The Diploma in French for Business will enable you to certify that you are able to use oral and written French in an effective manner in the principal situations of professional communication, and that you are fully prepared to handle the interpersonal, administrative and commercial aspects of company business.
Any students or professionals who work in French or will be required to communicate in French in a professional context, and wish to validate their acquired knowledge with a diploma.
This diploma is intended in particular for company staff or government personnel working in any position requiring them to communicate with French-speaking contacts orally or in writing.
Applicants must meet the following prerequisites:
Activities: Complete a form, comment on a graph, write a note, write a report, meet and inform a client, present your professional background, present an argument to a decision maker.
Themes: Professional world, business, social, economic and commercial contexts, negotiations.
We offer five Diplomas in French for Business, from level A1 to C1:
The Diploma in French for Business A1 validates competence in French at level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). It represents approximately 60 – 80 hours of study.
It certifies elementary competence in French: the holder of this diploma can understand and express him or herself in the simplest and commonest professional and social situations in a familiar context in order to carry out very simple professional tasks.
Understanding and processing information:
The candidate can understand the essential elements of very simple written professional documents in order to carry out professional tasks.
He/she can understand the essential aspects of a short, predictable message – face to face or over the telephone – in order to carry out very simple professional tasks.
The candidate can write very short, standardised messages relating to common social and professional activities.
Communicating orally:
The candidate can establish very simple social and professional contacts and communicate in order to carry out professional tasks in a limited number of known or predictable situations.
Understanding and processing information |
Duration |
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Process written information |
1: Locate yourself in your working environment |
45 mins. |
2: Manage your diary |
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3: Create a product description sheet |
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4: Fill in a registration sheet |
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Process spoken information |
5: Note the contents of a telephone call |
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6: Direct a client or a colleague to the department or article |
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Communicate in writing |
7: Write an e-mail in response to a request |
Communicating orally |
Duration |
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Activity 1: |
Give a colleague information about your schedule |
Preparation: 10 mins. Test: 5 mins. |
Activity 2: |
Give information to a client |
Total duration of evaluation: 60 minutes.
The Diploma in French for Business A2 validates competence in French at level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). It represents approximately 120 – 150 hours of study.
It certifies elementary competence in French: the holder of this diploma can understand and express himself in order to carry out communication tasks in very simple, commonly-encountered social and professional situations.
Understanding and processing information:
The candidate can understand the essential elements of simple written professional documents in order to carry out simple, common professional tasks.
He/she can write short, familiar messages relating to common social and professional activities.
He/she can understand the essential aspects of a short, predictable message face to face or over the telephone, when it is within the scope of his/her usual professional experience.
Communicating orally:
The candidate can, using simple language, establish social contact, describe his/her experience and activities, exchange factual information, express an opinion or a preference, ask questions, etc., in a limited number of practical situations on common and familiar subjects.
Understanding and processing information |
Duration |
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Process written information |
1: Fill in a company information sheet |
45 mins. |
2: Write a document presenting a product |
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3: Fill in an order form |
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4: Select a job offer that corresponds to what you are seeking |
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Process spoken information |
5: Modify a diary on the basis of information provided |
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6: Note down instructions |
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Communicate in writing |
7: Write an e-mail in response to a proposal |
Communicating orally |
Duration |
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Activity 1: |
Answer a client’s questions about a product |
Preparation: 10 mins. Test: 5 mins. |
Activity 2: |
Present your education and work experience |
Total duration of evaluation: 60 minutes.
The Diploma in French for Business B1 validates competence in French at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). It represents approximately 250 hours of study.
It certifies competence in French at an independent level, enabling the user to understand and express himself in common social and professional situations.
The holder of this diploma can carry out common types of professional communication in a familiar context.
Understanding and processing information:
The candidate can understand the essential elements of simple, common professional reports, texts and documents.
He/she can understand the essential elements of a message that is predictable (in form and content), face to face or over the telephone, within the scope of his/her professional experience.
The candidate can take elements that are suppled and organise them in a given format, write common types of messages related to familiar social and professional activities.
Communicating orally:
The candidate can take part in exchanges about familiar topics in his/her professional context, describe what he/she is doing, exchange factual information, discuss an option and provide explanations in practical situations concerning known topics.
Understanding and processing information |
Duration |
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Process written information |
1: Comment on a diagram |
1h 20 mins. |
2: Provide a suitable response in a problematical situation |
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3: Book exhibition space at a salon on the basis of given instructions |
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4: Fill in a project summary sheet, draw operational conclusions from given information |
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Process spoken information |
5: Organise notes |
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6: Transmit the contents of a message from a client, and some instructions, to a colleague |
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7: Write an e-mail in response to a request, taking into account complementary information |
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Communicate in writing |
8: Write a letter of application |
Communicating orally |
Duration |
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Activity 1: |
Present job candidates’ career histories and justify your choice to the management team |
Preparation: 20 mins. Test: 10 mins. |
Activity 2: |
Present your arguments to a decision-maker / client at an interview / sales pitch |
Total duration of evaluation: 1h 50 minutes.
The Diploma in French for Business B2 validates competence in French at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). It represents approximately 350 hours of study.
It certifies competence in French at an independent level, enabling the user to communicate effectively in wide range of professional situations.
The holder of this diploma can communicate professionally, orally and in writing, in all the standard situations in his professional environment, including those requiring the management of a certain degree of unpredictability
Understanding and processing information:
The candidate can understand the important details of the majority of professional documents in the company. He/she is able to pick out relevant information from professional documents (reports, instruction manuals, instructions, notes, e-mails, letters, etc.) to act effectively.
He/she can understand long, structured presentations or conversations and take notes in order to write minutes, summaries, reports, etc.
Communicating orally:
The candidate is able to present structured information and relevant arguments to convince his/her interlocutor or audience; he/she can react to other people’s arguments and defend a point of view in formal situations involving presentation or interaction (meetings, round-tables, negotiation, etc.)
Understanding and processing information |
Duration |
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Process written information |
1: Write a note / report responding to a problem identified from a written file |
2 hours |
Process spoken information |
2: Write a report of an oral presentation |
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Communicate in writing |
3: Write an e-mail responding to a complaint, taking into account the line manager’s instructions |
Communicating orally |
Duration |
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Activity 1: |
Meet an interlocutor and defend an option in a negotiation |
Preparation: 15 mins. Test: 15 mins. |
Activity 2: |
Present the report of an activity over a given period to a group of people |
Total duration of evaluation: 2h 30 minutes.
The Diploma in French for Business C1 validates competence in French at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). It represents approximately 500 hours of study.
It certifies competence in French at an experienced level, enabling the user to communicate effectively, precisely and in a manner adapted to his/her interlocutor in all professional situations.
The holder of this diploma can communicate professionally and with ease, orally and in writing, in all the standard situations of his professional environment. He/she can also adapt his/her communication to react effectively to unforeseen situations.
Understanding and processing information:
The candidate can understand and process a wide range of long, complex documents, written or oral, precisely identifying the viewpoints and arguments, even implicit, while appreciating nuances of style and tone.
He/she is able to write structured and precise professional documents, nuanced and adapted to their audience, as part of a commercial transaction or in response to a defined problem.
Communicating orally:
The candidate is able to develop rich, precise arguments, to structure his/her speech with refinement and to adapt with flexibility to unforeseen events. He/she can improvise a well-adapted, effective response to a complex or unexpected question.
Understanding and processing information |
Duration |
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Process written information |
1: Write a note / report responding to a problem identified from a written file |
2h. |
Process spoken information |
2: Write the minutes of a round-table meeting at which you were present |
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Communicate in writing |
3: Write an advertorial for a new product |
Communicating orally |
Duration |
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Activity 1: |
Meet an interested client and convince him/her to buy while adhering to the classic phases of commercial negotiation |
Preparation: 15 mins. Test: 15 mins. |
Activity 2: |
Provide a spontaneous answer to a question requiring an elaborate response |
Total duration of evaluation: 2h 30 minutes.