DELF A1 French Course in Paris — Beginner Level

As per the guidelines of CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) these are the things learners are supposed to be able to do once they are at the A1 level.

Listening: They can recognize familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself, their family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.

Reading: They can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues.

Spoken interaction: They can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help them formulate what they are trying to say. They can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.  

Spoken production: They can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where they live and people they know.

Writing: They can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings. They can fill in forms with personal details, for example entering their name, nationality and address on a hotel registration form.

In short, learners with a A1 level :

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type.

Can introduce themselves and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where they live, people they know and things they have.

Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Administrative importance:

Since the 2026 reform, the multi-year titre de séjour (carte de séjour pluriannuelle) requires the A2 level — one step above A1.

You need to know how to use the Latin alphabet and have a basic understanding of English.

For absolute beginners, no pre-assessment of level is done.

Listening: To be able to recognize familiar words and very basic phrases about myself, my family, and my immediate surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.

Reading: To be able to understand familiar names, words, and very simple sentences, such as those found on notices, posters, or in catalogs.

Spoken interaction: To be able to communicate in a simple way, provided the other person speaks slowly and is willing to repeat or rephrase things, and to be able to ask and answer simple questions about immediate needs or familiar topics.

Spoken production: To be able to use simple phrases and sentences to describe where I live and the people I know.

Writing: To be able to write a short and simple postcard, for example, to send holiday greetings, or to fill out forms with personal details, such as my name, nationality, and address on a hotel registration form.

As per the guidelines of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), after completing the A1 level, learners can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at meeting concrete needs. They can introduce themselves and others, ask and answer questions about personal details, and interact in a simple way provided the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Course material: the programme follows Inspire 1 (Hachette FLE), level A1 — eight units, thirty-one lessons — supplemented with authentic documents.

1. Themes and what you will be able to do

• First contact — recognise spoken French; greet people and take your leave; spell and count; follow classroom instructions; discover France and the French-speaking world.
• Getting in touch — introduce yourself, give your name, nationality, country and occupation; exchange an email address and say which languages you speak; give your age and phone number; make a booking and say a date.
• Getting acquainted — introduce and describe your family; describe and characterise a person; say what you like and ask what others like.
• Arranging an outing — describe a place and locate it on a map; get around, ask for and give directions; invite, accept and decline; tell the time and arrange to meet.
• Everyday life — talk about your activities and describe your day; place events in time; do the shopping, state a quantity, ask about and react to a price; go shopping for clothes and describe a garment.
• Sharing experiences — express quantities and talk about a dish; describe what you usually eat; recount a past event and put it in order.
• Giving your view — give advice, describe how you feel and your health; explain a plan and its reason; place an action in the past and give an appraisal.
• Finding out — explain your studies and say what you know how to do; ask about and state an occupation, get to know a new colleague; find accommodation, talk about the weather, use the telephone.

2. Grammar covered

• The noun group: definite, indefinite and partitive articles; gender and plural of nouns; masculine, feminine, plural and position of adjectives; possessive and demonstrative adjectives; numbers and ordinals; the presentatives c'est and il y a.
• Verbs: the present tense of -er verbs and of common verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire, venir, prendre, pouvoir, vouloir, devoir, savoir, connaître, dormir, finir, répondre, essayer, manger, habiter, parler, s'appeler); reflexive verbs; the imperative; the near future; the recent past; the perfect tense with avoir and with être, including the negative and reflexive verbs; the imperfect (c'était).
• Pronouns: singular and plural subject pronouns, the pronoun on, stressed pronouns, the pronoun y.
• Questions: intonation, est-ce que, inversion; question words; the interrogative adjective quel; où, quand, combien, pourquoi.
• The sentence: negation (ne… pas, ne… rien); definite and indefinite quantity; comparatives; intensity adverbs; prepositions of place and with country names; time markers and sequencing words; purpose (pour + infinitive) and cause (parce que); duration with depuis; avoir mal à; il faut / il ne faut pas.

3. Pronunciation

• Question intonation; rhythm and rhythmic groups; the alphabet; silent final letters; vowel combinations and contrasts; the consonants [s] and [z]; the sound [j]; elision, liaison and linking.

4. Written and spoken techniques

• Making a business card; introducing yourself on video; writing a friendly email; planning a route through a town; writing a postcard; writing a small ad; reviewing a restaurant and a travel platform; writing a blog post; leaving a voice message; writing a rental advert; building a professional profile.

How the course is delivered. This programme sets out the full range of content worked on during the course. The actual progression adapts to the group: depending on the needs expressed, the pace of learning and the richness of classroom exchanges, some points are explored longer than planned while others may only be touched on. The trainer adjusts that coverage to serve the level's learning objectives, which remain the commitment of the course.

At the end of our program, you will take a test at our center to assess whether you have reached the desired level for which you opted for this program. Our tests are based on the DELF models. Successful candidates are awarded a certificate from our center.

For students who are unable to sit for this exam, they can attend it later depending on their availability and our scheduled dates for the same level examinations.

DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française)

Centre Zenith is an official DELF-DALF examination centre — you can prepare and sit your DELF or DALF exam directly with us.

The DELF is a diploma by France Education International, for France's ministry of education.

Once you have enrolled, let us know if you would like to sit the DELF or DALF examination after your course. As an official examination centre, we hold the sessions ourselves — you register for your exam directly with us: Inscription DELF A1.

Places per session are limited, so book early — réservez votre session DELF A1.

The DELF has a lifetime validity and can be used for all official purposes, such as applying for the 10-year resident card or French nationality.

In our Bezons centre, we are located on the 4th floor of a building that is easily accessible by wheelchair. The elevator is spacious and there are no stairs that need to be climbed to reach our center.

In our Gare de Lyon centre, we are located at the ground floor, and accessible by wheelchair.

If you have any other concerns, such as if you hear or see differently from most others and need special accommodations, please send a WhatsApp message to Sourav, our point of contact for disabled individuals at Centre Zenith, at 07 78 64 53 16.

You can also email us at formation@centrezenith.com or send us a direct message through our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/centrezenith.