The French Language Course is taught in undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil, and doctoral programs, as well as certificate and part-time diploma programs. With nearly 80 million native speakers and 220 million speakers worldwide. The French language is the world's sixth most spoken language in 29 countries.
According to the Foreign Service Institute(FSI), the average time to learn French for native English speakers is 600 hours or 28 weeks of study. A Francophone is a person or nation who speaks French.
One of the most popular French courses for beginners across the world is DILF (Diplôme Initial de Langue Française). After DILF, the DELF and DALF are the two most prestigious French proficiency tests for non-native speakers, administered jointly by the French Ministry of Education and the Centre International d'études pédagogiques (CIEP). In order to get the certificate, students will have to acquire 50/100 i.e. 5/25 for each module.
TEF in contrast to DELF and DALF is a single exam where your score determines the number of points you receive for French language proficiency. TCF is another French language placement exam for non-native speakers. The European Language Certificates, abbreviated as TELC, are international language proficiency tests.
All About French Language Course
French is classified as a category 1 language by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI). For most English speakers, learning French takes 23 - 24 weeks (575 - 600 hours). As a result, French is one of the easiest (and quickest) languages to learn.
- French Language Course comprises different levels such as A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2 as mentioned in the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR.
- A1 and A2 levels are for basic users, B1 and B2 are for independent users and C1 and C2 are for the proficient user.
- These French language courses are offered in both Offline as well as Online modes of study.
- The total duration of this French language course varies from one level to another. The duration of a French course is from 3 to 4 years at the graduate level, 2 years at the postgraduate level, 1 year for diploma courses, and anywhere between a few hours to a few months for certificate courses.
- Many online training providers offer French language courses without charging any fees. These types of French courses online are free of cost and these courses are conducted for an unlimited time.
Types of French Courses
Here are some of the most well-known French Language Certificate Courses you can pursue.
- DILF (Diplôme Initial de Langue Française)
- DELF and DALF
- TEF (Test d’Evaluation de Français)
- TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français)
- TELC
DILF: Students can enroll in DILF (Diplôme Initial de Langue Française) if they are a beginner in French. The French ministries of national education and higher education issue the Certificate. It follows the DELF and DALF. DILF certifies that the applicant has a basic understanding of French, which corresponds to CEFRL level A1.1. The exam measures four skills: reading, oral, listening, and reading. You must be at least 16 years old on the day of the test.
DELF and DALF: DELF and DALF are the two most prestigious French proficiency tests for non-native speakers, administered jointly by the French Ministry of Education and the Centre International d'études pédagogiques (CIEP). Over 300,000 students from all over the world register each year to take the various DELF/DALF exams.
DELF and DALF are broken down into six stages.
- DELF A1: Introductory
- DELF A2: Fundamentals
- DELF B1: Advanced
- DELF B2: Upper-intermediate
- DALF C1: Proficiency
- DALF C2: Advanced (Near-native)
The DELF/DALF exam is available at 900 certified test centers in 154 countries. These exams are administered by the Alliance Française network in cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Coimbatore, Goa, Pondicherry, and others.
- (DELF Primary) (ages 8-11)
- (DELF Jr.) (ages 13 to 18)
- DELF Pro
- Scolaire DELF
- DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française)
- The DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française)
TEF: TEF, in contrast to DELF and DALF, is a single exam where your score determines the number of points you receive for French language proficiency. The Paris Ile-de-France CCI established the TEF in 1998, and it is useful for a variety of purposes, including work permits in Canada and France. All TEF test variants have a two-year validity period.
TCF: TCF is another French language placement exam for non-native speakers. TCF, as a French language proficiency exam, serves the same purpose as TEF for those looking to move to Canada or France.
TELC: The European Language Certificates, abbreviated as TELC, are an international language proficiency test. TELC GmbH – Foreign language exams are currently available in 11 languages, including French, and offer over 80 different certificates. In French, there are four levels (A1, A2, B1, and B2)
French Courses Online
In the following tabulation, we have listed some of the Best French Courses Online along with their provider's list and the average course cost.
| Course Name | Provider | Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Apprendre comment apprendre (ACA): Des outils mentaux puissants qui vous aideront à maîtriser des sujets difficiles | Coursera | Free |
| Practice and Perfect your French - Intermediate Level (HD) | Udemy | INR 6,400 |
| 3 Minute French - Course 1 | Language lessons for beginners | Udemy | 700 |
| La recherche documentaire | Coursera | Free |
| French Level 1: A Complete Guide to Master the French Basics | Udemy | INR 8,640 |
Free French Courses Online
Here’s a detailed tabular representation of some of the best Free French Courses Online along with the platforms offering and their average fees.
| Course Name | Platform Name | Course Duration |
|---|---|---|
| French for Beginners | Alison | 1.5 to 3 hours |
| French Language and Culture | edX | Self-paced |
| French Language Course | Duolingo | Self-paced |
| Diploma in French Language Studies - Revised | Alison | 10 to 15 hours |
| Basic French Language Skills for Everyday Life | Alison | 1.5 to 3 hours |
Certificate Course in French
Certificate Course in French is a 1-year duration full-time course that gives an insight into the basic knowledge about the French language, its grammar, vocabulary, etc.
- The Certificate Programs in French Language Courses are offered through both online and offline platforms.
- The duration of these French courses can be from hours to months.
- Certificate programs for French Language Courses are generally designed for candidates who want to step into a different field and also want to improve their skills.
- These French language courses are perfect for those who would like to continue their profession along with enhancing their skills or learning to know more.
- Most of the courses are designed to be completed by a candidate’s own choice and it doesn’t require a lot of time.
- Candidates who want to pursue short-term French Language Courses after completion of class 12th can go for a Certificate in French language courses as well as Diploma in French Language Courses.
- French language courses are also available in Alliance Francaise de Delhi. They offer French courses at all levels to prepare students to give the DELF/ DALF exam.
Completion of extra certification courses in the French Language helps to give one of the biggest opportunities to increase the pay scale. The candidates who want to start a career in this particular field with a certificate course, the average salary is from INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 per annum in India.
In the tabulation provided below, we have provided some of the Best Certificate Courses in French along with the platforms offer, course duration, and their average fees.
| Course Name & Platform Name | Course Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| French for Beginners: Level 1 by Udemy | 2.5 hours | INR 479 |
| French Language Course by Henry Harvin | 56 to 66 hours | INR 12,500 to INR 17,500 |
| French language A1 Course by IIFLS | 60 hours | INR 12,800 |
| French for you, grammar B1-B2 and beyond by Udemy | 8 hours | INR 479 |
| Etudier En France: French Intermediate course B1-B2 by Coursera | 46 hours | Free Enrollment |
| French Certificate Online by Lingoda by St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata | Self-paced | INR 8,000 |
| Practice and Perfect your French - Intermediate Level (HD) by Udemy | 1.5 hours | INR 479 |
| Complete French Course: Learn French for Beginners by Udemy | 50.5 hours | INR 479 |
| The French Subjunctive - Full Course - Intermediate Level by Udemy | 1 hour | INR 479 |
| French Language Course: from A1.3 to A2.1 in a Month by Udemy | 4.5 hours | INR 479 |
Scope of French Courses
The French language is one of the most popular languages nowadays, many organizations select candidates who have in-depth knowledge of this subject.
Top Job Profiles
In the table given below, we have listed some of the top job positions that one can get post completing a French Course along with the job role and the average salary offered:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Interpreter | An Interpreter is responsible for bridging the gap between two languages. They connect people and services by defining the word the person wants to say. | INR 4,00,000 to INR 7,00,000 |
| Technical Translator | A Technical Translator is responsible to translate the language and finalize the documents or the work. They deal with the practical application or technological subject. | INR 3,00,000 to INR 7,00,000 |
| French Teacher | An expert French Teacher is responsible to teach or provide language instruction to students. They develop plans, make strategies, monitor the progress of the student and give feedback for their improvement. | INR 2,50,000 to INR 5,00,000 |
| Business Analyst | A business analyst is responsible for a smooth business delivery process. They translate documents, make presentations, reports, etc. | INR 4,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 |
French Language Courses: FAQs
Ques. Is French an easy language?
Ans. It depends upon an individual and his/her ability to grasp knowledge and retention power that determines the difficulty of the language.
Ques. Can I learn French language courses Online? Which is the Free Online Language Course in India?
Ans. Yes, there are a lot of certifications and diploma courses provided online that can be pursued by the interested candidate. Some of them are discussed above.
There are many online training providers but enrol for a course from a recognized institute adds more value to the professional field. Some top online French language courses are offered by: Udemy, Coursera, .edX
Ques. Is it worth pursuing a French language course?
Ans. Yes, it is worth pursuing a French language course as it a foreign language and it helps to increase the chance of getting a high paid salary from a reputed organisation.
Ques. Do I get a scholarship to pursue French language certifications?
Ans. Yes. There are many online training providers like Coursera offers scholarships to students. For this student should send an application. Apart from that many private institute and university also offers a scholarship for the language certification.
Ques. Is the MA or Masters of Arts in French language course semester wise or year based?
Ans. Most of the colleges offer the semester-based course. The course is mostly spread of 4 semesters or 2 years.
Ques. Can I learn French on my own?
Ans. Yes, you can learn French on your own but since it would be a new language for you, it is highly recommended that you at least enrol yourself in an online French Language Course. It would help you to understand the language, its grammar and pronunciation better.
Ques. Is it possible to learn French in 3 or 6 months?
Ans. Yes, some of the online training providers and also some renowned institute offers certificate courses for 3 or 6 months. That is helpful to learn basic grammar and vocabulary.
Ques. Is it essential to learn French to get a job in France?
Ans. Yes, the certificate courses are essential to have the basic knowledge in this language and this definitely helps to improve in their professional area.
Ques. Is it necessary to learn French to get admission to a college in France?
Ans. No, it is not necessary to learn French for admission in France but it is highly recommended to have a piece of knowledge in this language for further studies since French is the mother tongue, more or less the medium of communication would be French.
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