French Faster

CEFR A1 French tells us what a French language learner is able to do at the A1 (Lower Beginner) level. According to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference), an A1 level French language learner can do the following: 

• 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.  

• Can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues. 
• Can understand simple information and instructions on the road, in airports, on store guides, on menus and medicines.
• Can understand simple product descriptions if these are expressed in simple language and the contents are predictable.  

• Can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings.
• Can write a very simple message for a host family or a simple "Thank You" notes. 
• Can fill in forms and personal details, for example entering name, nationality and address in a hotel registration form.
• Can write a simple routine request to a colleague such as "Free for lunch?"

Can recognise familiar words and very basic phrases concerning him/herself, his/her family and his/her immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly. 

• Can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where he/she lives, people he/she knows and his/her possessions, and can also ask questions about these. 
• 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 formulate what he/she is trying to say.
• Can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.