The B1 level (Intermediate) marks the transition from a basic user (A1–A2) to an independent user of French. At this stage, learners are no longer limited to simple survival situations; they begin to express opinions, narrate events, and interact with more confidence in both personal and professional contexts.
🎯 Main Focus at B1:
- Communication in Real Situations
Learners should be able to handle most everyday situations in a French-speaking environment—asking for information, making travel arrangements, expressing preferences, and participating in discussions. - Expanding Vocabulary & Themes
The focus shifts from personal and familiar topics like family, hobbies to broader ones such as travel, studies, work, health, society, and culture. - Narrating & Expressing Opinions
At B1, students learn to talk about past experiences, future plans, and hypothetical situations, as well as to defend their ideas in discussions. - Grammar for Independence
The aim is to equip learners with the grammar needed to build longer, more connected sentences: relative pronouns, subjunctive in common expressions, conditionals, comparisons, and reported speech. - Developing the Four Skills Equally
- Listening: understanding the main points of clear, standard speech (news, announcements, conversations).
- Speaking: managing everyday conversations, expressing hopes, opinions, and experiences.
- Reading: understanding factual texts, articles, and short stories.
- Writing: producing connected text—emails, personal narratives, opinions, and simple reports.
Course Plan
- Total duration: 20–24 weeks (about 5–6 months)
- Total Classroom hours: 100–120 hours
- Weekly class hours: 4–5 hours (ideally 2–3 sessions per week)
- Self-study: 2–3 hours per week (homework, vocabulary, media exposure)
20-Week Detailed B1 French Syllabus
Weeks 1–2: Review & Foundations
Grammar:
- Review A2 tenses: présent, passé composé vs imparfait.
- Revision of gender/number agreements.
- Question formation (est-ce que, inversion).
Vocabulary:
- Everyday life review: family, food, leisure, daily routines.
- Useful connectors: d’abord, ensuite, enfin, parce que, donc.
Activities:
- Oral introductions & roleplays (meeting someone new).
- Compare last weekend vs childhood memories (passé composé vs imparfait).
- Write a short text about your daily routine.
Weeks 3–4: Talking About the Future
Grammar:
- Futur simple: formation & uses.
- Futur proche vs futur simple.
Vocabulary:
- Career plans, studies, ambitions.
- Time expressions: bientôt, demain, l’année prochaine, dans deux ans.
Activities:
- Roleplay: making holiday or career plans.
- Write: “Where I see myself in 5 years.”
- Listening: interviews about future goals.
Weeks 5–6: Expressing Quantity & Comparison
Grammar:
- Comparatives (plus/moins/aussi … que, meilleur, pire).
- Superlatives (le plus/le moins, le meilleur, le pire).
- Quantities: beaucoup de, trop de, assez de, peu de.
Vocabulary:
- Shopping, restaurants, money.
- Adjectives of description: tall/short, cheap/expensive, interesting/boring.
Activities:
- Debate: “Which is better, city life or countryside?”
- Write restaurant reviews using comparatives & superlatives.
- Listening: comparing travel destinations.
Weeks 7–8: Pronouns & Everyday Life
Grammar:
Vocabulary:
- House, furniture, chores.
- Daily activities, routines.
Activities:
- Roleplay: “At the market” using pronouns (Je l’achète, j’en prends, il y en a).
- Write: “My ideal house.”
- Listening: a radio ad with lots of pronouns.
Weeks 9–10: Giving Opinions & Subjunctive Basics
Grammar:
- Expressions with subjunctive: il faut que, bien que, pour que, avant que.
- Opinion structures: je pense que, je crois que, je trouve que.
Vocabulary:
- Society & culture: environment, education, media.
- Expressions for opinions: à mon avis, selon moi, d’un côté… de l’autre.
Activities:
- Class debate on environmental issues.
- Write: pros and cons of smartphones.
- Listening: news reports or opinion podcasts.
Weeks 11–12: Narrating & Describing
Grammar:
- Sequence words: d’abord, ensuite, soudain, enfin.
- Relative pronouns: qui, que, où, dont.
- Complex sentences: quand, pendant que, tandis que.
Vocabulary:
- Travel & adventures.
- Storytelling phrases: once upon a time, suddenly, in the end.
Activities:
- Oral storytelling: tell about a past holiday.
- Write a short travel blog post.
- Reading: simplified short story or news article.
Weeks 13–14: Reported Speech & Politeness
Grammar:
- Direct vs indirect speech (present → past).
- Conditional present (for polite requests: je voudrais, pourriez-vous…).
Vocabulary:
- Formal situations: work, customer service, hotels.
- Politeness expressions: s’il vous plaît, je vous en prie.
Activities:
- Roleplay: job interview / hotel reception.
- Write a polite email request.
- Listening: customer service dialogues.
Weeks 15–16: Hypotheses & Possibilities
Grammar:
- “Si” clauses (Type 1 & 2: si + présent → futur; si + imparfait → conditionnel).
- Modal verbs: devoir, pouvoir, vouloir (review + nuances).
Vocabulary:
- Problems & solutions.
- Expressing possibilities and conditions.
Activities:
- Group activity: “What would you do if you won the lottery?”
- Write: “If I lived in another country…”
- Listening: interviews with “dream scenarios.”
Weeks 17–18: Work, Health & Society
Grammar:
- Active and passive voice introduction: être + participe passé.
- Impersonal expressions: on dit que, il est possible que…
Vocabulary:
- Health, lifestyle, workplace, social life.
- Common idiomatic expressions.
Activities:
- Roleplay: visiting a doctor.
- Write a cover letter for a job.
- Reading: health articles or job ads.
Weeks 19–20: Consolidation & Exam Practice
Grammar:
- Review: all tenses (présent, imparfait, passé composé, futur simple, conditionnel, subjonctif).
- Revision of pronouns, comparisons, indirect speech.
Vocabulary:
- Global revision of key topics (travel, culture, society, work, health).
Activities:
Listening practice with authentic B1 audio (news, interviews, podcasts).
Mock DELF B1 oral: roleplays, debates, description tasks.
Writing: personal letter, formal letter, short essay.