It's winter in Massachusetts! So please note the following:
For online learning, classes will continue to be in session during a projected storm. Unless we announce otherwise, please assume classes are in session. For in-person learning, adults' and teens' classes will be switched to an online format. Kids' classes will be canceled and rescheduled. Please look for an email from your teacher or the Education Department for guidance and zoom links.
Please note that the best way to contact the Education Department is via email: adultprograms@frenchlibrary.org. You can also call our Reception at: 617.912.0400 Tuesday through Saturday.
ABOUT OUR CLASSES AND WAYS OF TEACHING
Join us at the French Library and immerse yourself in French learning! Our immersion method and curriculum target systematic acquisition of grammar skills as a means of acquiring and using the language with immediate results.
The French Library offers a wide variety of classes to accommodate your needs, schedule and budget. You can chose to attend classes online via Zoom or in person at the French Library. Our teachers benefit from the expertise of the Alliance Française for the most effective methods of French language instruction. Our class sizes are small (10 students max online; 12 in-person) providing more opportunities for you to communicate in French, creating a lively classroom atmosphere.
Here are your options:
Language courses:
Regular track: 3h per week for 10 weeks (classes meet twice a week for 1h30)
Slow-paced track: 1h30 per week for 10 weeks (classes meet once a week for 1h30)
Short track: 3h per week for 6 or 7 weeks depending on the level (classes meet twice a week for 1h30)
Theme courses:
Classes meet 1h30 or 2h per week for 5 or 10 weeks.
Please contact us at adultprograms@frenchlibrary.org if you have any questions!
How to purchase your book:
In person classes: on site at the French Library OR online at MEP Education.
Online classes: online with MEP Education. Please look for your class here. All your class material can be purchased at a preferential rate on the mepeducation.net website.
A1? A2? B1? What’s my level?
All our classes are structured according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF). The CEF is the language and fluency level scale used in the European Union. It goes from A1 to C2 and serves as the guideline for describing the level of fluency achieved by a foreign language learner. The chart below details our courses’ codification, the level progression and what a learner can do after completing a whole section. Each level requires 30h of teaching time. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
If you have never taken a class with us, we ask that you please complete the written and oral sections of our placement test for the upcoming session to ensure you enroll in the right course level.
A1 Absolute/Beginners (4 levels: A1.1 to A1.4)
A1.1 to A1.4: can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Class material for language courses: L'Atelier + 1 for short track and Edito A1 for regular track
A2 Advanced Beginners (4 levels: A2.1 to A2.4)
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
Class material for language courses: L'Atelier + 2 for short track and Edito A2 for regular track
B1 Intermediate (5 levels: B1.1 to B1.5)
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise while traveling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics that are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Class material for language classes: Edito B1
B2 Independent (4 levels: B2.1 to B2.4)
Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
Class material for language courses: Edito B2
C1 Proficient (2 levels: C1.1 to C1.2)
Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.
Class material for language courses: Tendances C1+/C2
C2 Proficient (1 level: C2.1)
Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
Class material for language courses: Tendances C1+/C2
Found 26 Results
A1 French Express (Intensive Week) | In-Person
Don't have the time to attend a full session this spring? Not a problem! Join us for our new French Express program! 15h of French in one week. Are you ready for the challenge? French Express is designed to connect language structures directly to real-world use, ensuring fast progress, high engagement, and immediate results in an immersive, supportive environment. PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION FOR THE SPRING FRENCH EXPRESS WILL CLOSE ON JUNE 6.
Read MoreA1-1 | Beginner French 1 | In-Person
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.
Read MoreA1-2 | Beginner French 2 | In-Person
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!
Read MoreA1-3 | 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!
Read MoreA1-4 | 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!
Read MoreA1+ | 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!
Read MoreA2-1 | 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.
Read MoreA2-1 short track | Advanced Beginner French 1 | In-Person
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!
Read MoreA2-2 | 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.
Read MoreA2-4 | Advanced Beginner French 4 | In-Person
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!
Read MoreA2+ / 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!
Read MoreA2+ | A la découverte de… la Savoie | In-Person
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.
Read MoreB1 | 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.
Read MoreB1 | French Express (Intensive Week) | In-Person
Don't have the time to attend a full session this spring? Not a problem! Join us for our new French Express program! 15h of French in one week. Are you ready for the challenge? French Express is designed to connect language structures directly to real-world use, ensuring fast progress, high engagement, and immediate results in an immersive, supportive environment. PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATION FOR THE SPRING FRENCH EXPRESS WILL CLOSE ON JUNE 6.
Read MoreB1 | 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.
Read MoreB1 | Intermediate Conversation | In-Person
Master the art of conversation while perfecting the finer points of your grammar through the fun and varied speaking activities in this course!
Read MoreB1-1 | 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!
Read MoreB1-1| 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!
Read MoreB1+ | 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.
Read MoreB1+ | 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.
Read MoreB1+/ 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.
Read MoreB2 | 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.
Read MoreB2 | 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.
Read MoreB2 | 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.
Read MoreB2+ | 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.
Read MoreLes Ados 4 (A2.2) - step 3 | In-Person
Through oral and written comprehension as well as speaking and writing exercises, students acquire the linguistic tools they will need to effectively communicate in a variety of contexts.
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