If you are an absolute beginner, you can register for the A1.1 class. If you already know or speak some French, even if the last time was many years ago in high school, make sure to take your free placement test. You can learn more about our levels and how long it takes to learn French here.
Our policies have changed! Make sure to read them before you register.
For online learning: In the event of power and/or internet outages, here are some general tips:
– If you experience a power outage or a Zoom interruption at your home, please contact the Education Dept. via email: adultprograms@frenchlibrary.org or at (617) 912-0400. You might also want to be in touch with the teacher directly, to make arrangements to review any missed material.
– If a teacher loses connection during a class, please stay in your virtual classroom for a few minutes while the teacher logs back in. If your teacher is unable to make it back quickly, please check your e-mail for further instructions from your teacher or a member of the education team.
Find Your Class
B1+/ B2 | Thinkers, Words, and Acts: The Birth of Democracy (France–USA)
How did ideas spark revolutions—and how did those revolutions transform the world? This course traces the rise of democracy through the dynamic exchange between France and the United States in the 18th century. Exploring Enlightenment philosophy, revolutionary texts, and key historical events, we will see how ideals like liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty moved from theory into action. By comparing both sides of the Atlantic, students will discover how powerful ideas shaped enduring democratic systems.
C1-2 | Proficient French 2 SLOW Part 1
In this class, you will learn how to make intercultural comparisons, analyze a provocative article, and analyze classic theater. Culturally, you will explore new technologies, family, education, and life expectancy.
A1-1 short track | Beginner French 1
Join us for our 7-week online “Short Track” option our A1-1 course! With the same 3 hours of instruction per week as our standard-length class, this program is perfect for students who cannot make the financial or time commitment of 10 weeks of intensive learning. But just because you’re short on time, doesn’t mean you can’t live life to the fullest! By the end of our A1 Short Track program, students will feel just as confident moving into A2 as their standard language class cohort! Two things to know before registering: 1. This short track program requires that you spend time outside of time class to work on homework and 2. you cannot transfer from/to short track to/from regular track.
A1-2 | Beginner French 2
Give an opinion on an outfit, analyze a weather app, talk about the weather, ask for and give your clothing and shoe size, ask for the price, describe an object—all in French!
A1-1 | Beginner French 1
Are you ready to kick-start your French education? Learn to Ask for and give directions, understand an itinerary, get around using public transportation, and much more! This class is for students with limited prior experience in French.
A1-4 | Beginner French 4 | In Person
Are you ready to kick-start your French education? Learn to understand an exchange program, describe positive experiences, express purpose, describe a professional goal, indicate a wish or desire, talk about an ability or skill, understand professional tasks. and much more!
A1-3 | Beginner French 3 | In Person
Are you ready to kick-start your French education? Learn how to look for an apartment, understand a room inspection, learn about lodging regulations, draft a set of rules for shared living, and much more!
A2-2 | Advanced Beginner French 2 | In Person
Do you want to discuss jobs of the future, describe the future, highlight the utility of an object, express intent or remind someone of something? Do you want to do all of that in French? You can! Plus you'll improve your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation skills at the same time.
A2-1 short track | Advanced Beginner French 1
Just because you’re short on time, doesn’t mean you can’t live life to the fullest! By the end of our A2 Short Track program, students will feel just as confident moving into B1 as their standard language class cohort!
A2-1 | Advanced Beginner French 1 - Slow-Paced - Part 1 | In Person
Do you like to take your time learning? Not a problem! This class will cover the first half of our A2-1 class over 10 weeks.
A2-4 | Advanced Beginner French 4
This class will give you the skills to understand a tourist brochure, reserve a stay somewhere, research a destination online, express your indifference towards a situation and more!
B1 | Intermediate Conversation
Master the art of conversation while perfecting the finer points of your grammar through the fun and varied speaking activities in this course!
B2 | Advanced Conversation | In Person
Vous maîtrisez le français et vous avez envie de participer à des conversations amusantes, réelles et intellectuellement stimulantes ? Ce cours est fait pour vous ! Chaque leçon est conçue sur mesure en fonction de thèmes qui reflètent vos propres intérêts, en utilisant divers médias et activités interactives et ludiques. Vous gagnerez en confiance, améliorerez votre compréhension orale et écrite, élargirez votre vocabulaire et perfectionnerez votre grammaire en contexte, grâce aux retours personnalisés d'un enseignant natif francophone expérimenté.
B2 | Paris-Boston: la révolution américaine vue de France | In Person
Ce cours vous invite à explorer les liens profonds et durables entre la France et les États-Unis, depuis les Lumières jusqu’à nos jours. En retraçant les pas de figures révolutionnaires comme Lafayette, vous découvrirez comment ces deux villes ont inspiré et influencé les grands mouvements sociaux et politiques de leur temps. À travers des textes, des documents historiques, des cartes et des récits de voyage, développez votre maîtrise du français tout en voyageant dans le temps… et dans l’amitié franco-américaine.
B1 | French Idioms | In Person
Have fun with Florie or Emilie as you dive into French idioms the way they’re really used—naturally and in context. Through lively conversations, anecdotes, and real-life examples, you’ll explore French culture, traditions, and ways of thinking, all through the lens of language. It’s an immersive, enjoyable way to build your vocabulary while gaining deeper insight into what makes French culture unique.
B1-1 | Intermediate French 1 | In Person
Identify criteria for something, be cautious or aware of something, express your wishes and intentions, ask politely for something, talk over the phone, give advice, outline a hypothetical situation, describe a memory, a place, a visit to a foreign city and more!
B1-1| Intermediate French 1 SLOW PACE Part 1 | In Person
Identify criteria for something, be cautious or aware of something, express your wishes and intentions, ask politely for something, talk over the phone, give advice, outline a hypothetical situation, describe a memory, a place, a visit to a foreign city and more!
B2 / B2+ | Literature: La Symphonie Pastorale
You don't have to be at the proficient level to enjoy reading in French! Develop speaking and comprehension while reading and analyzing simple literary works from a wide variety of genres. For this edition, discover La Symphonie Pastorale.
B2 | Literature: Easy Reading - Madame Bovary | In person
You don't have to be at the proficient level to enjoy reading in French! Develop speaking and comprehension while reading and analyzing simple literary works from a wide variety of genres. For this edition, discover Madame Bovary.
B1+ | Parisian Art de Vivre | In Person
Découvrir Paris à travers ses traditions, sa gastronomie, sa mode et ses lieux culturels emblématiques, tout en développant la compétence de communication en français.
B1+ | Lunch Break | In Person
Come join us for this casual conversation class! Learn French in a relaxed environment during your lunch break. Sharpen your skills and discuss everything from daily activities to social issues. No homework and no required textbook.
B1 | Coquillages et crustacés: un été le long des côtes françaises | In Person
With Léa as your guide, set off on a summer journey along the French coast, where iconic seaside landscapes meet local traditions and rich coastal stories. From the sun-drenched charm of Saint-Tropez and the legacy of Brigitte Bardot to the striking cliffs of Étretat, this course explores the diversity of France’s shores. Through authentic materials, you will develop your French while discovering the culture, flavors, and heritage that define the coastline.
B1+/B2 | French Souls. Langue, culture et émotions françaises
Ce cours propose d’explorer l’expression des émotions, des pensées et des mouvements intérieurs en français à travers plusieurs chefs‑d’œuvre littéraires. En étudiant la conscience, la mémoire, le désir ou la nostalgie, nous verrons comment de grands écrivains ont révélé à la fois les limites et les richesses de la langue française pour représenter l’intériorité, tout en façonnant une certaine idée de “l’âme française”.
A2+ / B1 | Paris's Greatest Museums | In Person
Embark on an in-depth historical and artistic tour of some of Paris's iconic museums. Visit the collections, get great insights and the tools to understand and talk about art!
B2+ | Chroniques judiciaires: le français à travers les grandes affaires | In Person
Avec Léa, plongez dans l’univers fascinant des grandes affaires judiciaires qui ont marqué la société française contemporaine. À travers des enquêtes médiatisées, des débats publics et des controverses majeures, ce cours propose une immersion dans le français tel qu’il est utilisé dans les sphères du droit, des médias et de l’opinion publique.
B1+/ B2 | Paris Monumental | In Person
With Léa as your guide, gain a fresh perspective on Paris, from exclusive behind-the-scenes access to its world-renowned landmarks to the discovery of lesser-known treasures across the capital. This course invites you to explore the city through both its iconic monuments and its unexpected architectural highlights, while developing your linguistic and cultural understanding. It also sheds light on the historical, political, and symbolic significance of Paris’s rich architectural heritage.
A2+ | A la découverte de… la Savoie
This class offers an exploration of the Savoie region, located in the heart of the French Alps. Through its history, landscapes, and traditions, you will discover a territory shaped by its mountain heritage and rich cultural identity. The course will also cover Savoyard cuisine, mountain-related activities, and the region’s evolution between tradition and modernity.
A1+ | Prononciation en Action! | In Person
Master French sounds with flair! TV5MONDE’s Prononciation en action series is your go-to toolkit for leveling up your French pronunciation. Through fun, interactive videos led by phonetics expert Magali Boureux, you'll explore the rhythms and sounds of French using the verbo-tonal method. Whether you're in class or learning solo, these bite-sized lessons blend visuals, repetition, and real-life examples to help you speak more clearly and confidently. Say goodbye to tricky nasal vowels and hello to smooth, natural French!
B1+/ B2 | Parler avec soin
Comment communiquer avec nuance et délicatesse en français ? Quels mots et quelles stratégies les francophones mobilisent‑ils pour aborder les sujets sensibles ? Ce cours vous aidera à développer ces compétences à partir de la lecture d’une œuvre d’un médecin‑écrivain (Martin Winckler), d’exercices de langue et de l’étude de documents et situations authentiques. Il s’adresse à toute personne souhaitant utiliser le français comme outil relationnel, empathique et éthique — en particulier aux professionnels de santé, psychologues, thérapeutes et travailleurs sociaux.
A2-1 | Advanced Beginner French 1
Time to go beyond the basics! Gain the grammar, vocabulary, and confidence you'll need to comprehend an excerpt from a piece of literature, describe a photograph, share a memory (happy or otherwise), read a tourist manual, and much more.