Did you know that our pedagogical team and I are all multilingual expats who had to quickly adapt in new environments? We fully understand how you feel with regards to learning a complex language like French while living abroad and that is why we have created a guide which breaks down the French proficiency levels from A0 to B1, i.e. what you really need to quickly integrate in Suisse romande.

Today's blogpost will be longer than usual as we are sharing with you our Guide On How To Become An Autonomous French Speaker. Let’s explore each proficiency level in detail to help you understand your current abilities so you know how long it will really take you to get to the level you need while enjoying your French learning journey.

Allez, c’est parti!

French Levels A0 to B1

1. Understand Where You’re Starting From : Ask yourself where you are at based on the description of each French level below.

2. Set Your Goal: Ask yourself which level you would like to achieve to feel at your best in French.

Level A0 : True Beginner

• Little to no knowledge of French
• Can recognize a few basic words and phrases
• Not yet able to form complete sentences
• May understand simple greetings or signs

Level A1 : Beginner 

(This is what you need for your Permis B)

• Can understand and use everyday expressions
• Able to introduce yourself and ask basic questions
• Can describe familiar topics (daily routine, personal interests)
• Capable of simple interactions in French

Level A2 : Elementary 

(This is what you need for your Permis C)

• Can understand frequently used expressions related to immediate needs
• Able to communicate about routine tasks and familiar topics
• Can describe aspects of background, immediate environment, and matters of immediate need
• Capable of simple and direct exchanges of information
• Can handle basic interactions in familiar situations (shopping, local geography)

Level B1 : Intermediate

(This is what you need for your Swiss Naturalisation)

• Can understand main points of clear standard speech on familiar topics
• Able to deal with most situations likely to arise while travelling/living in French-speaking areas
• Can produce simple connected text on topics of personal interest
• Capable of describing experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions
• Can briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans
• Able to understand the main points of many radio or TV programs on current affairs

Are you still uncertain of your French level? Test your French knowledge with our quiz here.

The Official CEFR Time Guidelines per Level

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is what most language schools across Europe and North America use to design their language programs. It provides a guideline for the number of learning hours required to achieve each level of proficiency in a language.

These are the numbers they recommend :

• Mastering A1 requires 60-80 hours of learning;
• Then, getting to a solid A2 requires 100-120 extra hours of learning;
• Finally, reaching a real B1 requires 150-180 extra hours of learning.

However, the number of hours that you need to invest in learning French can vary based on your language background, the intensity of the study, and the methods used.

What is important to keep in mind is that the CECR learning guideline is based on ideal learning conditions and NOT the reality expats experience with their busy working and family life abroad.

Back in 2014, I realised there was a need to create a different learning approach for expats. So, I decided to start my own language school, Prêt à Parler, which I founded in January 2015!

The Prêt à Parler Methodology

After almost a decade-long experience teaching French to busy expats and their family based in Suisse romande, we are proud to say that we have been constantly developing and refining our methodology in order to achieve highly efficient learning. Most of our clients are busy professionals and/or parents with really tight schedules, they have a lot on their plates and very little time to dedicate to French. On top of that, as Swiss expats, they need to reach a certain level of French in order to apply for their B/C Permits or Swiss Citizenship.

With this in mind, my team and I created online learning programs which are useful, pragmatic, yet fun and interactive! Indeed, the magic of learning happens when working with the right methodology and nurturing teachers who create a safe environment where you can express yourself without being afraid of making mistakes! Whether you're just starting out with French or already on your way to fluency, we offer many solutions to meet your specific learning needs. 

We have developed an online group learning course divided into 9 semesters which guarantees to get you from A0 to a real B1 level, the level needed in order to feel really comfortable in French in your daily life. 

How Much Time Do You Need to Dedicate at Each Level with Prêt à Parler?

Level A1 (48 hours)

Prêt à Parler’s A1 level requires two semesters or a total of 48 hours of learning (in comparison with CEFR: 60/80h).

As an example of what you would learn if you were to choose our services, here are the main topics for level A1.1 that we'll be covering this autumn during our group lesson program:

• Talking about yourself (learn how to present yourself and others, talk about your nationality, ask questions related to identity, numbers, prepositions etc.)
• Your commune (talk about your town/city, give explanations, tell the time, make a reservation, etc.)
• Everyday life (order at a restaurant, talk about nutrition, the weather, your habits and preferences, your family, etc.)

Level A2 (72 hours)

Prêt à Parler’s A2 level requires three semesters or a total of 72 hours of learning (in comparison with CEFR: 100/120h).

Here are the main topics for level A2.1 that we'll be covering with our Super Profs Iris and Maxime this autumn:

• Life experiences (learn the right tenses and phrases to talk about your past, memories, learn how to describe people and places etc.);
• Travelling (get the right tools to finally understand tourist guides, plan a trip, share your impressions from your past voyages etc.);
• Housing (understanding a real estate advertisement, looking for and describing an apartment, talking about your neighbourhood etc.)

Level B1 (96 hours)

Prêt à Parler’s B1 level requires four semesters or a total of 96 hours of learning (in comparison with the CEFR: 150/180h).

These are the main topics for level B1.1 that we'll be covering this autumn :

• Voyager (organise a trip, talk about your travels, transport, tourism etc.)
• Consommation et innovation (talk about your consumption, make a complaint, present an innovation etc.)
• Social relationships (talk about your friendships, emotions, analyse social phenomena, criticism, etc.)

Why Should You Choose Prêt à Parler’s Group Lessons?

• 10 years of experience teaching French online on Zoom
• Swiss-specific content tailored for non-francophone expats
• Small group sizes (6-8 participants) for personalised attention
• Accelerated learning methods proven to be more time-efficient
• Focus on practical, real-life French usage in Swiss contexts
• Learning Strategies adapted to busy professionals and parents
• Great basis to start preparing for the fide test
• Lessons during lunchtime, in the evening and at the weekend

How does it work?

As we know how busy your schedule is, our group program features 1 x 2-hour lesson every week. Each semester lasts for 12 weeks, there is an evaluation at the end of every semester and then you receive a certificate which confirms the level achieved.

You will be working in a small group setting of 6-8 participants with a caring and supportive Super Prof who focuses on giving you the right tools to become more autonomous and comfortable in your everyday French situations in Switzerland.

Ready to (Re)Start Your French Journey?

Click below to enrol into our Group Lessons Program .