Français élémentaire 1 from edX

The main objective of this course is to become familiar with the basics of the French language.

Several tools will be at your disposal to facilitate your French learning:

videos that follow the daily lives of three students (Rachel, Mathieu, and Xavier) and two professors (Miss Simard and Mr. Tremblay);
videos that help you to develop your knowledge of French;
sociocultural clips that help you to discover more about Montreal and Québec;
charts that introduce you to phonetics, vocabulary, and grammar;
a discussion forum that allows you to interact with other French learners that are taking this MOOC;
interactive activities that help you to apply the concepts explained in the charts and videos;
quizzes that test your knowledge.

All types of learners can benefit from this course!

What you'll learn

At the end of this MOOC, you will be able to:

get in contact with others;
introduce yourself to others;
talk about yourself and your activities.

You will master the following linguistic notions, which will help you to achieve the 3 objectives listed above:

the basic vocabulary of everyday life;
basic vocabulary specific to the academic field;
the basics of French syntax;
the basics of French phonetics (Québec variety);
the sociocultural elements necessary for an understanding of Québec society.

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: The basics of the French language

Module 2: How to get in contact with others

Module 3: How to introduce oneself

Module 4: How to get to know other people

Module 5: How to talk about one’s activities

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundation for engaging in basic French communication

Features a comprehensive curriculum covering essential language skills for beginners

Utilized various learning resources to cater to diverse learner preferences

Incorporates diverse media formats to enhance the learning experience

Emphasizes practical language application through interactive activities and quizzes

Course is taught by experienced instructors with expertise in French language education

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Français élémentaire 1 with these activities:

Watch videos about French culture

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Watching videos about French culture will help you learn about the country and its people, which can make learning the language more enjoyable and meaningful.

Browse courses on French Culture

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Find videos about French culture that interest you.
Watch the videos and pay attention to the language used.
Look up any unfamiliar words or phrases.

Review French pronunciation

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Listening to native speakers and practicing pronunciation can improve your speaking skills and reduce the amount of time you spend revising audio.

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Listen to French music or podcasts and try to imitate the pronunciation of the words.
Find a language partner or tutor to practice speaking French with.
Use a language learning app that provides pronunciation exercises.

Review some basic grammar rules

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Refreshing your memory on basic grammar rules will make it easier to identify and use these rules in French.

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Review the basic parts of speech.
Write down examples of each part of speech.
Review the basic rules of French grammar, such as subject-verb agreement and adjective placement.

11 other activities

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Join a French language learning group

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Joining a French language learning group can help you stay motivated and make learning more enjoyable.

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Find a French language learning group that meets your needs.
Attend the meetings regularly.
Participate in the discussions and activities.

Practice French vocabulary using flashcards or a vocabulary builder app

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Regularly practicing French vocabulary will improve your retention of new words and phrases, making it easier to communicate and understand spoken and written French.

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Create a list of new French words you encounter while reading or listening to French.
Use flashcards or a vocabulary builder app to practice the new words.
Review your vocabulary regularly to improve your retention.

Practice listening to French

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Practicing listening to French will help you improve your comprehension and pronunciation.

Browse courses on Listening Comprehension

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Find French listening materials that interest you.
Listen to the materials regularly.
Look up any unfamiliar words or phrases.

Complete online French grammar exercises

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Completing grammar exercises will help you reinforce your understanding of French grammar rules and improve your accuracy in speaking and writing.

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Find a website or app that offers French grammar exercises.
Start with basic exercises and gradually increase the difficulty.
Review your answers and focus on understanding where you made mistakes.

Practice writing sentences in French

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Writing sentences in French will help you apply the grammar rules you've learned and improve your writing skills.

Browse courses on Sentence Structure

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Choose a simple sentence structure.
Translate the sentence into French.
Check your translation.

Join a French language conversation group

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Participating in a conversation group with other learners will allow you to practice speaking French, improve your pronunciation, and gain feedback on your progress.

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Find a conversation group that meets regularly.
Attend the meetings and actively participate in the conversations.
Listen to other participants and try to imitate their pronunciation and grammar.

Practice speaking French

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Practicing speaking French will help you improve your pronunciation and fluency.

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Find a language partner or tutor.
Practice speaking French regularly.
Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Read a French novel or short story collection

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Reading a French novel or short story collection will expose you to authentic French language, improve your reading comprehension, and expand your vocabulary.

View Le Petit Prince on Amazon

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Choose a book that is appropriate for your level of French.
Read the book slowly and carefully, paying attention to the vocabulary and grammar.
Take notes on any unfamiliar words or phrases.

Create a French language learning journal

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Keeping a language learning journal can help you track your progress, identify areas where you need improvement, and stay motivated.

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Choose a journal format that works for you.
Write in your journal regularly.
Reflect on your progress and identify areas where you need improvement.

Write a short story or dialogue in French

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Creating your own written work in French will help you improve your writing skills, expand your vocabulary, and develop your understanding of French grammar and syntax.

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Choose a topic that you are interested in and that you have some knowledge of.
Brainstorm ideas and create an outline for your story or dialogue.
Write a draft and then revise and edit your work.

Contribute to a French language open source project

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Contributing to an open source project will allow you to use your French language skills in a practical way, while also improving the project and helping the community.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find an open source project that is related to your interests.
Read the project documentation and familiarize yourself with the codebase.
Make changes to the codebase and submit a pull request.

Career center

Learners who complete Français élémentaire 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

French Teacher

As a French Teacher, you instruct students on the French language and its grammar, vocabulary, phonetics, and writing system. The course `Français élémentaire 1` can help build a foundation in the French language that will be useful to you in your work as a French teacher. With over 300 million native speakers, knowing how to speak French will allow you to teach students how to communicate with native speakers all around the world.

See salaries and explore the career path for French Teacher

Foreign Language Instructor

A Foreign Language Instructor teaches a foreign language to non-native speakers, often at a college, university, or other educational institution. The course `Français élémentaire 1` will be helpful to you in the same way as for a French teacher. It will provide you with a strong foundation in the French language, which will in turn be helpful in your work as a foreign language instructor.

See salaries and explore the career path for Foreign Language Instructor

Translator

A Translator converts written or spoken communication from one language to another. As a translator, you will often work with different forms of media such as books, articles, websites, film, and radio, and you will often specialize in one or several industries. The course `Français élémentaire 1` will be helpful in building a strong foundation in French vocabulary and grammar, which will in turn be helpful to your work as a translator.

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Interpreter

An Interpreter converts spoken communication from one language to another. You will often specialize in a particular domain, such as business, law, healthcare, or education. The course `Français élémentaire 1` will be useful to you in the same way as for a translator. It will help you build a solid foundation in French vocabulary and grammar, which will enable you to more effectively interpret spoken language as an interpreter.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter

Diplomat

A Diplomat is sent on assignments to different countries to represent the government of their home country. As a diplomat, you would be responsible for fostering international relationships. Knowing French will allow you to communicate in one of the world's most widely-spoken languages. The course `Français élémentaire 1` will be useful to you in the same way as for a translator or interpreter. It will help you build a solid foundation in French vocabulary and grammar, which will enable you to more effectively communicate in French with other diplomats, politicians, business leaders, and government officials.

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Cultural Anthropologist

A Cultural Anthropologist studies how different cultures work, using fieldwork, observation, and interviews. As a cultural anthropologist, you may specialize in a certain region of the world, and you will often learn the language and culture of the people you study. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you are planning on specializing in French-speaking regions of the world such as France, Canada, or West Africa.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cultural Anthropologist

Journalist

A Journalist reports and analyzes news and current events. As a journalist, you may focus on a particular beat, such as politics, business, or sports. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you plan on reporting on stories that involve French speakers, such as traveling to French-speaking countries to report on current events, interviewing French-speaking sources, or covering stories about French-speaking communities.

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Archivist

An Archivist manages and preserves historical records and documents. As an archivist, you may work in a variety of settings such as museums, libraries, and government agencies. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you are planning on working with French-language documents or records.

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Linguist

A Linguist studies human language, both spoken and written. As a linguist, you may specialize in a particular language or family of languages. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you are interested in studying the French language and its grammar, phonetics, syntax, and semantics.

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Historian

A Historian researches, analyzes, interprets, and writes about the past. As a historian, you may specialize in a particular time period or region of the world. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you plan on specializing French history.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Foreign Service Officer

A Foreign Service Officer represents the United States government abroad. As a foreign service officer, you will work in a variety of roles, such as diplomat, consul, and trade specialist. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you in the same way as a diplomat. It will help you build a solid foundation in French vocabulary and grammar, which will enable you to more effectively communicate in French with other diplomats, politicians, business leaders, and government officials.

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Editor

An Editor reviews, corrects, and revises written material. As an editor, you may work for a variety of organizations, such as publishing houses, magazines, and newspapers. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you plan on editing French-language texts.

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Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager is responsible for generating new business for a company. As a business development manager, you may work for a variety of organizations, such as businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you plan on working with French-speaking clients or partners.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager plans, organizes, and executes projects. As a project manager, you may work for a variety of organizations, such as businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you plan on managing projects that involve French-speaking stakeholders.

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Marketer

A Marketer develops and executes marketing campaigns to promote products or services. As a marketer, you may work for a variety of organizations, such as businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. The course `Français élémentaire 1` may be useful to you if you plan on marketing to French-speaking audiences.

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