How long does it take to get to B1 level in French?
Finally! You’ve passed the beginner and elementary stages of French. You can invite friends for a drink, speak about your favourite movie and order food in a restaurant, and now you’re ready to take the French-speaking world by storm.
There’s just one thing playing on your mind: how long will it take to get to the B1 level?
Despite what many sources say, this question has no clear-cut answer. It could take you months, or it could take you years, depending on how much you study.
Because although B1 is one of the most exciting and useful levels to be at, it’s also one of the most challenging.
You will hit a plateau at some point but don’t worry. I’m here to explain what you should focus on to stay motivated and enjoy the process.
Ready? On y va!
What do you learn in B1 French?
The B1 level is where you’ll learn tricky new tenses, such as le conditionnel et le subjonctif, as well as les conjonctions, which make your speech flow more naturally.
After flying through A1 and A2 feeling like, ‘Hey, French grammar is easy!’ reaching this point can be hard.
But trust me: it’s totally worth the effort because once you wrap your head around these structures, you’ll be able to speak about things that interest you, and not just your nationality, age and favourite food.
By the time you reach B1 French, you’ll be able to:
Understand day-to-day conversations with relative ease
Use the language confidently when travelling a French-speaking country
Read magazines, newspapers and blogs
Write simple stories and (finally!) share your opinion
Which is pretty exciting, right?
So, how long does it take to get to the B1 level in French?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) estimates that you’ll need to study for 350-400 hours to reach B1 from scratch. So, if you’ve already completed the A1/A2 levels, that means an additional 150-200 hours of study.
That probably doesn’t mean much to anyone who has a life outside of learning French and can’t spend the next 14 days studying all day and all night...
So, here’s an idea of what that could look like for you in real terms.
In case you’re sceptical: I reached B1 Italian in one year, so if you study for 1,5 hours per week with a teacher and 2 hours independently, you could easily reach your goals within a similar timeframe.
But the most important thing is that you learn at a pace that allows you to absorb everything you learn.
Now, here are some things you should focus on to reach B1 French more quickly and effectively.
By the time you start studying towards the B1 level, you’ll have a basic understanding of French grammar and pronunciation. So, now, your priority should be actively using French using various methods.
Speak to people
The fact you want to reach B1 in French suggests you want to be able to speak. Maybe even with natives (if they’re nice 🫣)!
Well, the best way to do that is to… speak! As much as possible.
This might be one of the scariest things to do, but it’s also one of the most effective ways to push through the plateau and keep improving.
I suggest practising in a comfortable, informal environment, where you can speak about things that interest you.
If you’re in a French-speaking country, try attending conversation events—called conversation tables, if you’re in Belgium. These are casual events where French speakers get together to practise without worrying about making mistakes.
And if that isn’t an option? Join an online conversation club to access the same benefits of speaking from the comfort of your home.
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, check out my conversation club, where you can meet other learners at your level to bavarder about all kinds of fun things.
Practise what you enjoy
At the B1 level, you’re in the perfect position to start making French a part of your everyday life. What better way to do that than by practising your hobbies in French?
That could mean taking yoga classes, joining a sports club, volunteering or taking a cooking course.
Immersing yourself in a French-speaking environment while doing something you enjoy is the great way to improve quickly.
Take one of my students for example. She joined a golf club in Wallony and has since started giving speeches there in French. If that’s not enough to inspire you, I don’t know what is!
It can be easy to slip into English-speaking circles when you’re abroad—especially somewhere as international as Brussels. But doing new things you enjoy in French will give you the exposure you need to keep going.
Learn passively
Exposing yourself to the language is a great way to consolidate the new words and grammar you’re learning because these are the structures people actually use.
Follow French-speaking influencers, watch YouTube videos or movies in French, or listen to music to hear the language in action.
Nothing beats the sense of accomplishment you get when you hear and understand your favourite actor using le conditionnel.
I use this method to support my students’ study by sharing playlists of songs from different genres that include B1 grammar points. I know I’m a language nerd, but hey, it works!
If you want to study towards B1 French in a more modern, flexible and entertaining way, read about my courses or book a free 30-min chat to find out more.
Read in French
The great thing about reading in French is that you can go at your own pace. No worrying about missing a word and losing the meaning of the conversation.
You can carefully study or re-read sentences as many times as you want, which can help reinforce the words and grammar you’re learning.
But to get the most out of reading in French, keep a pen and paper by your side so you can look up and write down new words or useful sentence patterns to recall when you’re speaking.
If you’re not sure where to start, try some of Amélie Nothomb’s novels. They’re short, engaging - and written by une Belge. ;)
Alternatively, you could try reading books you like but in French - like one of my students who read Harry Potter.
Now, I mentioned that you’ll hit a plateau at the B1 level. What can you do about it?
Sometimes you’ll feel super confident and like fluency is just around the corner. Enjoy them! Keep speaking! You’re awesome!
But there will also come a time when you feel like everything is difficult and you’re somehow regressing.
When this happens, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. This is a totally normal part of learning French, and it happens to everyone. It’s frustrating, but if you keep working, you’ll eventually jump forward and realise it was all worth it.
Don’t burn your books. I know you’ll get there.
If you want to work towards B1 French in a casual, friendly setting, I have an invitation for you.
Join my conversation club and practise speaking in a pressure-free environment with a small group of fellow French learners.
We integrate grammar into the conversation topics, so you don’t have to sit through soul-destroying lectures on the subjunctive and can just speak. Learn more or join a group here.
