True enough, finding a French class in the actual world is difficult. Schools and organizations vary their syllabus which makes switching for one school to another confusing. What you might have covered in your beginners' course at your old class may be part of a more advanced class in another. This is advantageous; at least you don't have to worry about being left behind. But what if the situation's changed: what you thought to be advanced stuff in your old class may be considered basic in another. There you'll face a problem. This is why online French language courses are popular. You can actually tailor your own syllabus for your skill level.
But first things, first. How do you determine your skill level in French proficiency? A beginner is someone who has zero knowledge in the ins and outs of French language. You might not even recognize French from German if both were put in front of you. But after a beginner's course, you're expected to have a grasp of the rudiments of the French language: common vocabulary, simple grammar rules, usage, and even the use of simple sentences. You might also be able to grasp the gist of a complex sentence just by identifying keywords. An intermediate-level French student is expected to be able to converse and write in formal and colloquial French without much difficulty. An advanced student of the French language is almost or even at par with a local French speaker. The nuances of the language are not foreign to an advanced student.
Now that you have at least a rough idea where you stand in terms of skill, it is now a matter of finding the right French language online courses for your level:
1. Do a broad search for French language courses. Include the free and paid courses in your search. Narrow down your choices to those that offer a wide range of skill levels -- these will give you more flexibility.
2. Identify what you can work with. Can you fit a paid course in your budget? If not, then opt for a free French language course that can offer you almost the same level of instruction.
3. Check how the courses are outlined. Good language-learning websites outline the lessons covered by particular courses while specifying the level of difficulty for each. It is preferable to sign up for a course that has a ladder-structure wherein the courses are categorized into beginners, intermediate, or advance instead of a free-for-all type where topics are simply listed.
4. Observe how things work in the course. If you signed up for a free course, you can just leave if you don't like how the course proceeds. But if you're planning to pay for it, opt first for the free trial. This way, you can get a preview of how courses are conducted. If you want to opt out, then no harm done.
5. Go with the simplest program when in doubt. If you're still not sure of your skill level, opt for the beginner's course rather than an intermediate or advance one. This way, if you found out that the lessons are below you, you can treat them as reviews or as a refresher course while waiting to move up the rank. This is safer than signing up for an advanced class and feeling that you've bitten more than you can chew.
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