The U.S. Department of State's Foreign Service Institute French Familiarization and Short-Term (FAST) course for personnel working and living in France consists of 10 weeks of French language instruction combined with practical and cultural information. An introductory section outlines FAST course objectives and sample teaching techniques in English and French for the teacher and contains a preface for students. Forty lessons follow that focus on these topics: arrival and meetings; finding a taxi; conversing with an embassy car driver; finding the embassy; hotel procedures and communication; train, air, and subway travel; dry cleaning; shopping at the bakery, delicatessen, greengrocery, butcher shop, pharmacy, and tobacconist; traffic jams; restaurant food and wines; calling a doctor; planning an outing with friends; dining in a French home; dinner conversation; getting a haircut; buying an electrical appliance; answering the embassy telephone; making an appointment; greeting an embassy visitor; getting a traffic ticket; dealing with a traffic accident; finding an apartment; accepting a delivery; calling a locksmith; and responding to emergencies. An appendix addresses letter-writing needs. Indexes and a glossary are included. (MSE)