Level 1: A0 → A1

Level 1
Start From Zero

Learn the foundations: greetings, introductions, present tense, and everyday vocabulary. No prior French required. A 1-month program.

Level 1 French for beginners class, in person in Gastown Vancouver and online
4,500+
Students Trained
5.0★
Average Rating
350+
5-Star Reviews
22
Native Teachers
OnlineOct 5th
In-PersonOct 6th
Next Session
Level 1 of 6 · French Transformation
17% of the journey
A0 · Complete beginnerB1+ · Conversational
Winner · Palme Bleue 2026

Entreprise en Croissance (Growing Business)

Awarded by the Chambre de Commerce Francophone de Vancouver at its 2026 gala. Read the story →

Receiving the Palme Bleue 2026 on stage at the CCFV gala
Who it's for

Is This Course a Good Fit for Me?

students in level 1 french for beginners course

You’ve Never Studied French Before: This course is made for absolute beginners. It gives you a strong foundation in French from day 1.

You’re Working Toward the TEF/TCF Exam: Level 1 French for beginners is where the path to your CLB goal starts. Every TEF/TCF student begins with these foundations.

You Have a Clear Goal in Mind: Immigration, work, travel, or personal growth: this course gives you the base to get there.

The curriculum

The Level 1 Curriculum: What You Learn, Month by Month

Level 1 is month 1 of the French Transformation program, our 6-level path from zero to B1. In 4 weeks you learn greetings, introductions, the present tense and everyday vocabulary. No prior French needed.

You can take Level 1 on its own, or keep going. Five more months take you to Level 6 and a solid B1. If you’re preparing for the TEF or TCF, our 12-month program adds 6 months of exam prep after that: 12 months from here to CLB 7. And you can join at any level.

Click a level below to see what you cover each month.

Present Tense (Regular Verbs) - 1 Month

You build a solid foundation, so you can express yourself in basic, everyday situations.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Greet someone & introduce yourself
  • Ask simple questions
  • Express your tastes, interests, and hobbies.
  • Count up to 100 & Give your phone number
  • Pronounce the Alphabet & Spell your name
  • Greetings: Formal & Informal French
  • Say the date
  • Differentiate feminine and masculine nouns.
  • Write a postcard about your holidays to a friend or family member.
  • Learn useful vocabulary: Food, Animals, Activities, etc.
  • Use “Etre” (To be), “Avoir” (To have) et “Aimer” (To like) at present tense.
  • Talk about your family
  • Use possessive adjectives: “Mon, Ton, Son, Ma, Ta, Sa,…”
  • Describe your daily habits using reflexive verbs.
  • And more…
Student stories

Transformation In Their Words

Our students tell it best. Watch real stories from learners who started from zero and now speak French with confidence.

5.0
★★★★★
350+ Google reviews · all locations
Student transformations · Learn French in Vancouver
Watch our students’ stories (2:36)
Olga Cieslarova
★★★★★

I´m enrolled in a one year transformation course from level 0 to TEF/TCF exam. The course is well structured and giving you a lot of information. It goes without saying that there´s a lot of self-study needed outside of the course, however, you can always ask for a help from your teacher or study group. I spent my first 6 months of the course with Frédérique and I´m so grateful for everything I learnt in her classes. Her teaching style and positive attitude made classes easier. Even though the learning process was difficult (obviously, because it´s French), I had a lot of fun during the lessons.

Shirley Xue
★★★★★

I'm a learner of online courses from level 1 to level 6. The entire program is professionally designed, both challenging and rewarding. Under the guidance of my charismatic teacher, Anne, it's truly possible to go from not being able to pronounce anything at the beginning to communicating confidently within six months. I was indeed a complete beginner with zero background knowledge.

Ruikang Huang
★★★★★

I was enrolled in the French levels 4-6 course with Maïwen over the last few months. All the students were very kind and all the material were explained clearly. Due to the small class size, every student has abundant opportunity to participate and practice the newly learned concepts, often in relationship to real life scenarios. Overall, I really enjoyed my time here and improved tremendously.

Debalina Saha
★★★★★

I loved taking French classes with Maï! Learning a language can be challenging but Maï made it a very enjoyable experience. She is incredibly detail oriented and does a wonderful job of creating engaging course material based on one’s learning style and interests. She helped me improve my French from an A2 - B1 in 3-4 months!

Andrew Mortimer
★★★★★

I completed Levels 4-6 in person and have just finished 1 month of TEF/TCF Prep. My experience has been extremely positive and I would fully recommend Learn French in Vancouver. Our teacher, Maï, uses her empathy and energy to create an environment where I have felt comfortable to make mistakes and push myself. This has helped me improve my French a great deal. Maï's lessons have been fun, engaging, and she is able to adapt the level of challenge for each class member.

Sagarjit Singh
★★★★★

I had an outstanding experience learning French with Maiwen at Learn French in Vancouver. From the very first class, it was clear that Maiwen is not only highly knowledgeable, but also deeply passionate about teaching. She creates a warm, encouraging environment that makes even the most challenging aspects of the language feel approachable. What really sets Maiwen apart is her ability to tailor lessons to each student’s needs. Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to refine advanced skills, she adapts her teaching style so you’re always progressing at the right pace. Her explanations are clear, her examples are practical, and she brings a lot of cultural context into the lessons, which makes learning much more engaging and meaningful. Thanks to Maiwen, my confidence in speaking French has improved dramatically. I would highly recommend Learn French in Vancouver to anyone who is serious about learning the language in a supportive and inspiring environment.

Upcoming cohorts

Join our Next Level 1 Session

New cohorts start every month. Check availability and we’ll confirm your exact start date right away.

Enrollment Open

Online

Live online Level 1 French class with Learn French Vancouver
Starting October 5th
Every Monday and Wednesday
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
5:15 PM to 6:45 PM
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Get started →
Enrollment Open

In-Person

In-person Level 1 French class in our Vancouver classroom
Starting October 6th
Every Tuesday and Thursday
5:30 PM to 7:00 PMFULL
7:15 PM to 8:45 PMFULL
Starting October 26th
Every Monday and Wednesday
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
7:15 PM to 8:45 PM
Get started →

Watch a Preview of the First Class

See how our teachers explain, correct, and get you speaking before you commit to anything. Fill in the short access form and you get the preview right away.

Level 1 French course, Lesson 1 preview
Enrollment open

Ready to Enroll?

You’re a few clicks away from your first class! Select your class preferences below to reserve your spot.

1Your program
2Mode
3Starting date & time (PST)
4Payment

Please note: Due to limited class sizes, registrations are final within 15 days of your class start date. See our full terms and conditions.

Free live Masterclass · Tuesdays & Thursdays 6–7 PM PST

Have Questions?
Connect with Lily, Clélia and Tasnia

Try a free live French class and get your questions answered. Every Tuesday and Thursday, 6 to 7 PM PST: 30 minutes of real French class, the way we teach in our program, then 30 minutes of Q&A about the TEF, TCF, immigration and our courses. Pick the date that works for you and we will email you the link.

  • Lily
  • Clélia
  • Tasnia
Lily teaching a student in the free live Learn French masterclass on Zoom
What you'll achieve

Goals of the Level 1 French Group Classes

Listening

You will understand familiar words and very basic phrases concerning yourself, your family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.

Speaking

You can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where you live and people you know. You can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.

Reading

You will be able to understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences.

Writing

You will be able to write a short text about you using the verb “to be”, “to have” and “to like” as well as write a simple postcard using the present tense.

FAQ

Frequently Asked
Questions

The questions new Level 1 students ask us first.

Still unsure?

Bring your question to the live Q&A: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 PM PST. Real instructors, real answers.

Ask us live →
No. Level 1 is made for absolute beginners. We start from zero: the alphabet, basic pronunciation, greetings. You don’t need any previous French experience.
More group classes

Looking for a Different Level?

Not quite the right level? Take a look at our other group classes. You can pick the full program or just the next step.

My French Transformation group course

My French Transformation

Our most popular course, “My French Transformation,” takes you from a complete beginner to a confident French speaker in 6 months. It combines all 6 levels of French foundations, a perfect base if you plan to take the TEF or TCF exam.

Explore French Transformation →
TEF and TCF Beginner program students holding their certificates

TEF & TCF Beginner (12 Months)

The whole path in one program: 6 months of French Transformation (Levels 1 to 6), then 6 months of TEF/TCF exam prep. From zero French to CLB 7, and you can pay monthly.

Explore the 12-month program →
Level 2 French group course students

Level 2

Put your basics to work in everyday situations, like ordering at a restaurant. This course builds your conversation skills, so you can interact in French with confidence.

See Level 2 →