French as a foreign language

Q: What level of French is needed to work in France?

For standard office roles, B1 oral and written is generally the operational minimum. For management roles or client-facing positions, B2 or even C1 is the target, especially in writing (emails, reports, specialist letters). For highly technical roles with little interaction, a consolidated A2 may be enough in the short term, but it remains a brake on internal progression.

Q: How long does it take to move from A1 to B1?

According to Council of Europe references, an average of 200 to 400 hours of training is needed to cross a full CEFR step, depending on motivation, regularity and proximity to the learner's mother tongue. A typical Linguaphone pathway taking an employee from A1 to B1 runs over six to nine months, at a pace of two to four hours per week.

Q: Are all your trainers FFL-certified?

Yes. This is a strict rule at Linguaphone: trainers delivering French as a foreign language hold a specific qualification in FFL didactics (Master FFL, DAEFLE or equivalent) and have experience teaching adult learners in professional contexts. We never put an English trainer or an untrained native speaker in front of an FFL learner.

Q: Can FFL for the employee be combined with family support?

Yes. Many of our pathways for mobile managers include a spouse component and, where needed, support for school-age children. Formats can be mixed: videoconference for the employee, individual home lessons for the spouse, ad hoc sessions for the children. The employer typically funds the employee component, while the family component is often negotiated as part of the expatriation package.

Q: Do you prepare for TEF IRN for French naturalisation?

Yes. Our Mulhouse centre is an approved exam centre for the TEF IRN, TEF Canada and the civic exam. We offer both preparation (online or on-site) and the exam itself. Preparation focuses on listening and reading comprehension, written expression, and dedicated drilling on the exam format.

Linguaphone trains non-French-speaking employees integrated into French companies, from A0 to C1, so they become operational at work and autonomous in daily life.

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WHY LINGUAPHONE

Language training built for professionals

For more than fifty years, Linguaphone has supported French companies that recruit, onboard or upskill non-French-speaking employees. Our French as a foreign language (FFL) programmes are calibrated to the learner's starting level, their role in the organisation and the operational urgency. The goal is twofold: making the person productive in their job (meetings, emails, reports, internal client relations) and autonomous in everyday life in France (housing, healthcare, schooling, administrative procedures).

Our Linguaphone Mulhouse centre is an approved exam centre for the TEF IRN (Integration, Residence, Nationality), TEF Canada, and the civic exam required for French naturalisation. FFL programmes are eligible for the main employer-funded training schemes. The fastest way to start is a call at +33 1 47 78 45 80 or via our contact form.

100%

Tailor-made

1901

Since

93%

Satisfaction

CPF

Eligible

OUR COURSES

CPF

All levels

Advanced course

Fluency and autonomy in French. CLOE certification

4 to 12 weeksIn-personIndividual

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CPF

All levels

TEF preparation

Revise and prepare. TEF certification

3 to 6 weeksRemoteIndividual

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CPF

All levels

SkillExpress

Work effectively in your professional context. CLOE certification

3 to 6 weeksRemote and/or in-personIndividual or group

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A2-B1

French for healthcare

Medical and paramedical professions. General health and specialist health

38hRemoteIndividual or group

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INCLUDED IN EVERY COURSE

Level maintenance

Keep your skills sharp with long-term access to our digital platform.

Certification prep

TOEIC, Linguaskill, Le Robert, CLOE, JOBCERT, DCL, based on your goals.

Pedagogy

The Linguaphone method for French as a foreign language

Written and oral placement test

Before any programme starts, the learner takes a written and oral placement test that situates their level precisely on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), from A0 to C1. The result is the basis for the pathway design and intermediate goals. The test is free and non-binding.

Tailored pathway led by a certified FFL trainer

Teaching French as a foreign language is not a variant of teaching English. An excellent English teacher is not automatically a good FFL teacher. It requires specific didactics, a fine-grained understanding of French grammar and language reflexes. All our FFL trainers are certified and experienced with adult learners in professional settings.

Structured grammar plus situational immersion

Each session combines structured work on grammar and pronunciation with role plays drawn from the learner's real life: team meeting, lunch in the canteen, town hall appointment, doctor's visit, parent-teacher exchange. Vocabulary and speech acts are practised in the context that actually serves the employee.

Preparation for recognised certifications

Depending on the project, we prepare learners for the most-requested certifications: DELF (A1 to B2), DALF (C1 and C2), TCF, TEF, TEF IRN for naturalisation, TEF Canada and DCL for professional value. TEF exam sessions are held in our approved Mulhouse centre.

Three formats to choose from

FFL programmes are available in-company (a trainer comes to your premises), via videoconference (flexible slots 7.30 am to 10 pm, six days a week) or as individual lessons in our Paris Bourse, Mulhouse and Dijon centres. The format can be adjusted mid-programme depending on the learner's mobility.

Diplomas & tests

Who our FFL programmes are for

Expatriate or inpatriate managers

Talent recruited from abroad

Accompanying families

Intra-group internal mobility

Candidates for French naturalisation

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What level of French is needed to work in France?

How long does it take to move from A1 to B1?

Are all your trainers FFL-certified?

Can FFL for the employee be combined with family support?

Do you prepare for TEF IRN for French naturalisation?

Need a custom program?

Our pedagogical advisors will guide you.

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French as a foreign language

Let's talk

Representative case studies

Case 1: Indian engineer recruited by an automotive supplier. A2 level on arrival in France, blended pathway of 100 hours over 6 months (videoconference plus on-site sessions). Target B2 and DELF B2. Work focused in parallel on team communication on the project floor and on mastering reporting documents.

Case 2: Brazilian executive on mobility at a French bank. Already bilingual in English, with solid passive French. Coaching focused on French meeting codes (taking the floor, polite disagreement, wrap-up), written nuance (internal emails, committee reports) and accent reduction.

Case 3: family accompanying a Chinese executive newly settled in Paris. Individual home lessons for the spouse, target everyday autonomy (school, shopping, administrative steps, healthcare). Ad hoc sessions for the two children alongside their schooling in a French school.

Funding your FFL programme

Skills development plan: the most common scheme for permanent or fixed-term employees, funded by the employer's training budget.
Branch OPCO: support varies depending on the sector and company size. Our team will guide you to the right contact.
CPF: possible if the employee already has personal training rights opened in France, which is rare for newcomers.
FNE-Formation: for companies undergoing economic or technological transformation.
Local authority support for the spouse and family component in some regions.

For a full overview, see our funding page or contact us directly.

Preparing for French naturalisation

Since 2020, obtaining French nationality by decree or by marriage requires a B1 level orally and in writing, attested by a recognised test, and passing a civic exam covering Republican values and French culture. The TEF IRN is the most widely used test. Linguaphone Mulhouse is an approved centre for both the TEF IRN and the civic exam. We offer a combined pathway covering linguistic and civic preparation, on-site in Mulhouse or remotely.