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