What is A2 certification in French?

Achieving an A2 level in French, based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), signifies an elementary proficiency in the language. At this stage, learners have a basic grasp of essential vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills that enable them to handle everyday situations in French. Here’s a breakdown of the specific skills needed to reach an A2 level across the four primary language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

1. Listening Skills

At the A2 level, learners should be able to understand simple spoken French in familiar contexts. Here are the listening skills expected:

• Comprehending Basic Phrases: Recognize and understand common expressions related to personal information, family, shopping, work, and local geography.
• Following Short Conversations: Understand the main points in short conversations about familiar topics, even if the speech is somewhat slow and clear.
• Responding to Simple Questions: Recognize questions and basic responses related to topics like preferences, weather, and directions.
• Identifying Basic Instructions: Follow simple, clear instructions in contexts such as public transportation, basic customer service interactions, or instructions given by teachers.

Example Task

If a native French speaker tells you basic instructions, like "Allez tout droit, puis tournez à gauche" (Go straight, then turn left), you should understand and follow them.

2. Speaking Skills

For speaking, an A2-level speaker should be able to participate in simple interactions using familiar phrases. Here’s what you should be able to do:

• Introducing Yourself: Be able to give personal details like your name, nationality, job, and where you live.
• Answering and Asking Questions: Handle simple questions on familiar topics (such as hobbies, family, and daily routines), and ask questions to gather similar information from others.
• Describing Simple Needs: Use short phrases to express needs, likes, and dislikes (e.g., J’aime le chocolat or Je voudrais un café).
• Engaging in Basic Dialogues: Carry out short exchanges in familiar settings, such as asking for information in a store, ordering at a café, or inquiring about the time.

Example Task

You should be able to hold a brief conversation in a shop: “Combien coûte ce pull?” (How much is this sweater?) and respond appropriately, even if your answer is simple, like “Il est trop cher” (It’s too expensive).

3. Reading Skills

A2-level reading skills focus on understanding simple written texts with everyday vocabulary and basic grammar structures. Here are the key skills:

• Reading Familiar Texts: Understand simple texts, such as advertisements, menus, schedules, and short personal letters or messages.
• Identifying Key Information: Be able to pick out relevant information, such as dates, times, prices, or locations, from basic texts.
• Following Short Instructions: Understand short, clear instructions like those in recipes, directions, or basic manuals.
• Comprehending Personal Topics: Read and understand simple descriptions of people, places, and things relevant to your life, such as an email from a friend about their vacation or a note on office hours.

Example Task

You should be able to read a bus schedule and understand departure times, or read a basic description of a person’s job or family.

4. Writing Skills

Writing at the A2 level involves the ability to produce short, simple texts related to personal information and daily life. Here are the core writing skills:

• Writing Short Notes and Messages: Write simple notes, emails, or postcards that convey basic personal information, such as holiday greetings or a brief update.
• Using Common Connectors: Connect ideas using simple conjunctions like et (and), mais (but), and parce que (because), although sentences may still be quite basic.
• Describing Familiar Topics: Be able to write short paragraphs about yourself, your family, and your hobbies using basic vocabulary.
• Filling Out Forms: Complete forms that ask for personal information like your name, address, and nationality.

Example Task

You should be able to write a short email introducing yourself to a friend, such as “Bonjour, je m’appelle Marie. J’ai 22 ans et j’habite à Paris. J’aime la musique et la cuisine.” (Hello, my name is Marie. I am 22 years old and I live in Paris. I like music and cooking.)

Grammar and Vocabulary Proficiency

At the A2 level, learners are expected to have a basic grasp of fundamental French grammar and a vocabulary of everyday terms. Here are the specific areas to focus on:

Grammar Skills

• Present Tense: Conjugate regular and some common irregular verbs in the present tense (e.g., avoir, être, faire, aller).
• Basic Past Tense: Understand and occasionally use the passé composé to talk about past events.
• Articles and Gender Agreement: Use definite and indefinite articles correctly (le, la, les, un, une) and have an understanding of gendered nouns.
• Basic Sentence Structure: Form simple sentences with a subject, verb, and object, and occasionally use adjectives with correct agreement.
• Prepositions and Conjunctions: Use common prepositions (e.g., à, de, avec) and conjunctions to create basic compound sentences.

Vocabulary Skills

• Everyday Topics: Know essential vocabulary for everyday topics such as food, clothing, family, and transportation.
• Basic Adjectives: Use common adjectives to describe people and things (e.g., grand, petit, vieux, jeune).
• Polite Expressions: Understand and use polite expressions such as s’il vous plaît (please) and merci (thank you).
• Numbers, Dates, and Time: Recognize and use numbers, days of the week, months, and telling time.

Practical Tips for Achieving A2 in French

1. Practice with Native Material: Listen to simple French songs, radio shows, or videos made for beginners to improve your listening skills.
2. Engage in Simple Conversations: Try language exchange apps or find a conversation partner to practice basic dialogues in real-time.
3. Read Easy Texts: Start with children’s books, simple recipes, or instructions on product labels to build confidence in reading.
4. Write Short Entries: Keep a diary or write short social media posts in French to practice basic written expression.
5. Focus on Core Vocabulary and Grammar: Prioritize learning words and grammar structures that are most common in daily life.

Conclusion

Reaching the A2 level in French means gaining the ability to understand and participate in simple exchanges that relate to familiar, everyday contexts. Building a foundation in the essentials of vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills will make your transition to higher levels much smoother. Regular practice and exposure to real-world French will help reinforce these skills and improve your confidence in using the language in practical situations.