Inside: French curriculum for high school French 1-4 without using a textbook. A French CI curriculum. French Comprehensible Input Curriculum.
Author: Allison Wienhold
Published: July 22, 2019 & most recently updated January 23, 2025
Why a French Curriculum?
Planning a French curriculum for high school students can feel overwhelming. This is especially true if you’re looking to implement a comprehensible input (CI) French curriculum.
I know that teaching the French language and having a full French program can be rare in the United States.
I know around me in Iowa World Languages or Foreign Language are becoming speciality courses. Even higher education institutions around me have less educational opportunities for a strong French program. In my experience, American universities do not put a high value learning a new language or language teaching.
At the same time my area has had an influx of French speakers from French-speaking countries in Africa. A French immersion elementary program was actually started in a neighboring urban district.
French Curriculum
If you are here, it is because you are likely a French teacher to high school students or middle school students of French. You value cultural knowledge and learning a new language in secondary schools.
This post offers a roadmap for French teachers who want to build a meaningful, proficiency-focused curriculum for their students without relying on traditional textbooks. It focuses on communication skills, language acquisition, and French culture.
Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or new to teaching French, these resources will help you create engaging and effective lesson plans that align with best practices in world language education.
French Comprehensible Input Curriculum
For many years, I’ve shared my comprehensible input-based curriculum for Spanish 1-4. This includes how to use novels to structure language learning. I’ve also shared Spanish Curriculum for Middle School.
Recently, I’ve been asked what I would recommend for French teachers. Teacher have reached out since I have a few of my resources in French.
I’m not a French teacher. But, I value World Languages. French teacher have told me they struggle to find supplemental resources for their proficiency based French program.
I’ve curated these recommendations based on feedback from other French educators and my experience with the Spanish equivalents of these resources.
I have many World Language friends who teach both exploratory Spanish & French to middle school students. Many of my French resources have come from requests and collaborations with teachers of both languages. So, if you see something I offer in Spanish and would love in in French, please send me an email!
If you’re interested in all of my French resources, check out this comprehensive French Mega Bundle.
How to Create a French Curriculum?
Before diving in, it’s helpful to read my post on how I create a CI curriculum to understand the framework. You may also be interested in Sustainable Spanish Lesson Planning for many preps.
Please note this is meant for French as a second language teacher. I’m not familiar with French schools, French national curriculum, ministry of national education, or educational objectives of the French system. A French Canadian teacher of 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade or 12th grade would be a better fit for that request.
First Week of French Class
Start here for resources to start the year in all levels of French classes. First Week of French class ideas
Many World Language teachers use my Proficiency Puzzle for week 1 to introduce proficiency levels in all levels. You can get a ready to go Proficiency Puzzle.
French Class Routines
You might know I LOVE Class Routines. I have a few resources for French Bell Ringers. What is great is you can use these same French class routine resources will all levels of high school French you teach!
Weekend Chat
- Weekend Chat in French Find Someone Who
- Digital French Weekend Chat – to use variations on Mondays
- Learn more >> Weekend Chat 20 Ways to Mix it Up
Travel Videos of French Speaking Countries
- mardi autour du monde – geography of the French-speaking world via maps & travel videos
- Learn more > Ways to use Travel Videos in Class
Dance Brain Breaks in French
- La danse de vendredi – for each Friday
- Learn more > 5 Ways to use Dance in any classroom
French Class Speaking Resources to use in all levels French 2-4
- Mon Été – 1st day of school – interpersonal speaking in French for the first day of French 2+ (past tense)
- Find Someone Who Pre Holiday Break – interpersonal speaking for the day before Winter Break (future tense)
- Find Someone Who French Post Holiday Break – interpersonal speaking for the day after Holiday break in French 2+ (past tense)
French 1 Curriculum
Comprehensible Input French Curriculum for High School French 1. Mostly high-frequency verbs and story units to lay a foundation of communication skills in French.
- My French igh Frequency verb units – Super 7 + Sweet 16
- Martina Bex French curriculum units 1-8
- Edi l’éléphant (if this novice French class was elementary or MS) OR
- Brandon Brown dit la vérité (if this novice French class was high school)
French 2 Curriculum
Comprehensible Input French Curriculum for High School French 2. Mostly novel units – each unit about a quarter including teacher’s guide materials.
- Mon Été – 1st day of school
- (review if needed) High Frequency verb units – Super 7 + Sweet 16
- BRANDON BROWN À LA CONQUÊTE DE QUÈBEC(French Canada)
- Bart veut un chat
- La France en Danger (France)
- UNE OBSESSION DANGEREUSE (French Louisiana)
French 3 Curriculum
Comprehensible Input French Curriculum for High School French 3. Mostly novel units.
- Mon Été – 1st day of school
- (review if needed) High Frequency verb units – Super 7 + Sweet 16
- French Weekend Chat all year long
- NEW I would now mix in units from Somewhere To Share Empreintes Upper Level French Curriculum with novels. You could alternate with a Empreintes unit & then a novel, picking your favorite 3 novels.
- LE MANOIR DE LA DENTISTE – graphic novel + Sr. Wooly song materials
- NUITS MYSTÉRIEUSES À LYON (France)
- La classe des confessions (1) & Le Beau mensonge
- La Statue (Haiti)
French 4 Curriculum
Comprehensible Input French Curriculum for High School French 4. Mostly novel units – dig deeper into the diverse French-speaking world
- Mon Été – 1st day of school
- French Weekend Chat all year long
- mardi autour du monde all year long
- NEW I would now mix in units from Somewhere To Share Empreintes Upper Level French Curriculum with novels. You could alternate with a Empreintes unit & then a novel, picking your favorite 3 novels.
- LE VOL DES OISEAUX(Cameroon)
- PROBLÈMES AU PARADIS (Martinique)
- L’île au trésor (French Canada)
- AU REVOIR L’ACADIE(1755 Acadia)
French Freebie!
Enter your email below for these 1st day of French class name game slides. Learn more about Name Game Speedball.
Do you teach French with CI? What is your French Comprehensible Input Curriculum? What would you add or change? Get all resources mentioned all together in this French Bundle.
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