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French Course Methodology: Cannes

Let's get you talking French, in Cannes!

The French school will concentrate on developing all four of the core language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing, with plenty of grammar and vocabulary work included in order to develop all the essential French language skills. The relaxed atmosphere encourages your oral participation as does the language exchange programme and your French tutors. The work of each group is tailored to the class's ability level in French.

PLACEMENT TEST - on arrival
The first morning of classes (generally Monday) is reserved for a placement test to ensure accurate evaluation of the student's current knowledge of French, choosing a course level that best suits his/her personal needs. This unique exam, designed by the school's team of teachers, is divided into two categories :

- Two tests (of increasing levels of difficulty) : written comprehension and expression
- An individual oral exam

TEST FOR LINGUISTICAL PROFILE - at the end of the course
This test assesses the student’s level in each of the 4 areas of study (written expression / oral expression / written comprehension / oral comprehension). The assessment will be attached to the French school diploma, which certifies the language level of the student.

French School Methodology

All year round the French school provides a whole range of French language courses, appropriate to students of a wide range of language abilities, from Beginner to Proficiency levels. The teaching team of the French school in Cannes is made up of 20 French teachers, all whom hold university teaching degrees. They are trained in the latest teaching techniques and share many years experience teaching French as a foreign language. The teachers have a very lively and efficient teaching approach using original methods and documents. The French programme is well structured and designed to guarantee continuity from one level to the next.

Levels: 15 different French language levels offered
Class size: Between 6 and 14 students per class
Minimum age: 16 years / no age limit (from 15 in July/August)
Lesson duration: 1 lesson = 45 minutes
Beginners accepted: all year-round on specific start dates
Certificates: Provided at the end of the course

Language levels offered at the French school in Cannes

Niveau A0  Complete Beginner

Niveau A1 110 - 120 - 121 - 122    Elementary level
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Niveau A2 130 - 131 - 132   Elementary level
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Niveau B1 210 - 211 - 212   Intermediate
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
 

Niveau B2 220 - 221 - 222   Advanced Intermediate
Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Niveau C1 230 - 231 - 232   Advanced
Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

Niveau C2 310  Proficiency
Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

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Elementary language students learn skills that will allow them to function in French in everyday situations, covering comprehension and expression, simple vocabulary and basic grammar skills.

Intermediate and advanced students cover more complex structural and grammatical concepts, learning to express and communicate opinions in diverse ways, through the composition of essays, critical assessments etc. All students develop their French skills through a varied programme of lessons, one lesson of grammatical exercises may well be followed by an informal discussion on a video programme. A dictation session or a vocabulary building lesson could follow role-playing or the exploration of a French song. The development of self-expression through debates and presentations balanced by structured drills to hone pronunciation.

In reality a student chooses to attend a short course or a longer "Languages for Life" programme according to their linguistic goals, personal wishes and time constraints.

French Language Level Chart : Cannes

French school language levels		CEF		DELF		TCF		TEF		CCIP
Elementary Levels 110, 120, 121 & 122		A1		DELF A1		Level 1 100/199 pts		Level 0 0 / 68 pts  Level 1 69/203 pts
Elementary Levels 130, 131 & 132		A2		DELF A2		Level 2 200/299 pts		Level 2 204/360 pts		Cert de Francais Professionnel (CFP)
Intermediate Levels 210, 211 & 221		B1		DELF B1		Level 3 300/399 pts		Level 3 361/540 pts		Cert de Francias Professionnel (CFP) & also CFS, CFTH, CFST, CFJ & DFA1
Higher Intermediate  Levels 220, 221 & 222		B2		DELF B2		Level 4 400/499 pts		Level 4 541/698 pts		Cert de Francais Juridique (CFJ) & Diplome de Francais des Affaires DFA1 & DFA2
Proficiency Levels 230, 231 & 232		C1		DALF		Level 5 500/599 pts		Level 5 699/833 pts		Diplome Approfondi de Francais des Affaires (DAFA)
Superior Level 310		C2		DALF		Level 6 600/699 pts		Level 6 834/900 pts		Diplome Approfondi de Francais des Affaires (DAFA)

The average student completes one of the school defined levels in 4 weeks, so 4 weeks of study will take a student starting in a class graded as 120 level, to a 121 level.  As you progress through the levels, it may take students longer than 4 weeks to complete a class level (i.e. 231, 232 etc).  In reality each student progresses at their own pace, due to their language background, motivation and focus on their studies, so please view the above chart as a guide only.

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