French Conversational Intermediate B1+

You have reached an intermediate, or higher, level (B1 or above) in French and you would like to practise the language through interactive activities such as conversation practice, role-playing, debates and negotiations. The main idea of a conversational course is to promote communication, pronunciation, vocabulary development and group discussion skills while focusing on current events and cultural topics in contemporary French and the Francophone world.

Key information

Course starting in January 2025

• Course: Tuesdays 12.30pm - 1.30pm
  Delivery: Online
  Timeline: Starts 21 January - ends 25 March 2025
  Lengths: 10 weeks
  Fees: £75

This course is aimed at small groups. It requires a minimum of 7 and it can have up to a maximum of 12 students. The course fee includes directions, support and feedback from the tutor as well as access to Blackboard where you will find key notes, vocabulary used and grammar points summaries following each session.

Term 2 runs from January to March. A full course comprises 10 learning hours. Sessions are one hour long and take place once a week.

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Entry level

You have reached the level B1 (or above) or you have enough knowledge to be on track with the group. You can use the ELP self-assessment grid to judge how competent you are in the language. Alternatively, if you require help to assess your level please contact us or come along to one of our drop-in sessions.

Course content

The following learning outcomes are designed to help learners improve their conversational skills, enabling them to communicate more effectively and confidently in everyday situations in French.

Speaking and interaction

• Basic fluency: Develop the ability to speak French with more confidence and ease, handling common everyday situations with increased fluency.
• Participating in conversations: Engage in simple, connected conversations on familiar topics such as work, hobbies, travel, and current and past events.
• Expressing opinions: Learn to express personal opinions, preferences, and feelings on familiar topics using appropriate vocabulary and structures.
• Initiating and sustaining dialogue: Improve skills in initiating, sustaining, and closing conversations, including managing basic turn-taking.

Listening and comprehension

• Understanding everyday conversations: Comprehend the main points of clear, standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, and leisure.
• Recognising key information: Identify key information in short narratives, announcements, and discussions on familiar topics.
• Handling spoken instructions: Follow straightforward spoken instructions or directions related to daily activities.

Vocabulary and language use

• Expanding everyday vocabulary: Broaden vocabulary related to everyday topics such as shopping, dining, work, and social activities.
• Constructing sentences: Develop the ability to construct simple, connected sentences that communicate ideas effectively.
• Using basic grammar accurately: Apply basic grammatical structures with more consistency, including present, past, and future tenses.

Pronunciation and intonation

• Improved pronunciation: Enhance pronunciation of common French sounds, leading to clearer communication.
• Natural intonation: Begin to use more natural intonation patterns, improving the overall rhythm and melody of speech.

Cultural awareness and context

• Understanding cultural norms: Gain an understanding of basic cultural norms and customs in French-speaking countries, leading to more appropriate conversational behaviour.
• Discussing cultural topics: Learn to discuss aspects of French culture, such as holidays, traditions, and daily life.

Conversational strategies

• Asking for clarification: Develop strategies to ask for repetition, clarification, or help when something is not understood during a conversation.
• Rephrasing and paraphrasing: Learn to rephrase or paraphrase when facing vocabulary gaps or when struggling to express ideas clearly.
• Polite social interactions: Practise polite expressions and social niceties, including greetings, farewells, and simple courtesies.

Confidence and autonomy

• Increased confidence in speaking: Build confidence to speak French more freely, even if the language used is not perfect, encouraging active participation in conversations.
• Autonomy in communication: Gain the ability to communicate needs, desires, and opinions more independently in everyday situations.

Situational applications

• Role-playing common scenarios: Engage in role-playing exercises to practise conversational skills in typical situations such as ordering food, making reservations, and asking for directions.
• Handling social situations: Improve the ability to handle simple social situations, such as meeting new people, making introductions, and engaging in small talk.

Resources

No textbook required.

Our approach

Conversations will be in French. If and when required, the tutor may also use English for support. They aim to develop communication skills: listening and speaking, through interactive activities such as conversations, role-play, debates, oral presentations and negotiations, as well as cultural awareness. They provide a good balance between understanding both the French language and the cultures of the Francophone world enhancing communication and interaction. They support comprehensive and productive skills through authentic based activities and guided practice in the use of the language. Students will be encouraged to actively participate in class. Group numbers are limited to 12 students and planned to allow intensive interactive practice with individual feedback and advice on progress.

Bring your lunch and join the conversation in a safe and fun environment!