There are more than 270 million Francophones around the world. Learning the language can open a great number of new cultural and professional horizons for you.
Table of contents
Why learn French?
Learn French at home - In Australia and online
Learn French abroad - New Caledonia & France
Why learn French?
A language spoken all around the world
The French language has approximately 80 million native speakers, as well as 190 million secondary speakers. It is the official language in nearly 30 countries. French is also the second-most commonly studied foreign language, after English.
Second language of international relations
French is one of the official languages of the United Nations (including UNESCO), the European Union, the International Olympic Committee, NATO, OECD, and the International Red Cross.
To demonstrate your level of French and find out about getting a diploma/certificate in French language, visit https://www.australie.campusfrance.org/get-a-diplomacertificate-in-fren…
Learn French in Australia
Outside France, there are three main channels to learn French language:
Alliance Française - an international language learning centre
The Alliances Françaises in Australia are linked with the French Embassy and Campus France. They offer French classes, both in a classroom and online, as well as cultural classes and events to know more about France and its arts, literature, gastronomy, technology, tourism, etc. Find your nearest Alliance Française among the 30 in Australia :
Australian Universities
The majority of universities in Australia feature language departments offering courses in French language. The majority teach French language right from a beginner’s level up to advanced levels and many include options to study French culture, literature and history in addition to the language.
There are several different options allowing students to enrol in French study programs, for example by enrolling in a part-time Diploma of Language or a Bachelor or Master of French Studies, or by taking classes as a major, minor or elective to complement other study programs. Many institutions also offer after-hours courses for professional and continuing education.
Check with your university's school of languages to find out about your options.
Learn French Online
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Watching French TV, such as TV5 Monde, the international Francophone channel, is a great way to become familiar with the French language and culture.
TV5 Monde's online Apprendre platform offers interactive exercises adapted to all levels of French learners. It will help you to understand the French language of today, as it is spoken throughout the world, to learn to look at and analyse images, enrich your vocabulary, test your grammatical knowledge, and find out about French-speaking cultures.
TV5 Monde also hosts an online digital library featuring over 600 French books. -
Radio France Internationale (RFI), the French public radio, doesn’t just broadcast in French, but teaches and promotes it too. RFI Savoirs hosts exercises, informative dossiers and shows to help you learn French and practice comprehension. Broadcast on RFI’s foreign language service, their bilingual series offer non-French-speaking listeners an introduction to the language or the chance to hone their skills. Ranging from suspense stories and literary greats to French chanson, they are an original way to understand the workings of the language.
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The Association Française pour la Formation des Adultes (French Association for Adult Learning) offers MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses), in particular on French as a Foreign Language (FLE) to teach beginners the basics.
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Students preparing for an upcoming programme in science and technology in France can use the FILIPE e-learning program, to gain comprehension of specailist vocabulary in these fields.
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Ensemble en France (Together in France) is a MOOC aimed at improving understanding of France and its values drawing on both history and daily life. The platform has over 50 videos in both French and English.
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SBS provides free, unlimited streaming of TV shows, films and events via SBS On Demand. You can enjoy dozens of French movie on this platform.
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CLE International is a publisher that offers a catalogue of learning materials and a free online platform of reading and listening in easy French, as well as online exercises in comprehension and grammar.
Learn French in New Caledonia
New Caledonia is the closest French speaking territory to Australia, which means you can experience and learn French in total immersion at just 2 hours from Brisbane or 3 hours from Sydney!
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The CREIPAC (Centre de Rencontres et d’Echanges Internationaux du Pacifique) offers language tours and a wide range of French courses. Extra options may be offered including arrangements with host families.
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The University of New Caledonia also conducts French classes, including summer and winter schools for foreign students, and French teaching programs for foreign teachers of French.
Learn French in France
You can learn French as a foreign language (FLE) at one of the hundreds of training centres throughout France, with courses and certifications adapted to all levels. For a short or long stay, you will find the class best-suited to you.
We suggest first searching for a FLE program certified with the Label Qualité FLE, a certification of quality from the Ministry for National Education, Higher Education and Research, the Ministry for Culture and Communication and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Development, that aims to identify, recognise and promote French foreign language schools whose language, teaching and services present assurances of quality.
Search French language programs with the Label Qualité FLE
For more information on this subject, download the mobile application Immersion France which has all the information you will need to learn French in France.