N 48°51′ · E 2°21′—CEFR A1 · Breakthrough
Absolute Beginner
Your first bearing. From zero to your first real French conversations.
For complete beginners who have never studied French — or need to rebuild from the ground up.
At a glance
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Instructor-led live sessions
- 30
- Session length
- 90 minutes
- Mode
- Live online (Zoom)
- Level
- CEFR A1
- Practice
- Weekly assignments, quizzes & speaking activities
- Assessment
- Final A1 evaluation
By the end of the course
- Introduce yourself and others confidently.
- Handle everyday conversations.
- Read and understand simple texts.
- Write short emails and messages.
- Build a strong foundation in French grammar and pronunciation.
- Prepare for the DELF A1 examination.
The syllabus
What we cover in A1
Every session is live and taught in small groups by C1-certified instructors — no recordings, no autopilot.
- 01The French sound system & pronunciation foundations
- 02Greetings, introductions and politeness registers (tu / vous)
- 03Present tense of regular verbs and key irregulars (être, avoir, aller)
- 04Articles, gender and basic noun–adjective agreement
- 05Numbers, dates, time, prices; the immediate future (futur proche)
- 06Everyday scenarios: café, shopping, directions, small talk
Combination tracks with A1
Bundle A1 with adjacent levels — one continuous curriculum, better value.
The matching vocabulary book
A themed reference built for A1 students — the same words you'll meet in class and in the exam.
A1 Vocabulary Book — 500 essential wordsWhere this sits on the map
Questions
Good to know about A1
I have never studied French. Is this the right start?+
Yes. A1 assumes zero prior knowledge — we begin with sounds and greetings and build from there. No preparation needed.
Do I need any materials?+
Everything is provided digitally. The optional A1 Vocabulary Book is a helpful companion but not required.
What can I do after A1?+
You move on to A2, or save with the A1 + A2 Track. A1 alone gets you survival French for travel and first encounters.
Set your bearing
Ready to start A1?
See the next A1 cohorts, dates and seats — then reserve your place.