French

French Beginner Course

General Course Description

Beginners’ French is an annual course divided into two semesters and held twice a week. Each lesson is 90 minutes.

For the 2026–2027 academic year, one group will follow the course in a hybrid format (Zoom and on-campus sessions), while a second group will attend entirely on campus.

The course is content-based, applying an integrative, 4-skills, task-based approach on subjects such as daily life, daily news, the French culture and history, and more, using adapted and/or original texts, video clips, songs, poems etc. Even though the focus is on reading and writing, the course will integrate all four skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The course has no prerequisites.

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

The main goal of Beginners’ French is to develop the basic skills and strategies, vocabulary, and grammar necessary to independently cope with texts and tasks about high –frequency topics with the help of a dictionary, and based on the A1 - A2 language level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), in preparation for the Advanced French course.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to achieve the following learning outcomes in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

Reading

• Recognise and apply basic principles of French phonetics and pronunciation.
• Understand short, simple factual texts on familiar or general topics, identifying the main ideas and relevant details, with the support of a dictionary when necessary.

Listening

• Understand short, clearly articulated spoken texts on familiar topics in standard speech.
• Follow the main points of recorded materials dealing with everyday subjects, provided the delivery is slow and clear.
• Identify the gist of audiovisual materials (e.g. short videos) on familiar topics when the language is simple and clearly presented.

Writing

• Write short, simple, and connected sentences related to everyday needs and familiar contexts.
• Produce brief written texts describing routine activities and aspects of their immediate environment.

Speaking

• Use basic language to establish social contact (greetings, introductions, leave-taking, and expressions of thanks).
• Express likes, dislikes, and preferences using simple structures.
• Ask and answer simple questions and exchange information on familiar topics in predictable, everyday situations.

Instruction is based on a diversified pedagogical approach, incorporating collaborative tasks, interactive activities, oral practice, music-based exercises, and a range of communicative techniques that encourage learner involvement.