Yes. The A1 course assumes no French. You also do not need to be strong in English.
French Classes for Beginners in Kolkata: Start From Zero
LNS Academy teaches French from zero at its Airport Gate centre in Kolkata and online. The A1 beginner level takes 3 to 4 months and 60 to 80 class hours. You start with a free demo class and a short placement check.
You do not need any French, and you do not need to be good at English. Our trainers start with the sounds, then simple sentences, then short talks. Your written work is marked every week, and if you miss a class you can ask for a make-up class.
This page tells you what the course covers, what it costs, how long it really takes, and where it stops. It is part of our full range of French classes in Kolkata, which runs from A1 to C2.
Table of Contents
Is this course right for you?
It is made for you if any of these sounds familiar:
- You have never learned French and want to start properly.
- You learned some French in school and forgot most of it.
- You tried an app, learned some words, and then got stuck.
- You can read a little French but cannot say a full sentence.
- You plan to study, work or settle abroad one day and want a solid base.
Why does this happen? French spelling hides its sounds. Every noun has a gender, and English has nothing like it. An app cannot hear you, so it cannot tell you that your R is wrong.
This course may not be right for you in two cases. If you only need a DELF A1 certificate, see our DELF A1 classes. If the learner is a school child, read about French for school students.
Why learn in a class and not only on an app?
You can learn the words and rules of A1 for free. You will find it hard to learn the pronunciation alone, and A1 is exactly where pronunciation habits are set.
- Sounds. Nobody can hear their own nasal vowels. A trainer can.
- Gender. You need someone to correct le table a hundred times in the first two months, or it never settles.
- Speaking. In a class you speak aloud every session. On an app you tap.
- A plan. You move through a fixed 12-week path, so you know what comes next.
We still say: use free material alongside the class. Our guide on free vs paid French classes shows how to combine them.
What does it cost you to wait?
The fee is only part of the cost. The bigger cost is time.
From A1 to B2, the usual path at LNS takes 14 to 20 months. If B2 is your goal, your finish date is simply your start date plus that time. Start six months late and the finish moves six months.
This matters most if you have a date to meet: a university intake, a visa plan or a job change. If you have no deadline, take your time. Just do not wait for the perfect moment, because it rarely comes.
A second cost is bad habits. The longer you guess at French sounds alone, the harder they are to fix later.
How does the course work, step by step?
- Free demo class. Sit in one class, online or at the centre. See how it runs before you pay.
- Placement check. A short check so you start at the right level. Complete beginners start at A1. If you know some French, we tell you honestly where to join.
- Choose your batch. Classroom or online. Call us for current weekday and weekend timings.
- Weeks 1 to 12. Classes, speaking practice and a written task that your trainer marks every week.
- LNS internal exam and certificate. At the end of the level you take our own exam and receive an LNS certificate.
- Move to A2. Or stop here if A1 is all you need.
If you miss a class, ask for a make-up class. Do not wait for the next batch.
What do the first 12 weeks look like?
| Weeks | What you learn | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Alphabet, sounds, nasal vowels, greetings | Say hello and introduce yourself |
| 3–4 | Numbers, être and avoir, articles and gender | Give your name, age, job and city |
| 5–6 | Everyday objects, regular verbs, questions | Ask and answer simple questions |
| 7–8 | Family, time, daily routine | Describe your day in short sentences |
| 9–10 | Food, shopping, ordering | Order a meal and ask the price |
| 11–12 | Directions, simple past, revision | Ask the way and talk about yesterday |
The week-by-week plan is explained in more detail in French from zero: your first 90 days.
What does the beginner course cost?
| Level | Time | Classroom | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 (beginner) | 3–4 months, 60–80 hours | ₹10,000 to ₹26,000 | ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 |
| A2 | 3–4 months, 60–80 hours | ₹10,000 to ₹26,000 | ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 |
The fee depends on the batch and the mode you choose. Call 62891 24658 for the current fee of the batch that suits you. Our course fees page lists all levels.
Budget ₹500 to ₹2,000 separately for books. Exam fees for DELF, TEF or TCF are paid to the exam centre and are not part of this course.
A simple way to compare any two classes: divide the fee by the total class hours. Ask every institute for both numbers.
Why do students choose LNS for French?
| What you want to know | A typical class | LNS |
|---|---|---|
| Fee and hours shown before you call | Often hidden | Hours and fee range shown here |
| Try before you pay | Sometimes | Free demo class |
| Right starting level | Everyone starts together | Placement check before you join |
| Writing feedback | When time allows | Marked every week |
| Missed class | You lose it | Make-up class on request |
| Classroom and online | Often one only | Both, A1 to C2 |
LNS is ISO 9001:2015 certified and rated 4.8 on Google from 89 reviews. You can read the reviews at the bottom of this page.
What can you do after A1, and what can you not do?
After A1 you can introduce yourself, ask and answer simple questions, order food, ask the way and talk about everyday things in short sentences. This is level A1 on the CEFR scale.
You cannot yet follow fast French, talk about opinions, write a long email or work in French. For that you need A2, B1 and B2. We teach all six levels, A1 to C2, so you can continue in the same place.
A1 on its own has limited practical use. A1 as the first of four steps to B2 is a different purchase. Decide where you want to reach, then buy the first step.
If you later want an external exam, LNS prepares you with mock tests but does not conduct or register you for any of them. Our DELF A1 page and our TEF Canada and TCF Canada preparation page explain the options.
How long will it take to reach B2 if you start now?
| Level | Months from your start date |
|---|---|
| A1 finished | 3 to 4 |
| A2 finished | 6 to 8 |
| B1 finished | 10 to 14 |
| B2 finished | 14 to 20 |
For example, start in November 2026 and B2 falls between January and July 2028. A higher weekly study load puts you at the earlier end. These are class durations, not a guarantee. Your own practice decides how fast you move.
Who joins our beginner batches?
- Working adults who want an evening or weekend slot.
- College students adding a skill to their profile.
- Career changers planning to move into French-using companies.
- Applicants for Canada or Europe who want a base before TEF, TCF or DELF.
- Travellers and language lovers who simply enjoy it.
Is French hard for Indians? Less than people think. We wrote about it in why French is easier than its reputation.
Should you join online or at the centre?
Both teach the same A1 syllabus.
- Classroom at 108, Majumder Para, 1 No Airport Gate. Good if you live near Dum Dum, Nagerbazar, Baguiati, Kestopur, Lake Town, Birati or Madhyamgram, or if you learn better face to face.
- Online from anywhere: Salt Lake, New Town, Barasat, Behala, Howrah and the rest of India. Good for long travel times or a busy schedule. The online fee is lower.
Not sure? Take the free demo in the mode you prefer. If it does not suit you, say so.
What mistakes do beginners make?
- Starting with grammar tables. Learn the sounds first. Grammar sits on top.
- Expecting fluency in three months. A1 gives you familiar phrases, not free conversation.
- Not practising between classes. Twenty minutes a day beats a long weekend session.
- Choosing only by fee. Compare hours, marking and certificate, not just the price.
- Skipping the start. The first two weeks are the sound system. Missing them makes everything harder.
Myth: “After A1 I will speak French.” Reality: you will manage short, simple exchanges. That is a real start, and it is enough to build on.
What free options can you use alongside the class?
| Free option | Good for | Weak at |
|---|---|---|
| Language apps | Daily habit, vocabulary | Pronunciation, speaking |
| Video lessons | Hearing real accents | Order and feedback |
| Library books and free courses | Structure at low cost | Nobody checks your work |
| A friend or exchange partner | Speaking practice | Mistakes go uncorrected |
Use them as extra practice. They are good company for a class, not a replacement for one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three to four months, with about 60 to 80 class hours.
At LNS, A1 costs about ₹10,000 to ₹26,000 in the classroom and ₹6,000 to ₹15,000 online, depending on the batch. Books are extra, usually ₹500 to ₹2,000.
You can finish A1 in three to four months. That gives you simple everyday French, not fluency. B1 takes much longer.
Introduce yourself, ask simple questions, order food, ask the way and talk about yesterday in short sentences.
Start with sounds, learn in a class with speaking practice, study twenty minutes a day, and use free apps only as extra practice.
They are the six levels of the CEFR scale, from beginner (A1) to near-native (C2). Most jobs and study plans need B2.
Yes. Book it online or call 62891 24658, and sit in a class before you pay.
Yes. Online batches follow the same A1 syllabus as the classroom.
Ask for a make-up class. Do not wait for the next batch, because the first two weeks matter most.
No. Most people go straight to A2. Take DELF only if you need a portable certificate. LNS prepares you but does not conduct or register you for it.
At LNS Academy, 108, Majumder Para, 1 No Airport Gate, Kolkata 700079. Online batches are also open for the rest of Kolkata.
Start your first French class
Book a free demo class and see how a beginner session runs. We will also tell you honestly if you should start at A1 or join a level higher.
Call 62891 24658 or write to contact@lnsacademy.in. We are at 108, Majumder Para, 1 No Airport Gate, Kolkata 700079.
Related: French classes in Kolkata, A1 to C2, DELF A1 classes, TEF Canada and TCF Canada preparation, and our course fees.
Also useful: online French classes, DELF B2 classes and official centre vs private institute.
A beginner who started where you are
What our students say about us on Google
Book Your Free Demo Class — Here Is How to Start
Starting is simple. Attend a free demo class first — no commitment, no payment required. You will see how we teach, meet the trainer, and get a real sense of the batch before you decide anything.