Our classes

If you are a beginner, what will your level* be after weeks of intense classes (20 hours per week)?

• After 1 session (7 weeks): A1.You can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly, and is prepared to help.
• After 2 sessions (14 weeks): A2. You can describe in simple terms routine tasks and matters of immediate need.
• After 4 sessions (28 weeks): B1. You can understand the main points of clear standard input and can produce simple connected discourse on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.
• After 6 sessions (42 weeks): B2. You can communicate clearly on a wide range of concrete and abstract topics with a degree of fluency and spontaneity, including technical discussions on your field of specialisation.

More information on these levels is available upon request.
It is important to remember that learning a language, just like learning a specialised field, requires consistent and dedicated personal work. Learning happens at varying rates, and if students are not truly invested in the process, their teacher’s work may be in vain.

* Source: The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).

Beginners who want to obtain a good level of French should spend an entire year in Massy. During the year, students will have studied and practised all the basics of French and should be at the end of B1 or the beginning of B2, based on the rate at which they progress.
More advanced students can study for a shorter period, with a minimum stay of 2 weeks.

Classes for beginners open in January, May and September. If you have an intermediate or advanced level, you can join the other sessions at any time. Your level is determined by a written and oral test. Refresher courses are available at no extra cost for your specific needs.

Our pedagogy

We use the Silent Way approach that was developed at the CLA (Centre de Linguistique Appliquée) in Besançon. Our goal is to ensure that our students speak French close to a native, and not just to be able to communicate in French.
Learning is focused on oral communication. Our teachers correct all the mistakes of their students (pronunciation, rhythm, sentence structure…) from the beginning.
You will also have classroom exercises to work on your oral and written comprehension, and you will have homework, depending on your level, to practice your written French.

We regularly assess our students to track their progress and check their level using the criteria of the Diploma in French Language Studies (Diplôme d’études en langue française).
The Diploma in French Language Studies or DELF is a certificate awarded by the French Ministry of National Education through France Éducation International to prove the French-language skills of non-French candidates.

In order to test our students’ level as accurately as possible, we also invite them to sit the general Test de connaissance du français French language test.

This test is administered by our certified teaching staff at Les Cèdres and is also evaluated by France Éducation International (FEI), which is a public body that falls under the authority of the French Ministry of National Education. The test assesses candidates’ written and oral comprehension and expression, and provides a linguistic snapshot of their French level. It provides an accurate overview of their linguistic abilities using international standards, which can be sent to their sending organisation.

These classes introduce students to the fundamentals of the language, including sentence structure and pronunciation. 

From the moment you start with us, the four areas of communication – listening, reading, writing, and speaking – will constantly be developed. Considerable attention is also given to language structure and phonetics.

This class introduces students to Biblical, Christian and religious vocabulary. This is done by analysing, presenting and discussing Biblical texts, including literature and Christian audio and video recordings. 

During special afternoon classes at the end of the programme, 6 to 7 external speakers will present their experiences sharing the Gospel whether in France or in another French-speaking country. This is a good opportunity to learn French and learn about French-speaking cultures through the specific lens of missionaries who have been in the field.

On Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm, and on Wednesdays from 9 am to 11 am, a teacher is available to answer your French questions (20 minutes per person). Registration for these sessions is necessary via the sign-up sheet posted at the beginning of the week.

We have worship services four days per week, from 1:35 pm to 1:55 pm. For many students, this is one of their favourite moments of fellowship during the day, both spiritually and linguistically. The format of these services may vary from day to day.

In order to foster the immersion process into French language and culture, and encourage French practice, conversation sessions are offered to students throughout the week with the teaching assistant or with volunteers. Students can register individually or in groups and participate in artistic and cultural workshops.
Another effective form of immersion involves conversing with French volunteers referred to as “language partners”.

Specialised French workshops may be set up for students based on their professional background, specific needs and their level, and cover medical French, legal and administrative French, among others.