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French A1 Course

A French A1 course is the absolute beginner level of French language study. It’s the first step of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and places an emphasis on building a basic vocabulary. By the end of a French A1 online course, you’ll know simple words and phrases and have a foundation for future learning.
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At Lingoda, our mission is to make language learning accessible to all, so we’ve got French lessons for beginners right through to advanced speakers. To facilitate this we employ friendly, native-level speakers that are based all around the world so you have access to lessons whenever you want to learn. They follow our lesson plans, crafted by language experts so that you can encounter real-world scenarios and get using your language skills straight away.

If you’re completely new to French, our A1 course is right for you. Over the next 50 hours, you’ll engage with native-level teachers in speaking, reading, writing and listening exercises. You’ll receive personalized feedback on pronunciation, grammar and more. When you’ve completed this level you’ll be able to understand familiar, everyday expressions, introduce yourself and others, ask personal questions and interact in conversations.

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A1 Level French Overview

When you’ve completed the A1 level French course you will be able to confidently:

Use and recognize expressions and phrases to cover your fundamental needs – like ordering a beer

Introduce yourself, ask and answer questions and offer personal details – like where you live or how old you are

Interact with a French speaker, albeit at a slightly slower pace

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Tracking Your Progress in the A1 French Course

The CEFR is an internationally recognized framework, it stands for Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It starts at A1 for complete beginners, moving up to C1 for advanced, or fluent, speakers. It helps break languages down at every level, so it’s easy to find the course that matches your ability. Learning French for beginners can feel daunting, but you don’t need to worry as our courses are designed to help you engage with the language in useful, accessible ways.

If you’re a complete novice, our A1 course will be the right place for you to start. Or if you’ve tried to learn French before and you’re worried you’ve forgotten the all-important basics it might be worth revisiting. Once you sign up as a Lingoda student, you’ll have access to our CEFR test that will show you the correct level for you.

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Our Method to help you master the basics of French

At Lingoda, we want you to feel confident using what you’ve learned on your French A1 course from the first lesson. Because of this, we have developed the Lingoda Method. We introduce you to real-world scenarios, where you’re likely to need to speak French, or useful conversation topics that relate to your interests, careers and lives. Each activity, sentence and topic is carefully selected to help you continue your journey towards fluency.

Our French lessons for beginners will cover grammar and vocabulary too, so you can get to grips with these important features of the language.

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Learn French A1 At Your Own Pace

French lessons for beginners shouldn’t feel like a race, but we also appreciate you having goals. The best thing about Lingoda is that you are in charge of your schedule. There’s no need to sit down at the same time every week. You can choose the order you take the modules, and you get to book in whenever suits you.

 

If you need to revisit any classes you’ve got the option to do just that. Or if you’re ready to commit to several classes a week, simply book and get learning. There are lessons available 24/7, morning, noon and night. Whenever you’re ready to learn, there’s a Lingoda class at your level.

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Sample chapters in our French A1 course

Here’s a preview of the different curriculum chapters you’ll encounter during your French A1 level courses. This is the curriculum we use for our small group classes, and our private one-on-one classes. If you choose to study a private class as well, you may be able to expand beyond these topics depending on your tutor.

Learn key phrases to introduce yourself, friends or business partners, ask people how they are and learn how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense.

In this chapter of French A1 classes you will be able to learn how to say where you are from, where you live, what languages you speak, as well as ask and tell people how you are doing. You will also learn how to talk about others and the different pronouns.

Introducing yourself to people is the first step when it comes to learning a language, and meeting strangers. This chapter will guide you through all the necessary vocabulary and grammatical rules you need for a beginner conversation in French.

Learn how to ask for drinks and snacks in a French café and understand prices and payments. Plus, practice typical questions that are common in a café setting.

In this chapter, you’ll learn the skills needed to impress your friends at a French bar or restaurant. After this lesson, you’ll be able to order your coffee exactly how you like it, ask for the prices and for the check.
You’ll also discover different ways to ask questions in French.

When visiting a country, everybody likes to go out and get something to drink or eat. Ordering in a cafe or restaurant is often one of the first things you do in a foreign language.

Learn how to talk about your activities and your daily routine in French.

In this chapter, you’ll learn to talk about the various activities that constitute your everyday life. After this lesson, you’ll be able to talk about your weekly schedule and daily routine. You’ll be able to talk about the frequency in which you do things and learn to use reflexive verbs.

Being able to talk about your daily routine and your activities will allow you to share information with other people and find common points and interests!

Learn to describe your hobbies in French, to say what you like and how much you like it using “bien”, “beaucoup” or even “pas du tout”!

During this chapter, you’ll learn all the vocabulary to discuss your free time activities. You will be able to tell everyone about how well you sing under the shower (or not)! You’ll also be able to say if you enjoy something and talk about your preferences. What will it be: French wine or smelly cheese?

Learning how to say what you like and what you dislike is essential in any language. It will help you make friends or even go on your first date with a French person!

Learn to talk about various means of transportation in French using the correct preposition, ask for directions or ask for information at a train station!

During this chapter, you’ll learn how to talk about means of transportation and use à and en accordingly. You will also be able to talk about which transportation you prefer and justify why. With the little help of the expression pour, you will be able to tell us about the purpose of your travels : discover the world, practice foreign languages, the world is your oyster!

Asking for directions or being able to ask for travel infos and buying a train ticket are all things that will be very useful when visiting a French speaking country! All the content that you will learn in this unit will also be reusable in other contexts!

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Try 4 lessons from our French A1 classes

Our A1 French language courses are ideal for all kinds of students. If you are looking to pick up a new language or want to get an A1 French language certificate, Lingoda will be able to help you out. Sign up for our free trial period to join four group classes and try out some of our A1 French lessons. This is a great way to see what a beginner French course looks like at Lingoda.

Drinks and treats

(A1)

Here you’ll find the basic words for food and drinks and you’ll learn how to order in a café
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Reflexive verbs

(A1)

Use the pronominal verbs to talk about your daily routine.
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At the train station

(A1)

Learn the key words to use at the train station!
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During my free time

(A1)

Learn structures, locutions, and vocabulary to talk about your free time.
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French A1 language basics

Tips and tricks for learning A1 level French:

Learning beginner French can be easy and quite fun. Prior to and during your A1 French lessons, check out these tips and tricks . You will be able to learn about the best ways to learn, to practice pronunciation, and much more.

What are the best reasons to learn French? Here are the top 5 benefits

re you trying to decide if there are any good reasons to learn French? We discuss five fantastic benefits!

French adjectives you need to know

Everything you need to know about French adjectives and how to use them.

6 of the best cities to live and work in France

The best cities to live and work in France for families, foodies, travel lovers and more.

1

What are the best reasons to learn French? Here are the top 5 benefits

re you trying to decide if there are any good reasons to learn French? We discuss five fantastic benefits!

2

French adjectives you need to know

Everything you need to know about French adjectives and how to use them.

3

6 of the best cities to live and work in France

The best cities to live and work in France for families, foodies, travel lovers and more.

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Frequently asked questions

Our limited-time offer on Lingoda Flex monthly plans is for new students starting their language journey. This offer applies to Flex subscription purchases made between March 18 and March 25 (until 10 AM CET). Discounts are tiered, and our smallest pack is excluded. Based on your pack subscription, you can get 15% off the M pack, 25% off the L pack, and 35% off the XL pack. The discount is applied immediately and is valid only for the first month’s purchase price. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounts or promotions.

The beauty of Lingoda is that you can learn wherever and whenever suits you. All you need to get started is a computer and an internet connection. All our lessons take place on Zoom, which is free to download.

The course material is provided by us, and you’ll have access to your worksheets on the student platform. If you’re feeling eager you can check these out ahead of your lesson. You’ll also find annotated PDFs from your teachers, blogs and more to help you.

How quickly you make your way through the course depends on the work and time you’re willing to put in. The best way to see real results is to commit to making your lessons a habit. Like every level of our CEFR-aligned syllabus, French A1 has 50 lessons. If you take five lessons per week, you’ll be ready for level 2 in just ten weeks. Or you can tackle the classes at a slower pace of one lesson per week and spread your learning out over twelve months.

You may be thinking about a French for beginners course because you need to be fluent, fast! In which case, you might want to consider our Sprint or Super Sprint option. Here you’ll commit to a certain number of classes per month. If you’re successful in completing your Sprint, you can earn up to 100% cashback. If that doesn’t encourage your learning we don’t know what will! Just make sure you’re committed in your classes, ask questions and engage. Taking control of your learning will help you learn quickly.

When you sign up for a class, you’ll be learning with up to five students. We like to limit the group sizes so that everyone gets tailored feedback, the chance to practice speaking and ask any questions that might arise.

If you’re a beginner, learning in a group might sound intimidating – but don’t worry! Everyone taking the course will be at the same level as you. You’re bound to make mistakes, but that’s how we learn. You also get the chance to learn from the mistakes of others, listening as the teacher corrects them too.

We have lessons that suit every level at Lingoda. So, if you’re starting at the beginning with A1 level French, you can continue to learn up to B2 level, which is considered Upper-Intermediate. At each stage the knowledge gets slightly more in depth, still covering speaking, reading, writing and listening and learning in small groups, to make sure you continue to get tailored feedback.

If you’re not sure of your level, or you’re new to the CEFR classification system, we’ve got a simple test that makes it easy for you to find out where you sit. Generally speaking, at French A1 level you’re a beginner that’s looking to get started. If you’re not sure, just take the free test and it’ll soon be easy to pick the right level for you.

Here at Lingoda we offer you a lot more than just an app. We’re a completely remote language learning school that offers you complete flexibility. All our teachers are native-level speakers, and follow our learning plan that has been crafted by language experts with specific goals in mind.

You’ll find the course material relevant, the teachers friendly, and you’ll receive tailored feedback. The more you practice speaking and listening in groups, the faster you’ll see growth in your understanding.

Yes you will! As you progress through each CEFR level you’ll receive a certificate to track your progress. CEFR is an internationally recognized standard, so employers and educational establishments will acknowledge the achievement. You can even add your certificates to LinkedIn or mention them on your CV.

Read all FAQs

What is a French A1 course?

An A1 French course is a course intended for absolute beginners. It’s the ideal starting point for someone with zero experience of learning French, or very little experience. The course will focus on providing you with words and phrases to take care of your most fundamental needs and will enable you to have basic interactions in French.

The A1 level itself is the starting point of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which aims to break language acquisition down into different stages. Lingoda’s French A1 course will provide you with breakthrough knowledge, which you can then build upon in the future to increase your fluency.

How long does it take to learn French A1?

Most people can reach the French A1 level within 100 hours of study, assuming this study is guided by fully-qualified teachers and the course they are using is structured sensibly. The French A1 course from Lingoda, for example, will cover the materials necessary for learners to reach A1 level at somewhere in the range of 60-100 hours.

The learning process can be accelerated by immersion, which means surrounding yourself with the French language. Immersion can be achieved in a French A1 course online, but also through travel, podcasts, film, music and television.

When people ask how long it takes to learn French in general, it’s important to acknowledge that there are many factors that influence the answer. This can include the other languages you speak and how much they have in common with French, your dedication to learning and your underlying motivation for doing so.

Is A1 French fluent?

No, A1 French can more accurately be regarded as an absolute beginner phase of language learning. By the time you earn your French A1 certificate, you’ll be able to use basic French words and phrases and you’ll be able to use the French language to navigate situations that are related to your most essential needs.

For instance, you’ll be able to introduce yourself and ask basic questions. You’ll understand simple French words and phrases spoken to you, but you may need the words to be spoken slowly and very clearly.

The basic CEFR levels are A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2. Learners begin at A1 and progress through the levels.

Generally, what most people would regard as fluency in the French language is achieved at either B2 or C1 level.

Can I learn French A1 by myself?

Here at Lingoda, we’re firm believers that the best way to learn a language is through a structured course, taught by qualified, native-level teachers. This ensures progression is logical, mistakes are corrected, the teacher has sufficient knowledge to impart and students have opportunities to use the language in realistic scenarios.

With that said, independent learning is encouraged, even if it’s not the primary method of learning. For instance, there are many French television shows you can watch to improve your French, or you might start listening to French music. You can read French language books, access online resources, listen to French radio or use language apps.

Crucially, however, a structured, carefully crafted course as the primary method of learning will produce better results than relying entirely on independent learning. This is because it’s harder to correct your own mistakes, adhere to a sensible independent learning structure and formulate opportunities to practice speaking by yourself.

What do you learn in a French A1 online course?

The French A1 course from Lingoda will teach you how to use basic words and phrases to take care of your most essential needs. You’ll build the skills to navigate some of the most common situations, at least partially.

More specifically, we’ll cover a range of topics, including:

  • How to introduce yourself in French.
  • How to order a meal or a coffee.
  • How to discuss your daily activities and schedule
  • How to speak about public transportation, like buses and trains.

How long does a French A1 course take?

While it’ll generally take around 60-100 hours to reach French A1 level, the length of time associated with taking a French A1 course online with Lingoda depends on your chosen approach.

For French, we currently offer two learning models:

  • Flex – Our most popular option. You learn any time you want, at your own pace. Classes are always available, you can take group or 1-to-1 sessions and you can change intensity or cancel every four weeks.
  • Sprint – A more intense option, for those who want fast results. You’ll commit to a two-month course, with either 30 or 60 classes during that period. All classes will take place in a group of 3 to 5 students.

Have a look at Lingoda’s French Online Courses: Intensive French Courses, Immersive French Courses, French Private 1:1 Courses, French Conversation Courses, French Evening Classes for busy people, French Grammar Courses, French Reading Courses.

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