted to give you a clear list of what French grammar and vocabulary points should be studied first, in other words, the priorities and organisations of topics to [learn French](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-top-12-tips/ "learn French"). Table of Contents [1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student?](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/#1-starting-to-learn-french-school-student-or-self-student) [2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/#2-traditional-french-curriculum-for-beginners) [3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/#3-start-learning-french-the-smart-way-study-with-audio) [4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/#4-french-starter-prioritize-your-french-studies) [5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/#5-best-way-to-start-learning-french-list-of-topics-and-order) [6 – Starting French – What to Study Next](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-start-french-order-topics/#6-starting-french-what-to-study-next) ## 1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student? When it comes to starting to learn French, a student enrolled in a French school and self French learner are not necessarily going to have the same priorities. If you are starting French on your own, you need to first assess your priorities. Why do you want to learn French? Is-it to travel to France and communicate with the French? To write songs or poems in French? To read French literature in French? Your approach should not be the same whether the focus is on speaking or reading or writing French. If you are studying school in French, your teacher should provide a French curriculum. Whether it will teach you French or not, that’s what you need to study to ace the class. ## 2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners Traditional methods will pretty much all follow the same French curriculum for beginners (A1 level): 1. French politeness and greetings 2. [French verb](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/ "French verb") conjugations for regular ER, IR, RE verbs 3. Present conjugations of être, avoir, aller, prendre, pouvoir, devoir… about 30 common irregular French verbs 4. French articles: definite, indefinite, partitive 5. Asking questions with est-ce que and inversion 6. Regular and Irregular adjectives, possessive, demonstrative adjectives… 7. Object Pronouns 8. Introduction to Passé-composé and soon after [Imparfait](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/passe-compose-versus-imparfait/), futur… more French verb conjugations. All mixed with some useful vocabulary and written dialogues introducing a lot of new words each time. The progression is super fast. These methods assume you know or remember what a subject, a pronoun, an adjective or a direct object are. They make you memorize a ton of new info, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. There is almost no repetition: each chapter comes with its mountain of new words, expressions, [grammatical](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-grammar/guide/ "grammatical") rules and conjugations to memorize. If you are studying French to communicate in French – not only to pass school grades – there is a different way: a much less painful, and really effective way to start learning French, which is both logical and gradual. Here it comes :-) ## 3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio First thing, if you are studying French to communicate in French, you must study with audio. It’s extremely unlikely you will achieve a decent French pronunciation if you are studying French only with books since [spoken and written French are so different](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/understand-spoken-french-modern-french-language-pronunciation). The French audio you follow needs to come from a French native from France (if you want to learn French from France that is) and feature: - enunciated French so you can start French by learning the right sounds, - but also modern spoken French. I’m not talking about a slang street language here, but just the natural way the French speak French in their daily life – the pronunciation is quite different than when they enunciate. You need to understand both enunciated French, and the more natural daily life spoken French if you are to communicate effectively with the French. Watch-out! Most methods only feature the slow enunciated [French pronunciation](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-pronunciation/audio-guide/ "French pronunciation")! Then [students don’t understand the French when they speak](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/the-best-way-to-study-french-for-listening-and-understanding)\! ## 4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies The next thing to do is to prioritize. You cannot learn everything at once. With so many free tools to learn French, it’s really easy to jump for one funny video to the next and learn bits here and bits there but lack a solid path to link and hold your new French knowledge. To start French efficiently, you need a structure. A logical approach. A [beginner French method](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/) that will cover the basic French vocabulary and grammatical tenses, teach you daily French vocabulary and the right pronunciation. ![](https://www.frenchtoday.com/assets/2019/08/A-Moi-Paris-Method-Full-Method@300x-230x230.jpg) À Moi Paris Audiobook Method A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers. (836 Reviews) [More Details & Audio Samples](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/) If you are learning French to communicate in French, and are an English speaker, here are my tips to begin French efficiently ### Stay in the present tense. French conjugations are overwhelming. Yes, they are an important part of the French language, but the tense you will use the most in everyday interactions is the present tense. You need to start somewhere. Start with the present tense and only the present tense. It’s already a lot. ### Master the affirmative and the negative You’ll use your verbs as much in the affirmative as in the negative. You may understand the logic, but you need to drill to get it fast when you speak! Repeat, repeat, repeat\! ### Learn daily vocabulary essential to communicate Food. Travels. Family. Weather. Work & Hobbies. These are among the most common topics of conversations. Health also but maybe you’re not going to discuss your health right away with a friendly waiter, hein… So, aim for the likely conversations that are relevant to your life, and learn that vocabulary. ### Ask basic questions Questions are the base of communication. If you can’t ask/understand a question, you cannot communicate. There are many ways of asking questions in French. Start with the simpler one, which I call “street or modern French” in my [French audiobooks](https://www.frenchtoday.com/audiobooks-to-learn-french/). It’s not really grammatically correct, but it’s the one the French use in their daily life. And it’s simple and to the point. As a beginner in French, there are many things to study. You will feel you progress fast because each new word, each new topic opens up a world of opportunity. But if you are not careful about how you organize the info, you won’t learn efficiently: you will soon forget things, and the logic of French won’t fall into place, and everything will crumble. You need to slow down, follow a method and study efficiently. ![how to begin french - what to study firs](https://www.frenchtoday.com//assets/2019/03/how-to-begin-french-what-to-study-first-500x334.jpg) ## 5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order I’ve been teaching French to adult English speakers for over 20 years. Here is the most logical gradual approach to start learning French for a total beginner English speaking student. This is what you’ll learn in the first audiobook of my gradual [French audiobook learning method for beginners](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/). As stated above, the vocabulary priorities are up to you. And of course, my French learning method will teach you a lot of vocabulary as well since all the rules are illustrated by a fun, level-adapted novel. But here are the French rules I recommend you study when you start your French journey. ### 1 – First French goal First, go for the essentials: being polite, subject pronouns, tu ≠vous, the concept of “conjugating” a verb 1. Basic greetings and politeness words – different ways to say “hi” 2. Singular subject pronouns – je, tu, il, elle, on 3. You in French, the difference between tu, toi, te, t’ and vous 4. Plural subject pronouns – nous, vous, ils, elles watch out the “s” are silent\! 5. Aller in the present indicative tense 6. Asking and answering “how are you” 7. Thank you, you’re welcome and please – because you always need to be polite 8. Asking “and you” is essential – never forget it. 9. Introducing yourself, your family 10. The many ways of saying good bye, see you soon… more or less formal French 11. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 2 – Second French priority Your next priority is to get the pronunciation of your ER verbs right and understand the difference between spoken and written French 1. Present indicative tense of “to be” 2. How to learn your French verbs: there is a write way and a wrong way 3. Verbs in ER + consonant – Pronunciation only. That’s the most important thing\! 4. Verbs in ER + consonant – written form. But don’t let the silent letters fool you 5. Mastering “elision” + drills 6. Mastering “liaison” + drills 7. Verbs in ER + vowel or h – pronunciation: liaison, elision, glidings with the pronouns 8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises, [French verb drills](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-verb-drills/verbs-vol-1/) etc… ### 3 – Third priority for French beginners Now you’ll start forming basic sentences together with nouns, and study the use and pronunciation of Le, la, les. 1. Le, la, l’, les – pronunciation differences and use 2. Aimer – a verb that can be tricky (to be in love ≠ to like) 3. The verb préférer – spelling and pronunciation 4. Making a noun plural – the silent S in French 5. Irregular plural – OK, but they are less common than regular ones\! 6. Moi, toi, lui… The stress pronouns and how to use them 7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 4 – The fourth point French beginners should master are the differences between articles When to use le, la, les ≠ un, une, des 1. Un, une: use and pronunciation 2. Des = more complex than “some” + liaison in Z 3. Introduction to Se or S’ verbs and the glided pronunciation of [reflexive pronouns](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/secret-to-master-french-verb-conjugation/) 4. S’appeler + cultural explanations on the many ways of introducing yourself in French 5. How to say French and France – introducing the French adjective 6. Continent, countries, nationalities – Nouns ≠ adjectives in French 7. Where do you come from? Prepositions of place 8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 5 – Next: describing what you have, asking for things 1. Making a verb negative. Why can’t I hear this “ne”? 2. What happens when 2 verbs follow each other ? The infinitive construction and lack of “to”. 3. Unspecific quantities – du, de la, des and how to use them – why you can’t say ‘je voudrais une eau” 4. Specific quantities – why you say “je ne veux pas d’eau” 5. The verb avoir – affirmative, negative… A verb you need to really know by heart and why 6. The verb pouvoir – how to extend an invitation in French 7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 6 – The next logical French topics are numbers and telling the time 1. [French Numbers 1-29](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-vocabulary/how-to-best-learn-french-numbers-with-audio/) – pronunciation alone and with liaison 2. Numbers 30-100 – don’t learn them as a logical deduction: learn them as one sound 3. The many ways to tell the time – understand them all. Pick one to use yourself. 4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 7 – Finally, practice asking questions in French 1. Il y a ≠ il n’y a pas and their modern spoken pronunciation (ya, yapa) 2. Asking questions – detailed explanation 3. à + le & de + le = the mutant forms and how to use them 4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ## 6 – Starting French – What to Study Next Now that you have a solid organization and understanding of the basis of the language, you can start filling up the filing cabinet that’s your brain. Load up words of vocabulary, verb conjugations (in the present tense only, hein! You don’t know the rules which govern the other tenses yet!) Learn idioms too, they are fun. Watch out: your French pronunciation is still fresh… you need to know how to pronounce a word before you memorize it. So learning everything, including verbs, with audio is a must. Check out the next level of my [French learning method](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/). “À Moi Paris level 2, Meet the Gang” features a longer story (still in the present tense), lots of vocabulary and idiom lists, verb conjugations and a Q\&A sections so you can practice out-loud. And if you are learning French to communicate, then you need to practice. There is a huge psychological fear to get over when you start speaking a language. You won’t be able to present the real you: you can’t yet be smart, you can’t yet be funny. You will make mistakes. Sometimes, people may laugh at them… These are things you want to get used to: they are part of your French journey. So, I recommend you find a tutor to practice with. Here again, choosing a professional who can guide you, check your pronunciation, encourage you without pressuring you is the key. There are many ways to do lessons exchanges or conversations with a native, but I believe they can be more harmful than anything else for a beginner. You need your emerging self-confidence in French cherished, not crushed by someone who will correct all your mistakes (without offering any explanations for them…) mock you or be impatient. Go for a professional [French teacher by Skype](https://www.frenchtoday.com/worldwide-french-lessons-via-phone-skype), ask for a trial lesson before committing to more to see if you like the teacher. There is a right and a wrong way to start French. If you start French the right way, the smart way, I promise you will feel empowered and start speaking French in no time. ![Author: Camille Chevalier](https://www.frenchtoday.com/assets/2025/08/camille-chevalier-immersion-en-france-150x150.jpeg) #### Camille Chevalier Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable [French audiobooks](https://www.frenchtoday.com/audiobooks-to-learn-french) focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive [French immersion homestay with me in Brittany](https://www.frenchtoday.com/french-immersion/teacher-homestay-paimpol-brittany/). More Articles from [Camille Chevalier](https://www.frenchtoday.com/author/camille-chevalier-karfis/) ## You Might Also Enjoy... 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But there’s hope\! - [Learn French with movies](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-to-improve-your-french-with-french-movies/) From entertainment to serious studying tool - [French for seniors](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-to-learn-french-senior/) Learning French is stupendous for your brain - [How to make the French speak French with you](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/make-french-people-speak-french/) It’s so annoying when they answer in English... I publish posts every week. 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Readable Markdown	What should you first study when you start French? What's the best French curriculum for beginners? What's the best sequence to learning French? Here is my list. The other day, Oliver Gee from the Earful Tower interviewed me on “how to start French”. You can ear our conversation and the tips I gave him on his podcast [here](https://theearfultower.com/2019/03/21/tips-for-how-to-start-learning-french/). I figured I had even more tips to share with beginner students of French. I also wanted to give you a clear list of what French grammar and vocabulary points should be studied first, in other words, the priorities and organisations of topics to [learn French](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/how-to-learn-french-efficiently-top-12-tips/ "learn French"). ## 1 – Starting to learn French: school student or self-student? When it comes to starting to learn French, a student enrolled in a French school and self French learner are not necessarily going to have the same priorities. If you are starting French on your own, you need to first assess your priorities. Why do you want to learn French? Is-it to travel to France and communicate with the French? To write songs or poems in French? To read French literature in French? Your approach should not be the same whether the focus is on speaking or reading or writing French. If you are studying school in French, your teacher should provide a French curriculum. Whether it will teach you French or not, that’s what you need to study to ace the class. ## 2 – Traditional French curriculum for beginners Traditional methods will pretty much all follow the same French curriculum for beginners (A1 level): 1. French politeness and greetings 2. [French verb](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/ "French verb") conjugations for regular ER, IR, RE verbs 3. Present conjugations of être, avoir, aller, prendre, pouvoir, devoir… about 30 common irregular French verbs 4. French articles: definite, indefinite, partitive 5. Asking questions with est-ce que and inversion 6. Regular and Irregular adjectives, possessive, demonstrative adjectives… 7. Object Pronouns 8. Introduction to Passé-composé and soon after [Imparfait](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/passe-compose-versus-imparfait/), futur… more French verb conjugations. All mixed with some useful vocabulary and written dialogues introducing a lot of new words each time. The progression is super fast. These methods assume you know or remember what a subject, a pronoun, an adjective or a direct object are. They make you memorize a ton of new info, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. There is almost no repetition: each chapter comes with its mountain of new words, expressions, [grammatical](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-grammar/guide/ "grammatical") rules and conjugations to memorize. If you are studying French to communicate in French – not only to pass school grades – there is a different way: a much less painful, and really effective way to start learning French, which is both logical and gradual. Here it comes :-) ## 3 – Start learning French the smart way = study with audio First thing, if you are studying French to communicate in French, you must study with audio. It’s extremely unlikely you will achieve a decent French pronunciation if you are studying French only with books since [spoken and written French are so different](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/understand-spoken-french-modern-french-language-pronunciation). The French audio you follow needs to come from a French native from France (if you want to learn French from France that is) and feature: - enunciated French so you can start French by learning the right sounds, - but also modern spoken French. I’m not talking about a slang street language here, but just the natural way the French speak French in their daily life – the pronunciation is quite different than when they enunciate. You need to understand both enunciated French, and the more natural daily life spoken French if you are to communicate effectively with the French. Watch-out! Most methods only feature the slow enunciated [French pronunciation](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-pronunciation/audio-guide/ "French pronunciation")! Then [students don’t understand the French when they speak](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/how-to-learn-french/the-best-way-to-study-french-for-listening-and-understanding)\! ## 4 – French starter: prioritize your French studies The next thing to do is to prioritize. You cannot learn everything at once. With so many free tools to learn French, it’s really easy to jump for one funny video to the next and learn bits here and bits there but lack a solid path to link and hold your new French knowledge. To start French efficiently, you need a structure. A logical approach. A [beginner French method](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/) that will cover the basic French vocabulary and grammatical tenses, teach you daily French vocabulary and the right pronunciation. ![](https://www.frenchtoday.com/assets/2019/08/A-Moi-Paris-Method-Full-Method@300x-230x230.jpg) À Moi Paris Audiobook Method A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers. (836 Reviews) [More Details & Audio Samples](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/) If you are learning French to communicate in French, and are an English speaker, here are my tips to begin French efficiently ### Stay in the present tense. French conjugations are overwhelming. Yes, they are an important part of the French language, but the tense you will use the most in everyday interactions is the present tense. You need to start somewhere. Start with the present tense and only the present tense. It’s already a lot. ### Master the affirmative and the negative You’ll use your verbs as much in the affirmative as in the negative. You may understand the logic, but you need to drill to get it fast when you speak! Repeat, repeat, repeat\! ### Learn daily vocabulary essential to communicate Food. Travels. Family. Weather. Work & Hobbies. These are among the most common topics of conversations. Health also but maybe you’re not going to discuss your health right away with a friendly waiter, hein… So, aim for the likely conversations that are relevant to your life, and learn that vocabulary. ### Ask basic questions Questions are the base of communication. If you can’t ask/understand a question, you cannot communicate. There are many ways of asking questions in French. Start with the simpler one, which I call “street or modern French” in my [French audiobooks](https://www.frenchtoday.com/audiobooks-to-learn-french/). It’s not really grammatically correct, but it’s the one the French use in their daily life. And it’s simple and to the point. As a beginner in French, there are many things to study. You will feel you progress fast because each new word, each new topic opens up a world of opportunity. But if you are not careful about how you organize the info, you won’t learn efficiently: you will soon forget things, and the logic of French won’t fall into place, and everything will crumble. You need to slow down, follow a method and study efficiently. ![how to begin french - what to study firs](https://www.frenchtoday.com//assets/2019/03/how-to-begin-french-what-to-study-first-500x334.jpg) ## 5 – Best Way to Start Learning French: List of Topics and Order I’ve been teaching French to adult English speakers for over 20 years. Here is the most logical gradual approach to start learning French for a total beginner English speaking student. This is what you’ll learn in the first audiobook of my gradual [French audiobook learning method for beginners](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/). As stated above, the vocabulary priorities are up to you. And of course, my French learning method will teach you a lot of vocabulary as well since all the rules are illustrated by a fun, level-adapted novel. But here are the French rules I recommend you study when you start your French journey. ### 1 – First French goal First, go for the essentials: being polite, subject pronouns, tu ≠vous, the concept of “conjugating” a verb 1. Basic greetings and politeness words – different ways to say “hi” 2. Singular subject pronouns – je, tu, il, elle, on 3. You in French, the difference between tu, toi, te, t’ and vous 4. Plural subject pronouns – nous, vous, ils, elles watch out the “s” are silent\! 5. Aller in the present indicative tense 6. Asking and answering “how are you” 7. Thank you, you’re welcome and please – because you always need to be polite 8. Asking “and you” is essential – never forget it. 9. Introducing yourself, your family 10. The many ways of saying good bye, see you soon… more or less formal French 11. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 2 – Second French priority Your next priority is to get the pronunciation of your ER verbs right and understand the difference between spoken and written French 1. Present indicative tense of “to be” 2. How to learn your French verbs: there is a write way and a wrong way 3. Verbs in ER + consonant – Pronunciation only. That’s the most important thing\! 4. Verbs in ER + consonant – written form. But don’t let the silent letters fool you 5. Mastering “elision” + drills 6. Mastering “liaison” + drills 7. Verbs in ER + vowel or h – pronunciation: liaison, elision, glidings with the pronouns 8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises, [French verb drills](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-verb-drills/verbs-vol-1/) etc… ### 3 – Third priority for French beginners Now you’ll start forming basic sentences together with nouns, and study the use and pronunciation of Le, la, les. 1. Le, la, l’, les – pronunciation differences and use 2. Aimer – a verb that can be tricky (to be in love ≠ to like) 3. The verb préférer – spelling and pronunciation 4. Making a noun plural – the silent S in French 5. Irregular plural – OK, but they are less common than regular ones\! 6. Moi, toi, lui… The stress pronouns and how to use them 7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 4 – The fourth point French beginners should master are the differences between articles When to use le, la, les ≠ un, une, des 1. Un, une: use and pronunciation 2. Des = more complex than “some” + liaison in Z 3. Introduction to Se or S’ verbs and the glided pronunciation of [reflexive pronouns](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/secret-to-master-french-verb-conjugation/) 4. S’appeler + cultural explanations on the many ways of introducing yourself in French 5. How to say French and France – introducing the French adjective 6. Continent, countries, nationalities – Nouns ≠ adjectives in French 7. Where do you come from? Prepositions of place 8. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 5 – Next: describing what you have, asking for things 1. Making a verb negative. Why can’t I hear this “ne”? 2. What happens when 2 verbs follow each other ? The infinitive construction and lack of “to”. 3. Unspecific quantities – du, de la, des and how to use them – why you can’t say ‘je voudrais une eau” 4. Specific quantities – why you say “je ne veux pas d’eau” 5. The verb avoir – affirmative, negative… A verb you need to really know by heart and why 6. The verb pouvoir – how to extend an invitation in French 7. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 6 – The next logical French topics are numbers and telling the time 1. [French Numbers 1-29](https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-vocabulary/how-to-best-learn-french-numbers-with-audio/) – pronunciation alone and with liaison 2. Numbers 30-100 – don’t learn them as a logical deduction: learn them as one sound 3. The many ways to tell the time – understand them all. Pick one to use yourself. 4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ### 7 – Finally, practice asking questions in French 1. Il y a ≠ il n’y a pas and their modern spoken pronunciation (ya, yapa) 2. Asking questions – detailed explanation 3. à + le & de + le = the mutant forms and how to use them 4. PAUSE. REPEAT. Check your pronunciation, do additional exercises etc… ## 6 – Starting French – What to Study Next Now that you have a solid organization and understanding of the basis of the language, you can start filling up the filing cabinet that’s your brain. Load up words of vocabulary, verb conjugations (in the present tense only, hein! You don’t know the rules which govern the other tenses yet!) Learn idioms too, they are fun. Watch out: your French pronunciation is still fresh… you need to know how to pronounce a word before you memorize it. So learning everything, including verbs, with audio is a must. Check out the next level of my [French learning method](https://www.frenchtoday.com/learn-french/french-audio-books/a-moi-paris-method-beginner/). “À Moi Paris level 2, Meet the Gang” features a longer story (still in the present tense), lots of vocabulary and idiom lists, verb conjugations and a Q\&A sections so you can practice out-loud. And if you are learning French to communicate, then you need to practice. There is a huge psychological fear to get over when you start speaking a language. You won’t be able to present the real you: you can’t yet be smart, you can’t yet be funny. You will make mistakes. Sometimes, people may laugh at them… These are things you want to get used to: they are part of your French journey. So, I recommend you find a tutor to practice with. Here again, choosing a professional who can guide you, check your pronunciation, encourage you without pressuring you is the key. There are many ways to do lessons exchanges or conversations with a native, but I believe they can be more harmful than anything else for a beginner. You need your emerging self-confidence in French cherished, not crushed by someone who will correct all your mistakes (without offering any explanations for them…) mock you or be impatient. Go for a professional [French teacher by Skype](https://www.frenchtoday.com/worldwide-french-lessons-via-phone-skype), ask for a trial lesson before committing to more to see if you like the teacher. There is a right and a wrong way to start French. If you start French the right way, the smart way, I promise you will feel empowered and start speaking French in no time.
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