Course Descriptions

Main Line French Institute offers a clear path from middle school through advanced study. Each course builds strong skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing, while developing the cultural fluency students need for real‑world communication.

Below you’ll find brief descriptions of our core programs—from DELF preparation to AP, IB, and DALF C1—so you can quickly spot the course that best fits your level and goals.

Course Levels

DELF A2

Designed for advanced beginners, this level certifies your ability to carry out simple everyday tasks and to use the most common polite expressions.

DELF B1

The threshold level: you become independent. Able to sustain an interaction, to understand and keep up a discussion, and to give your opinion.

DELF B2

Advanced or independent level. You have reached a degree of independence that allows you to argue in defense of your opinion and to negotiate with ease.

French AP

Intensive preparation for the Advanced Placement exam, focused on linguistic mastery and francophone culture in order to earn university credit.

IB French A

Native or bilingual level. In-depth analysis of French literature and development of critical thinking about the language and its structure.

IB French B

For students with prior experience. The emphasis is on international communication and intercultural understanding through literature and media.

Syllabus Preview

The DALF C1 Syllabus

The DALF C1 course is intended for students who wish to continue their studies in French at the native-speaker high school level. After earning their DELF B2 diploma or reaching an equivalent level, this program offers rigorous preparation for the demands of French as taught in a francophone high school.

The program prepares students for three interconnected goals:

Passing the DALF C1 exam, which certifies mastery of French at the university level
Developing the critical and analytical skills required for high school literature classes
Preparing for the IB and AP exams, which cap off French studies in the United States

Course Objectives

Studying in French demands advanced command of the language — in particular, the ability to analyze complex texts, synthesize information from multiple sources, and express oneself with precision and nuance. This course provides the essential intellectual and linguistic foundations:

In-depth exposure to classic French literature and to academic forms of expression
Training in the dissertation (formal argumentative essay) and the literary commentary
The ability to understand and analyze a range of academic discourse (lectures, research articles, intellectual debates)
Direct preparation for the exam formats and language skills required at the C1 level

Course Content

Literature and Critical Analysis

Three major works per year (novel, play, essay)
Rigorous textual analysis and in-depth discussion
Developing the ability to break down a complex text, identify its deeper themes, and understand literary technique

Advanced Grammar and Written Expression

Review and refinement of French grammar at the C1 level
Literary dissertations: an intellectual discipline requiring clarity, structure, and rigorous argument
Synthesis essays, combining and analyzing information from two source documents
Argumentative essays, based on thematic issues

Preparation for the Four Components of the DALF C1

Reading comprehension: analysis of authentic and academic texts
Listening comprehension: exposure to lectures, interviews, and authentic audio material
Written production:
Synthesis essays combining and analyzing information from two source documents
Argumentative essays on thematic issues
Development of advanced skill in formal writing
Oral production: preparation for a 15-minute oral presentation using advanced source material

Details

Duration: Two-year program

Location: Bryn Mawr, PA

Schedule: Tuesdays, 5:15–6:45 p.m.

Cost: $600 per trimester

Pedagogical Approach

This course does not separate the exam from the education. Mastering the DALF C1 skills leads to authentic fluency and intuition for the French language.

By reading major authors and discussing their ideas in French, students acquire a fluency that goes well beyond grammar — they develop a true intuition for the language.

The skills required for the DALF C1: Our students pass the DALF C1 exam in spring 2028, but this happens naturally, as a consequence of immersion in the language and culture at its highest level.

The Main line french institute