French A1 - Beginner

Build Your First Strong Foundation in French

Start your French learning journey with confidence through Edexo’s French A1 Beginner Course. Designed for learners with little or no previous knowledge of French, this programme takes you from the very basics of pronunciation and everyday vocabulary to simple, meaningful conversations.

You will gradually learn how French works, how to pronounce it naturally, how to construct sentences and how to use the language in familiar real-world situations.

Whether your goal is education, international travel, professional growth, relocation, cultural exploration or personal development, French A1 gives you the foundation required to continue towards higher levels of proficiency.

Course at a Glance

*Duration and schedule may vary according to the selected batch.

Why Start with French A1?

Learning a new language is more than memorising vocabulary. At the A1 level, the goal is to create a practical foundation that allows you to understand and use French in simple situations.

At Edexo, you will learn French progressively:

Understand → Practise → Speak → Apply

Instead of treating grammar, vocabulary and conversation as separate subjects, the course connects them through practical situations.

For example, while learning how to introduce yourself, you will simultaneously work on:

Vocabulary + Pronunciation + Sentence Structure + Listening + Speaking

This approach helps you use what you learn immediately.

What You Will Learn

01. Discovering the French Language

Begin by becoming familiar with the sound and structure of French.

You will explore:

• French alphabet and spelling
• French sound patterns
• Vowels and consonants
• Accents and special characters
• Pronunciation of common words
• Silent letters
• Word stress and rhythm
• Basic pronunciation patterns
• Spelling names and simple words

02. Meeting People & Introducing Yourself

Learn the language needed for your first interactions in French.

You will practise:

• Greeting someone
• Saying goodbye
• Introducing yourself
• Asking someone's name
• Sharing your nationality
• Saying where you live
• Talking about your basic background
• Asking simple personal questions
• Using polite expressions
• Understanding formal and informal interaction

Communication Practice

You will build short conversations rather than simply memorising individual phrases.

For example:

Bonjour ! Je m'appelle...

Vous vous appelez comment ?

Vous habitez où ?

Enchanté(e) !

03. Numbers, Dates & Everyday Information

Develop the language required to understand and communicate basic numerical information.

Topics include:

• Numbers
• Telephone numbers
• Prices
• Dates
• Days
• Months
• Birthdays
• Time
• Opening hours
• Appointments

You will practise using numbers in realistic situations such as giving contact details, asking about prices and arranging a simple meeting.

04. Talking About Yourself

Learn how to describe your basic personal world in French.

You will learn to talk about:

• Your name
• Age
• Nationality
• City
• Home
• Studies
• Profession
• Languages
• Interests
• Basic preferences

You will also learn how to ask similar questions to another person.

05. Family, Friends & People

Build the vocabulary needed to talk about people who are important in your life.

Key areas

• Family relationships
• Friends
• Occupations
• Age
• Basic physical descriptions
• Personality at a very elementary level
• Relationships
• Everyday activities

You will practise creating simple descriptions instead of learning isolated vocabulary lists.

06. Your Home & Everyday Environment

Learn to describe the places around you.

Topics include:

• Home
• Rooms
• Furniture
• Household objects
• Location
• Neighbourhood
• Common places
• Basic descriptions

You will learn to say where things are and describe familiar surroundings using simple French.

07. Daily Life & Routine

Learn how to talk about a normal day.

You will practise language related to:

• Waking up
• Getting ready
• Eating
• Going to school or work
• Studying
• Working
• Travelling
• Meeting people
• Returning home
• Evening activities

Communication Goal

You should gradually be able to describe your routine using simple connected sentences rather than individual words.

08. Food, Drinks & Eating Out

Develop practical French for cafés, restaurants and everyday meals.

You will learn:

• Food and drink vocabulary
• Meals
• Common ingredients
• Preferences
• Ordering
• Asking about prices
• Requesting something politely
• Understanding a simple menu
• Paying at a restaurant

Practical Situations

Ordering a drink

Choosing a meal

Asking for the bill

Expressing a preference

Understanding a simple menu

09. Shopping & Everyday Purchases

Learn how to communicate when buying everyday products.

Topics include:

• Shops and stores
• Clothes
• Colours
• Sizes
• Prices
• Quantities
• Products
• Payment
• Asking for assistance

You will practise simple exchanges between a customer and shop assistant.

10. Around the City

Learn how to communicate when moving around a city.

You will explore vocabulary related to:

• Streets
• Shops
• Banks
• Schools
• Restaurants
• Stations
• Airports
• Hotels
• Public places
• Public transport

You will learn how to ask where a place is and understand basic directions.

11. Travel & Getting Around

Develop basic French for common travel situations.

You will practise:

• Buying a ticket
• Understanding basic travel information
• Asking for directions
• Checking into a hotel
• Asking for assistance
• Understanding simple transport information
• Talking about destinations
• Basic travel conversations

The emphasis is on usable communication, not memorising travel phrases without context.

12. Hobbies, Interests & Free Time

Learn how to talk about what you enjoy doing.

Topics include:

• Music
• Films
• Sports
• Reading
• Travel
• Games
• Social activities
• Weekend activities
• Personal interests

You will practise expressing simple preferences and asking others about theirs.

13. Weather & Seasons

Learn to understand and discuss basic weather information.

You will learn:

• Weather expressions
• Seasons
• Temperature
• Basic forecasts
• Everyday weather conversations

You will be able to describe simple weather conditions and understand common weather-related information.

14. French Grammar Foundation

Grammar is introduced gradually through practical communication.

You will develop an understanding of:

Sentence Building

• Basic French sentence patterns
• Word order
• Statements
• Questions
• Negative sentences

Nouns & Articles

• Masculine and feminine
• Singular and plural
• Definite articles
• Indefinite articles

Pronouns

• Personal subject pronouns
• Basic object references
• Common possessive forms

Verbs

You will work with essential verbs such as:

• être
• avoir
• aller
• faire
• venir
• aimer
• habiter
• parler
• travailler
• étudier

Other Foundations

• Present-tense forms
• Common regular verbs
• Frequently used irregular verbs
• Negation
• Basic question structures
• Adjective agreement
• Possessive forms
• Demonstratives
• Basic prepositions
• Expressions of location
• Quantities
• Common connectors

15. Build Your French Vocabulary

Vocabulary development runs throughout the entire A1 programme.

You will gradually build a useful vocabulary base around:

• People
• Family
• Home
• Food
• Shopping
• Education
• Work
• Travel
• Transport
• Places
• Time
• Weather
• Hobbies
• Everyday actions
• Common descriptions

Vocabulary is introduced through situations, conversations and activities, helping learners understand how words are actually used.

16. Listening Development

Listening activities help you become comfortable with the natural sound of French.

You will work with:

• Short conversations
• Everyday questions
• Personal introductions
• Simple announcements
• Prices
• Dates
• Times
• Directions
• Basic instructions
• Short audio situations

The difficulty gradually increases as your vocabulary and comprehension improve.

17. Speaking Development

Speaking practice begins from the first stages of the course.

You will participate in:

• Pair conversations
• Guided dialogues
• Role-play activities
• Question-and-answer exercises
• Pronunciation practice
• Short presentations
• Everyday situation simulations

You will gradually move from:

Single expressions → Short sentences → Guided conversations → Simple independent communication

18. Reading Development

You will learn to understand short and familiar French texts.

Reading material may include:

• Simple profiles
• Messages
• Notices
• Menus
• Timetables
• Advertisements
• Short emails
• Forms
• Signs
• Everyday instructions

The focus is on understanding the main meaning and useful information, rather than translating every individual word.

19. Writing Development

You will gradually develop the ability to communicate simple information in written French.

Writing activities include:

• Completing personal information
• Writing simple sentences
• Introducing yourself
• Writing short messages
• Sending a simple email
• Writing an invitation
• Describing your routine
• Describing a person
• Writing about your interests

French A1 Practical Learning Activities

To make learning more interactive, Edexo's A1 programme can include:

Conversation Practice

Use newly learned vocabulary in short conversations.

Role Plays

Practise real-world situations such as:

• Restaurant
• Shopping
• Hotel
• Travel
• Meeting someone
• Asking for directions

Listening Activities

Listen to short conversations and identify key information.

Speaking Challenges

Complete short speaking tasks individually or with a partner.

Vocabulary Games

Reinforce new words through interactive activities.

Pronunciation Practice

Work on sounds, rhythm and common pronunciation difficulties.

Mini Projects

Create simple French presentations about familiar topics such as yourself, your family, city or interests.

French A1 Learning Modules

The complete course can be organised into the following learning journey:

Module 01

Bienvenue en français
Introduction, greetings and pronunciation

Module 02

Je me présente
Personal information and introductions

Module 03

Les nombres et le temps
Numbers, dates and time

Module 04

Ma famille et mes proches
Family and relationships

Module 05

Chez moi
Home and surroundings

Module 06

Ma journée
Daily routine and everyday activities

Module 07

J'aime / Je n'aime pas
Preferences and interests

Module 08

À table !
Food, drinks and restaurants

Module 09

Faire les courses
Shopping and purchases

Module 10

Ma ville
Places and directions

Module 11

On voyage !
Travel and transportation

Module 12

Mon travail / Mes études
School, work and professions

Module 13

Il fait quel temps ?
Weather and seasons

Module 14

Ma vie en français
Integrated communication and revision

Module 15

A1 Assessment & Exam Preparation
Skills practice, revision and mock assessment

The Four Skills You Will Develop

Speaking

Express yourself in simple everyday situations and participate in short conversations.

Listening

Understand familiar words, expressions and key information in simple spoken French.

Reading

Understand short texts and everyday written information.

Writing

Produce simple sentences, messages and basic personal descriptions.

French A1 Assessment

Your progress can be evaluated throughout the programme rather than only at the end.

Assessment Areas

• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Pronunciation
• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing

Progress Activities

• Module quizzes
• Vocabulary checks
• Speaking tasks
• Listening exercises
• Written assignments
• Revision tests
• Final A1 assessment
• Mock exam activities

DELF A1 Preparation

Learners interested in an official French proficiency examination can receive dedicated preparation for DELF A1.

The preparation focuses on the core skills expected at beginner level:

Compréhension de l'oral
Listening comprehension

Compréhension des écrits
Reading comprehension

Production écrite
Written production

Production orale
Speaking

Students can practise familiar situations, common task formats and time management through mock activities.

Who Should Join French A1?

This course is ideal for:

• Absolute beginners
• College and university students
• Working professionals
• Future travellers
• Learners planning to study abroad
• People preparing for relocation
• Individuals interested in French culture
• Professionals looking to add a new language skill
• Learners preparing for A1-level certification
• Anyone who wants to begin learning French systematically

What Will You Be Able to Do After A1?

By the end of the programme, you should be able to:

• Understand and use common beginner-level French expressions
• Introduce yourself and exchange basic personal information
• Ask and answer simple questions
• Talk about familiar people and places
• Describe your basic daily routine
• Talk about interests and preferences
• Handle simple shopping and restaurant interactions
• Ask for and understand basic directions
• Understand simple written information
• Identify key information in short spoken conversations
• Write short personal messages
• Participate in simple guided conversations
• Continue confidently towards French A2

Learning Mode

Live Online Classes

Attend interactive instructor-led sessions from anywhere.

Classroom Training

Learn through face-to-face lessons and classroom activities.

Personal Training

Choose individual instruction for a more personalised learning pace.

What Makes Edexo French A1 Different?

Learn for Communication

The objective is not simply to complete grammar chapters. You learn how to use French.

Learn Step by Step

New concepts are introduced progressively so beginners are not overwhelmed.

Practice as You Learn

Every major concept is reinforced through speaking, listening, reading or writing activities.

Real-World Context

Lessons are connected to situations you may actually encounter outside the classroom.

Balanced Skill Development

The programme gives attention to all four core skills instead of focusing exclusively on grammar.

Continuous Progress Tracking

Regular assessments help identify areas that need additional practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I join French A1 without knowing any French?

Yes. A1 is the entry level and is designed for learners with little or no previous French knowledge.

How long does French A1 take?

The duration depends on the learning format. Edexo can offer regular, weekend and intensive schedules.

Is the course suitable for students?

Yes. The programme can be useful for students preparing for further French study, travel or academic opportunities.

Will I speak French after completing A1?

You will develop the ability to communicate in familiar, simple situations. A1 is the foundation for continued development through A2 and higher levels.

Does the course include speaking practice?

Yes. Speaking is integrated throughout the programme through conversations, guided practice and real-life situations.

Is DELF A1 preparation available?

Yes. DELF A1-oriented practice can be incorporated into the programme for learners who plan to take the examination.

Can I learn French online?

Yes. Edexo can provide live online instructor-led French classes.

What should I study after A1?

After completing A1, you can progress to French A2, followed by B1, B2, C1 and C2.

Start Your French Journey with Edexo