← All levels
A0
Le premier bonjour
Complete beginner
Starting from zero: your very first words, introducing yourself, greetings, asking a simple question. You leave able to say hello, spell your name and count — your very first sentences in French.
What the European framework says
- The European framework does not define an A0 level: its companion volume (2020) describes a "pre-A1" level, before A1.
- You understand and use a few isolated words and phrases: saying hello, thank you, yes or no.
- You can give very simple information about yourself (name, age, nationality), with gestures and a little help.
Source: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), Council of Europe
Possible lessons
10 lessonsWe don't work through a textbook page by page: together we choose the lessons that are useful to you, in the order that suits you. Open a lesson to see what we work on.
Your very first exchanges
Saying hello and goodbyeYou can greet someone, ask how they are and say goodbye.
- Grammar
- tu or vous; comment ça va ? / comment allez-vous ?
- Vocabulary
- the 10 very first words (bonjour, au revoir, merci, s'il vous plaît, oui, non, je m'appelle, excusez-moi, je ne comprends pas, comment ça va ?)
- Pronunciation
- the [ɔ̃] sound in bonjour and bonsoir
- Activity
- greeting a neighbour, a shopkeeper, a friend; choosing tu or vous
Saying and spelling your nameYou can say what your name is and spell it.
- Grammar
- subject pronouns; je m'appelle, tu t'appelles, vous vous appelez
- Vocabulary
- the alphabet, first names, names of towns
- Pronunciation
- the alphabet and accents (é, è, ê, ç)
- Activity
- first-meeting role play; spelling names and towns
Understanding and making yourself understoodYou can say that you don't understand and ask someone to repeat.
- Grammar
- simple negation (je ne comprends pas); pouvez-vous… ?
- Vocabulary
- survival phrases (répéter, plus lentement, comment dit-on… en français ?)
- Pronunciation
- the rising intonation of questions
- Activity
- mini-dialogues asking someone to repeat or spell
Counting and saying your ageYou can count up to 69 and say your age.
- Grammar
- avoir + age (j'ai 30 ans); quel âge avez-vous ?
- Vocabulary
- numbers from 0 to 69
- Pronunciation
- six, dix, huit, said alone or before a noun
- Activity
- number games; guessing the age of well-known people
Saying where you are from and which languages you speakYou can give your nationality, your town and the languages you speak.
- Grammar
- être in the present; parler in the present; the feminine of nationalities
- Vocabulary
- countries, nationalities, languages
- Pronunciation
- silent or pronounced final consonants (français / française)
- Activity
- introducing yourself in three sentences; introducing a classmate
Talking about yourself and getting by
Saying what you do for a livingYou can say what your job is and ask someone about theirs.
- Grammar
- être + job without an article (je suis médecin); the feminine of jobs; qu'est-ce que vous faites ?
- Vocabulary
- common jobs
- Pronunciation
- masculine and feminine you can hear (vendeur / vendeuse)
- Activity
- a conversation at an art opening; guessing a job
Saying where you are and what you haveYou can say where you are, what you have and what you like, in short sentences.
- Grammar
- être and avoir in the present; un, une, le, la; elision (j'ai, l'art)
- Vocabulary
- the café, the town, monuments
- Pronunciation
- the letter C, pronounced [k] or [s]
- Activity
- reading a short text, multiple-choice questions, dictation
Numbers up to 100, phone numbers and pricesYou can give your phone number and understand a price.
- Grammar
- il y a; combien ?; c'est combien ?
- Vocabulary
- numbers from 70 to 100 (soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, quatre-vingt-dix), the euro
- Pronunciation
- liaisons with numbers (deux euros, trois euros)
- Activity
- phone number dictation; reading price tags
Ordering a coffeeYou can order a drink politely and pay.
- Grammar
- je voudrais; un, une + drink; s'il vous plaît
- Vocabulary
- drinks, the bill
- Pronunciation
- the [y] and [u] sounds (un jus, un chocolat chaud, vous)
- Activity
- role play at a café counter
Review: my first conversationYou can hold a first conversation lasting a few minutes.
- Grammar
- review of être, avoir, s'appeler and parler
- Vocabulary
- review of the level's topics
- Pronunciation
- review
- Activity
- guided conversation: greeting, introducing yourself, ordering, saying goodbye
By the end of the level, you can
- Greet people, introduce yourself and say goodbye
- Spell your name and give your age, nationality and job
- Count up to 100 and give a phone number
- Say that you don't understand and ask someone to repeat
- Order a coffee and pay