For your reference, these are the recommended prerequisites for French:
| IVC Course | Recommended Prerequisite |
| French 1 or 1H | No prerequisite |
| French 2 | IVC French 1, IVC French 1 Honors or two years of high school French |
| French 3 | IVC French 2, three years of high school French or AP score of 3 or above |
| French 4 | IVC French 3, four years of high school French or AP score of 4 or above |
| French 10 | IVC French 2, three years of high school French or AP score of 3 or above |
| French 11 | IVC French 10, IVC French 3, four years of high school French or AP score of 4 or above |
If you don’t meet the above prerequisites, and/or you prefer to assess your level on your own, please review the skills and classes below and choose the course that best fits your French level (keep in mind that having a solid foundation in beginning French will help you succeed in more advanced courses):
French 2 is a good fit for you if you are comfortable with the tasks below:
- Write a paragraph in French of approximately 12 – 15 sentences.
- Read a three-paragraph text written in French.
- Speak in French using an active vocabulary of approximately 500 words on topics such as classes, physical and emotional description, hobbies, daily activities, family and, food.
- Understand spoken French on everyday activities and familiar topics using approximately 1,000 words.
French 3 and French 10 are a good fit for you if you are comfortable with the tasks below:
- Write a short essay of approximately 15 – 20 sentences.
- Read a four to five paragraph text written in French.
- Speak in French using an active vocabulary of approximately 1,000 words on topics such as home, life in town, childhood, health, and media.
- Understand spoken French on past events and activities using approximately 2,000 words.
French 4 and French 11 are a good fit for you if you are comfortable with the tasks below:
- Write an essay of approximately 200-300 words (20 – 30 sentences).
- Read a two-to-three-page short story written in French.
- Speak in French from an active vocabulary of approximately 1,500 words on topics such as human relations, social issues, finances, and art.
- Understand spoken French on a wide variety of topics, including future and probable events, using approximately 3,000 words.
If you want to see the detailed topics (vocabulary, grammar, and culture) covered in each French level, please visit the IVC schedule of classes, click on the “DETAILS” link on the far right, and at the bottom of the page, click on the first blue button “Topics Covered.”
If, after two weeks, you feel the course is too hard or too easy for you, please let your instructor know so you can discuss the possibility of changing the course level.
For further information, please contact the French Department Coordinator: Anca Popescu