Short course
French: Lower Intermediate Conversation
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
14/04/2027 - 16/06/202719:00 - 21:00
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£315.00
Join us to take your French conversational skills to the next level.
This course focuses on enhancing listening comprehension and speaking skills as well as accuracy and fluency, to improve your conversational proficiency across various everyday situations.
Through multimedia resources, activities, engaging discussions, and feedback, you'll refine your grammar, expand your vocabulary and gain more confidence in initiating and maintaining a conversation.
Participants will practice communication skills in simple personal, recreational and public settings.
Is this the right level course for you?
To benefit from the course, participants should have done one of the following:
- Completed our French Lower Intermediate level courses (Part 1 and Part 2); or
- Studied French for approximately two years or achieved a GCSE (Grade A/A*); or
- Achieved or are near A2 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages in French.
New students, who have not completed 'Part 1' and 'Part 2', whose proficiency in the language is appropriate for the course level are very welcome.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts 14 April 2027
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Wednesdays, 7.00-9.00pm.
The weekly schedule below is intended to give an indication of the main topic(s) likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change according to the tutor’s discretion to reflect the interests of course participants.
Week 1: Introducing oneself and giving personal information. Talking about hobbies and tastes.
Week 2: Recounting past events and experiences.
Week 3: Inviting, accepting or politely refusing an invitation. Talking about cultural outings.
Week 4: Enquiring about a holiday destination, discussing holiday options and justifying one’s choice.
Week 5: Identifying different types of accommodation and presenting one’s home.
Week 6: Discussing fitness and health. Understanding and giving advice.
Week 7: Discussing food, asking for clarifications on menu items and giving opinions.
Week 8: Describing people and character traits.
Week 9: Talking about the press and the media and expressing one’s preference.
Week 10: Discussing the future, innovations and new technologies.
Key grammar points
– Verbs in the present and past tense
– Complex negative forms
– Time indicators: depuis, il y a, pendant
– Relative pronouns: qui, que, où
– Comparatives and superlatives
– The future tense
Key functions
– Talking about favourite activities and interests
– Narrating past events
– Enquiring and asking simple questions
– Expressing one’s opinions
– Giving advice simply
– Making a positive or negative appreciation
Course aims
Enhance learners’ conversational skills in everyday situations to communicate ideas and engage in conversations with confidence.
Course objectives
- Enhance learners’ ability to understand spoken language in varied everyday situations.
- Encourage learners to use varied and practical vocabulary and grammar structures to express themselves in simple everyday conversations.
- Improve pronunciation and intonation for clear and accurate communication.
- Explore the use of appropriate language in everyday social settings (e.g. formal/informal) and etiquette.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be better prepared to:
- understand short, clear speech on everyday topics and respond appropriately.
- engage in simple conversations on familiar topics, such as personal information, daily routines, work and leisure activities.
Level and demands
This course is pitched at A2 Level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Find out more about our language levels.
Teaching methods
You will learn through practical activities that encourage the use of the target language. Sessions typically integrate meaningful scenarios, pair and small‑group work, and collaborative problem‑solving in a supportive and friendly environment. These tasks bring together speaking, listening, reading, and writing, enabling you to apply the language purposefully in real‑world situations.
The course is designed to build your spoken and listening abilities while deepening your understanding of cultural nuances, etiquette, and everyday usage. We will work with new grammatical structures through meaningful, communicative tasks, and you will continue developing your reading and writing skills both in class and independently through self‑study.
Assessment methods
Formative assessment will be integrated into a range of classroom activities, including guided role‑plays, scenario-based pair and group work, and progressively less structured conversations and tasks. Learners will be encouraged to participate in these activities, using the target language to respond to realistic situations, and will benefit from ongoing tutor feedback to support development.
Xaviere Hassan
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £315.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Textbooks
No textbook required. All course materials will be provided by the course tutor.
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Course Reading
- Thiévenaz Odile Grammaire progressive du français, niveau intermédiaire (A2/B1), 4ème édition / Franco, Elisabeth; Grégoire Maïa; Kostucki Alina; Thiévenaz Odile
- Collins French/English Online Dictionary / Online resource
Module code: O26P561XFW
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.