Learn French in Madison or at home

Are you going to France or another Francophone country soon? Learn to speak, read, or write French on a schedule that fits working adults. We have French classes for beginners through professionals. Scroll down or click on a link below.

• Conversational French classes in Madison
• French for reading knowledge
• French via distance learning
• Tell a friend about these French programs
• Join the mailing lists for French programs
• French-speaking groups in Madison
• Contact information
  

Conversational French classes in Madison: 

Beginning 1
Beginning 2
Back to Basics French
Intermediate
French for Reading Knowledge

Beginning 1 offers an introduction to French. It is intended for true beginners. Informal and lively class meetings and individual participation will encourage students to learn vocabulary, pronunciation, and fundamentals of grammar. This course introduces students to the richness of French and Francophone cultures.

Beginning 2 is a continuation of Beginning 1, with more advanced topics and further emphasis on conversation. Oral exercises enhance speaking and listening skills, while the study of written texts and film introduce more complex principles of grammar and usage.

Back to Basics French is a review course that provides an overview of grammar and vocabulary. It is a great refresher for those who haven’t studied French in a while, who want to become more comfortable speaking French, or who want to move on to an intermediate level.

Our Intermediate course is designed so experienced speakers of French may take the course multiple times to continually improve their speaking and listening skills and expand their knowledge of French and Francophone cultures.

French for reading knowledge: provides a concise overview of grammar, as well as reading and translation practice, for graduate students and others who wish to read French. With the successful completion of this course, you can certify that you have passed your UW-Madison graduate program requirements for reading knowledge of French. We have successfully prepared numerous participants to do research in their fields and for the French reading knowledge exam.

All of our courses are oriented toward improving conversational skills to prepare you for real situations such as travel in France or other Francophone countries. Textbooks are available for preview and purchase on campus in the University Bookstore's lower level, in the "Outreach" section.

View current upcoming French courses in the DCS Continuing Education catalog online.

Your instructors are Sage Goellner and Britt Zeidler.

	Sage holds a PhD in French Literature from the UW-Madison, has lived and worked in France, and has over ten years of teaching experience.
	A native speaker of French, Britt holds a MA in French literature from the University of Calgary and has studied and worked abroad.

The link below will take you to the catalog of continuing education courses for UW-Madison Continuing Studies.

• What courses are offered right now?
• Join the mailing lists for French programs

French student comments:

"Great teacher! Learning French is very empowering."

"I think it was a very good course-informative yet enjoyable. The instructor obviously loves what she is doing, and it is infectious."

"I was very pleased and surprised at the openness of the professor and her ability to infuse others with enthusiasm about the subject."

"The course is very practical. You learn the basics to get you around in a travel situation. I enjoyed the course very much. It was both fun and the teacher was excellent."

"I really enjoyed this class-a great value. I feel like I have gotten a tax refund from the state. I particularly like the way that basic grammar and pronunciation was taught. The instructor was excellent and was very helpful."

French via distance learning:

If you can't attend our face-to-face classes, or if you want to work on reading and writing rather than speaking French, take our Independent Learning courses. French language, literature, civilization, and business courses are available at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels.

• Earn transferable college credit or high-school units.
• Work one-on-one with our experienced instructors via e-mail or postal mail.
• Start your course at any time, all year round.
• Work at your own schedule for as long as one year to complete each course.

French-speaking groups in Madison:

Download this flyer for information on French-speaking groups in Madison.

Contact information:

If this Web page does not answer all of your questions about UW-Madison's French programs for adults, feel free to contact us:

• Madison-area registration questions: 608-262-2451.
• Independent Learning questions: toll-free 877-UW-LEARN or info@learn.uwsa.edu.
• UW-Madison Continuing Studies in French coordinator Sage Goellner: sgoellner@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-242-4873.
• If you are looking for degree programs and courses for credit, please contact the UW-Madison Department of French and Italian.

Review frequently asked questions about language programs.

Thank you for your interest in learning French! Bonne continuation et à bientôt!