Learn French in Hong Kong
French in Hong Kong has an unusual link to the school system: since the 2025 HKDSE, the DELF is the official examination for French as a Category C subject. That has made the DELF a familiar name for students and parents across the city.
French in Hong Kong
Hong Kong's official languages are Chinese and English, and French has no official role. Its presence comes through long-standing institutions. The Alliance Française de Hong Kong was founded in 1953 and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023; its centres include buildings in Wan Chai and Jordan. The French International School, founded in 1963, runs a French stream that follows the French national curriculum alongside an English-language international stream. A notable recent change concerns secondary school exams: from the 2025 HKDSE, French as a Category C subject is assessed through the DELF, and candidates must reach A2 or above in the two years before they sit the HKDSE. This puts an international French diploma into a local exam system.
Why people in Hong Kong learn French
For secondary students, the HKDSE change gives a clear target: a DELF at A2 or higher. Parents who studied French years ago often relearn it to support them. Adults in finance, law, luxury goods and hospitality work with French, Swiss and Belgian firms, and many keep French as a second foreign language for career reasons. Hong Kong also sends students to universities in France and Canada, where a DELF B2 or a TCF result is often requested. Others are preparing for Canadian immigration with TCF Canada, which AFHK offers. And French is simply popular as a culture hobby here, from film to food.
The French you'll hear
Hong Kong has no local French variety, so the reference is the standard French of France, the basis of both the DELF and the French International School's French stream. For Cantonese speakers, the main hurdles are nasal vowels, the French r and silent final letters, so early listening and speaking practice matters more than vocabulary lists. If you plan to study in Montréal or immigrate to Québec, add some Québec vocabulary at a later stage. For HKDSE candidates, the A2 and B1 levels are mostly about everyday topics, so focus on clear, simple sentences.
- Je passe le DELF A2 cette année.I am taking the DELF A2 this year.
- J'habite à Kowloon.I live in Kowloon.
- Vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ?Could you repeat that, please?
- Je voudrais étudier en France.I would like to study in France.
- Comment dit-on « dim sum » en français ?How do you say "dim sum" in French?
French exams in Hong Kong
The Alliance Française de Hong Kong is the exam centre for the DELF and DALF in Hong Kong, including DELF Prim and DELF Junior. It also runs the TCF, TCF Canada and the DFP professional French diplomas. Since the 2025 HKDSE, the DELF taken there at A2 or above counts as the official exam for French as a Category C subject. Check AFHK's exams page for sessions and the HKDSE rules that apply to your year.
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 Hong Kong or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Hong Kong
Can I use French Ultimate to prepare my child for the DELF A2 for the HKDSE?
French Ultimate is designed for adults, but older teenagers at A1 to B1 can use it alongside school lessons, and it includes DELF mock exams. It is an online course with no classes or teachers in Hong Kong. The exam itself must be taken at the Alliance Française de Hong Kong within the time window the HKDSE rules set.
Is the DELF still worth it if I am not taking the HKDSE?
Yes. The DELF is an official diploma of the French Ministry of Education and never expires, so it works as proof of level for universities in France, employers and some visa applications. Adults in Hong Kong often aim for B1 or B2. You can sit it at the Alliance Française de Hong Kong in the regular sessions.
I am a Cantonese speaker. What is the hardest part of French?
Pronunciation and verb endings tend to take the longest. French spelling has many silent letters, and nasal vowels such as in « pain » or « bon » need practice. Grammar like gender and agreement is new but learnable. French Ultimate includes speaking practice so you hear and repeat sentences from the first unit onward.
Learn French from Hong Kong, 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