Learn French in Berlin
Berlin's ties with French go back more than three centuries, to the Huguenot refugees welcomed after 1685. Today the city has bilingual German-French state schools, a French lycée and an Institut français.
French in Berlin
German is Berlin's official language, but French has a long history here. After Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes in 1685, the Great Elector's Edict of Potsdam invited French Protestant refugees to Brandenburg, and by 1700 historians estimate that a fifth to a quarter of Berlin's population was of French origin. The Französisches Gymnasium, founded in 1689 for Huguenot children, is described as the city's oldest public school and is now also known as the Lycée Français de Berlin. Since 1992 the Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin has included German-French bilingual schools within the state system. The Institut français Berlin offers French courses and cultural events, and the Institut français Deutschland coordinates the DELF in schools across Berlin and Brandenburg.
Why people in Berlin learn French
Berliners learn French for European careers, for Franco-German cooperation and for their children's schools. France is one of Germany's closest partners, and jobs in politics, NGOs, media and research in Berlin often value French. Parents whose children attend a German-French Europa-Schule or the Französisches Gymnasium learn to follow school life. Many students plan a semester or degree in France, sometimes through German-French joint programmes. Berlin's large international population also includes French speakers from France, Belgium, Switzerland and Africa, so French is useful socially. And Paris is reachable by direct flight or by train.
The French you'll hear
Berlin has no local French, though Berlin German uses some words borrowed from French, such as "Boulette" for a meat patty. For learners, the target is standard French of France, used by the Institut français and the DELF. German speakers usually find French grammar manageable but need practice with nasal vowels and liaison, while the French r comes fairly naturally. In professional settings, mastering the polite vous and formal letter style is useful.
- J'habite à Berlin, dans le quartier de Kreuzberg.I live in Berlin, in the Kreuzberg area.
- Mes enfants vont à une école bilingue.My children go to a bilingual school.
- Je travaille sur un projet franco-allemand.I am working on a Franco-German project.
- Je prends le train pour Paris ce week-end.I am taking the train to Paris this weekend.
- On se tutoie ?Shall we use « tu » with each other?
French exams in Berlin
The Institut français Berlin offers French courses and internationally recognised language certificates. For schools, the Institut français Deutschland organises the DELF scolaire in Berlin and Brandenburg. Adults take the DELF or DALF at authorised exam centres in Germany listed by France Éducation international, and the Institut français network also offers the TCF and TEF. Contact the Institut français Berlin to confirm the next adult session in the city.
Check dates and fees with the exam centre directly; they change every session.
Where to start in the course
French Ultimate is an online course, so you can follow it from Berlin or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Berlin
Is there French in Berlin's state schools?
Yes. The Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin has German-French bilingual schools where lessons are taught in both languages from primary school up to the Abitur, and places are allocated by lottery when demand is high. Many other schools teach French as a foreign language. Pupils can take the DELF through their school with the Institut français.
I learned French at school in Germany. Can I restart online?
Yes. Most German school leavers have a solid base in grammar but less confidence speaking. A placement test will show where to restart. French Ultimate is an online course, with no school or teachers in Berlin, and lets you focus on speaking practice and listening, with DELF mock exams when you are ready.
Which level of French do jobs in Berlin ask for?
Job adverts that mention French often ask for B2 or C1, especially in politics, EU-related work, NGOs and research. A DELF or DALF diploma gives an official proof that employers in Germany and France recognise. For daily social use, B1 is often enough to hold real conversations.
Learn French from Berlin, at your own pace
Animated video lessons that stop for your answers, speaking practice, graded stories and DELF/DALF mock exams, from A1 to C2. Start with the free placement test to see where you are.
Take the placement test