For some, life is all about people, interacting, sharing ideas, discussion. For others, not spending time in company or having to talk is bliss. With modern translation tools I could well imagine those of the latter group enjoying life in France without ever having to talk to someone.
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Just to add fuel to an old bonfire, we found that in Bretagne, the brits that flocked over in droves during the late 90’s were seduced by how much house and land they could get in comparison to much more pricewise in the UK and many of those had no intention of learning french or integrating if they could help it. Needless to say, most ended up returning to the uk.
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yes, there are some couples who are very happy with their own company and have no wish to integrate/join-in French life… and, of course, there are French who like to keep themselves very much to themselves…
Different strokes for different folks… 
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Back to the topic in hand - very very basic French should suffice for an A1. It’s only people who refuse to speak any French at all who would have a problem. I have met a couple of people who refuse to speak a single word of French on principle. Odd, but there you go…
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I call my French … basic… as my vocabulary is somewhat limited, but when I chatter… (which is most of the time)… I might not be speaking “good” French, but people can understand me… and if I don’t understand them (or am afraid I have misunderstood) I have enough nerve to ask them to use another phrase/word… 
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As an aside…
At a recent checkup…the Trainee asked if I’d like him to speak to me in English… and my Doc butted in… saying more or less… Madame speaks perfect French… which had me chuckling but I was chuffed…
In the end, with my Doc’s consent… I encouraged “the lad” to speak English… gently correcting his pronunciation when necessary… and I spoke to him and my Doc in French…
entente cordiale…
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On a serious note, during Covid I wondered how those who have no French managed in keeping up with the ever changing rules announced on the public service websites and clarified in the press. I suppose they had to get their info second hand via forums, asking friends etc. Personally I would hate to not understand what is going on around me and having to rely on other people to help me.
In fact this thread is a perfect example of how those who are unable to understand the language of the country they live in and whose laws they are subject to, can easily misunderstand their obligations.
Factual. I would consider basic French as matching French A1 level
- Comprendre et utiliser des expressions familières et quotidiennes et des énoncés très simples qui visent à satisfaire des besoins concrets
- Savoir se présenter ou présenter quelqu’un
- Pouvoir poser à une personne des questions la concernant et répondre au même type de questions
- Communiquer de façon simple si l’interlocuteur parle lentement et distinctement et se montre coopératif
And without French hard to go to cinema, theatre, lectures, etc etc or interact at anything other than a superficial level with people who do not speak your language. And of course can have a very rich life in other aspects but in terms of being integrated it is quite small.
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That sounds like a gagnant-win situation.
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With or without French my life preferences do not include cinema, theatre or lectures although I feel this is a lecture to tell me it should be. Integration to whatever degree is a personal choice and has no affect on the richness of life which for me is vast in so many ways.
well, it certainly was for him… 
I might well have been his first English patient… he was so eager to try out his language skills . Hearing him muttering mangled English to himself… I thought it best to help him along… as I understood his French but not his English…
Turns out he’s in his 7th year of medical training…
and this was his first week out in the real world getting some “work experience”.
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His mentor was probably trying to steer him towards accuracy in French rather than risking misunderstandings, by him or the patient, with his poor English. You may have had a close shave Stella 
Like the case of the poor man who awoke from a minor operation in a French hospital to find his surgeon standing beside his bed. The surgeon declared he had good news and bad news. The patient asked for the bad news first… we’ve accidentally amputated both your legs. OMG, what’s the good news… the man in the next bed wants to buy your slippers.
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Having looked at the paper @Wozza posted, I’m pretty sure I could pass A1 written, but not a chance in conversation. Language happens in 2 places for me, inside my head and out there with others, and need to be learnt separately.
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That’s a really good description of the process at the beginning. The frustrating process of needing to translate into your native language what someone says; devise a response in NT; translate into target language … by which time the conversation has moved on or, worse, moved into English!
[quote=“Ancient_Mariner, post:34, topic:47804”] need to be learnt separately.
[/quote]
Perhaps at first, but with perseverance it comes. Steve Kaufman (https://www.youtube.com/@Thelinguist) would encourage you to vary your input and focus on reading and listening, and worry less about writing and speaking. I’ve found that very helpful.
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I was tempted to ask if he’d ever taken a patient’s blood pressure before… seeing the absolute mess he was getting himself (and me) into…
When he finally got a reading, he decided I must be about to explode (and he wasn’t far wrong…)
I agree about the need for accuracy with language… in so many areas… but particularly Medical and Legal… I hear the French and ensure I understand it completely, even if it takes a while of to-ing and fro-ing…
Medical training in France is a long, arduous and very competitive process. They’re all probably exhausted when they qualify. The pay isn’t mind boggling either, though probably topped up with allowances etc.
yes, the previous “trainee” was a gorgeous hunk, just finishing his 10 years and about to step into the world as a much needed General Practitioner…
today’s news: GP’s will get 30 euro per consultation as from December 2024…
Wow… I reckon I could pass that one… 
Makes what I remember of my O-Level frenchexam look like an exercise in applied nuclear physics!