Video summary

How I Learned French From ZERO and did DELF B1 in Just 2 Months (For FREE)🇫🇷 | Short & sweet method

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons

  • The creator achieved French level B1 in ~2 months (for free) by splitting the work into two phases:

    1. ~First 1.5 months: build from zero → B1
    2. Last ~18 days: transition from “B1 level” → DELF B1 exam readiness (because exam preparation differs from just knowing the language)

  • They emphasize a focus shift over time:

    • Early phase: grammar + vocabulary (limited speaking)
    • Late phase: DELF-style listening/reading, plus targeted review + timed testing

  • “Free” resources are possible using local libraries + YouTube. AI can be used optionally to help with speaking/writing feedback, with caution.

  • For writing, they used iterative correction:

    • write → check with AI → rewrite until correct
    • then self-test without looking

Method / instructions

Overall structure

  • Total goal: French from zero to DELF B1 readiness in ~2 months
  • Phase breakdown:
    • Phase 1: first ~1.5 months (zero → B1)
    • Phase 2: last ~18 days (B1 → “ready for DELF B1 exam”)

Phase 1 (≈ first 1.5 months): zero → B1

Listening

  • Listen to podcasts on YouTube
  • Try to listen to native French speakers
  • Listen to French music, including:
    • Indila
    • Zaz

Reading

  • Read a comic book
  • Read short stories at approximately A2–B1 level

Speaking

  • No speaking practice during this first 1.5 months

Writing

  • Focus on writing sentences (based on learning targets)
  • Key focus of this phase: grammar and vocabulary

Grammar + vocabulary study approach

Grammar learning via native-language explanation videos

  • Watch long videos covering:
    • “Full grammar of French A1” (about 3 hours, but it’s one video)
    • “Full vocabulary of French A1”
  • Watch each video once, but study actively while watching (e.g., taking notes)
  • Specifically cover grammar A1 and A2

Vocabulary book

  • Use a vocabulary resource described as “teaching French in German”
  • Suggested workflow:
    • Learn ~5 words per day
    • Do it about a week per day (wording is unclear, but indicates consistency with short daily sessions)
  • They reached halfway through the book, then stopped due to time constraints

Unknown words tracking

  • When encountering an unknown word, write it down in phone notes

Phase 2 (≈ last 18 days): B1 → DELF B1 exam readiness

Listening

  • Do only DELF B1 audio samples (from the “sample song book” / DELF audio sample collection)
  • Avoid other listening materials

Reading

  • Do reading exercises
    • First using the ABC DELF book
    • Then using the sample song book (as referenced)

Grammar

  • Do a review using a “pamphlet” / concise summary of grammar needed for B1
  • They also mention they could make a video teaching this if requested

Vocabulary

  • Same strategy as Phase 1:
    • Write down every word they don’t know
    • Correct them

Tests

  • Do full practice tests
  • Use a timer for timed practice

Speaking and writing in Phase 2 (and how AI fits in)

Disclaimer / constraints

  • The method aims to be strictly free
  • Books can be obtained from a local library
  • Videos can be watched on YouTube
  • AI is an option for extra help while staying free

AI tools suggested

  • They mention using Ecosia (described as using AI and referencing ChatGPT models)
  • They also suggest ChatGPT
  • They specifically suggest Perplexity as potentially better because it provides more resources than ChatGPT
  • Caution: you can’t fully trust AI output

Best-case alternative

  • If possible, have a French friend / French-speaking teacher for correction
  • They note an exchange could work, but (in their case) it would take longer than 18 days

How they practiced writing

  • Do exercises from the book
  • Write answers
  • Check with ChatGPT (or other AI tool), then double-check
  • If something seems “sketchy”:
    • go back and re-evaluate
  • Iterate repeatedly:
    • when mistakes happened (they explain the “idea was there” but dictation/wording was wrong),
    • they rewrote the sentence/answer again and again until correct
  • After finishing a section, they did self-tests without looking to confirm accuracy

Sources / speakers mentioned

  • Indila (French singer; referenced for music listening)
  • Zaz (French singer; referenced for music listening)
  • ChatGPT (AI tool referenced)
  • Perplexity (AI tool suggested)
  • Ecosia (AI-related search tool referenced)
  • YouTube (used for podcasts and grammar/vocabulary videos; referenced)
  • Local library (used to obtain books; referenced)
  • DELF B1 audio sample books (referred to as listening/reading practice material source)
  • ABC DELF book (referred to for reading exercises)

Original video