Home About Us Forms NAFT Calendar Associate Member Links                   

French Language

Why Learn French?

French an international language

French is the living and working language over 300 million people in the world. There are 51 states and governments that use French as their official, second or priority language: this represents one quarter of the nations of the world.

French - Official language for international organisations

French is used as an official language of the United Nations, Red Cross, UNESCO, International Telecommunications Union, Médecins sans Frontières, International Motorcross, Scouts.

French, with English, is one of the two official languages of the Olympic Games, with all announcements, documentation and presentations being delivered in both languages.

French is widely used in international law, business and diplomacy.

French - Used throughout the world

French is a passport to trade opportunities in many parts of the world, particularly in French speaking areas:

    Asia-Pacific Region incl. Tahiti, Wallis and Futuna, New Caledonia, North Africa, Africa/Indian Ocean Region incl. Seychelles, Reunion Island, Senegal, Mauritius… Americas incl. Canada and Guyana, French West Indies incl. Guadeloupe, Martinique European Union incl. France, Belgium, Switzerland...

French Trade Links

In recent years, there has been an increase in French commercial ventures in Australia which are providing employment opportunities for Australians with a knowledge of the French language. Over 40,000 Australians are employed by French companies in areas as diverse as education, fashion, mining, leisure, sport and tourism, telecommunications, banking, translating and interpreting, medical and scientific research, agriculture (wine, wool, dairy product), transport, trade and I.T.

French Companies in Australia

French companies established in Australia over a variety of fields include: Club med, Alcatel (telecommunications), Thompson (radar and electronics), Lyonnaise des Eaux (water purification), BNP Paribas, Remy Martin (Liqueurs etc.) Air Liquide, Jeanneau Boats, Perrier, Novotel (hotels), Renault, Peugeot, Citroën (transport), AXA (insurance), Cartier, Yves Saint-Laurent, Kookai, Dior, J.C. Decaux, Michelin, Téfal, Société Générale, SODEXO (Food & Management Services).

Some Australian companies established in France are : Rip Curl, Brambles, TNT, Sola International, ACI and the list is increasing.

Did you know that...

  • France's rich cultural history is appreciated throughout the world.
  • France's lifestyle, art, music, film, fashion, history, sporting events, food, architecture and scenic beauty make it the most popular tourist destination in the world.
  • France is regarded as a world leader in technological scientific, medical, artistic and literary research and creativitiy.

Learning French

  • Develops greater awareness of other cultures.
  • Encourages empathy towards speakers of English as a second language.
  • Is easy for English speakers as the two languages are closely related.
  • Is an undeniable asset in the increasingly competitive world of work as we enter the twenty-first century.

Teaching French

The tradition of French teaching in New South Wales is well established and continues with about 1000 primary and secondary schools (Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education Office and Association of Independent Schools) delivering strong, innovative programs. French continues to be a popular study at HSC level.

Programs for secondary students of French are also provided through Distance Education via the Open High School. Tertiary and further education can be pursued through the universities, TAFE, Evening Colleges and the Alliance Française.