What actually determines how much a French course costs and how long it takes — level, format, and how much 1:1 time you get.
What drives the price
Course cost is driven far more by format than by content — a 1:1 class with a certified trainer costs more per hour than a batch class, but typically gets you to a certifiable level in fewer total hours, because pacing is entirely built around you. Batch classes cost less per hour but move at the group's average pace, which can mean more total weeks to the same outcome.
CEFR levels and what each one actually means
A1–A2 (beginner to elementary): everyday phrases, simple present and near-future tense, enough to travel and handle basic transactions.
B1 (intermediate): the level most "conversational fluency" claims actually refer to — you can hold a real conversation, though with occasional hesitation.
B2 (upper intermediate): the level most academic and professional contexts require — you can follow lectures, write structured arguments and work in French with only minor gaps.
C1 (advanced): near-native comprehension and production, typically only necessary for specific professional or academic specialisations.
How long each level realistically takes
With consistent weekly 1:1 sessions, A1 typically takes 6–8 weeks, A2 a further 6–8 weeks, and B1 another 10–12 weeks — French's more transparent spelling-to-sound relationship (compared to, say, English) tends to make the early stages move a little faster than learners expect.
The one factor that changes everything
Speaking time, not hours logged. Two learners who each spend 40 hours on French — one mostly reading grammar rules, the other in structured speaking practice — will not end up at the same level. If a course's marketing doesn't mention how much of the class is actually spent speaking, ask directly before enrolling.
