“I’m really going to learn French this year!”
We’ve all said it. January 1st arrives, you buy a big, intimidating grammar textbook, you download three apps, and you promise yourself: “I will study for one hour every day.”
And then by February, you’ve stopped entirely and you feel guilty about it. You need a different approach, instead of making French one more chore in your busy life.
Here’s the roadmap to start learning real French for the long run.
C’est parti !
1. Ditch your “textbook” mindset
Your first block is the “Exam Mode” mindset: trying to make Correct Sentences, making you freeze at the bakery while you agonize over correct grammar.
Shift your goal to connection rather than perfection; simply saying “Le croissant, s’il vous plaît” is effective and accepted (even if that’s not the exact sentence we’d use.)
Even native speakers ignore textbook rules, shortening the formal “Je ne sais pas” to “Je sais pas,” and finally to the very common “Chais pas.”
Give yourself a “Permission Slip” to be imperfect, because natives cut words and make mistakes all the time.
Remember, a simple, spoken sentence is infinitely better than a perfect one locked inside your head.
2. Your French Five-Minute Routine
You don’t need to study French for an hour each day. You can rely on a short simple routine instead. For instance, a French morning routing.
Tomorrow morning, as soon as you open your eyes, narrate your life. You don’t have to speak loudly—you can whisper it. Look around. Say what is true.
- “Bon, je suis réveillée.” (Well, I’m awake.)
- “Il est sept heures.” (It is 7 o’clock.)
Carry that mindset as you start your day:
- “Je fais du café.” (I am making coffee.)
- “L’eau est chaude.” (The water is hot.)
“Ça sent bon.” (It smells good.)
You’re not studying extra words, you learn to use what you know. You’re simply making coffee! But in French. That small win builds the confidence you need for bigger conversations later. And you get into the habit of avoiding the Translation Trap: translating each word in your head before saying them, instead of having them come up naturally, like in your native language.
3. Create Your "Comfort Bubble" (Treat, not Homework)
If you want to stick with French for the whole year of 2026, French must be a treat. That’s where creating your “French Comfort Bubble” comes in. It can start with:
- Take an audit of your day.
- Pick ONE thing you already love doing in English
- Simply swap it for French.
For instance, if you love cooking: don’t buy a French grammar book. Go to YouTube and watch a French cooking channel, like Hervé Cuisine. You’ll learn words like mélanger (to mix) and le four (oven) without trying, just because you want to see the cake.
If you love travel: watch Échappées Belles. It’s a beautiful show about traveling through French regions. It’s relaxing, the language is natural, and you get to see the France you dream of visiting. Or follow the challenges of Nus et Culottés, where two nice young men start their journey literally naked, relying solely on the kindness of strangers to reach a dream destination.
If you’re a big music fan, make a playlist of Chanson Française. Listen to Clara Luciani, Angèle, or stick to classics like Jean-Jacques Goldman.
Be honest, too: if what you really love is reality TV, you’re allowed to watch things like The Circle France. (The vocabulary is extremely colloquial, and if it keeps you entertained, it’s good practice.)
The only rule is: It has to be something you genuinely enjoy.
By creating this “Comfort Bubble,” you stop being a student and start being a user of the language. You train your ear to the melody, the slang, and the culture naturally.
So, here is your assignment: Find ONE French song, show, or Instagram account this week. And consume it while you relax with a tea or a glass of wine. That counts as learning!
4. Narrate Your Life (The Commentary Technique)
We have your mindset, your morning routine, and your fun media. The last step is filling in the “dead time” of your day.
Commuting to work. Folding laundry. Walking the dog.
Usually, your brain wanders in English during these times. This year, let’s switch that channel to French Commentary.
It’s exactly like the morning routine, but you apply it to the world around you.
You become the narrator of your own documentary.
If you are stuck in traffic, don’t just sit there fuming – say it in French:
- “Pff je suis coincée dans les bouchons.” (Pff I’m stuck in traffic.)
- “Il y a tellement de voitures…” (There are so many cars…)
- “C’est rouge.” (It’s red.)
- “J’en ai marre.” (I’m fed up / I’ve had enough.)
French people love to complain, so “J’en ai marre” is a great slang phrase for any situation. You need it for speaking and understanding!
Now let’s say you’re cooking dinner:
- “Alors, où est le sel ?” (So, where is the salt?)
- “Je coupe les carottes.” (I cut the carrots.)
If you don’t know a word, don’t let that stop you. Use a placeholder like “le truc” (= the thingy) or even an English word. You don’t have to be a walking dictionary. The goal is to keep the flow of French thoughts moving.
This technique turns your boring daily tasks into a language lab, but without the stress of an exam. You are simply observing your reality through a French filter.
5. Your full plan
- Ditch the Textbook Mindset: Connection over perfection. “Bonjour, le croissant s’il vous plaît.” is OK !
- The Morning Routine: Wake up your brain with 5 minutes of simple narration.
- The Comfort Bubble: Replace one English entertainment habit with a French one you actually love.
- Life Commentary: Use your “dead time” to describe your world.
This is how you build a French brain. Not by force, but by habit.
If you want to kickstart this journey with other fun, easy steps that I made just for you, I have a free guide for you. It’s your Personalized Action Plan, with everything you need to start building your habit of learning French in a fun way.
Click here to claim your Personalized Action Plan
And tell me in the comments: What is the ONE thing you are going to put in your French Comfort Bubble this year? A movie? A book? A recipe? I want to know!
Merci beaucoup, and see you in the next video to help you speak French confidently.
À bientôt !
Since I am a classical music aficionado (and retired classical musician), in the spirit of your suggestion, I located medici.tv, to which I was already subscribed, and searched for “documentaries in French.” The results weren’t all “hits,” but a sufficient number were at first stab that I get to listen to music I love with commentary in French, at times even with English subtitles (of which you might not approve?). No matter, I concentrate on the French anyway. So, yet another excellent tip from your videos!