Ofii Frello app adds convenience to learning French

Since September, newcomers undergoing the Ofii integration process have been using a French-made app called Frello for their free French language training – which Ofii says was designed with flexibility in mind.

It means most people who formerly would have been required to do 100-600 hours of in-person lessons are now invited to do it alone, using the Frello smartphone or desktop computer app.

This is offered to people assessed at less than European level A2 French at their Ofii welcome day, when an evaluation is done. 

Those with A2 or more are deemed not to require this and only those with the most serious needs, notably if they cannot read or write (in the usual western alphabet), will be invited to attend in-person classes.

Frello, created by a start-up based in Lyon, is offered free for a year to relevant candidates. The firm was chosen because it already had experience in online training, in particular for vulnerable people.

Ofii’s deputy head, Christophe Gontard, said Ofii language training is now proposed, but not compulsory. People also have the option to work on their French in alternative ways, such as taking classes privately or classes offered by their employer.

For now, he said, it is too early to evaluate the app’s success – that will be done in September this year.

Users are set up with an account on the app at their Ofii welcome day when they sign the Republican integration contract (CIR; this applies to people coming on many common kinds of residency status, such as employees and self-employed workers).

Users can use the app as much or as little as they want and are invited to work through modules, designed by the Frello team. They can skip certain modules if they are confident in that material or feel they are progressively faster than the pace of the lessons being proposed.

Mr Gontard said. “We’ve no negative feedback so far and have millions of connections per day, which proves people are using it, and they are connecting several times a day.”

Users are invited to set personal goals, including how much time they plan to spend on the app, but Mr Gontard said no one will be checking on whether you have met your goals or not. 

“The idea of the legislators was that CIR signatories should take responsibility for reaching level A2, so it’s up to them,” he said.

People may use Frello as much or as little as they wish and the results of their efforts will be seen when they book to take a language test so as to apply for a first multi-year residency card or 10-year resident’s card.

After each module people can opt for an assessment of their level, which is done by AI.

Mr Gontard added: “The application is constantly evolving based on feedback we get from the field and specific requests.”