Course description
Why Choose IS-DBA
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▶ Benefits of taking our courses
We attach great importance to the satisfaction of our students: throughout their training, from their first week to their last day, we make sure that the courses offered meet their expectations. We pay close attention to the objectives expressed by each student, so that we can offer them the learning adapted to their needs. For example, we place as much importance on preparing for the DELF B2 exam to enter university as we do on acquiring the language skills needed to be independent in everyday life in France.
(1) GENERAL COURSE + UNIVERSITY OBJECTIVE!
We stand out from other FLE schools because, as well as offering traditional FLE teaching, we are committed to helping our students achieve their academic and professional goals and to treating them as fully-fledged Parisian students.
(2) ONGOING & MONTHLY ASSESSMENTS
During their training, two formative assessments take place within each class (from level A1 to level C1): the first in the middle of the session (after five or six weeks of lessons) and the second at the end of the session to determine whether the student has passed to the next level. The subjects of the tests focus on the learning acquired during the session within the class. This enables the teacher to assess progress in relation to the syllabus, and the student to assess progress in relation to the objectives of the level followed. It also highlights any difficulties encountered, so that these concepts can be reworked during the rest of the session. Finally, these two assessments are an excellent way of preparing for official exams, such as the DELF or DALF, as they offer similar tests and assess the same skills. Students will then be able to prepare for these exams more confidently and have a concrete idea of their level.
(3) SPECIFIC WORKSHOPS
These unique workshops, which you won't find anywhere else, are designed to help you acquire the concepts and knowledge you need to carry out your university projects and to go into greater depth on concepts covered in the general course. From French culture to grammar, and from preparation for the DELF to phonetics, these workshops will give you the opportunity to improve your French and discover a completely different side of the French language and civilization.
(4) COURSE DESIGN BY THE TEACHERS
The IS-DBA teaching team develops its own class content to offer original, authentic and up-to-date courses on a variety of subjects that go beyond the framework of the most commonly used textbooks while respecting the Common Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). As well as acquiring the skills required for the DELF exam, the school also offers you unique teaching materials to help you make daily progress, both orally and in writing, in your life in Paris.
(5) GUARANTEED PROGRESS
The entire IS-DBA team carefully monitors the progress of our students throughout their journey in the French language. We listen carefully and, if necessary, offer remedial solutions, which may take the form of a change of class and/or level. We also ensure that our students receive personalised follow-up through weekly one-to-one sessions with a French teacher, during which you can go into more depth on the concepts you wish to study or practise your oral skills.
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▶ Our general French courses & our premises
▸ 1 lesson = 2 hours 30 minutes, 4 lessons per week for A1-C1 level
▸ The average class size is 10 students per class, which guarantees a high quality of lesson and a friendly atmosphere in the classroom
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▶ Our workshops
▸ 1 workshop = 1 hour, 3 lessons per week
General and spesific workshops: to enrich the content of general French courses. During this workshop, students can take part in debates, conversations on a specific topic, role-playing, a play, games, etc.
▸ Phonetics (A1):
In this workshop, we work on the particularities of French pronunciation (phonemes, morphemes, accents, rhythm, intonation...) to enable you to better understand the language and make yourself better understood orally. To achieve this, teachers use a variety of media (textbooks, systemic exercises, ICT, songs, videos, theatre, etc.).
▸ Oral expression (A1-B2-C1) :
This workshop will enable you to get to know and use common everyday expressions and work on the particularities of spoken and colloquial French. The aim is to get our students to speak as much formal and informal French as possible. The teacher intervenes at the beginning of the lesson to provide language tools (vocabulary, syntax, grammar, etc.) and during the session to correct. During this workshop, students can take part in debates, conversations on a specific topic, role-playing, a play, games, etc.
▸ Grammar (all levels):
French grammar is notoriously complex. With this workshop, syntax and conjugation will hold no secrets for you! During the session, teachers provide students with linguistic knowledge, then help them to manipulate the structures in writing and speaking. Far from being a theoretical course, this workshop will enable you to handle French conjugations and grammar on a daily basis.
▸ Preparation for DELF and DALF (A2 to C1) :
Many textbooks prepare you for the official DELF and DALF exams. This workshop is a necessary complement to acquire the specific methodology and know how these exams work. The teachers will prepare you for all the tests (oral and written comprehension, oral and written production) and help you to improve throughout the session. You will have the opportunity to write a wide range of texts (articles, emails, letters, text commentaries, etc.), to prepare for the individual oral test and, above all, to receive individual feedback on your work.
▸ French culture (A1-A2-B1):
This workshop introduces you to many aspects of French culture: from gastronomy to literature, from architecture to current affairs, this course is a real eye-opener into the workings of French society. It is also an opportunity for students to exchange and compare their cultures, to take part in discussions in French on a wide range of subjects and to enrich their vocabulary.
+ Cultural outings organized by our French teachers
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▶ CECRL Program
▸The French courses at IS-DBA are based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CECRL). The CECRL defines the methods of learning, teaching and evaluation of languages and proposes a standardized scale of competence in French as a foreign language.
▸The assessment scale describes 6 levels of proficiency, from A1 for beginners to C2 for those who have mastered the language. This framework and the 6 levels of progression are widely accepted at the European level and increasingly at the global level.
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▶ Language levels:
▸ Basic user
Level A1 - Introductory or Discovery Level
Level A2 - Intermediate Level
▸ Independent user
Level B1 - Threshold level
Level B2 - Advanced or Independent
▸ Experienced user
Level C1 - Independent level
Level C2 - Mastery Level
Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar and Activities
IS-DBA FLE does not hold classes on the holiday dates above. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.
Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.
