The Débuts textbook contains the following proven features.

• Clear and user-friendly chapter organization
• Vocabulaire en contexte presents thematically grouped vocabulary with drawings and scenes from the film with an abundance of exercises for vocabulary development.
• Visionnement 1 provides vocabulary useful for viewing, along with pre-and post-viewing activities coordinated directly with each episode of the film to help students gain a thorough comprehension of what they see and hear.
• Structures consist of three grammar points per chapter, each introduced with clear and concise explanations and examples from the film. Grammar topics are accompanied by a wide range of practice, from controlled and form-focused to open-ended and creative communicative activities.
• Regards sur la culture provides a brief cultural note, along with an accompanying critical thinking question to deepen students’ awareness and understanding of cultural issues raised in the film or chapter vocabulary.
• Visionnement 2 is an optional second viewing section that encourages students to watch the episode again, this time to concentrate on cultural information in the episode.
• Synthèse sections end each chapter with cultural presentations and/or readings, many of which are literary selections. Pre-reading strategies and post-reading comprehension activities help students develop reading skills. A writing activity follows in the Workbook and Laboratory Manual.
• Langage fonctionnel provides useful phrases or expressions for carrying on conversations in particular situations.
• Notez bien! are marginal notes that highlight important details about vocabulary and grammar that students should learn.