Course

French language course

From the very first group lesson an experienced teacher will help you to build your vocabulary and understand how the language works. You’ll use traditional learning methods as well as online learning tools. The course not only focuses on speaking and listening skills, additional work on grammar, as well as reading and writing skills, will support you in the language learning process. Your teacher is a native speaker, and the group lessons will be conducted in French. Instructions will only be given in Dutch or English if it's absolutely necessary.

After completing level C1, you’ll be able to communicate professionally in French, from speaking and writing to debating, negotiating and giving a presentation.

'This was my second class at the Language Centre, and once again it was very nice. My tutor Valérie put a lot of emphasis on free speaking, which helped me a lot freshening up my rusty French. The atmosphere was great too. Overall, I can highly reccommend taking a language course at the Language Centre!'

Jan Elbers | European Studies

'I enjoyed the classes French a lot. The tutor made learning french always fun, and gave me the confidence to ‘have a go’. Furthermore, the classes were very interactive and the group was very enthusiastic. I would definitely recommend taking French at the Language Centre.'

Anne-Li van Laarhoven | Student UM

'The weekly sessions were very cordial. Ms. Valérie, our teacher, always encouraged us to try figure it out through trial and error, without a shred of judgment.'

Cristian Mîţu | Student International Law

French courses

For available times for the courses below please see the course dates and registration form. The registration form shows the currently available groups.

Quick links:

Costs per course

  • UM students: € 475 per module

  • UM staff and alumni: € 475 per module

  • All other participants: € 605 per module

Costs are exclusive course materials.

Reference levels according to the CEFR:

  • Beginner: French A1 
  • Elementary: French A2 
  • Intermediate: French B1
  • Upper intermediate: FR-B2
  • Upper intermediate: FR-B2plus
  • Advanced: French C1 

Intensive summer course French A1 (online) (registration is closed)

Would you like to learn French before the summer and you don't speak any French yet? Then the intensive online course might be something for you. In three weeks time (fourteen two-hour lessons and three to four hours of homework per day) you can reach level A1. For a description of level A1, please read the information below. You can obtain a certificate and 3 credits (2.5 for UCM and Global Studies UM students), if you pass the exam and meet the attendance requirement (maximum 1 absence per week and with 3 absences a check assignment must be handed in). The course will go ahead with a minimum number of participants of 8.

Sign up here! 

Registration is closed now

French A1 (FR-A1) and A2 (FR-A2)

French A1 is for people with little to no prior knowledge of French. An intake is not necessary. French A2 is for people have passed the previous level or had an intake with one of our staff members.

The focus is on speaking and listening skills, as well as basic grammar. You will build a vocabulary that will give you a solid basis for communicating in common, everyday situations.

Once you've completed French A1 you will be able to:

  • greet people as well as introduce yourself and others;
  • ask for and provide personal details;
  • get around in shops and restaurants;
  • describe where you live and the people you know;
  • talk about daily activities (studies/work, hobbies);
  • ask and answer simple questions about familiar or immediate needs topics;
  • conduct simple discussions with a slow-speaking partner in present and going to-future;
  • fill in a form with personal details, answer to a short email (invitation, short description).

Course material for French A1

  • En contact, niveaux A1/A2, version numérique élève, Éditions CLE International, 2023. (ISBN : 978-2-09-036017-2)

Available at https://www.cle-international.com/adolescents/en-contact-niveaux-a1a2-version-numerique-eleve-livre-de-l-eleve-9782090360172.html

Once you've completed French A2, you will be able to:

  • describe you background and routine tasks (family, shopping, close environment, studies, work);
  • keep the conversation going about your daily activities and about people you know, in present, past and future tenses;
  • locate the general information of an informative document;
  • talk about experiences, events and memories;
  • evoke the future in simple terms;
  • write simple formal and informal emails.

Course material for French A2

  • En contact, niveaux A1/A2, version numérique élève, Éditions CLE International, 2023. (ISBN : 978-2-09-036017-2)

Available at https://www.cle-international.com/adolescents/en-contact-niveaux-a1a2-version-numerique-eleve-livre-de-l-eleve-9782090360172.html

Dates: The registration form shows the actual available groups. Register here

Certificate: Upon completion of the course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

French B1 (FR-B1) and French B2 (FR-B2)

Registering for French B1 and French B2 is only possible when you have passed the previous level or had an intake with one of our staff members.

These courses are designed to extend your vocabulary and reinforce your grammar. The emphasis in French B1 is on speaking and listening skills in common, everyday situations. French B2 builds on the material taught in French B1, working on language skills that are useful for work, study or travel.

Once you've completed French B1, you will be able to:

  • take part in a conversation without any preparation on familiar topics using past, present and future tenses:
  • locate the general information of an informative audio or written document and some targeted details;
  • relate experiences, events, a story, your dreams, your hopes, your goals;
  • make comparisons, talk about advantages and disadvantages and briefly justify your opinion;
  • write simple connected text on familiar topics;
  • write emails (formal/informal);
  • present a short topic in a clear and prepared manner and launch a short discussion.

Course material for French B1

  • Edito niveau B1 Méthode de français, Editions DIDIER (ISBN: 9782278087730) Edition 2018!
  • Edito niveau B1 Cahier d'activités, Editins Didier (ISBN: 9782278090037) Edition 2018!

At the end of B2 course, you will be able to :

  • express opinions and emotions;
  • use all French tenses;
  • give advice;
  • express acceptance, rejection and avoidance;
  • hold debates and give presentations about familiar topics;
  • make summaries;
  • hypothesize and speculate;
  • write letters and e-mails (formal and informal);
  • understand better French speaking countries cultures.

Course material for French B2:

Digital version only:

  • Edito B2 – édition 2022-2024  - Livre numérique élève, Myriam Abou-Samra, Elodie Heu-Boulhat, Marion Perrard, Amandine Caraco (ISBN: 9782278104321).

Paper versión and access to the digital version (more expensive):

  • Édito B2 – édition 2022-2024 – Livre + didierfle.app, Myriam Abou-Samra, Elodie Heu, Marion Perrard, Amadine Caraco, Didier, 2022, (ISBN: 9782278103669).

Dates:  The registration form shows the actual available groups. Register here

Certificate: Upon completion of the course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

NB Boost your employability and apply for a free Advanced French language course now. Go to UM Language Centre – Scholarships for more information.

French B2plus (FR-B2plus)

Registering for this course is only possible when you have passed the previous course or had an intake with one of our staff members.

French B2plus is for you if you wish to broaden and reinforce your knowledge of French, which at this point, allows you to work in a French-speaking environment. The focus is again on general speaking and listening skills, but also on discussion techniques, such as expressing opinions and providing arguments, on the basis of texts about socio-economics, culture and politics.

At the end of B2plus course, you will be able to :

  • express opinions and emotions;
  • use all French tenses;
  • give advice;
  • express acceptance, rejection and avoidance;
  • hold debates and give presentations about familiar topics ;
  • make summaries;
  • hypothesise and speculate;
  • write letters and e-mails (formal and informal);
  • deal with French speaking countries cultures.

Course material for French B2plus

  • L'Exercisier, Edition Hybride: Manuel d'expression française, PUG, (ISBN: 978-2706151460) Edition 2021 (couverture ROUGE)

Dates: The registration form shows the actual available groups. Register here

Certificate: Upon completion of the course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

NB Boost your employability and apply for a free Advanced French language course now. Go to UM Language Centre – Scholarships for more information.

'I was gladly joining my french classes. The teacher managed to make the class interesting! It was wonderful working in a group with fellow students as I felt motivated to learn and study more.'

Alexandra Marginean | student

French C1 (FR-C1)

Registering for this course is only possible when you have passed the previous course or had an intake with one of our staff members.

French C1 further improves speaking and listening skills, with special attention to professional purposes.

A lot of emphasis is put on themes and vocabulary that relate to study or work. You will also work on skills that are useful for your career, such as presenting, discussing and participating in meetings. 

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • discuss typical subjects concerning your country or a country you are familiar with and compare it to the French speaking countries realities.
  • clearly express and explain your ideas and opinions;
  • give a clear and well structured presentation, as well as spontaneously answer questions;
  • use grammar correctly;
  • make summaries;
  • argue, presenting and debating;
  • write letters and e-mails (formal and informal).

Course material for French C1

  • Expression française écrite et orale, Editions PUG, (ISBN: 9782706123108)​

Dates: The registration form shows the actual available groups. Register here

Certificate: Upon completion of the course requirements, you will receive a participation certificate by mail.

Intake test and registration

UM students, staff and external participants are welcome to join the course.

If you have no prior knowledge of French, you can simply register for French 1 by using our registration form. After registering, you will receive a confirmation.

If you would like to take any of the other levels, you must first successfully complete the previous level, or demonstrate a comparable level of French. 

If you already have some knowledge of the language and would like to join a non-beginners group then please schedule an online intake by using our scheduling system to make an appointment, free of charge. 

Book an intake well before the course is scheduled to begin. This process will make it easier to make the appointment, and more likely that there will still be an available spot in the module that’s right for you.

Costs per course

  • UM students: € 475 per module

  • UM staff and alumni: € 475 per module

  • All other participants: € 605 per module

Costs are exclusive course materials.

Certificate and ECTS credits

After successfully completing a course, you will receive a certificate. To be eligible for a certificate, you must attend at least 12 of the 14 lessons, be present at the final exam and have satisfactory results. One course is worth 3 ECTS credits. Whether these credits are acknowledged depends on your faculty. Please consult with your faculty / home university if these credits will be accepted as part of your programme.