The FLE (French as a Foreign Language) program is a language support program designed for non-French-speaking students who are entering a school in the French education system and have not yet mastered the language.
Its goal is to enable students to gradually acquire the French language skills necessary to successfully follow the French curriculum and to integrate effectively and confidently into school life.
It's not just about learning the language, but about acquiring academic French—that is, the language needed to understand instructions, write texts, participate in class, and succeed in all subjects.
The FLE program is a cornerstone of the French international education system. It ensures inclusion, equal opportunities, and academic success for students coming from other educational systems, while respecting their linguistic and cultural identities and supporting them as they integrate into a rigorous, humanistic, and international education.
The FLE program is designed for students whose native language is not French and who enter the French education system after preschool. It can be implemented in both elementary and secondary school, with approaches tailored to the student’s age and grade level.
We provide personalized, progressive instruction tailored to each student’s age, level, and learning pace. Classes are dynamic and draw on real-life situations, games, texts, images, and communicative activities. Lessons can be conducted in small groups or one-on-one to focus specifically on:
Oral and Written Comprehension
Oral and Written Expression
School Vocabulary
Subject-Specific Language (math, science, history, etc.)
Understanding the Guidelines and Methodologies of the French System
Students are placed in their designated grade level from the first day of school and participate in regular classes according to their level of understanding. They then leave class at specific times to attend the FLE program and return for subjects where they can receive more individualized attention (physical education, art, music, math, etc.).
Student integration is a gradual process, and there is ongoing coordination between the FLE teacher, subject teachers, and the pedagogical team to tailor the support provided and facilitate a smooth transition.
The FLE program is not a “remedial” program, but rather a transitional phase toward full academic integration.
FLE students are expected to actively engage in their French language learning process, gradually develop linguistic autonomy, strive to communicate in French in their daily school life, and work toward full integration into regular classes.
Some students progress very quickly, while others need more extended support. It is important to note that learning conversational French is quick, but mastering academic French requires more time and support.