Teaching French to Students Who Don’t Speak It at Home

Teaching French to students who don’t speak it at home is an exciting challenge — but it requires well-adapted teaching strategies. Whether you’re a primary school teacher, a middle school teacher, or in charge of an FFL (French as a Foreign Language) program at your institution, the activities you offer in class make all the difference in your students’ motivation and progress.

In this article, you’ll find 10 concrete, tested, and effective activities for teaching French as a foreign language (FFL) to students at levels A1 to B1. Each activity comes with practical tips for easy implementation.

1. The Label Game: Learning Vocabulary While Having Fun

The label game is ideal for A1-level students (complete beginners). The concept is simple: stick adhesive labels on classroom objects with their name in French. Chair, board, window, door, pencil…

How to set it up:

• Prepare cardboard labels with the word and, if possible, a small drawing.
• Ask students to place them on the corresponding objects themselves.
• Review each week by moving the labels around: students must put them back in the right place.

This activity anchors vocabulary in the real context of the classroom. It is particularly effective for visual learners.

2. Word Bingo: Reviewing Thematic Vocabulary

Bingo is a universal activity that can easily be adapted for learning French. It works very well for reviewing a vocabulary field (animals, colors, professions, foods…).

Effective variation:

• Hand out grids with images (not just words) for A1 levels.
• Read the words aloud in French — students check if they have the corresponding image.
• For A2–B1 levels, read definitions or sentences rather than the words directly.

Bingo creates a fun atmosphere while working on listening comprehension, which is essential in FFL.

3. Role-Play Dialogues: Practicing Spoken French in Real Situations

Role-plays are one of the most effective activities for developing oral communication in French. They allow students to simulate everyday life situations in a safe environment.

Example situations:

• At a restaurant: ordering a meal, asking for the bill.
• At the doctor’s: describing symptoms.
• In a shop: asking for a price, choosing an item.
• At school: introducing yourself, asking how someone is doing.

Provide students with a vocabulary sheet and key phrases before the role-play. Let them first prepare their dialogue in pairs, then perform it in front of the class.

4. The Picture Dictation: A Different Approach to Writing

Traditional dictation can be anxiety-inducing for FFL students. Picture dictation is a kinder and effective version: you describe a scene out loud, and students draw it and then label it in French.

Example: “In the kitchen, there is a large round table. On the table, there are three red apples and a glass of water. To the right of the table, there is a blue chair.”

Students draw the scene, then write the words beneath each element. This activity works on listening comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling all at once.

5. Songs in Class: Memorizing Grammar Through Music

Songs are a powerful teaching tool for FFL learners. They help memorize grammatical structures, work on pronunciation, and absorb the natural rhythm of French.

How to use them effectively:

• Choose songs with clear pronunciation and vocabulary suited to the level.
• Hand out the lyrics with missing words to fill in (gap-fill exercise).
• Work on phonetics: have students repeat difficult sounds (the “u,” the “r,” nasal vowels).
• For more advanced students, ask for a paraphrase or an analysis of the lyrics.

6. The Illustrated Reading Corner: Encouraging Reading in French

Setting up a reading corner with illustrated books suited to students’ level is an excellent way to gently develop reading comprehension. French picture books are perfect for A1–A2 levels.

Activity ideas:

• Read-aloud by the teacher, with simple comprehension questions.
• Silent individual reading with an illustrated questionnaire.
• Reconstructing the story from pictures placed in the wrong order.

7. The Class Journal in French: Writing Every Day

Keeping a class journal is a regular activity that progressively develops written expression. Each day or week, a different student writes a few sentences about what happened in class.

Adaptation by level:

• A1: very short sentences using given structures (“Today, we…”).
• A2: a short paragraph of 4–5 sentences.
• B1: a more developed report using logical connectors.

The class journal also creates a lovely memento of the school year, which motivates students to take care with their writing.

8. The Picture Debate: Arguing Simply

For A2–B1 students, the picture debate is a stimulating activity. Show two contrasting images (city vs. countryside, seaside holidays vs. mountain holidays) and ask students to choose their preference and justify it.

This activity works on oral expression, opinion structures (“I prefer… because…”, “In my opinion…”) and enriches vocabulary while personally engaging students.

9. Illustrated Memo Cards: Creating Your Own Learning Tools

Ask students to create their own illustrated memo cards for new concepts learned (verb tenses, vocabulary, prepositions…). The act of creating their own learning material reinforces learning through action.

Suggested format:

• Front: the word or structure in French + a hand-drawn illustration.
• Back: the translation or an example sentence.

These cards can then be used for in-class revision as flashcards or a memory game.

10. Cultural Projects: Discovering France and the French-Speaking World

Learning a language is inseparable from its culture. Incorporate mini cultural projects into your program: creating a French restaurant menu, presenting a region of France, preparing a presentation on a French-speaking country.

Benefits:

• Motivates students with a concrete and rewarding project.
• Encourages cross-disciplinary learning (geography, history, arts).
• Develops all skills: speaking, writing, listening, reading.

💡 Teacher Tip — Adapting Activities to CEFR Levels

• A1 (beginner): prioritize visual activities, gestures, and concrete vocabulary.
• A2 (elementary): introduce short sentences, guided dialogues, and simple structures.
• B1 (intermediate): encourage autonomy, free exchanges, and expressing opinions.

Conclusion: Varied Activities for Lasting Progress

The key to successful FFL teaching lies in variety and consistency. By alternating between fun, creative, and communicative activities, you maintain your students’ motivation while covering all language skills (speaking, writing, comprehension, production).

These 10 activities are a starting point. Feel free to adapt them to your context, your students’ level, and the resources available at your institution.

Looking for more resources to teach French? Explore our website myfluentfrench.com to discover interactive exercises, teaching materials, and tools adapted to each CEFR level — designed specifically for students learning French as a foreign language in schools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What activities are best for complete beginners in French? For A1 students, the most effective activities are those that link the word to the object or image: the label game, illustrated bingo, picture dictation. The goal is to build a base vocabulary in a concrete and reassuring context.

How do you motivate students who resist learning French? Play is the best motivational lever. Activities such as bingo, role-plays, and cultural projects give concrete meaning to learning. It’s also important to acknowledge every step of progress, no matter how small.

How much time should be devoted to these activities per week? Ideally, 20 to 30 minutes per session, two to three times a week, is enough for visible progress. Consistency matters more than the length of individual sessions.