French courses and language certificates

The most important free course is the one offered by the OFII via the CIR: after your level test you receive 100 to 600 hours in approved centres (Greta, AFPA and associations) up to A1, A2 or B1.

• And for those without CIR or wanting more there are ateliers sociolinguistiques (ASL) run by associations, volunteers and municipalities (Secours populaire, Cimade, Emmaüs, Secours catholique, La Cimade, Association Langues Plurielles and Maisons pour tous) with evening and weekend sessions, and some with childcare.
• And libraries (médiathèques) and centres sociaux organise conversation groups and language exchange.
• And Pôle emploi/France Travail and the Missions Locales offer vocational French courses via the CPF.
• And in schools OEPRE gives free French lessons for parents.
• Search for the nearest via Refugies.info or Ville de… or Réseau Alpha.
• Register early since waiting lists are long.

The Alliance française (in Paris and every city and hundreds of centres in the world) offers general courses and exam preparation at prices from 200 to 600 euros a term, and awards a certificate.

• Universities (FLE: français langue étrangère) offer intensive courses in summer and the year with diplomas (DU), and private language schools (Accord, Institut catholique and International House) general or intensive courses.
• And there are online private lessons (italki, Preply and Verbling) at prices from 10 to 30 euros an hour.
• And via the CPF (500 euros a year) you can fund an approved vocational French course via Mon Compte Formation.
• Choose an accredited school (a Qualité FLE or Qualiopi certificate) and check reviews, prices, course length and number of students.
• And do not pay the whole amount in advance to an unknown school.
• And universities may offer grants for foreign students and refugees (DU Passerelle).

The European framework (CEFR) measures your levels from A1 to C2.

• You need according to recent laws A2 for the multi-year permit, B1 for the resident card, B2 for naturalisation, and often B2 for university study, and rules may change so always check.
• The main certificates: DELF (A1 to B2) and DALF (C1 and C2) national diplomas that do not expire from France Éducation international, and TCF (Test de connaissance du français) and TEF (Test d'évaluation de français) tests valid two years, and the TCF ANF for nationality and TCF IRN.
• For nationality a TCF, TEF or DELF is required according to the list.
• The exams include reading, listening, writing and speaking, and are held in approved centres at fees of 100 to 200 euros.
• Register early, and practise the published samples.
• And universities accept DELF, TCF and TEF.
• And check a certificate accepted for your purpose.

Define your goal: work, study, residence or daily life.

• Take a free placement test (TCF or sites).
• Choose a course with a schedule that suits your work and family and nearby transport, and register in more than one place.
• Set aside an hour daily for study and focus on listening and speaking.
• Learn new words daily with flashcard apps (Anki), and watch TV5Monde, France 24, Arte, Lumni and Netflix with French subtitles, and listen to RFI Savoirs, Journal en français facile and podcasts in simple French, and read lectures faciles from the library.
• Speak with neighbours, work colleagues and shop staff.
• Record your voice to notice your pronunciation.
• Practise the DELF/TCF samples.
• And do not fear mistakes since the French value effort.
• And join a language exchange (tandem) and association activities.
• And for university study: request enrolment via Parcoursup or Études en France and look for French government grants.

Where do you find free French courses?