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French 2 — Instructor-Led for Independent Learners

French 2 — Instructor-Led for Independent Learners

$97

Spring 2025 registration is now open. Classes begin the week of January 13, 2025. 

14 weeks of Zoom classes and online course materials. Less than $7.00 per class! 

Accelerated beginning level French language and culture course for adult learners, taught by Carnegie Mellon University faculty for students with an intense desire to learn the language. Is French 1 or French 2 right for you?

Participants can earn a certificate of completion if they meet the requirements.

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Description

Elementary French 2 is a carefully sequenced and highly interactive presentation of French language and culture in a media-rich course environment. The latest update includes a self-paced version of the course with scored assessments for independent learners, and new video shot in France and Québec with young professional actors. 

In the instructor-led course, you will have a weekly synchronous Zoom class (60-minutes) in which you will get the opportunity to practice your French speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills with your peers. You will also receive weekly emails from your instructor with suggested pacing for moving through the lesson materials. Additionally, you will be able to email your instructor with any questions you may have about the course.

To successfully use this course, you should be a motivated adult student (aged 8 and up) with a sincere desire to learn about French language and francophone cultures, and be comfortable with computer technologies. Elementary French 2 is a great place for you if you are already comfortable speaking in the present tense, introducing yourself, describing your daily routine, and making plans. If you already have some awareness of the “passé composé”, that will help you to succeed in this course, which starts with the introduction of the “imparfait” (a French past tense). 

To receive a Certificate of Completion in this course, you will need to score at least 70% on each of the the end of lesson assessments. To be awarded a Certificate with Distinction, you will need to score at least 90% on each of the end of lesson assessments. Attending the weekly course meetings and doing the auto-graded exercises throughout each lesson will help prepare you for success on the end of lesson assessments. The time commitment will typically range from seven to nine hours a week.

Click here for information on instructor-led language courses

Additional software or materials required:

You will be required to use videoconferencing software, such as Zoom, which you will be able to use for free with the link that your instructor provides you. 

Topics covered:

This course targets communicative competence in the following domains: My Family, My Neighborhood, My Future, The Body, My Regime, Young People and Stress, Vacations, Modes of Transport, A Virtual Trip, Political Opinions, Change, Ecology, Where to Live, Questions of Identity, Languages and Life.

Each lesson opens with a video dramatization that sets the context for the lesson. Parts of the video are then replayed in a variety of interactive activities and tutors. Each video in the course was written specifically to serve as the foundation for the lesson in which it is used. These high quality videos were produced with French actors on location in France (Nantes) and Quebec (Montreal) so the speech, movements and contexts are authentic.

Lesson structure:

The beginning of each lesson is always a set sequence, from simple recognition of language in a video dialogue, through explicit learning of grammar and pronunciation, to written and spoken production of variations on that language. After this ordered beginning, a number of activities are offered to the student in which the language learned is used in understanding new texts, sounds or videos or in creative production (conversation or writing).

French 1 might be right for you if any of the following apply French 2 might be right for you if any of the following apply
You have never taken French before, and you are willing to put in around 9 hours per week to studying this course. You have taken at least one semester of college French or two years of high school French, in the recent past.
You took some French in high school or college, but it has been several years since. You remember most of the basics that you have learned in French. You’re comfortable with verbs in the present tense, avoir, être, and faire.
You would like to learn the fundamental French structures and vocabulary for greetings, personality, dates and times, age, appearance, hobbies, work, family, and food. You can introduce yourself, say your age and origin, and talk about what you like to do in French.
You may have some self-study in the form of French language learning apps, but you’re looking to formalize what you know and to learn more. You have been exposed to speaking and writing in the past in French. There is a review of passé composé and imparfait in the beginning of French 2, but it helps if you’ve already seen the passé composé.
You just moved to a French-speaking place, but do not yet feel comfortable speaking French in your surroundings. You may not have had formal study, but you have had extensive self-study with French in the form of using language learning apps and or books consistently for at least a year.
You want to travel to a French-speaking country after this course and to communicate with customer service individuals in French. You have extensive experience learning another Romance language, like Spanish or Italian, and you also know a little bit of French.
No one in your family speaks French. Your family speaks French and you can understand sometimes, but would like to feel more confident responding in French.

If you still have questions about whether to sign up for French 1 or 2, you can contact Natalie Amgott (namgott@andrew.cmu.edu).

Instructor-led course features

Instructor-Led Courses

$97per student
  • Instructor-led OLI courses enable independent learners to study a subject over a 14-week period with a weekly live class on Zoom with their instructor and peers. Courses are:

    • Taught by a Carnegie Mellon University Instructor
    • Not self-paced. There will be weekly deadlines and students will complete approximately one lesson per week.
    • Include a certificate of completion
  • Includes the learning materials and assessments, weekly live class on Zoom (60 minutes), weekly emails, and the ability to contact the instructor for questions

  • Certificate of Completion (70% or more on exams) or Certificate with Distinction (90% or more on exams) available to learners meeting the requirements

  • *If your teacher gave you a Course Key, do not use an Independent Paid course because your teacher will never see your work.

Important dates

You can enroll in French 2 — Instructor-Led for Independent Learners at any time through January 12, 2025.

  • Start date: January 13, 2025
  • End date: April, 2025

NOTE: Please visit the Zoom class schedule tab for information on your live Zoom meetings.

Zoom class schedule

Meet with your instructor and peers via Zoom:

  • Tuesdays from 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Time (ET)

Use a time zone conversion tool to convert this to your local time.

What students will learn

By the end of this course, students will learn to:

  • Identify the main ideas in a conversation and a written text
  • Use written and oral phrases to talk about the past, present, and future
  • Make cultural comparisons through writing and speaking about health, vacation, and political opinions
  • Give and receive advice about a variety of topics 

Learning objectives by module

Leçon 1: Ma famille

  • Write words and expressions: Childhood activities and memories
  • Write words and expressions: Family
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The imparfait
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The passé composé
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Adolescent life in France
  • Understand key cultural concepts: The evolution of family life in Quebec

 Leçon 2: Mon quartier

  • Write words and expressions: Directions
  • Write words and expressions: Places in the city
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Past participle agreement in the passé composé with avoir
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The imparfait
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The passé composé
  • Comprehend spoken words and expressions: A story in the passé composé and the imparfait
  • Comprehend spoken words and expressions: City life and country life

 

Leçon 3: Mon avenir

  • Write words and expressions: A business trip
  • Write words and expressions: Talking about one’s job
  • Identify correct grammatical forms: Uses of the conditional
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The conditional
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The future
  • Distinguish between spoken sounds: The conditional and the future
  • Distinguish between spoken sounds: The future
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Unemployment in France

 

Leçon 4: Le corps

  • Write words and expressions: Getting hurt, illness and injuries 
  • Write words and expressions: Mental health
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Depuis, il y a, and pendant
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Present tense conjugations of pronominal verbs
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The adverbs bien and mal in the comparative and the superlative
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The passé composé of pronominal verbs
  • Distinguish between spoken sounds: The indicative and the imperative
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Going to the doctor or hospital in France
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Health and the health care system in France

 

Leçon 5: Mon régime

  • Write words and expressions: Diet, Fitness, Exercise
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The passé composé, the imparfait, and the plus-que-parfait
  • Distinguish between spoken sounds: Pronounced final consonants
  • Distinguish between spoken sounds: Silent final consonants
  • Distinguish between spoken sounds: Tous and plus
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Sports and fitness in France
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Sports in Quebec

 

Leçon 6: Les jeunes et le stress

  • Write words and expressions: habits, influences, and stress
  • Identify correct grammatical forms: The indicative and the subjunctive
  • Identify correct grammatical forms: The infinitive and the subjunctive
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The futur proche
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The future
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The infinitive and the subjunctive
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Smoking in France

 

Leçon 7: Les vacances

  • Write words and expressions: Holidays
  • Write words and expressions: Travel activities
  • Write words and expressions: Vacation plans
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The subjunctive
  • Comprehend written words and expressions: Preparing for vacation
  • Comprehend written words and expressions: Vacation plans
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Holidays in Quebec

 

Leçon 8: Modes de transport

  • Write words and expressions: Tourist activities
  • Write words and expressions: Transportation
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Prepositions of location
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The present participle
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The subjunctive
  • Distinguish between spoken sounds: The present participle 
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Transportation in France

 

Leçon 9: Départ virtuel

  • Write words and expressions: Advantages and disadvantages of technology
  • Write words and expressions: Email
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Direct and indirect object pronouns
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Order of pronouns
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The indicative and the subjunctive
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The pronouns y and en
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Internet terminology in Quebec
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Media in France
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Technology and leisure activities in France

 

Leçon 10: Opinions politiques

  • Write words and expressions: Political opinions
  • Write words and expressions: Politics
  • Write words and expressions: The election process
  • Identify correct grammatical forms: “Si” clauses
  • Identify correct grammatical forms: Uses of the subjunctive
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The indicative and the subjunctive
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Political parties in Quebec
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Politics and political parties in France

 

Leçon 11: Où vivre?

  • Write words and expressions: French cities
  • Write words and expressions: Moving
  • Identify correct grammatical forms: Expressions that require the indicative and subjunctive
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Questions
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The imperative
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The indicative and the subjunctive
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Regions of France
  • Understand key cultural concepts: Regions of Quebec

 

Leçon 12: Questions d’identité

  • Comprehend written words and expressions: Expressing opinions
  • Write words and expressions: Identity
  • Write words and expressions: politics
  • Comprehend written words and expressions: Transition words and phrases
  • Write correct grammatical forms: Relative pronouns
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The infinitive and the subjunctive
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The interrogative adjective quel
  • Write correct grammatical forms: The interrogative pronoun lequel
  • Understand key cultural concepts: French cultural identity
  • Understand key cultural concepts: The Acadians

Course outline

Before You Begin

Information for users

 Leçon 1: Ma famille

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 2: Mon quartier

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 3: Mon avenir

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 4: Le corps

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 5: Mon régime

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 6: Les jeunes et le stress

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 7: Les vacances

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 8: Modes de transport

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 9: Départ virtuel

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 10: Opinions politiques

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 11: Le changement

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 12: L’écologie

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 13: Où vivre?

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Leçon 14: Questions d’identité

Communication 1

Mots et expressions

Structures

Sons

Communication 2

Univers culturel

Activités de synthèse

Suppléments

Other course details

Testimonials

  • “I took the instructor-led French 1 class and learned so much and was so motivated by the end of the course that I knew I had to sign up for French 2. By the end of instructor-led French 2, I am confidently an A2+ level student. Practicing speaking with my peers and having a live class built in to the course each week has helped me gain confidence and kept my interest in learning French.”
    (Anonymous, Spring 2022) 
  • “A great, fun teacher. I hope to take the class again.”
    (Vincent, Spring 2022) 

 

This course will be taught over 14 weeks. It is recommended to take the French I course first, or to have previous exposure to French that equates to at least one semester of college French. 

Summer 2023

Project Director
  • Dr. Christopher M. Jones
Co-authors
  • Christopher Jones
  • Sophie Queuniet
  • Bonnie Youngs
Contributing authors
  • Cary Campbell
  • Jennifer Lawrence
  • Brett Wells
  • Heather Allen
  • Patricia Mosele
  • Ester Hoogstaden
  • Natalie Amgott
Technical Lead
  • Marc Siskin
XML coding & proofing
  • Mat Banner
  • Lauren Balderston
  • Cary Campbell
  • Anne Jackson
  • Elena Marusak
  • Aurora Zink
Tutor programming
  • John LaPlante (CTAT)
  • Ross Strader (OLI)
  • John Kowalski
Media specialists
  • Cory Gavin
  • Young Hee (Wendy) Byun
Video production
  • Sébastien Marguet (2005)
  • Perso Clip (2006)
  • Jean-Pierre Serra, Expérience 7 Montréal (2008)
  • Anne Kmetyko (2008)
 Actor recruitment
  • Adrienne Magneau (Nantes)
  • Geneviève Chantal-Hébert (Montréal)
Actors
  • Nantes
  • Norman Barreau-Gely
  • Morgane Maisonneuve
  • Mathilde Clavier
  • Martin Buraud
  • Marie-Gabrielle Pierre
  • Ahmed Adam
  • Élodie Houngbo
  • Trésor Mangasa
  • Montréal
  • Alice Pascual
  • Vincent Fafard
  • Patrick Dupuis
  • Christian Vyboh
  • Eve Meilleur
  • Maria-Eugénia Molina
 Voice talent
  • Julien Comte
  • Anne Catherine Delmelle
  • Guillaume Pignol
  • Sophie Queuniet
  • Caroline Savalle
  • Valerie Ventura
  • Anne-Sophie Charest
 Funding credits
  • The Open Learning Initiative (Hewlett Foundation)
  • The Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center (National Science Foundation)
  • Carnegie Mellon University Department of Modern Languages
  • Ministry of External Relations of the Government of Quebec

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

System requirements

OLI system requirements, regardless of course:

  • internet access
  • an operating system that supports the latest browser update
  • the latest browser update (Chrome recommended; Firefox, Safari supported; Edge and Internet Explorer are supported but not recommended)
  • pop-ups enabled
  • cookies enabled

Some courses include exercises with exceptions to these requirements, such as technology that cannot be used on mobile devices.

This course’s system requirements:

  • Videoconferencing software

Related products

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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