Levels
Our French courses are aligned with the levels described in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL), allowing you to get an internationally recognised level.
Not sure of your level?
Take our placement test to know your French level and choose the class that suits you best!
Beginner
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.
Elementary user
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.
Intermediate user
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.
Upper-intermediate user
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.
Advanced user
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.
Master user
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.
Teaching method
The unifying thread of the method used in Alliance Française du Bengale corresponds to the “savoir-faire” described in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The aim is to enable students with strong skills in communication through the learning of four specific skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Using an action-oriented approach, the teachers of Alliance Française du Bengale help students to improve their linguistic skills (grammar, vocabulary, conjugation, phonetics) in pragmatic situations, while offering insights into francophone culture and way of life.
The teaching method is updated with the recent university research made on didactics and pedagogy in the field of “French as a Foreign Language”. Making learning French a fun experience is a constent endeavor. This does not put a barrier to rigorous teaching though. Each month, the teachers organize an internal assessment in order to get to know better the needs of their students and to prepare them more accurately for the DELF and DALF examinations.
In order to best support students in their learning journey, we strive to offer them content that is both diverse and in-depth. It is for this reason that the courses at levels B1 to C2 are organised as follows:
200 hours of classes + minimum 16 hours of workshops
The 200 hours classes will be taught by two assigned teachers, while the 16 hours of workshops will be conducted by different teachers in a rotative manner, so that each and every student can benefit from the palette of unique and varied competences present in our team of teachers.
Below a few thematics covered by the workshops:
- Grammar : to revise or consolidate concepts.
- Letter Writing & Creative Writing : to give wings to one’s pen.
- Phonetic : to speak like a native.
- Conversation : to gain fluency and debate about current affairs.
- French songs : to improve pronunciation and vocabulary while humming beautiful French melodies.
- Translation : to built bridges from one language to the other.
- Literature : to discover texts and authors of the French and francophone literature.
How are workshops organised?
- At least one workshop is organised each week.
- A workshop lasts 1h30 or 2h (depending on the theme of the workshop).
- Workshops can take place during weekdays or weekends, online or on-site.
- A student can attend as many workshops as she/he wished during the duration of her/his course.
Textbooks
Cosmopolite is a textbook based on the action-oriented approach recommanded by the CECRL. It immerses users in an authentic universe, where the French language is used in context The focus being on francophone culture, French is presented as an international language, spoken all over the world, rather than simply the language of France. Each chapter offers an inductive and in-depth approach to the language. An important place is given to oral and written production, providing tools to develop written and oral skills, whether it be in comprehension or in production. The textbook and workbook also enable the students to evaluate themselves and are a good preparation for the DELF exams.
Students are required to have a textbook and a workbook for each level of instruction. They are available at our reception desk.
| Book set | Price |
| Cosmopolite 1 (A1) | Rs. 1095 |
| Cosmopolite 2 (A2) | Rs. 1095 |
| Cosmopolite 3 (B1) | Rs. 1195 |
| Cosmopolite 4 (B2) | Rs. 1495 |
| Cosmopolite 5 (C1-C2) | Rs. 1990 |
*The price includes both textbook and workbook. GST included.
