Alberta · CEFR A1–C2
French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2)
Alberta’s CEFR A1–C2 French course, from A1 — Breakthrough (Beginner) to C2 — Mastery (Proficient).
- Units
- 6
- Lessons
- 6
- Skills
- 30
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Council of Europe
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 5 skills
A1 — Breakthrough (Beginner)
A1 — First Contact in French
A1 — Listening
I can recognize familiar French words and very basic phrases about myself and my family when people speak slowly and clearly.
Skill 1.1
A1 — Reading
I can understand familiar names, words, and very simple French sentences on signs, posters, and menus.
Skill 1.2
A1 — Spoken Interaction
I can take part in a simple French exchange — greeting someone, asking and answering easy questions — when the other person speaks slowly and helps me.
Skill 1.3
A1 — Spoken Production
I can use simple French phrases to describe where I live and the people I know.
Skill 1.4
A1 — Writing
I can fill in a simple form in French and write a short, simple postcard.
Skill 1.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 1.1
- I can recognise familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself, my family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.
- 1.2
- I can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues.
- 1.3
- I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help me formulate what I'm trying to say.
- 1.4
- I can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where I live and people I know.
- 1.5
- I can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings.
Key ideas
A small set of high-frequency words carries most beginner conversations: bonjour (hello), merci (thank you), oui/non (yes/no), je (I), ma famille (my family).
French sounds differ from its spelling — final letters are often silent (salut ≈ sa-LU). Listen for the SOUND shape, not the letters.
Public French is everywhere in Canada and predictable: sortie (exit), ouvert/fermé (open/closed), école (school), rue (street).
Many French words are near-twins of English (cognates): restaurant, hôpital, télévision — free vocabulary.
The starter exchange: — Bonjour ! Comment tu t'appelles ? — Je m'appelle … Et toi ? (What's your name? / My name is… And you?)
Watch out for
- Trying to translate every word instead of catching the familiar ones (bonjour, merci) and using them as anchors.
- Expecting French words to sound the way they are spelled in English (beaucoup is boh-KOO, not "bo-cup").
- Assuming an unknown word blocks the whole sign — cognates + context usually give the meaning.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 5 skills
A2 — Waystage (Elementary)
A2 — Everyday French
A2 — Listening
I can understand common French about family, shopping, and daily life, and catch the point of short, clear messages.
Skill 2.1
A2 — Reading
I can find the information I need in everyday French texts like ads, menus, and schedules.
Skill 2.2
A2 — Spoken Interaction
I can handle simple, routine French exchanges — shopping, ordering, making simple plans.
Skill 2.3
A2 — Spoken Production
I can describe my family, my home, and my studies or work in simple French sentences.
Skill 2.4
A2 — Writing
I can write short French notes and messages, and a simple personal letter like a thank-you.
Skill 2.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 2.1
- I can understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment).
- 2.2
- I can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables
- 2.3
- I can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities.
- 2.4
- I can use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms my family and other people, living conditions, my educational background and my present or most recent job.
- 2.5
- I can write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate needs.
Key ideas
Everyday domains have core sets: family (mère, père, frère, sœur), shopping (combien ? — how much; euros/dollars), time (à trois heures — at 3 o'clock).
In short announcements, listen for the two anchors: the WHAT and the NUMBER (price, time, platform).
You scan everyday texts for specifics — price, time, day — you don't read every word.
Schedule and ad vocabulary repeats: horaires (schedule), tous les jours (every day), sauf (except), gratuit (free).
The polite transaction skeleton: Je voudrais… (I would like…) + s'il vous plaît + merci.
Watch out for
- Panicking at unknown words instead of anchoring on the number words and familiar nouns.
- Forgetting France/Québec use the 24-hour clock — quinze heures is 3 p.m., not "fifteen o'clock".
- Reading linearly word-by-word when the task is to SCAN for one detail.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 5 skills
B1 — Threshold (Intermediate)
B1 — Getting By on Your Own
B1 — Listening
I can understand the main points of clear standard French about work, school, and free time.
Skill 3.1
B1 — Reading
I can understand everyday French texts and the feelings and events in personal letters.
Skill 3.2
B1 — Spoken Interaction
I can handle most situations that come up while travelling in French, and join conversations on familiar topics without preparing.
Skill 3.3
B1 — Spoken Production
I can tell a story in French — experiences, dreams, and plans — and briefly explain my reasons.
Skill 3.4
B1 — Writing
I can write connected French text on familiar topics, and personal letters that share experiences and impressions.
Skill 3.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 3.1
- I can understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc.
- 3.2
- I can understand texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or job-related language.
- 3.3
- I can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken.
- 3.4
- I can connect phrases in a simple way in order to describe experiences and events, my dreams, hopes and ambitions.
- 3.5
- I can write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
Key ideas
Main-point listening: identify the topic + what is said ABOUT it; details can stay fuzzy.
Discourse signposts mark the road: d'abord (first), ensuite (then), donc (so), par contre (on the other hand).
Personal letters/emails narrate in two tenses: passé composé for events (je suis allée = I went), imparfait for background and feelings (c'était magnifique = it was magnificent).
Feeling vocabulary flags the writer's state: content(e), déçu(e) (disappointed), fier/fière (proud).
The travel-problem toolkit: J'ai perdu… (I lost…), Il n'y a plus de… (there's no more…), Est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider ? (can you help me?), Qu'est-ce que vous me conseillez ? (what do you recommend?).
Watch out for
- Chasing every word and losing the thread — B1 listening is main-points-first.
- Ignoring the signposts (donc, par contre) that literally announce the structure.
- Reading past-tense forms as present because the little helper words (suis, ai) look familiar.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 5 skills
B2 — Vantage (Upper Intermediate)
B2 — Fluency & Detail
B2 — Listening
I can follow extended French speech and complex lines of argument on reasonably familiar topics, including news and films.
Skill 4.1
B2 — Reading
I can read French articles and reports where writers take positions, and follow contemporary literary prose.
Skill 4.2
B2 — Spoken Interaction
I can hold my own in fluent French conversation with native speakers and take an active part in discussion.
Skill 4.3
B2 — Spoken Production
I can present a clear, detailed viewpoint in French, explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different options.
Skill 4.4
B2 — Writing
I can write clear, detailed French text and a structured essay arguing for or against a position.
Skill 4.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 4.1
- I can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar.
- 4.2
- I can read articles and reports concerned with contemporary problems in which the writers adopt particular attitudes or viewpoints.
- 4.3
- I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible.
- 4.4
- I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest.
- 4.5
- I can write clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects related to my interests.
Key ideas
Argument-tracking: speakers stack claims with cependant (however), en revanche (on the other hand), c'est pourquoi (that's why) — catch these and you hold the thread.
Authentic speech compresses: je ne sais pas → "chais pas". Expect reductions; anchor on stressed content words.
Stance-spotting: writers signal position through loaded word choice and concession structures (certes… mais — admittedly… but).
Literary prose layers meaning — narration, irony, imagery; read for what the text DOES, not just what it says.
Discussion moves: Je suis d'accord, mais… (I agree, but…), Justement ! (exactly!), Attends, je n'ai pas fini (wait, I haven't finished) — the tools of holding the floor.
Watch out for
- Losing the argument when the speaker concedes a point — cependant signals the pivot, not a contradiction.
- Treating fast informal French as "wrong" French — reductions are the normal spoken register.
- Taking the concession (certes…) as the author's position — the real stance follows the mais.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 5 · 5 skills
C1 — Effective Operational Proficiency (Advanced)
C1 — Flexible & Precise
C1 — Listening
I can understand extended French even when it is loosely structured and the meaning is implied rather than stated.
Skill 5.1
C1 — Reading
I can read long, complex French texts — factual and literary — and appreciate differences of style.
Skill 5.2
C1 — Spoken Interaction
I can express myself fluently and spontaneously in French, using the language flexibly for social and professional purposes.
Skill 5.3
C1 — Spoken Production
I can present complex subjects clearly in French, integrating sub-themes and closing with an appropriate conclusion.
Skill 5.4
C1 — Writing
I can write clear, well-structured French on complex subjects, highlighting what matters most, in a style suited to my reader.
Skill 5.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 5.1
- I can understand extended speech even when it is not clearly structured and when relationships are only implied and not signalled explicitly.
- 5.2
- I can understand long and complex factual and literary texts, appreciating distinctions of style.
- 5.3
- I can express myself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.
- 5.4
- I can present clear, detailed descriptions of complex subjects integrating sub-themes, developing particular points and rounding off with an appropriate conclusion.
- 5.5
- I can write about complex subjects in a letter, an essay or a report, underlining what I consider to be the salient issues.
Key ideas
Implied meaning rides on tone and framing: "C'est une idée… intéressante" with a pause often means the opposite of enthusiasm.
Unstructured speech (interviews, overheard debate) demands active reconstruction — track WHO believes WHAT even when nobody announces it.
Style IS meaning: the same fact in administrative, journalistic, and literary registers carries different intent — C1 readers name the register and what it's doing.
Long-text stamina comes from macro-mapping: track the architecture (thesis, movements, return) rather than holding every sentence.
Register-switching on demand: tu/salut/génial with friends ↔ vous/je vous prie/tout à fait in professional settings — same content, recalibrated.
Watch out for
- Taking every polite formula at face value — French politeness routinely encodes reservation.
- Expecting structure signposts everywhere — at C1 you supply the structure yourself.
- Treating style as decoration on top of content instead of part of the message.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 6 · 5 skills
C2 — Mastery (Proficient)
C2 — Toward Mastery
C2 — Listening
I can understand any spoken French — live or broadcast — even at fast native speed, once I adjust to the accent.
Skill 6.1
C2 — Reading
I can read virtually any written French with ease — including abstract, structurally complex, and literary texts.
Skill 6.2
C2 — Spoken Interaction
I can take part effortlessly in any French conversation, using idioms naturally and conveying fine shades of meaning — repairing so smoothly nobody notices.
Skill 6.3
C2 — Spoken Production
I can deliver a smooth, logically structured French description or argument in a style matched to the context.
Skill 6.4
C2 — Writing
I can write polished, smoothly-flowing French in any style — complex letters, reports, articles, summaries, and reviews.
Skill 6.5
The official wording · 5 outcomes
- 6.1
- I have no difficulty in understanding any kind of spoken language, whether live or broadcast, even when delivered at fast native speed, provided I have some time to get familiar with the accent.
- 6.2
- I can read with ease virtually all forms of the written language, including abstract, structurally or linguistically complex texts such as manuals, specialised articles and literary works.
- 6.3
- I can take part effortlessly in any conversation or discussion and have a good familiarity with idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms.
- 6.4
- I can present a clear, smoothly-flowing description or argument in a style appropriate to the context and with an effective logical structure which helps the recipient to notice and remember significant points.
- 6.5
- I can write clear, smoothly-flowing text in an appropriate style.
Key ideas
Accent-adaptation is systematic: québécois, meridional, Belgian, African varieties shift vowels and rhythm predictably — calibrate in the first seconds, then comprehension is total.
At native speed, meaning rides on prosody: stress and intonation mark information structure faster than syntax does.
Complex prose unpacks through its syntax: long French periods hang on a main clause — find it, and the subordinates fall into place.
Abstract and literary registers reward cultural resonance: allusions, intertexts, and irony are part of the meaning.
Idioms are precision tools, not decoration: avoir le cafard (feeling down), passer du coq à l'âne (jumping topics), tomber à pic (perfect timing) — each earns its exact moment.
Watch out for
- Treating unfamiliar accents as "harder French" rather than a brief calibration task.
- Trying to speed up parsing instead of letting prosody carry the information structure.
- Blaming vocabulary when the real obstacle is syntactic architecture.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Alberta’s own curriculum for French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2).
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2) one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2) organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 33
- Fillable fields
- 1,499
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2)
What is French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2)?
Alberta’s CEFR A1–C2 French course: 6 units and 30 skills, from A1 — Breakthrough (Beginner) to C2 — Mastery (Proficient).
What units are in French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2)?
1. A1 — Breakthrough (Beginner), 2. A2 — Waystage (Elementary), 3. B1 — Threshold (Intermediate), 4. B2 — Vantage (Upper Intermediate), 5. C1 — Effective Operational Proficiency (Advanced) and 6. C2 — Mastery (Proficient).
Is there a provincial exam for French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2)?
No. Alberta gives no provincial exam for French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2).
Can MapleMind help with French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2)?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of French as a Second Language (CEFR A1–C2), step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
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