Working in France as a foreign healthcare professional requires more than just having your qualifications recognized: mastering French is essential, both for practicing with patients and for integration. Here’s a guide to help you structure your French learning according to your professional goals.
1. How much time should you plan?
The time needed to learn French depends on several factors:
- Your current level: Before starting, an initial assessment will help you know where you stand. Our language partners can help you complete this first step.
- The required level: To practice a medical profession in France, the required level is generally between B1 and C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This level is often validated by recognized certifications, such as:
- DELF (DiplĂ´me d’Études en Langue Française) for levels A1 to B2;
- DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) for levels C1 and C2.
These diplomas are issued by “France Éducation international“, an official organization under the French Ministry of National Education.
With an adapted method, regularity and motivation, these objectives are quite achievable. Plan for a few months to two years depending on your starting point and the target level.
2. Choosing the right learning method
There are many ways to learn French. It’s up to you to choose the method (or combination of methods) that corresponds to your lifestyle and your objectives.
â—Ź Mobile applications
Well-known tools like Duolingo or Babbel offer playful and regular learning. They are ideal for beginners or maintaining a level, but their limitations become apparent when it comes to mastering linguistic subtleties and progressing quickly in a work context.
â—Ź Online solutions
Three main formats:
- Hybrid platforms: They offer online courses split between computer tools and personal support. They often target employees in career transition via the Personal Training Account (CPF).
Warning: the certificates issued may not be recognized by professional health boards. If you opt for this method, also check the number of individual coaching hours planned in your contract. - Traditional distance courses: Similar to in-person courses but via videoconference, these trainings offer greater flexibility. Ideal if you are abroad and don’t have time to travel.
- Language tandems: By exchanging with a French speaker who wants to learn your language, you can improve your oral fluency. There are specialized platforms, but you can also find informal tandems through social or university groups.
â—Ź In-person courses
In language schools, universities or cultural centers, in-person courses offer better human interaction. If you start your learning well in advance or already have a good level, this option may be sufficient. Warning: the number of weekly hours is often limited, so for rapid progress, it will need to be supplemented by regular autonomous practice.
â—Ź Language immersion stays
Total immersion remains one of the most effective methods. By living in France, you are exposed to the language daily, which accelerates learning, especially for comprehension and spontaneity in speaking. Language immersion stays are unfortunately often expensive.
It’s never too early to start preparing!
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3. Should you choose a FLE teacher?
A French as a Foreign Language (FLE) teacher is trained to teach non-French speakers. They know common mistakes and can explain them pedagogically. Their approach is structured and progressive. They are not necessarily native French speakers, but their level is certified.
A French teacher without FLE specialization can be very competent, especially if they are a native French speaker and experienced. They can help you correct your accent, enrich your vocabulary or improve your oral ease. They can help you correct your accent, enrich your vocabulary and improve your oral ease. However, if they are not trained in FLE teaching, they might have more difficulty explaining grammatical rules to beginners.
4. What learning intensity?
The speed of progress in French depends directly on the intensity of your learning, that is the weekly time you dedicate to it and the quality of your commitment.
â—Ź Intensive learning: 15 to 25 hours per week
If your goal is to reach a professional level in a few months, intensive learning is strongly recommended. This corresponds to about 15 to 25 hours of courses per week, often spread over 5 days. This format allows for deeper linguistic immersion, with visible results quickly. It is ideal if you have little time before your installation in France.
Examples of intensive formats:
- 4 hours of courses per day (group or individual courses)
- Daily personal work (1 to 2 hours): revision, exercises, listening, reading
- Complementary immersion: videos, discussions, cultural activities
â—Ź Regular learning: 4 to 10 hours per week
If you work or study in parallel, a lighter rhythm can be adopted, provided you maintain it over time. Plan for at least 4 hours of courses per week, supplemented by active personal work.
⚠️ Less than 4 hours per week will make progress slow, especially for intermediate or advanced levels.
â—Ź Active vs passive learning
To progress effectively, focus on active activities, that is those where you are an actor in your learning:
- Reading in French (medical articles, press, specialized blogs)
- Listening and understanding (podcasts, videos, medical conferences)
- Speaking (courses, guided conversations, language exchanges)
- Writing (emails, files, summaries, synthesis notes)
Passive activities like watching series or listening to the radio are useful, but insufficient if they are not accompanied by active practice.
â—Ź Creating immersion, even remotely
If you cannot live in France during your learning, you can create linguistic immersion at home:
- Follow YouTube channels specialized in health, like AllĂ´ Docteurs (France 5)
- Listen to French radios: France Inter, France Culture, RFI
- Join online discussion groups with French speakers
đź’ˇ Tip: block one or two fixed daily slots for your learning, even 30 minutes per day. Regularity takes priority over quantity.
5. How many hours to plan to reach a good level?
The question of time needed to learn French is essential, especially when aiming for a level sufficient to practice in the healthcare field. In reality, everything depends on your starting point, your mother tongue, your learning environment and, especially your regularity and the intensity of courses.
Some serious estimates of the average number of active learning hours required to progress from one level to another according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) provide 160 to 320 hours to progress, for example, from A2 level (end of middle school) to B1 level (middle of high school) which is 6 to 12 months with regular courses and 3 to 4 months with intensive courses.
Note: Middle school in France corresponds to the first cycle of secondary education, it lasts 4 years (from 6th to 9th grade) and welcomes students generally from 11 to 15 years old.
High school represents the second cycle of secondary education, it lasts 3 years (sophomore, junior, senior) and concerns students from 15 to 18 years old.
In conclusion
Learning French to work in France in the healthcare sector is a completely achievable project. The earlier you start, the more comfortable you will be during your professional integration. Choose a method adapted to your profile, set realistic objectives, and don’t forget that regularity is the key to success. So, get started!
