Why Learn French At Af ChRISTCHURCH
The Alliance Française opened its doors to the Christchurch community in 1959.
The centre enrols around 400 students each year, with a maximum of 10 students per class. Our teaching staff is fully qualified and follows up-to-date methods.
Courses are modeled after the Common European Framework of References for Languages and comply with the criteria of the DELF and DALF diplomas. The centre offers a wide range of courses, from beginner to advanced levels for adults, courses for children and teenagers and special courses. These courses are taught with a very enjoyable and interactive approach.
You will benefit from a great choice of resources available in the library, our online library Culturethèque, and free access/discounted rate to our cultural and social events.
Expertise
Founded in 1959, the Alliance Française de Christchurch is the only French language & cultural centre in Christchurch, with more than 400 students. Our teachers are fully qualified and follow up to date methods.
Resources
The school is part of an outstanding professional network with internationally recognised standards and free online resources. Its library provides you with a great choice of books and audio-visual material which will enrich your learning experience.
Flexibility
A wide range of times and days to suit your schedule: mid-term courses, intensive courses, special courses, workshops, private tuition…
More than just a class
Take advantage of our various cultural events. Come and enjoy croissants at our French breakfast, enjoy some wine and cheese at our Apéros du Vendredi, dive into French cinéma at our Ciné-Club, etc. and do not hesitate to chat with our friendly staff. Free access to the library resources, discounts for special events and at our partner shops.
Social Networking
Its charming patio and fully-equipped classrooms open doors for a convivial atmosphere where you can relax and make friends. Do not miss our events such as “Apero du vendredi” with cheese and wine and "Le French Guest" with a different French guest each month.
WHY LEARN FRENCH ? 
1. A world language
More than 200 million people speak French on the five continents. The Francophonie, the international organisation of French-speaking countries, comprises 68 states and governments. French is the second most studied foreign language after English, and the ninth most spoken language in the world.
French is also the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world. France operates the biggest international network of cultural institutes, which run French-language courses for more than 750,000 students.
2. A language for the job market
An ability to speak French and English is an advantage on the international job market. A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world (Canada, Switzerland, Belgium, and North and sub-Saharan Africa). As the world’s fifth biggest economy and number-three destination for foreign investment, France is a key economic partner.
3. The language of culture
French is the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance and architecture. A knowledge of French offers access to great works of literature, as well as to films and songs, originally produced in French. French is the language of Victor Hugo, Molière, Léopold Sendar Senghor, Edith Piaf, Jean-Paul Sartre, Alain Delon and Zinedine Zidane.
4. A language for travel
France is the world’s number-one tourist destination and attracts more than 70 million visitors
per year. Knowledge of French makes it so much more enjoyable to visit Paris and all the regions of France (from the mild climes of the Cote d’Azur to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps via the rugged coastline of Brittany) and offers insights into French culture and way of life. French also comes in handy when travelling to Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Monaco, the Seychelles and other places.
5. A language for higher education
Speaking French opens up study opportunities at renowned French universities and business schools, ranked among the top higher education institutions in Europe and the world. Students with a good level of French are eligible for French government scholarships to enrol in postgraduate courses in France in any discipline and qualify for internationally recognised French degrees.
6. A language of international relations
French is both a working language and an official language of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts. French is the language of the three cities where the EU institutions are headquartered: Strasbourg, Brussels and Luxembourg.
7. A language that opens up the world
After English and German, French is the third most used language on the Internet, ahead of Spanish. An ability to understand French offers an alternative view of the world through communication with French speakers from all the continents and news from the leading French-language international media (TV5, France 24 and Radio France Internationale).
8. A language that is fun to learn
French is an easy language to learn. There are many methods on the market that make learning French enjoyable for children and adults alike. It does not take long to reach a level where you can communicate in French.
9. A language for learning other languages
French is a good base for learning other languages, especially Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Romanian) as well as English, since fifty per cent of current English vocabulary is derived from French.
10. The language of love and reason
First and foremost, learning French is the pleasure of learning a beautiful, rich, melodious language, often called the language of love. French is also an analytical language that structures thought and develops critical thinking, which is a valuable skill for discussions and negotiations.
Click here for more information on our French courses.
