Learn French
Update 5th September
We had an overwhelming demand for language classes at our Open Evening and enquiries are still coming in. We already have long waiting lists.
As a result our French classes from Absolute Beginners to Lower Intermediate are now full for 2025/2026. Places are still available at Intermediate, Advanced levels and Langue et Société.
We offer a wide variety of French language courses ranging from Absolute Beginners through to Advanced level classes.
Enrolment will take place on the 4th September 2025 with classes starting on the 16th September 2025 and continuing until Easter 2026. French classes are held on a Tuesday at the Centre de Loisirs, Route de Bretou, 24500 Eymet during the academic terms (subject to availability of places).
Late enrolment
* Absolute Beginners French,
* Improved Beginners French,
* Progressive Beginners French, and
* Intermediate French.
Late enrolment will be considered solely on availability and during the first term only.
* Advanced Language,
* Intermediate Grammar and Conversation, and
* French Life and Society.
Applications after December for these courses will be reviewed on an individual basis.
You must be a member of ACFAA to join any of our language courses.
Term Times 2025/26
Language courses are held in four blocks of between 4-6 weeks, commencing in September and finishing at the end of March. These term dates fit around the French academic year as specified for Zone A of France, which includes the Dordogne.
16 September 2025 to 14 October 2025
4 November 2025 to 16 December 2025
13 January 2026 to 3 February 2026
24 February 2026 to 31 March 2026
Map
Discover our French Classes
Absolute Beginners French
Time: 09.00 – 10.15 or 10.30 – 11.45
Tutors: Nicola Lack or Marie Tailford
If you can manage to say hello, goodbye and thank you, and have a small range of useful vocabulary (bierre, vin blanc, vin rouge, fromage etc.), but are unable to do much more than simply use the words on their own, ie. not in a sentence, then this is the level for you!
This course will focus on the following topics, and will include some very basic grammatical structures.
- Everyday greetings and manners
- Using the alphabet and numbers to give/receive information
- Introducing yourself and others
- Simple descriptions of people and places
- Giving personal information
- The body
- Days and months of the year, and dates
- Telling the time
- Talking about the weather
- Christmas traditions
- Ordering food and drink, booking tables etc
- Going shopping
- Needing medical assistance and making appointments
- Asking for and giving directions
- French customs
- Making travel arrangements and bookings
If you feel that you can already converse at a basic level with most or all of the topics above, you may want to consider enrolling on the next level course, Beginners Improvers, which will allow you to build on your existing ability and develop your command of the language.
GUIDANCE FOR LEARNERS – ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS
This course has been designed for people who are Absolute Beginners and have little or no knowledge of French.
It is taught in such a way that from week 1, you will have the skills to use the language (even if it’s only saying Bonjour and Au Revoir at the beginning!). The course runs for 21 sessions. The course will start with some basic topics, such as everyday greetings, giving personal information, the time and weather, going to the doctor/hospital, going shopping etc. Lessons are devised to give you the basic stepping stones on which this course and the following course will build and will give you the confidence to use French in everyday situations.
It is important to remember that 21 sessions are not enough for you to acquire the language, so it is vital that as you learn new vocabulary and phrases, you try to use what you have learnt as much as possible in your daily life and in a range of different situations. Of course, you will make mistakes, but this is perfectly natural, and you should try not to let this put you off. Practice really does make perfect!!
Your tutor will advise you of any books you need to purchase once the course is underway.
Beginners Improvers French
Mondays
Time: 14.15 – 15.30
Tutor: Sally Dixon
Tuesdays
Time: 09.00 – 10.15 or 14.15 – 15.30
Tutors: Ulla Hettlage or Sally Dixon
The course will assume a basic knowledge of everyday vocabulary, which will be extended throughout the year as the course progresses. Simple grammar to enable students to build sentences will also be included.
- Revision of greetings, alphabet and numbers
- Identity – relevant dates, address, telephone numbers
- Time/times of day/arranging to meet
- Family: family members and relationships
- Daily routines
- Leisure activities
- The body/what I can do/physical appearance
- Health: visiting the doctor or dentist
- Where I live: houses and homes
- Around the town: directions
- Food and drink; eating out
- Shops and shopping
- Money and banking
- Computers, phones and technology
- Nature and weather
- Holidays and travel
- Work and occupations
If you feel that you already have a range of vocabulary in all (or most) of the topics above, and can take part in short and simple verbal exchanges, you may want to consider enrolling on the next level course, Progressive Beginners, which will allow you to build on what you already know and further develop your usage of the language in a more confident manner.
GUIDANCE FOR LEARNERS – BEGINNERS IMPROVERS
This programme has been designed for people who have already completed the Absolute Beginners course, and/or people who have a range of vocabulary and simple sentences, and will focus on using it more confidently in everyday situations.
The course runs for 21 sessions. The course will cover everyday topics, such as greetings, giving personal information, the time and weather, going to the doctor/hospital, going shopping etc. Lessons are devised to give you the basic stepping stones on which this course and the following course will build, and will give you the confidence to use French in many everyday situations.
It is important to remember that 21 sessions are not enough for you to significantly improve your French language ability, so it is vital that as you learn new vocabulary and phrases, you make an effort to use what you have learnt as much as possible in your daily life, and in a range of different situations. Of course, you will make mistakes, but this is perfectly natural and you should try not to let this put you off. Practice really does make perfect!!
You will be advised by your tutor of any books you need to buy, once the course is underway.
Progressive Beginners French
Times: 09.15 – 10.15 or 12.00 – 13.15
Tutors: Paul Brown or Isabelle Debras
This course will allow you to build on your existing ability.
Following a similar range of topics to the Absolute Beginners and Improvers Courses, it will enable you to communicate more effectively in everyday life.
You will be able to talk about the past, present and future in simple discussions.
You will further develop your listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.
You will learn how to identify and use a range of more complex grammatical structures, ie. different tenses, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs etc.
- Introducing yourself and others
- Descriptions of people and places
- Giving personal information
- Describing people and places in more detail
- Using days, months and dates in different situations
- Telling the time
- Talking about the weather
- Christmas traditions
- Ordering food and drink, booking tables etc.
- Going shopping
- Needing medical assistance and making appointments
- Asking for and giving directions, talking about places
- French customs
- Making travel arrangements and bookings
GUIDANCE FOR LEARNERS – PROGRESSIVE BEGINNERS
This course follows on from the ACFAA Absolute Beginners Course and the Beginners Improvers Course. Maybe you remember some French from your schooldays, or you have simply acquired some useful and usable French in your everyday life and can ‘get-by’ in some situations. If so, this is probably the course for you.
If you can converse in French to make medical appointments, book restaurants, greet people in the street, and take part in basic dialogues, this course will help you to further develop your skills and fluency, and of course, your confidence.
The course runs for 21 sessions of an hour and a quarter. The course will cover many of the topics used in everyday life and will extend your vocabulary. It will include some grammar and will allow you to communicate in a range of different tenses, ie. the past, present and future. You will also start to use and develop some of the many phrases (hundreds, probably) that are a natural part of this language.
It is important to remember that 21 sessions is not enough for you to make huge advances in your ability to communicate more effectively, so it is vital that as you learn new vocabulary, phrases and grammatical structures, you make an effort to put what you have learnt into practice in your daily life and in a range of different situations. Of course, you will make mistakes, but this is perfectly natural, and you should try not to let this put you off. Practice really does make perfect!!
This course will follow a textbook, which is widely available from online book sellers, or can be ordered through the Tabac in Eymet square.
Communication Progressive du Français (Débutant) ISBN 978-209-038445-1
This book contains many short dialogues that will be used in the weekly classes, and audio files of these dialogues are contained on a CD that is included with the book.
Intermediate French Level 1
Time: 13.00 – 14.30 or 15.45 – 17.00
Tutor: Alex Giraudel or Monica Duckworth
This is the course for you if you can already take part in everyday conversations in a variety of situations and with some confidence, using a range of simple vocabulary and grammatical structures. However, if you still need to revert to English or ‘Franglais’ on a regular basis, then this level is right for you.
The focus of this course will be:
- Communicate with a degree of spontaneity and fluency in order to converse with a native speaker.
- Express yourself clearly and in detail on a wide range of subjects including current affairs, communicating your ideas/beliefs and listening to and discussing those of others.
If you feel that you already have a good command of the French language in these areas, take a look at our Conversation Intermediate Level 2 & Grammar course.
GUIDANCE FOR LEARNERS – LOWER INTERMEDIATE FRENCH
A text book will be introduced at some point during this course. This book is available online or it may be possible to order it from the Tabac in Eymet. Details are:
Communication Progressive du Français ) Intermédiaire – ISBN 978 -209-038447-5
NB – this book will not be required at the start of the course, so you may wish to wait. You will be given sufficient notice of when it is going to be introduced.
If you wish to see a copy of this book, ask your teacher.
Advanced Language
Time: 15.00 – 16.15
Tutor: Joëlle Jeffrey
Students in the Advanced Level Class already have a good grasp of the french language both in speaking and understanding it. The aim is therefore to encourage them to develop the confidence to use it orally.
This is achieved through discussions, talks and debates on the local events and news, as well as on the history and culture of France, even games are used to create fun as you learn.
Conversation Intermediate Level 2 & Grammar
Time: 10.30 – 12.30
Tutor: Danielle Guerard
The two-hour course is in two parts: one hour of grammar/conjugation, using the A2/B1 intermediate “grammaire progressive du français” textbook.
The second hour is usually led by the students, who give presentations on subjects of their choice, using photos, music, etc….
When there are no presentations planned, we work on the second part of the book, which is entitled “communicative activities”.
French life & Society
Time: 12.45 – 14.00
Tutor: Charles Bethune
Since the departure of the Roman armies, the people of France have developed their own language, which in turn has influenced many other languages. And since the Revolution of 1789, they have built their own society, which has served as a model for nations around the world.
By examining the origins and current uses of the language, alongside the construction and current state of French society, this course will allow you to:
- use and improve your reading and speaking skills in French, both formal and everyday;
- apply these skills to dissect aspects of French society, from politics to popular music;
- work alongside other learners and have some fun.
We read texts, examine images, listen to recordings, watch videos, all the time discussing the issues they raise about how France works and how the French express themselves.
Taking place at the Centre de Loisirs in Eymet from 12h45 to 14h00 every Tuesday during the school year, between the start of the autumn term and the Easter holidays, you need only bring a notepad, a pen, a folder and a dictionary (either in paper form or on your telephone/tablet).
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the course leader Charles Bethune by clicking the link below.
Pure French Conversation
Time: 16.30 – 17.30
Weekly pure French conversation group
This class is designed for members to practise their French.
A number of tables with maximum six members per table and a host will discuss topics for 20/30 minutes.
The table host decides when the subject has been exhausted and moves on to another topic. At this point a number of people from each table move on to the next one and so on.
This year, we have reduced the number of tutoring weeks to 21, starting on the 16th September and running until the end of March 2026, subject to the school term timetable.
If you are interested in being part of this group, then please get in touch using the link below
Additional Learning Resources
Conjuguemos Conjuguemos
Excellent exercises for practising verb conjugations and other areas of grammar.
Inner French with Hugo Cotton
Lots of podcasts that are free to listen to, with translations that you can follow as you listen, but you do need to create an account. In addition to the free stuff, there are at least two courses that you can enrol on, but these are not free.
CEFR Levels
Common European Framework of Reference. A detailed website that fully explains the CEFR levels from A1 – C2. A useful site if you are unsure of your current level.