Cours Municipal d’Adultes

To study the basics of the French language and to improve written and verbal skills. Students are given many practical exercises (phonetic, vocabulary and grammar exercises).

Specific goals of the spelling-grammar course:
Learning and improving spelling and grammar for better written French.
Learning the rules of agreements between adjectives and verbs; studying different verb tenses (their forms); studying the various syntax tools required to make sentences (coordination and subordination conjunctions). The course includes practical exercises: dictations and grammar exercises.

All persons of non-French speaking origin, who can read, write and count in their mother tongue and who have had at least 5 years of secondary education.
To confirm registration for these courses, all applicants must take an entrance test to assess their level.

A French course
For foreign people whose native languages are not Latin-based and who are experiencing problems with learning to read and write French, is also available :

• French as a foreign language - Literacy

French catch-up courses (levels 3 and 4) are also available for persons who do not satisfy these conditions:

• Alphabétisation, mise à niveau en français
• Alphabétisation, français et calcul (90 ou 120 h)
• Alphabétisation, français et calcul (120 h ou 180 h)

There are 5 levels of French as a Foreign Language.

Each level requires students to have already acquired the skills attained in the previous levels. Levels 3 and 4 offer a more in-depth study of written syntax and focus on oral expression.
The courses include systematic dictation practise.

LEVEL 1:
Introduction to the French language, understanding basic oral and written language structures. Using simple language to express oneself (greetings, introductions, talking about habits, places, objects and people, invitations, accepting and refusing, expressing agreement and disagreement, etc.).
Contents of the spelling-grammar course:
Principal masculine/feminine and singular/plural agreements between adjectives and verbs. Principal verb tenses.

LEVEL 2:
Review and more in-depth study of the basic forms and structures of the language. Construction of simple oral and written statements (physical and psychological descriptions of people, using the past tense, dialogue in shops, giving advice, giving orders, giving authorization or forbidding, speaking of the future, making projects, etc.).
Contents of the spelling-grammar course:
Studying adverb structure. Principal personal pronouns. Negation. Basic relative pronouns.

LEVEL 3:
Mastering oral expression and written structure. A more in-depth study of the oral and written structures. Using vocabulary. Expressing intention, feelings and wishes. Relating past events. Practising different ways of giving advice.
Contents of the spelling-grammar course:
Studying gerund structure. Personal pronouns. Past participle agreement. Active and passive voice. Definition of simple and complex sentences. Principal subordination conjunctions. Relative pronouns. Studying composed verb tenses: future perfect, past conditional, present and past subjunctive. Studying simple tenses, including present conditional and simple past tenses.

LEVEL 4:
Perfecting oral and written French. Using different modes of expression: conditional, purpose, consequence, tenses and causes. Good command of indirect speech. Using different expressions of agreement and disagreement. Expressing different points of view (using indicative and subjunctive). Enhancing vocabulary.
Contents of the spelling-grammar course:
Past participle agreement of pronominal verbs. Differentiating present participles and verbal adjectives. Studying pronouns and indefinite adjectives; subordinated propositions, subordination conjunctions, notably those which create spelling difficulties: quelque / quel que; quoi que / quoique. Relative pronouns: differentiating qui, qui l' and qu'il. The coordination conjunction "or". Impersonal and interrogative voice. Complex sentences, concordance of tenses.

LEVEL 5:
Review and perfection of various skills. Use of authentic French texts.