Synthesis and the Path from B2 to C1

Synthesis of the Course and the Path B2→C1

What You Have Mastered: Course Summary

A1 (Modules 1-4): Foundation

• Phonetics and pronunciation: nasal vowels, liaison, silent consonants
• Basic verbs être/avoir and -er verbs
• Articles, gender, adjective agreement
• Numbers, dates, time, greetings, self-introduction

A2 (Modules 5-8): Expression

• Passé composé and imparfait: describing the past
• Futur proche, futur simple, conditionnel: the future and hypotheses
• Office vocabulary, business calls, email
• Negotiations: agreement/disagreement, prices

B1 (Modules 9-14): Business French

• Business correspondence: lettre commerciale, compte-rendu, rapport
• Presentations: structure, visualization, Q&A
• Negotiations: strategies, argumentation, handling objections
• Professional vocabulary: real estate, finance, legal
• Grammar: subjunctive, relatives, gerund, indirect speech

B2 (Modules 15-20): Mastery

• Legal language: contracts, clauses, arbitration
• Formal register soutenu
• Luxury, hospitality, diplomatic
• Finance: balance sheet, annual report, ESG
• M&A, crisis, leadership, networking
• Cultural codes: France vs. UAE

B2 Self-Assessment (per CEFR)

At B2 level, you should:

• ✓ Understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics
• ✓ Communicate with sufficient fluency and spontaneity with native speakers
• ✓ Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects
• ✓ Express an opinion on topical issues, giving arguments

The Path to C1: What Needs to Be Developed

Grammar:

• Subjonctif imparfait and passé (for literary language)
• Plus-que-parfait in complex narratives
• Inversions in rhetorical constructions

Vocabulary:

• Expansion of vocabulary: 8,000–10,000 words (vs. B2: 5,000)
• Idioms and fixed expressions — idioms and set phrases
• Register nuances: soutenu vs. populaire

Reading:

• Le Monde, Le Figaro, Les Échos — daily
• Annual reports in French of major companies
• Legal texts: Code civil, Loi Sapin II, etc.

Listening:

• France 24, RFI, BFM Business
• Podcasts: “Le Monde du Droit”, “Génération Do It Yourself”
• French TV series: “Baron Noir”, “Engrenages”

Speaking:

• Lessons with a native speaker (tandem)
• Francophone conversation groups in Dubai (Alliance française, CCFD)
• Participation in events of the France-UAE Chamber of Commerce

Recommended Resources:

• TV5Monde — French TV channel with subtitles
• Anki — SRS system for vocabulary
• Alliance française de Dubaï — official courses
• Canal+ / Molotov — French films and TV series
• Le Robert en ligne — the best dictionary of the French language