Learn French in Sydney
Sydney's link with France goes back to the week the First Fleet arrived. Today Sydneysiders study French for the HSC, for travel, for work in the Pacific and for stints in France. Here is what to know about learning it from Sydney.
French in Sydney
French has no official status in Australia, but Sydney has a French chapter in its founding story. The Lapérouse expedition arrived in Botany Bay a week after the First Fleet in 1788, and the suburb of La Perouse and its museum, now managed by Randwick City Council, keep that memory alive. The 2021 Census counted 10,791 people born in France living in Greater Sydney, and around two-thirds of them use a language other than English at home. New Caledonia, a French territory, lies across the Coral Sea. In schools, New South Wales students can take French Beginners, French Continuers and French Extension for the Higher School Certificate.
Why people in Sydney learn French
Many Sydneysiders first meet French at school and return to it for the HSC or at university. France and Australia cooperate closely, and the Australia-France Roadmap names education and culture as one of its three pillars. New Caledonia, Vanuatu and French Polynesia are French-speaking neighbours, so French is useful in diplomacy, defence, aid and tourism across the Pacific. Young people heading to France on a working holiday visa want enough French to find a job and a flat. And for many people, a trip to Paris or Provence is reason enough.
The French you'll hear
Because Sydney sits in the Pacific, you may hear French from Nouméa or Port-Vila alongside the French of France. For most learners, standard French is the right base: it is what the HSC and the DELF assess and what you need in Europe. Remember that the seasons are reversed: when it is l'hiver in Sydney, it is l'été in Paris, so take care with dates, months and holiday plans when talking to friends in France.
- Je prépare l'examen de français du HSC.I'm preparing for the HSC French exam.
- Ici, c'est l'hiver en juillet.Here, it's winter in July.
- On va à la plage de Bondi ?Shall we go to Bondi Beach?
- J'ai un visa vacances-travail pour la France.I have a working holiday visa for France.
- Le ferry pour Manly part à quelle heure ?What time does the Manly ferry leave?
French exams in Sydney
The Alliance Française de Sydney says it is the only centre in Sydney accredited to deliver the DELF, DALF, DAEFLE and TCF series exams. Its adult pages cover DELF and DALF as well as the TCF, and it runs DELF Prim and DELF Junior for younger learners. Preparation courses are taught by certified examiners, which helps if you want feedback on practice papers before the real thing.
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 Sydney or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Sydney
I did French for the HSC. Can I get a DELF certificate now?
Yes, and many former HSC students are closer to B1 than they think. Check your level, revise grammar and listening, then book the exam that matches. French Ultimate is an online course with DELF mock exams, so you can test your readiness at home before sitting the real exam at the Alliance Française.
Is French actually useful in Australia's region?
Yes. French is spoken in New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Vanuatu, and France has territories and a military presence in the Pacific. People working in diplomacy, defence, aid and regional tourism often find French a real advantage, and it can help in research partnerships with French institutions.
Does the time difference make learning online from Sydney hard?
No. Self-paced lessons do not depend on European hours, so you can study whenever suits you. If you want to chat with friends or tutors in France, your evening is their morning and your early morning is their late evening, which leaves workable overlaps most days.
Learn French from Sydney, 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