French Classes For Adults
The Alliance Française offers French classes year-round in four 10-week seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Each season is
broken into two 5-week modules. Classes are offered for the full spectrum of the CECR learning levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1. The
CECR levels represent standardized measures of linguistic capability that are recognized world-wide. CECR stands for Cadre européen
commun de référence.
Find your level here.
New this summer: Mini Classes
Mini classes are a perfect opportunity to keep studying French without a long commitment. Each class targets a specific area or theme. Check out summer schedule on Current Term page.
Mini classes are offered in a series of 4-weeks, 1h30 hours per session:
Series 1: June 13 - July 9
Series 2: July 11 - August 6
Series 3: August 8 - September 3
Year-Round Classes: Core
Duration: Each class takes one season of 10 weeks, with 20 hours class-time. You may choose to register for 5 weeks at a time.
Pace: Choose from Regular Pace and complete one CECR level in 18 months, or select the Accelerated Pace to complete one level in 9
months.
Core class progression

- A0 - Introduction to French prepares students for immersion in the 101 class. No textbook needed. 5-week class.
- A1 - Beginner core classes bring the student to level A1, moving sequentially from 101 to 106 and must be taken in sequence. Available as Regular or Accelerated classes. Requires the Édito A1 textbook for the normal or the accelerated pace and the Grammaire Progressive text additionally for the regular pace.
- A2 - Lower Intermediate core classes take the student to A2 level, from 201 through 206 and must be taken in sequence. Requires the Édito A2 textbook. Available as Regular or Accelerated classes.
- A2 to B1 Bridge: This 5-week transition class facilitates the move from the A2 to B1 levels with an in-depth review of communication and grammatical skills achieved in A2. No textbook needed. 5-week class.
- B1 - Intermediate core classes move from 301 to 312. Requires the Édito B1 textbook. Units in the text are stand-alone, and classes do not need to be taken sequentially.
- B2 - Lower advanced core classes move from 401 to 406. Requires the Édito B2 textbook. Units in the text are stand-alone, and classes do not need to be taken sequentially.
- C1 - Advanced core classes take the student to C1 level, with 501 through 506. Requires the Défi 5 textbook.
Year-Round Classes: Specialty
Specialty classes focus one specific skill, such as grammar. Starting at the beginner level, they continue through C1. Classes meet weekly for 2 hours. Materials may be provided by the teacher or a textbook may be used. Offerings include such classes as Essential Everyday French, Grammar, Business French, and French for Travelers. Consult the current season's class list in the course selector at the bottom of the page.
Year-Round Classes: Cultural
Cultural Classes start at the A1/A2 beginner level and continue through C1 and offer an opportunity to engage with French culture, including literature, history, and the arts. Cultural classes are taught two hours a week for either 10 or 5 weeks. Most classes are taught by teacher specializing in the particular cultural area. Consult the current season's class list in the course selector at the bottom of the page.
Annual Short Programs
• Kick-start: An intensive series of in-depth review and practice
sessions over four days, with 2.5 hours of class each day. The material is provided by the teacher and covers topics from the prior
core classes, often presented with a seasonal theme.
Offered for A1, A2, and B1 level students.
• Try Something New Week (TSNW): An exclusive week of workshops in December, these two hour classes cover an extensive and inventive range of predominently cultural subjects. Workshops are offered for A1 through C1 level students.
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Testimonials
Honestly, I can’t think of anything that could make AF de Portland better! Please continue your on-line classes as I live in San Diego, and all AF locations are NOT created equal. AF de Portland is a shining star 🌟 !!
attending a variety of classes.
My teacher is as close to perfect as I can imagine. She's professional, extremely helpful, tries to help us by talking about ways to study, and she provides additional information so that we can review and practice during the week between classes.
I feel like I’ve learned so much in just one quarter. That’s because my teacher is SO good. She makes it fun while also challenging!
Specialty Class
View adult classes for the current term in the Course Selector below. Select by Level to view all classes in that
level. Select Type of class to see all Core or Specialty & Cultural Classes. Select by Pace to
find Accelerated or Normal classes.
Click on the gray box with the day and time to register.
This website was published January 17, 2022. All students will need to login with a new password before registering.
Checkout or order again for another student.
Unsure of your level? Click here to take a free placement test.
Introduction to French
Pace: Regular
101-102 Accelerated
Pace: Accelerated
101
Pace: Regular
103-104 Accelerated
Pace: Accelerated
103
Pace: Regular
104
Pace: Regular
105-106 Accelerated
Pace: Accelerated
105
Pace: Regular
106
Pace: Regular
A1 to A2 Bridge
Pace: Regular
Beginning 102
Pace: Regular
Essential Everyday French For True Beginners A1
Pace: Regular
Kick-Start French - Beginner - A1
Review and grow your basic reading, listening, and speaking skills in this intensive 4-day course.
Over the course of four 2.5-hour class sessions, students will review present and futur proche verb tenses and
conjugations, negations, how to ask questions, adjectives and agreement, interrogative and declarative intonation, basic liaison, and the
pronunciation of the French /R/.
Prerequisites: 103 or equivalent.
Learning with Dictée
Pace: Regular
Mastering Verbs
This four week class will review different verbs and tenses every week through drills and conversation while incorporating and revisiting vocabulary typically learned in the A1 series. Prerequisites: Edito 104 or equiv. This is a repeat of Series 1 in June.
Pace: Regular
Sounding French - Led In English
Pace: Regular
Sounding French
Pace: Regular
A1 to A2 Bridge
Pace: Regular
Essential Everyday French A1/A2
Pace: Regular
French for Travelers A1/A2
Pace: Regular
201-202 Accelerated
Pace: Accelerated
201
Pace: Regular
202
Pace: Regular
203-204 Accelerated
Pace: Accelerated
203
Pace: Regular
204
Pace: Regular
205-206 Accelerated
Pace: Accelerated
206
Pace: Regular
Kick-Start French - Lower Intermediate - A2
Review past and future tenses, giving commands and making suggestions, comparative and superlative structures, pronouns (relative, direct, indirect, and interrogative), and making your intonation sound more natural.
Prerequisites: 205 or equivalent.
Mastering Verbs
This four week workshop will review the formation and use of different verb tenses each week through drills and conversation in addition to incorporating and recycling vocabulary typically learned in the A2 series. This is a repeat of Series 1 in June.
Pace: Regular
A2 to B1 Bridge
Pace: Regular
Learning with Dictée
Pace: Regular
Sounding French
Pace: Regular
301
Pace: Regular
302
Pace: Regular
303
Pace: Regular
DELF B1
Pace: Regular
Essential Everyday French Intermediate
Pace: Regular
Essential Vocabulary
Pace: Regular
Kick-Start French - Lower Intermediate - B1
Prerequisites: CECR B1
Mastering Verbs
This four week workshop will review different verb tenses and moods through drills and conversation while incorporating and recycling vocabulary typically learned in the B1 series. Prerequisites: CECR B1. This is a repeat of Series 1 in June.
Pace: Regular
Defining Moments in Art B1/B2
Pace: Regular
DELF B2
Pace: Regular
Grammar in Context
Pace: Regular
Littérature - David Foenkinos
Antoine Duris est professeur aux Beaux-Arts de Lyon. Du jour au lendemain, il decide de tout quitter pour devenir gardien de salle au musee d'Orsay. Personne ne comprend cette surprenante reconversion de la part d'un spécialiste de Modigliani. Qu'a-t-il vecu pour fuir ainsi ? Mathilde, la directrice (DRH) du musée, est décidée à percer son secret. |
Pace: Regular
Littérature Française B1/B2
Pace: Regular
Women in 17th-century French literature and society: Les salonnières et la préciosité
Pace: Regular
401
Pace: Accelerated
402
Pace: Accelerated
Conversation and Grammar
Pace: Regular
Essential Everyday French B2/C1
Pace: Regular
Régions de France
Pace: Regular
Sounding French
Pace: Regular
502
Pace: Regular