I taught myself French to C2 level, so here is how I think you should learn it

Summary

Key Points

• The creator learned French entirely online, achieving C1 and C2 certificates without living in a French‑speaking country. 2:07
• She recommends starting with a structured YouTube playlist, specifically the “French Essential Course” by Learn French with Alexa, to cover A1‑A2 fundamentals such as alphabet, greetings, articles, and basic verb conjugations. 3:57
• Keep a dedicated French notebook to record notes from videos, especially verb conjugations, and regularly review them to internalize the language system. 4:11
• Supplement YouTube lessons with the website Le Point du Fle, which offers categorized exercises, listening practice, and grammar drills created by French teachers. 6:40
• Begin by mastering the present tense of regular verbs, then progress to other tenses in a logical order rather than trying to learn all tenses at once. 8:02
• After reaching an intermediate level, regularly watch authentic French content with subtitles (e.g., TV5Monde, podcasts, YouTube videos), replaying them multiple times to capture vocabulary and structures. 9:29
• Actively produce language by summarizing or discussing the content you consume, writing notes or speaking about the topics to move from passive comprehension to active use. 10:23
• To advance to B2/C1, study subjects that interest you in French—take online courses, read books, or watch lectures on topics like history, philosophy, or your professional field—to build specialized vocabulary. 13:20
• Aim for a functional B2 level for most everyday purposes; C1/C2 are optional goals that require focused, discipline‑specific study and are not necessary for basic fluency. 13:48