Learn French in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has had French residents since the 1830s, and today French links the city to film festivals, wine and business across the francophone world. This page covers why Angelenos learn French and where to test their level.
French in Los Angeles
French has no official role in Los Angeles, but it has a long history here. In the 1830s the Frenchman Jean-Louis Vignes acquired land around a great sycamore known as El Aliso, near the old pueblo, and planted vine cuttings brought from Bordeaux; neighbours called him Don Luis del Aliso. Today the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles serves French nationals across Southern California, Southern Nevada, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico, and it has brought the region's French and francophone associations together at a forum. The Alliance Française de Los Angeles, a nonprofit founded in 1985, teaches French and hosts official exams.
Why people in Los Angeles learn French
Angelenos learn French for work in film, fashion, food and wine. Producers and writers who attend festivals in France or work on co-productions find even basic French useful, and chefs and sommeliers use French terms every day. High school students in California can earn the State Seal of Biliteracy in a world language such as French, which is marked on their diploma. Others plan long stays in France, need a TCF result for French nationality, or simply want to enjoy the direct flights between LAX and Paris with more than a phrasebook.
The French you'll hear
Most Angelenos learn French for trips to France or for professional contact with Paris, so standard French is the sensible target. Film and food vocabulary is especially handy here: le tournage (filming), la bande-annonce (trailer) and la carte des vins come up quickly. Many Californians already speak Spanish, which shares a lot of vocabulary with French. Watch for false friends such as Spanish embarazada (pregnant) and French embarrassé (embarrassed), and remember that French often leaves final consonants silent.
- Je travaille dans le cinéma.I work in film.
- On tourne une scène demain matin.We're shooting a scene tomorrow morning.
- Vous pouvez me conseiller un vin ?Can you recommend a wine?
- Il y a beaucoup de circulation sur l'autoroute.There's a lot of traffic on the freeway.
- Je parle espagnol, mais j'apprends le français.I speak Spanish, but I'm learning French.
French exams in Los Angeles
The Alliance Française de Los Angeles (AFdeLA) is an official TCF test centre, and its site lists the TCF for work, study, Québec or Canada immigration and French nationality. For the DELF and DALF, AFdeLA acts as a test site linked to the exam centre of the Alliance Française de Pasadena, which handles registration and payment, while candidates sit the exam at AFdeLA. Check the current session calendar directly with AFdeLA.
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 Los Angeles or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Los Angeles
I already speak Spanish. Will French be easy?
Easier in some ways. Both languages come from Latin, so you will recognise many words, and grammatical gender will feel familiar. Pronunciation and spelling are the main hurdles, because French drops many final letters and uses nasal vowels. French Ultimate is an online course, and its listening work helps Spanish speakers tune in to French sounds.
Is French useful in the Los Angeles film industry?
It is rarely required, but it helps on international productions, at festivals and when working with French distributors or talent. A2 French makes small talk and travel easier, while B2 lets you follow meetings and negotiate. Once the basics are in place, focus on vocabulary for your own field.
Where can I take a French test for nationality in Los Angeles?
AFdeLA describes itself as an official TCF test centre and mentions French nationality among the uses of its TCF. Check which version of the test your application requires before you book. You can prepare online at your own pace, then sit the test in person in Los Angeles.
Learn French from Los Angeles, 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