Visual French 1
- Age: 13+
- 1 Full Credit
This product is licensed for single student use only.
Request a group or school license.
Visual French 1
- Age: 13+
- 1 Full Credit
Dwane Thomas (of Visual Latin fame) is turning his hand to teaching French in this exciting new series. He approaches it through the “natural method” of reading, hearing, and speaking French in a conversational, enjoyable way. He’s already taught hundreds of students how to parlez en français and looks forward to teaching many more.
This product is licensed for single student use only.
Request a group or school license.
Description
After teaching thousands of students how to read (and love) Latin, Dwane Thomas is now teaching French with his effective and engaging style. Visual French is a French language video curriculum that uses the ‘natural method,’ an approach that imitates how children naturally learn language. Dwane has been teaching students how to speak French using this method for many years and has seen impressive results.
The class is based on the European textbook Le Français par la Méthode Nature (French by the Natural Method). This carefully-designed French book teaches French through stories and pictures along with extensive listening and reading. Grammar is taught by usage and explanation, with conversation coming naturally over time.
Visual French 1 covers the exact same concepts and vocabulary as a traditional French 1 high school class, but with a different order and approach. Students often say they prefer this method because it’s so much more enjoyable than a traditional class.
What are the benefits to this approach?
- Engages students with stories in French to learn vocabulary and grammar.
- Requires less direct memorization.
- Teaches French grammar by usage.
- Develops French comprehension quickly and naturally.
- Creates greater familiarity with the sounds and cadence of French.
- More enjoyable than the traditional way of learning French.
How is the class structured?
Each lesson follows a repeating pattern:
- Read and Watch – Dwane reads a section of a chapter while explaining different aspects of French.
- Listen – A native French speaker reads the same section Dwane just covered.
- Repeat – Students have a chance to repeat what they are hearing from the native speaker.
- Grammar – Dwane explains the grammar concepts introduced in the reading, then students can review a grammar summary.
- Vocabulary Practice – Students study vocabulary with flashcards, then take a repeatable quiz to help learn new words.
- Exercises – The book provides various exercises to deepen understanding.
Includes:
- 32 lessons with multiple instructional videos
- Chapters 1-11 of Le Français par la Méthode Nature by Arthur Jensen (view sample)
- Vocabulary practice and exercises with built-in vocabulary flashcards
- Comprehension exercises
Get Course Facilitation Students actively taking this course can join our dedicated group where facilitators answer student questions, provide Zoom discussion of lesson content, and give assistance with projects, labs, portfolios and more! Check out our groups.
Ages: 13+
Credit: 1 HS Foreign Language
Note: This course requires Le Français par la Méthode Nature by Arthur Jensen (available as a PDF with course purchase, or separately as a print copy). Students read directly from the textbook alongside video instruction.
Try sample lessons in our online learning platform.
License: This product is licensed for use by one student. For family, group, co-op, or school use, each student will need his or her own license. For more information, visit our group license page.
Additional information
| Age | 13+ |
|---|---|
| Age/Grade | |
| Credit | 1 HS Foreign Language |
| Credit Amount | |
| Lessons | 32 |
| Lesson Length | Approx. 39 minutes |
| Teacher | Dwane Thomas |
| Format | Streaming – 18 Months of Access |
| Runtime | 15 Hours, 30 Mins |
| Requires | "Le Français par la Méthode Nature" textbook (available as a PDF with course purchase, or separately as a print copy) |
| Type | Curriculum |
Lessons
- Introduction – How This Class Works
- Week 1 – Les Duclos (Ch 1)
- Week 2 – Les Duclos (Ch 1)
- Week 3 – La Famille (Ch 2)
- Week 4 – La Famille (Ch 2)
- Week 5 – L’année (Ch 3)
- Week 6 – L’année (Ch 3)
- Week 7 – Les Grands-Parents (Ch 4)
- Week 8 – Les Grands-Parents (Ch 4)
- Week 9 – Les Grands-Parents (Ch 4)
- Week 10 – Villes et Pays (Ch 5)
- Week 11 – Villes et Pays (Ch 5)
- Week 12 – Villes et Pays (Ch 5)
- Week 13 – La Famille Leroux (Ch 6)
- Week 14 – La Famille Leroux (Ch 6)
- Week 15 – Le Jardin (Ch 7)
- Week 16 – Le Jardin (Ch 7)
- Week 17 – Le Jardin (Ch 7)
- Week 18 – L’Heure (Ch 8)
- Week 19 – L’Heure (Ch 8)
- Week 20 – L’Anniversaire (Ch 9)
- Week 21 – L’Anniversaire (Ch 9)
- Week 22 – L’Anniversaire (Ch 9)
- Week 23 – L’Anniversaire (Ch 9)
- Week 24 – Le Déjeuner (Ch 10)
- Week 25 – Le Déjeuner (Ch 10)
- Week 26 – Le Déjeuner (Ch 10)
- Week 27 – Le Déjeuner (Ch 10)
- Week 28 – L’Après-Midi (Ch 11)
- Week 29 – L’Après-Midi (Ch 11)
- Week 30 – L’Après-Midi (Ch 11)
- Week 31 – L’Après-Midi (Ch 11)
Sample Lessons
Experience sample lessons inside our learning platform:
- Engaging video lectures
- Natural Method reading practice
- Grammar explanations
- Vocabulary practice
- Interactive resources
In the meantime, here are just four of the videos available at the link above.
Grading
When you add grading to this course, your student gets feedback from someone who knows the curriculum inside and out. Grading unlocks submission steps in the course and provides written comments, grades for transcripts, external accountability, and support for your homeschool.
What gets graded in Visual French grading?
- All Exercice B (11)
- All Résumé: Exercice D (7)
Learn more about personalized course grading here.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Visual French and Visual Latin?
Visual Latin was designed to teach students to read Latin—an unspoken language used primarily for reading classical texts and the Vulgate Bible. Visual French is designed to teach students to speak French—a living language spoken by over 300 million people worldwide. The teaching approach reflects this difference: Visual French emphasizes pronunciation, listening comprehension, and conversational ability from the very first lesson.
Does the streaming access expire?
Course purchase grants a single user 18 months to complete the streaming course.
What age is Visual French for?
Middle and High school, or 13 and up. The engaging teaching style works well for high school and even adult learners.
Do I need to buy the textbook separately?
No. Visual French is designed to be used alongside Le Français par la Méthode Nature by Arthur Jensen. A PDF copy of the book is included with your streaming license. Students read directly from the textbook while watching the video lessons. A print version of the textbook is available from Amazon here.
Can my student work independently?
Yes! Dwane’s clear instruction means students can watch the videos and complete reading assignments on their own. Parents don’t need to know French to use this curriculum—though you might find yourself learning alongside your kids.
How does Visual French compare to other French curricula?
Most French curricula focus heavily on grammar drills and vocabulary memorization. Visual French draws upon the “Nature Method,” which teaches French the way you learned English as a child—through comprehensible input and immersion. Students read interesting stories (entirely in French) that systematically introduce new vocabulary and grammar in context.
How is the course sequenced? What does a week look like?
Each chapter is broken into multiple lessons, typically covering 4-5 days of instruction. A typical day involves watching a video (10-20 minutes), reading from the textbook, and completing practice exercises. Most families complete one lesson per week.
Is Visual French good for high school credit?
Yes. Visual French 1 covers substantial content equivalent to a first-year high school French course. With 15.5 hours of video instruction plus reading, exercises, and vocabulary practice, students will accumulate well over 120 hours of study—appropriate for 1 high school foreign language credit.
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