French · Chapter 1 · Lesson 1 · Introduction
Introduction to French
Read this first. The orientation: how French works, what it costs in hours, what the apps get wrong, and how to use this curriculum.
The short version
- FSI Category I, the same band as Spanish. Around 600 to 750 hours to professional working proficiency.
- What is hard is specific and none of it is in the category number: the vowels, gender, register, and the gap between spelling and speech.
- Standard French is the right base, even if you are heading for Quebec. Exams and resources use it, and the ear widens later.
- The subjunctive has more irregular forms than the Spanish one and fewer contexts. Drill the half-dozen common triggers; the rest arrives through reading.
Lesson 1 of 9 in this chapter