French is not a foreign language in Lebanon so much as a second working one — it runs through schooling, administration, law, medicine and a large share of the job market. Which is precisely why gaps in it get expensive: a candidate who reads French fine but hesitates in a meeting loses ground to someone who does not. Al Khawarizmi Institute has taught international languages in Lebanon since 2011, and our French courses start where you actually are, not where a syllabus assumes you are.
The levels, and what each one actually lets you do
French levels everywhere are described using the Common European Framework, the A1 to C2 scale you will see on university forms, job descriptions and visa files. The labels are only useful if you know what they mean in practice, so here is the plain version.
- A1 and A2 — the basics. Introducing yourself, shopping, appointments, simple past and future. At A2 you can handle a predictable conversation but not an unexpected one.
- B1 — independence. You can manage most everyday situations, follow a conversation between colleagues, and explain an opinion. This is the level where people stop translating in their head.
- B2 — the working level. Fluent enough for meetings, argument and detail. B2 is the level most often asked for by universities, employers and immigration files, including Canadian ones.
- C1 and C2 — mastery. Academic and professional French at full speed, including nuance and implication. Required for some degree programmes and for teaching.
How long the climb takes depends on where you start, how often you practise outside class, and whether you already speak another Romance language. We tell you honestly what your goal implies after we have assessed your level, rather than quoting a number that would not apply to you.
Who these courses are for
- School and university students who need French for their programme
- Professionals working in French-language environments — offices, law, healthcare, administration
- Anyone preparing to move to France, Canada or another francophone country, where a named level is usually part of the file
- Complete beginners starting from zero with a structured path
- Lebanese students who studied French for years at school and still cannot hold a conversation, which is its own case and not a beginner one
The school-French problem
This is the most common case we see in Lebanon, and it needs saying clearly because it is usually misdiagnosed. A student who spent years in French at school typically has strong passive knowledge — they read well, they recognise grammar, they understand more than they can say — and weak production. Put that student in a beginner group and they are bored by material they already know. Put them in an advanced group and they drown, because the gap was never comprehension.
The placement exam exists to separate those two things. We assess what you can actually produce, not what you recognise, and place you in a group that pushes speaking rather than repeating grammar you already have.
How the courses run
Every language course here follows the same method, because it is the one that works: a placement exam before you enrol, levels running from complete beginner through to advanced, small groups, and speaking practised from early on rather than saved for the end. Groups run mornings and evenings so school students, university students and working adults can all find a slot.
Course length and fees depend on your starting level and your goal. We confirm both with you after the placement exam, and the offer is reviewed as courses evolve, so we would rather tell you directly than publish a figure that goes stale.
In person or online
Classes run at our three branches — Beirut (Mar Elias), the Chouf (Simkanieh) and Choueifat (Saida Old Street) — and as live Zoom groups for students elsewhere in Lebanon or abroad. Same teachers, same materials, same certificate either way.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which French level to join?
You take a placement exam first. We assess what you can actually produce, not just what you recognise, and put you in the group that matches it — so you are neither lost nor bored.
I studied French at school but cannot speak it — where do I start?
This is the most common case we see in Lebanon, and it is not a beginner case. The placement exam separates what you can read and recognise from what you can produce, and we put you in a group that pushes the speaking rather than repeating grammar you already know.
What is B2 French, and why do so many applications ask for it?
B2 is the level on the Common European Framework where you can work in the language rather than around it — following meetings, arguing a point, handling detail and nuance. That is why universities, employers and immigration files, including Canadian ones, tend to set it as the bar.
How long does it take to reach a level in French?
It depends on your starting point, how much you practise outside class, and whether you already speak another Romance language. We give you a realistic answer after the placement exam rather than a number that would not apply to you.
Can I take French classes online?
Yes. The same course runs as live Zoom classes with the same teachers, and students join from across Lebanon and from abroad.
How long is a course and what does it cost?
Both depend on your starting level and your goal, so we quote after the placement exam rather than publishing a number that would not apply to you. Message us on WhatsApp and we will send current group dates and fees the same day.
Related courses
- All language courses — every language we teach
- Spanish Courses in Lebanon
- German Courses in Lebanon
- English Language Courses — all levels, plus IELTS, TOEFL, SAT and Cambridge preparation
Book your placement exam
Tell us why you need French and by when — a course, a job, a move, or simply being able to hold the conversation. Call 00961 71 27 67 13 or message us on WhatsApp and we will assess your level and send you the next group dates and fees.