Learn French 

At the Alliance Française de Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, we’re proud to offer engaging, effective French courses taught by experienced instructors who love sharing the language and culture. All courses are exclusive to members.

French Language Studies for Every Level

Alliance Française offers adult French classes in a small group setting or private 1-1 classes. Complete beginners start with the fundamentals, and students that have studied French before are placed in the level that most closely matches their current language proficiency.

The levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) for each course refer to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR). You can read more about the CEFR levels here. If you are not sure of your level, or which course is right for you, you can take the free online placement test here.

Filter By:
Age
Level
Session: Fall
Location
Type
Pace

Unsure of your level?  Click here to take a free placement test.
    A1

    Beginner French (A1.0)

    Standard Courses

    This entry-level course is designed for complete beginners to gain competency in French. Students will develop reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills necessary to identify vocabulary terms and utilize proper grammatical structures in French. Preparation outside of  class and active participation in class are necessary to succeed. Assignments will be assisted by texts, visual aids, and cultural reflection. Students will become familiar with engaging effectively in a variety of conversations in French.

    COURSE INFORMATION
    ●   Level A1.0 (Beginner)
    ●   Teacher: Brett Wells
    ●    Location: Winchester Thurston
    ●    Registration deadline: Sept. 10


    Pace: 10 Classes - 1 x 1h30m class per week

    Beginner French (A1.0) parallel class

    Standard Courses

    This entry-level course is designed for complete beginners to gain competency in French. Students will develop reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills necessary to identify vocabulary terms and utilize proper grammatical structures in French. Preparation outside of  class and active participation in class are necessary to succeed. Assignments will be assisted by texts, visual aids, and cultural reflection. Students will become familiar with engaging effectively in a variety of conversations in French.

    COURSE INFORMATION
    ●   Level A1.0 (Beginner)
    ●   Teacher: Jessica Bouvet
    ●    Location: Winchester Thurston
    ●    Registration deadline: Sept. 10


    Pace: 10 Classes - 1 x 1h30m class per week
    A2

    Elementary French (A2)

    Standard Courses

    Building upon the foundations of A1, this course transitions students from isolated phrases to connected speech and functional independence. We will expand your grammatical toolkit by introducing the passé composé and imparfait tenses, allowing you to narrate past events, share personal anecdotes, and describe your immediate environment in greater detail.

    The course emphasizes practical communication for routine tasks—such as making travel arrangements, shopping, or scheduling appointments—with increased confidence. Through the use of short, clear texts, simple audio messages, and situational role-plays, you will learn to express your preferences, give directions, and participate in brief social exchanges. By the end of this level, you will be able to handle "survival" situations in a French-speaking region and hold basic conversations on familiar topics without constant assistance.

    COURSE INFORMATION
    ●    Level A2 (Elementary)
    ●    Teacher: Brett Wells
    ●    Location: Winchester Thurston
    ●    Registration deadline: Sept. 9


    Pace: 10 Classes - 1 x 1h30m class per week

    Elementary French (A2) parallel class

    Standard Courses

    Building upon the foundations of A1, this course transitions students from isolated phrases to connected speech and functional independence. We will expand your grammatical toolkit by introducing the passé composé and imparfait tenses, allowing you to narrate past events, share personal anecdotes, and describe your immediate environment in greater detail.

    The course emphasizes practical communication for routine tasks—such as making travel arrangements, shopping, or scheduling appointments—with increased confidence. Through the use of short, clear texts, simple audio messages, and situational role-plays, you will learn to express your preferences, give directions, and participate in brief social exchanges. By the end of this level, you will be able to handle "survival" situations in a French-speaking region and hold basic conversations on familiar topics without constant assistance.

    COURSE INFORMATION
    ●    Level A2 (Elementary)
    ●    Teacher: Jessica Bouvet
    ●    Location: Winchester Thurston
    ●    Registration deadline: Sept. 9


    Pace: 10 Classes - 1 x 1h30m class per week

    Phonétique/Prononciation (A1-A2+)

    Standard Courses

    Améliorez votre prononciation et gagnez confiance à l'oral ! Ce cours vous aidera à mieux comprendre et produire les sons authentiques grâce à des activités pratiques et ludiques. Nous travaillerons les accents, les voyelles, les consonnes, les liaisons, les consonnes muettes, le rythme et l'intonation (prosodie) pour rendre votre français plus naturel et fluide. Idéal pour les apprenants de niveau A1 à A2+.

    Improve your pronunciation and gain confidence speaking! This course will help you better understand and produce authentic sounds thanks to practical and playful activities. We will work on accents, vowels, consonants, liasons, silent consonants, rhythm and intonation to make your French more natural and fluid. Ideal for learners from level A1 to A2+.

    COURSE INFORMATION
    ● Level: A1-A2+ (Beginner)
    ● Teacher: Gigi Kuhn
    ● Location: Online via Zoom
    ● Registration deadline: Sept. 11



    Pace: 5 Classes - 1 x 1h30m per week
    B1

    Intermediate French (B1+)

    Standard Courses

    We will reinforce your knowledge of verb tenses, improve your listening comprehension, and enhance your oral and written expression using podcasts, short stories, and newspaper articles. You will learn to express your opinions clearly and discuss current events. The main objective is to develop your ability to participate in a conversation fluently and grasp the main points of a discussion or text on familiar or current topics.
    By the end of this course, you will be able to handle most situations encountered while traveling in a French-speaking region and give your opinion during a conversation.

    COURSE INFORMATION:
    ●  Level: B1 (Intermediate)
    ●  Teacher: Jessica Bouvet
    ●  Location: East Liberty
    ●  Registration deadline: Sept. 8


    Pace: 10 Classes - 1 x 1h30m class per week
    B1+

    Les Beaux Châteaux de France (B1+)

    Cultural Course

    Des forteresses médiévales aux somptueux palais de la Renaissance, partez à la découverte des plus beaux châteaux de France ! À travers leur histoire, leur architecture et leurs personnages célèbres, explorez les styles médiéval, gothique, classique et renaissance tout en enrichissant votre vocabulaire et en développant votre aisance à l'oral. Un voyage culturel captivant au cœur du patrimoine français, idéal pour les apprenants de niveau B1.

    COURSE INFORMATION:
    ●  Level: B1+ (Intermediate)
    ●  Teacher: Gigi Kuhn
    ●  Location: Online via Zoom
    ●  Registration deadline: Oct. 15



    Pace: 5 Classes - 1 x 1h30m per week

    Placement Tests

    Before you begin taking classes with us, we'd like to get to know a little bit about your level of French, so we can place you in the proper classes.

    Explore the online placement tests >

    Events

    Celebrate French culture and experience Francophone heritage and joie de vivre in Pittsburgh.

    View upcoming events >

    Meet Our Teachers

    At the heart of Alliance Française de Pittsburgh & Western Pennsylvania is a passionate group of educators, cultural enthusiasts, and administrative professionals dedicated to sharing the beauty of the French language and Francophone culture. 

    Our French Teachers >

    Become a Member

    Become a member of Alliance Française de Pittsburgh & Western Pennsylvania for access to French language courses, discounts, cultural events, resources and more.

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