French Classes for the 10-year Carte de Résident
Are you moving to France? Then let's go!
Hi, I'm Chris. Head teacher at OuiCommunicate.
We're home to speakers of English who wish for a step up from traditional French classes by means of bilingual learning.
If you're looking for a structured way to learn French with a plan we have one in store.
The goal is B1, so let's get started!
If your French teacher doesn't quite "get" you
If you need flexible bookings
Try an English-to-French bilingual school
We can make your life easier!
Who are we?
It’s nice that a teacher be a native speaker of the language they teach, it’s better if they also speak yours as a native. Press play to learn about our bilingual teaching of French.
How does it work?
There’s so much depth to this website, we think it’s easier to show a video than to try to lay it all out in pictures and in writing. This is why we deliver results: no more grey zones!
Let's first talk about the goal: B1
In language learning, there are official levels. While these are very imperfect, they none the less work to determine on average the level of a student. They go from A1 to C2. (Some people consider that there are gradients between each level.)
Let’s make it simple for you. When you are A1 you just know a few words in a foreign language. When you are A2, your level is too basic to hold a conversation (Manuel in Fawlty Towers was A2, if that helps). B1 means you can speak comfortably and understand most of what is said at normal speed. B2 means you are a little bit better than that. After this, we enter the C levels with C2 being native speaker level.
The French government is asking you to have a conversational level of French. This means that you can express yourself with precision and understand others too.
The skills involved means that you are able to tell a story about the time you lost your shoes at the beach, had to go home on foot, called a taxi, got to a party late and be able to express how you feel about this.
It doesn’t have to be told in a far-fetched way but it does have to be correct and understandable. You can’t get the tenses wrong and the examiner shouldn’t have to squint to understand what you are saying.
Before this news scares you and you run off to a different website, let us reassure you: it is normal that you will have an English accent and it is normal that your French will not be perfect. If languages were a game of tennis, at B1 level you need to be able to hit the ball back over the net a few times in a controled way.
At A1 level, you’ve never held a tennis racket and at A2 level you sort of get the ball back where you want it but it mostly goes out of the court. At B2 level you can do fancy effects with the ball and even surpise your opponent.
B1 is extremely achievable. But it will take some focusing and shortcuts won’t work. If you complete all the exercises on this website you will be B1. That is how close to you it can be.
There is a very good reason to take this approach to French seriously: France is traditionally very proud of their language, which they almost see as a work of art. The average French person knows more about grammar than the English person does, or even American.
Your future examiner will be listening for certain things such as use of tenses, precision of vocabulary and overall understanding of a text. Even if you don’t know all the words, you have to understand what is happening in the text and who it’s happening to.
This, in short, is what B1 means.
Become our next "success story"!
The lady in this video is originally from NY and wished for us to help prepare her move to France.
Today, she is fluent and happily lives in France where she meets new people and uses French daily.
The “secret” to her success is nothing more than what we offer you: the same learning material and the same approach.
But don’t take our word for it: read the review she wrote for our Google Business page!
How do we prepare you?
Your teacher Chris is a qualified language teacher with a Master’s degree in linguistics and literature. He has a post-graduate degree in teaching as well as several TEFL certificates. He is a native speaker of both French and English. He knows English, French and American culture from the inside and knows the difficulties you are likely to face. The French course he has created on this website is specifically made for speakers of English.
The method we follow at OuiCommunicate is to approach each French skill by means of an exercise so as to leave no stone unturned. We want to make sure you know the vocabulary, the pronunciation, the tenses and the grammar.
When you meet up for a class, your teacher will evaluate your current level, spot the gaps and recommend exercises for next time. On this website, you have PDF documents, videos and quizzes. We always aim at explaining everything in cristal-clear English.
You also have access to online help and can ask a question any time you wish by email. We remain with you to assist you with your learning.
With our exercises, you can self-correct and all answers are given. You have ample opportunity to listen to French, read and write. The speaking will gradually happen as you progress more and more.
The many advantages of our method are too numerous to mention. We promote self-reliance and offer the chance to navigate around your schedule. we guarantee a definite outcome at every class, a methodical plan and most importantly quality.
We will assess you regularly to make sure you are on track and learning well. Each time you feel ready to book a 20-minute class online you can do so. There is no obligation to attend fixed classes.
We will work together to make your B1 goal happen.
A few things to keep in mind!
1. It's not a sprint
You are likely in for a few tens of hours of study time. Possibly hundreds. Our advice: signing up for classes at a big name school might seem obvious but remember that volume does not equal learning. The hours you pay for do not equal the hours you learn. You could be there for quite some time and the bill might be astronomical!
2. Keep the momentum
In any class or fixed appointment, boredom settles in and there is always a loss of productivity. That Saturday French class is no longer as fun as it once was. It is worth thinking about a way of studying that offers fresh air and time away from the teacher. Flexibility can go a long way in your success.
3. Speaking is not all
Many students believe that the act of speaking is the tool by which all the rest falls into place. Whereas it is important, it can also be seen as the visible manifestation of what you studied in the background. Speaking does not teach you the place of French pronouns. Watch out for the risk of over relying on speaking.
4. Know your teacher
As with all decisions, we want to combine feeling and rational thinking. The trust you put into your teacher or school will strongly influence your results. Credibility is everything. Look for reviews that are factual. Better still: proofs of actual students speaking French at a high level.
5. You are capable
Brits and Americans carry with them the idea that they are “no good at languages” as if it was a genetic malfunction. We built this learning platform for everyone. We explain French in simple terms and always stay within the boundaries of what is necessary. All it takes is a pen and paper and the ability to follow a video.
6. You are one step closer
We like to say that our students are already there. They just don’t know it yet. We are standing in the house and holding you by the hand. You just need to step in and come inside. Each and every exercise you complete here gets you closer to your goal. Do it enough times and you will be at B1 French level. Small incremental steps.
Fictional characters and their level!
Manuel of Fawlty Towers: A2
Poor Manuel knows the main words but can’t quite put a sentence together. His poor English skills cause many breakdowns in communication, to the frustration of poor Basil!
Borat: A2
The fictional visitor from Kazakhstan relied on his insufficient English to create misunderstandings. Again, he knows the words but his sentences are too simple.
Colonel Landa: B2
Colonel Landa put some serious work in! His French is certainly B2 and his English most probably C1. He speaks with high precision and shows very few limitations.
Officer Crabtree: A2
From the series Allo Allo, officer Crabtree’s pronunciation was just not good enough and made it a challenge to be understood. He might be a higher level in writing but not in speaking!
Films and comedy have always relied on insufficient language levels to create challenging situations. In the examples above, we have 3 speakers at A2 level who just know the main words but cause much trouble for the people around them!
The evil Colonel Landa of Inglorious Basterds outperforms everyone but pushes it further than we’d need for the B1 level in French. We will rather aim at correct and intelligible French that allows us to cover reasonable everyday situations with no challenge.
Book a free Q&A!
No preparation needed
Wish to know more? Phone Chris now or send a Whatsapp message to +1 860-339-6480.
You can book a trial class with no preparation through the booking calendar.
No French skills needed!
Classes are on Skype for reasons of convenience.
Find us on Skype at:
live:reulandchristopher
Further information
According to the news sources available, France has rejected the proposed legislation whereby British homeowners might stay long term in France. (January 2024)
The consequence seems to be that British homeowners are limited to 90 days in France but still have the opportunity to apply for the various visas, of which the 10-year residency card.
OuiCommunicate advises readers to seek out proper legal advice from qualified professionals. We are a language school and do not stay abreast of the latest changes in French law.
This page proposes to offer language training to reach the level of B1 in French. This alone does not grant entry into France, as there are many other conditions to be met.
We will happily assist you in learning French and will always stay in our lane of expertise. Please note also that certain websites report the level A2 as being sufficient to qualify. Again, seek out professional advice for the slightest word and comma! Laws change all the time and require to be properly interpreted!
Thanks for your continued trust.
Our French course can be yours now!
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