A 15-minute French reading session: 2 minutes reviewing yesterday's words, about 8 minutes reading one chapter at your level twice (once for the plot, once slowly), and 5 minutes saving phrases, reading a paragraph aloud and writing one sentence about it. A free A1 chapter in Contos averages 179 words, so there is time to read properly.
- Daily time
- 15 minutes
- A1 chapter length
- 145–228 words (Contos free chapters)
- A2 chapter length
- 192–297 words
- A week of A1
- 6 new chapters, about 1,070 words, plus a reread day
- Free chapters to practise on
- 96, from A1 to B2
What does a 15-minute French session look like?
Fifteen minutes fits before work or on a commute and is long enough for one beginner chapter done properly. Keep the order: review while your head is fresh, then read, then do something with what you read.
| Minutes | Step | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Review | Clear the flashcards due today, mostly words saved yesterday. |
| 2–6 | Read for the plot | Read the chapter straight through. Don't stop for single words. |
| 6–10 | Read for the French | Read again slowly. Tap words that block the meaning. Undo every apostrophe in your head: l'appartement, c'est, n'a. |
| 10–13 | Aloud | Read one paragraph aloud. Leave final consonants silent and link les, des, ses and un to a following vowel. |
| 13–15 | Write | Write one French sentence about what happened, and one guess about what happens next. |
The writing step is the one people drop, and it is the one that turns recognition into use. Keep it plain and in the present tense: Camille arrive avec une valise. Every Contos chapter ends on a cliffhanger, so the guess about tomorrow writes itself.
How much French should you read in a week?
Six new chapters and one reread day is a pace you can keep for months. Paul Nation stresses that a word met once is easily lost unless it comes round again soon, and the reread day is the cheapest way to make that happen.
- Monday to Saturday: one new chapter a day, from the same series where you can.
- Sunday: reread the two chapters that felt hardest, then review all the week's cards.
- Every second week: start a second series at your level, so you are never stuck waiting on one plot.
Be honest about the volume, though. Six free A1 chapters average 179 words each, about 1,070 words a week; at A2 (249 words a chapter) the same routine covers about 1,500. In his 1997 review, Nation estimates that learners at the 1,000–2,000-word stage need to read at least 10,000 words a week for new words to come back before they are forgotten. That is about 40 A2 chapters. Fifteen minutes is the floor that keeps the habit alive; on days you have more time, read a second chapter or a third. The extensive reading page explains the reasoning.
Is this chapter too hard or too easy?
Decide after the first read. If you could retell the plot in English, the chapter is at your level, however many words you tap on the second read. If you couldn't, it's too hard: drop a level, or go back to the previous chapter first.
Too easy is a problem too, only slower. When an A1 chapter needs no taps at all, try A2. The difference shows from the first line. This is how the A2 comedy The Choir of the Old Wash-House opens, in a village choir whose music has gone missing:
Ce samedi matin, Camille entre dans la salle du lavoir avec deux croissants et un grand sourire.One sentence holds a time, a place, two objects and a mood, where an A1 story would use three. The chapter runs to 281 words, against 145–228 for a free A1 chapter, and brings words like partition (sheet music), choristes (choir members) and répétition, which means rehearsal, not repetition. If you follow it with a few taps, you are ready for A2. Our CEFR levels guide shows one scene written at all four levels.
How do you keep a French reading habit going?
- Tie it to something you already do. First coffee, the train, the lunch break: same time, same place.
- Never miss twice. One missed day is normal; two in a row is how habits end.
- Pick a series with a finish line. Most Contos series run to six chapters: one week at this pace.
- Track words and chapters, not streaks. Known words are what move you up a level.
For a month of chapters already chosen, follow our 30-day French reading plan. For the thinking behind the routine, see how to learn French by reading.
Start today's 15 minutes with chapter 1 of an A1 French story.
Read free in your browserFrequently asked questions
Is 15 minutes of French reading a day enough?
It is enough to keep the habit and make steady progress, which matters more than any single session. It is not a lot of reading: about 1,070 words a week at A1. Add a second chapter whenever you can.
Should I read French aloud or silently?
Mostly silently, to cover more text, with one paragraph aloud a day. Reading aloud forces you to deal with silent letters and liaison. Contos has no audio, so check your sounds against podcasts or videos.
Should I look up every word I don't know?
No. On the first read, look up nothing. On the second, tap only words that stop you following the sentence. French cognates and context will carry you through many of the rest.
What if I fall behind on flashcards?
Clear the oldest due cards first and save fewer new words for a few days. A small pile reviewed daily beats a big one you avoid.
Can I do this routine with a newspaper instead?
At B2, yes. Before then, news articles have too many unknown words for a 15-minute session, and you spend the time looking things up instead of reading. Stories written for your level give more reading per minute.