Learn French in Melbourne

French class with Virginie

Bonjour!

French is our most popular language at Lyceum. As a result we have always been able to offer a full range of classes across our four centres.

After English, French is the world’s most commonly taught second language. It is spoken by almost 120 million people in 37 countries around the world – in many African countries, in Quebec and Louisiana in North America, in Switzerland, Belgium, and New Caledonia.

Because English and French are related to one another, you will find many similarities between the two languages, which will assist you to learn very quickly.

In Lyceum classes, French is taught using the communicative method. Our primary concern in class is to enable you to practise the spoken language as frequently as possible. The objective is to equip you to handle practical everyday situations. It will only take 60 hours of tuition (class levels 1-4) in our small class environment, to enable you to manage the following:

• Social interaction
• Planning outings
• Getting about town
• Shopping and other transactions, such as the bank and post office
• Booking accommodation and talking about the home

The classes at levels 1-4 are recommended to people who wish to travel to a French-speaking country, and also for those who plan to use French with their family and friends here in Melbourne.

As part of your course, our teachers will encourage you to seek out the French speaking community in Melbourne, in order to help you practice the speaking and listening skills that you learn in class. Melbourne has a large population of French speakers, which affords you great opportunities to practice the language and learn about the culture.
Teachers will give you information about the French radio and television programmes, and newspapers available in Melbourne, and also about French festivals & events in Melbourne.

In class you will pool information about the best Melbourne French restaurants, French food stores, bookshops and French clubs to help you further immerse yourself in the culture. With Lyceum's help, classes often plan outings together.

By the time you have done a further 60-90 hours (Intermediate level) you will have done an in-depth study of the grammar, have a rich vocabulary, and be able to speak fluently with native speakers on a wide range of subjects.

Each level of study at Lyceum corresponds to 15 hours of adult tuition, or twelve to eighteen months at high school. Check our course guide to see which level would suit you best, then call us to discuss and confirm.

Some of our French teachers.

Left to Right:
Veronique, Caroline, Lionel and Agnes

 

French Language Course - Level 1

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 1, chapter 1 and first half of chapter 2)

Content of Classes:

• The alphabet and pronunciation of French sounds. How to spell your name.
• Greetings and how to introduce yourself and others.
• Genders (Masculine/Feminine). Masculine and Feminine adjectives.
• Regular useful verbs (to be, to understand, to speak, to look at, to listen, to learn, to have, to like, to prefer).
• How and when to use definite (the) and indefinite articles (a/an, some).
• Introduction of the Plural.
• The use of negation.
• The numbers 1-60.
• How to express preference (likes and dislikes).
• How to ask questions: who is it? What is it?
• How to enquire about a person's personal details. Giving similar information about yourself.
• Presentation of self.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Level 2

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 1, second half of chapter 2 and chapter 3)

Content of Classes:

• Professions in France.
• Learn how to tell the date and the time. Learn the seasons, months days of the week.
• In French we use the verb "connaître" to express to know of something, a place or someone and the verb "savoir" to express knowledge of a fact or how to do something.
• How to express your preferred leisure activities.
• Uses of the verb to go. Ex: I am going to the cinema, I am going to see a film.
• Learn how to say what you are going to do on the week-end.
• How to talk about your city and how to ask questions about a place? The use of there is (not) and there are (not): il y a, il n'y a pas...
• How to suggest, accept or refuse something. Learn these very useful verbs: to be able to, to want to and to have to.
• Asking questions. Find out that there are several ways to structure questions in French.
• Use of the polite sentence structure (using the conditional tense of the verb to want to): I would like...
• Learn about the disjunctive pronouns: moi (me), toi (you)...
• How to book accommodation, talk about travel details and make plans with others.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Level 3

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 1, chapter 4 and first half of chapter 5)

Content of Classes:

• We all need to ask for information: how to get around and ask for directions.
• Introduction of possession mode using mine, yours...
• Speaking about the past. Use the past compound (passé composé)
• Reflexive verbs are a big part of French verbs. They are used a lot to describe your daily routine. Tell your class what you do every day.
• Use of demonstratives (this, these). Ce, cette, ces.
• Learn how to describe accommodation in more detail, describing your house.
• More questions and answers: why and because. Pourquoi? Parce que...
• The use of the impersonal form of verbs.
• Use of the imperative form:how to give instructions, advice and commands.
• Have fun discovering the relationship between words (verbs, nouns, adjectives...).
• Writing a letter to a friend giving advise on what to do and see.
• Make a list of things you can (il faut) or can't (il ne faut pas) do in various environments.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Level 4

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 1, second half of chapter 5 and chapter 6)

Content of Classes:

• How to inform and express certainty/doubt, possibility/impossibility.
• How to communicate using direct and indirect complement pronouns?
• Use of direct and indirect questions.
• How to read and respond to a variety of messages and documents.
• How to shop in France! Useful verbs, adjectives and sentences to use to ask for, choose, describe and buy items.
• Learn about the Past Participle and its agreement when the auxiliary "être" is used in the past compound.
• Talking about a past event or holiday.
• Learn about clothing and tendencies.
• The use of expressions of quantity (indefinite, numbers, a lot, a little)
• Learn about famous French festivals and how to relate information about ones you know to others.
• Food in France, reading menus, what your preferences are, planning an outing to a restaurant.
• Describing things, people with even more adjectives. The position of certain adjectives changes. We also explore colours and materials (la matière).

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Level 5

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 1, chapter 7 and first half of chapter 8)

Content of Classes:

• How to use direct and indirect pronouns.
• How do you communicate comfortably with others and avoid repetition.
• How to describe the members of a family.
• Talk about your family. Ask questions to others about family.
• Body parts and describing people "le physique des personnes".
• Astrology and describing people "le charactère, la personalité".
• Learn how to write a short biography using the past tense and link past events together.
• Sentences and expressions used to offer others reassurance and comfort in French.
• Offering advice and possible solutions for social problems.
• The past: usage of imperfect in descriptions and past memories
• Find out how to talk about evolution, changes and habits. Talking about the things you used to do in the past.
• Looking at French history and past trends in music, politics, society.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Level 6

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 1, second half of chapter 8 and chapter 9)

Content of Classes:

• The present and the past. Compare and describe how things change.
• How to use expressions of time, continuation and duration to situate events in time with precision.
• Molière, La Révolution et les châteaux de France. Put together what you know about France so far and find links with historical events.
• How to describe and talk about a business. Who does what in a work place.
• The use of the pronoun "en" to describe "some" and avoid repetition.
• The use of the pronoun "y" to describe "there" and avoid repetition.
• Express your opinion on the use of technology in society.
• Introduction of the future tense. L'avenir, what will we watch, do, be like...
• Describing various stages of action and using the correct linking words.
• Health and doctors, insurance: we all have to deal with these issues.
• Project of realization, finding and idea/concept, realizing a product and describing it to others. You have to explore market needs and demands. Be prepared to answer questions!
• Indirect speech: how to report messages and relate information.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Lower Intermediate 1

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 1, chapter 10 & chapter 11)

Content of Classes:

• Learn how to compare things, people, places. Expressing preference from one thing to another and giving reasons.
• Expressing resemblance or difference.
• Making suppositions. Using the structure if...
• "Lettre de voyage". Describing the climate and scenery and convincing someone to join you.
• Television and what you watch. How does French television compare to what we watch in Australia?
• Exploring the media in France and social problems.
• Communicate your opinions on various issues to members of the class, using expressions such as I think that, in my opinion, etc.
• Describing a physical or mental state. How one is, how it(illness) happened?
• Tell people what they can or cannot do (interdire/autoriser)
• Learn about politics in France.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Lower Intermediate 2

Learn French (Lessons from Campus1 and 2, chapter 12 and chapter 1)

Content of Classes:

• How to describe a place of interest in more detail.
• Use of "qui", "que", "où" to specify information.
• Learn how to express your feelings in French. Prepare a phone conversation with a friend, using expressions of deception, joy, indifference...
• Travel and new vocabulary to describe a trip in depth.
• Making travel arrangements, words and expressions to confirm, cancel.
• Learn more about book fairs and a few famous French novels and authors.
• Revision of the past tenses including the Imperfect tense.
• Survey: What type of student are you?
• More on how to eliminate repetition using personal pronouns.
• Expressing an opinion on modern art, the (mis)use of technology and new strategies to eliminate pollution.
• Learn how to emphasise on qualities.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Intermediate 1

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 2, chapter 2 & chapter 3)

Content of Classes:

• Use of the Conditional to express a hypothesis.
• Make a list of hypothetical sentences.
• French cinema. Learn about some famous films, directors, actors and describing characters, plots and settings.
• Writing letters of application (formal letters).
• Understanding and retelling an anecdotal story.
• Exploring "new" words of the French language.
• Learn to express a wish, a necessity.
• Introduction of the Subjunctive tense.
• Learn about some regions of France.
• Speaking about the environment and strategies to protect natural habitat.
• The animal world and the protection of endangered species.
• Describing a natural disaster and retelling an incident.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course - Intermediate 2

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 2, chapter 4 & chapter 5)

Content of Classes:

• How to present and talk about a current event/news.
• Learning to use the passive structure.
• Expressing possibility and probability.
• Retelling mysterious happenings. Learn about some French legends and myths.
• More on asking questions to retrieve very specific information.
• Use of indefinite adjectives and pronouns.
• Retelling a short story.
• Use of demonstrative and interrogative pronouns to indicate/specify choice.
• Speaking of adventure sports and the outdoors.
• Conversation using expressions of surprise.
• Writing personal letters and expressing feelings in writing.
• Memories and expressing them in a variety of forms such as poetry.

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

French Language Course Upper Intermediate 1

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 2, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8 & chapter 9)

Content of Classes:

• Learn how to express the cause of an occurrence.
• Learn how to express the consequence of situation.
• Prepare a role play using words and expressions to describe fear/worry and to reassure.
• Use words to link ideas in speech.
• Learn how to justify an action and to express a goal.
• The use of adjectives and pronouns to express possession.
• Use of structures to claim and to negotiate.
• Learn how to talk about rules and rights.
• Asking for authorisation or approval in various situations.
• Learn how to reorganise the information within a sentence to give/shift importance from one thing to another (constructions relatives).
• Talking about your job/career, your professional life.
• Express of possibility using the past conditional (make hypothesis).
• How to indicate the importance of an action.
• Rearrange written information and present in chronological form.
• Use of the past perfect to express action of a long time ago.
• Quiz: How much do you know on the history of France?
• How to report on past thoughts and conversations.
• Education in France. How it all works and how it compares to the Australian education system.
• Learning how to talk about chance meetings and situations.
• The world of sports and what the popular sports are these days.
• Discover Futuroscope and Puy du Fou, two popular theme Parks in France.
• Music, singers, musicians and new trends.
• Learn about some famous French writers and their works.

French Language Course Upper Intermediate 2

Learn French (Lessons from Campus 2, chapter 10, chapter 11 & chapter 12)

Content of Classes:

• Use of the Future tense and Past Future to express plans and actions you anticipate.
• Survey: how to improve your city. Cities of the future.
• To criticize and the use of the Past Subjunctive tense.
• To present the evolution of a city.
• Progress, science and technology.
• Talking about food trends in France today. Discussion on eating habits in Australia.
• French cultural festivals.
• The use of the Past Conditional and expressing regret.
• Learn how to express your appreciation, your tastes and preferences.
• Discussion on gender difference and stereotypes.
• Reforms in the political world, education, society, the work force and the French language.
• Expressions to negotiate.
• Multicultural France: The history of immigration and how France became the melting pot that it is.
• Learn how to excuse oneself and how to accuse others!
• To comment on issues. Youth culture.
• Historical landmarks of France.

French Language Course - Advanced

Content of Classes:

At these levels, teachers are free to bring in their own materials to stimulate conversation in class. Each teacher will have their own creative ideas, however here is a sample of what a typical class might include:

• Role Plays
  This is a common technique used by teachers to place topics in a realistic setting. For example: Students might study vocabulary related to renting a house. Following this, the teacher would give each person a role (such as real estate agent, landlord, share-house tenants) and ask them to enact a hypothetical situation.
  
  
• Literature
  A short story or poem is read by the class. Themes, characters and related issues are discussed in pairs and then shared with the other students.
  
  
• News and current affairs
  Students watch parts of the news in French. The class is then split into pairs, and each student prepares a set of questions to ask their partner.
  
  Conversations are initiated centering on economic, political and social situations around the globe.
  
  
• Cultural themes
  Traditions such as Valentine's Day, Christmas, and local festival celebrations are discussed and explored.
  
  
• Slides
  The teacher brings in slides or photographs and describes them to the class. Students may also bring in their own materials and give a presentation.
  
  
• Brief revision of grammar topics as requested by students

See timetable for courses at:

Kew, Fitzroy, Malvern, Melbourne City (Flinders Lane)

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