To think I can become bilingual by studying online?

[Hubu]

I plan on re-studying French and getting back to B1 level proficiency (intemediate)

I'm a weak A2 now and I know there are a few free courses 1 online to get to C1 level then may do an intensive course for a month in France at a language school.

I've also read Fluent Forever and Fluent in 3 months.

My plan is to do this by August/September this year (2020)

Is this realistic and achievable?

So C1 in your OP was a typo? B1 by August should be achievable but it always depends on the person and how much work they're willing to put in. Good luck!

I have a degree in French and I would say my level is probably A2/B1 at the moment! You are right OP, it does feel like a waste, maybe I'll join you!

Can an adult become bilingual in general even if they lived in france?

C1 was not a typo. I'd be happy with B1 by August but C1 would be what I'm aiming for

"I can't live with native speakers. I have English DP and DD at home"

I meant during the month you are in France. Obviously.

maybe I'll join you!

Jump on board

I'm a language teacher and would say you'd find it hard to be properly bilingual without living there or having daily and continuous speaking and listening practice.

Rezie

Maybe bilingual was the wrong word. Go with fluent

But would love to be fluent by summer, just because I feel like I should have reach that from level from studying French at GCSE and A level.

Studying to those levels does not make you anywhere near fluent. To be fluent you need to spend a lot of time immersed in the language and interacting with native French speakers. So if you could devote all your time between now and summer to doing that, it might be possible to become fluent if you’re fairly talented at languages, but as you mention a DH and DD I presume you have normal life commitments.

I have a degree in one language and am approximately B4 level in another. In neither would I say I was anywhere near fluent.

How on earth do you find what level you are? I'm self taught Spanish (plus spent two years living there) I'm a bit rusty now but I'm hoping to enrol in a summer school and have no idea what level to go for. I might say some stuff brilliantly but be missing important basics.

Well do it and see what happens! Are you saying you woukd not bother if you weren't going to be fluent by the summer?

I've been re-learning French for over ten years now and love it, I have regular conversation sessions and visit France several times a year. I would say I am fluent but not bilingual.

I can read novels and can chat away quite happily, I also listen to France Inter on the radio, everything you can do helps.

It's a common rookie error to a. confuse fluency with bilingualism (the latter is much more difficult to achieve) and b. underestimate how much time and work is required to achieve them.

I studied French at school, then did a four year degree in French language and lived in France for a year. So a total of ten years' study, one of which I was immersed in the language every day. I'm pretty fluent but wouldn't describe myself as bilingual (sadly!).

Northernsoullover a decent language school should advise you of which level you need - quite often they have an online test which they get you to sit, and possibly in addition they will talk to you over the phone to see how well you speak/understand.

Thank you Fezz I am rubbish on the phone. Much better face to face. I will check it out thank you.