where do I start if I want to learn a new language?

As I learned Persian while learning English growing up, I remember learning Persian similarly to English. I learned the alphabet and started learning the small words/phrases and how to read and write them along with the words that I would pick up from my parents conversations. I would then learn and add new words to my vocabulary from easy to hard and piece them together to say what I wanted until I suddenly realized that I pretty much knew the language.

There was one main difference learning Persian than English though, communicating is key. I picked up English faster than Persian because I would talk to others outside of my home in English, so I got more practice. I had to work on Persian in my spare time more. Knowing that, I would recommend for you to become friends with people that know French so that you can practice with them. If you can't, you can find children's books to practice your literacy and watch shows in French (with english subtitles) until you can differentiate the tones and start picking up new words that you found would correspond with the subtitles.