This document on the threshold level in French is the result of a project commissioned by the Council of Europe to produce a system of units in foreign language instruction for adults in Europe. The "threshold level" is conceived as the compilation of knowledge and skills a person would need in order to express oneself simply but effectively in a foreign environment. It is not limited to communication for survival but rather it aims to enable the person to communicate with others on an interpersonal level, that is, to be able to share to some extent their interests and life style. This document is intended to provide theoretical and practical information to persons involved in the administration and construction of programs and courses. The material is presented under the following general headings: (1) the threshold-level approach; (2) potential students and scope of interest; and (3) speech acts. The first section treats learning systems, analysis of needs and determination of objectives, the relationship between the communication situation, language function, and the choice of approach. The second section deals with types of student, social relations and language activity, and possible orientations. The third section presents an inventory of speech acts under the headings: ordering, social acts, and discursive operations. (AMH)