French classes will be starting again at the beginning of February at Killcare Heights on the Central Coast.  Beginners, Intermediate and Continuers classes will be available for a 7 week term.  Please register your interest to reserve your place.

Classes will be starting again on 18th February at Killcare Heights on the Central Coast.  Beginners, Intermediate and Continuers classes will be available for a 7 week term.  Please register your interest to reserve your place.

After a longer than expected building project, French classes will commence again at Killcare in February, 2017.  Classes for Beginners, Intermediate and Continuers will be available. We hope to see many of our previous students back again, and even some of our Sydney students who have expressed a keenness to continue their French at Killcare.  Please let us know your interest so we can reserve your place.

Term 2 Classes for 2016 will start in May for Beginners, Intermediate and Continuers. Please contact us quickly to reserve you place.

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) has restarted, with protons circling the machine’s 27km tunnel for the first time in more than two years. Particle beams have now travelled in both directions, inside parallel pipes, at a whisker below the speed of light. Scientists hope to glimpse a “new physics” beyond the Standard Model. Visit CERN and the LHC on your next trip to France and consider staying at a nearby château.

Tens of thousands of curious visitors crowded historic Mont Saint-Michel and other beauty spots along the French coastline in March to view what was promised to be the ‘tide of the century’, thanks to the effects of a spectacular solar eclipse. Alas, the event may not have lived up to everyone’s expectations. For more information on the tide at Mont St Michel – see the daily mail site and for information on our accommodation partners in the area see our St Malo and Dinan pages.

During your French holiday, we highly recommend a visit to CERN near Geneva.  Tours of the Large Hadron Collider are free but booking is essential. My tour took about 3 hours – and it was inspirational !!  We suggest you stay nearby in Annecy (called the Venice of France) and contact us for a recommendation about a stay in a lovely hotel in the town’s centre.

Term 1 classes for 2015 start first week of February in Epping and Killcare for Beginners, Intermediate and Continuers.  Please register your interest to avoid disappointment. In addition, our partner French Language Institute in France has courses available for all levels and ages in Paris.  Contact us for information.

Our partners CanalBargeCruises have advised that 10% discounts are available across a range of barge cruises in 2015.  While the cruises offering discounts largely apply to France, they also include canal barging in Holland, Scotland and England.  So, don’t delay: this is a marvellous way to see the heart of France in style and comfort.   See Barging page.

Advice from our partners CanalBargeCruises is that there is a heightened level of demand for barge cruises in 2015.  If you’re contemplating doing a cruise, then please don’t delay. This is a marvellous way to see the heart of France in style and comfort.   See Barging page.

Term 4 classes start in late October in Epping and Killcare for Beginners and Continuers.  Please register your interest to avoid disappointment. In addition, our partner French Language Institute in France has courses available for all levels and ages in Paris.  Contact us for information.

Hotel Arvor is a delightful hotel in the midst of the stunning medieval town of Dinan. Within easy driving distances are the famed Mont St Michel, the lively old port of St Malo and for abundant fresh seafood, Cancale. Dinan can be reached by train, and offers easy access to Channel ferries and airports. For more info see Hotel Arvor.

At Manhattan’s Per Se restaurant one recent evening, star chef Thomas Keller addressed a group of gourmands waiting to tuck into a menu featuring fresh, black Australian truffles in every course. Luckily there were no Frenchmen present. For had there been, what Keller had to say would have surely made them toss their madeleines. Comparing the finest French black Perigord truffles to these interlopers from Down Under, Keller said: “It’s hard to tell which one is better.”  Read more  .….

 The issue of how many cheeks to kiss has gained further momentum.  A campaign has started in Brittany to adopt a “single kiss”.  The GRUBUB association claims the fashion of multiple kissing – a gesture called “faire la bise”, has gone too far and that its exponential growth is barbaric. In a “tongue-in-cheek” comment, the association insisted that the guardians of the “single kiss” were “not reactionary or political, even if they know this is one of the most important issues of our time”.  See our French Kissing exposé in our Insights section.

A researcher has investigated the demographics of how many times a French person kisses the other’s cheeks.  The outcome is a map giving the geographical explanation for how many cheek kisses (bises) should be administered for each “department” in France.  To check out the interactive map  click here. 

Like to stay in a B&B in Australia where you can speak French and eat French-styled food?  Well, we’ve prepared some information that provides this and more – such as reviews of French restaurants, information about providores of French foods and other French businesses,  insights into French/Australian historical connections and information about upcoming French-related events in Australia. Read more …..

Ready to brush up your French or prepare for that trip? Classes at all levels (in Sydney & on the Central Coast)  start in late April/early May.  Contact us if you have any questions or wish to enrol. Don’t worry if the class has started, as we can  always accommodate late starters.

This stunning 18th Century Manor House is set amidst a beautiful 15 acre estate between the coast and the Pyrénées mountains. From the spacious B&B there are magnificent uninterrupted views over vineyards to the entire chain of the Pyrénées Atlantiques. Clos Mirabel offers fine accommodation that is close to Pau, Lourdes and Spain and the hosts, Ann and André, are so welcoming.

French classes for Term 2 2014 start  in late April/early May. We are offering classes for Beginners, Intermediate and Continuers. These classes are held in the day and evening in Sydney and likewise on the Central Coast. To ensure your place,  contact us  as soon as possible to avoid missing out. We can always accommodate late starters.

Thought Francophiles might be interested in viewing this You-Tube video of the raging seas that recently have been lashing the French coastline – and in particular the shores around St Malo.    Hope you enjoy it ……  http://www.youtube.com/embed/eGXPQvrOTj8?feature=player_detailpage

Ready to brush up your French or prepare for that trip? Classes at all levels (in Sydney & on the Central Coast) are starting now. Contact us if you have any questions or wish to enrol. Don’t worry if the class has started, as we can  always accommodate late starters.

Yes, I can hear you already saying that Guernsey is not part of France, although it’s much closer to France than it is to the UK.  However, there have always been strong connections between France and the Channel Islands, and a visit to Guernsey en route to/from the UK is a rewarding experience.  So, we’ve added a new accommodation partner – Moores Hotel, right in the heart of St Peter Port, Guernsey. The hotel gives door-step access to shopping, restaurants, and a very short walk to the ferry. And, there’s lots of things to see, do and… Continue reading →

Bouillon-Chartier Restaurant, founded in 1896 and classified as an historic monument, the (Bouillon) CHARTIER is a popular restaurant situated at 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre (9th arrondissement), just off the celebrated Grands Boulevards. At the turn of the 19th century, the idea was to serve to the blue collar workers and the people of the neighbourhood a hot meal for a small price: the well-known bouillon a mixture of meat and vegetables. Today, only the diversity of the clients and the menu have changed.  The menu is vast and varied and while the traditional cuisine may not… Continue reading →

French Beginners’ and Continuers’ Classes for 2014 will commence early February in both Sydney (EPPING) and the Central Coast (KILLCARE).  Private sessions are also available for those who prefer one-on-one tuition. There are always a lot of enquiries at the start of a new year, so register your interest soon in order to ensure that your place is reserved!

The Château de Versailles, a UNESCO World Heritage site, started as a hunting lodge in the 1600’s for Louis XIII. Transformed by Louis XIV into a magnificent palace, the court and government of France were transferred there from Paris in 1682.  With the French Revolution of 1789,  Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were removed from Versailles to prison.  Today’s visitors can enjoy not only the sumptuous palace, extensive gardens and fountains, but can participate in the varied programme of cultural events and exhibitions held throughout the year.  We recommend visiting… Continue reading →

If this is of interest, contact us as we have over a decade of experience in organising attendance at a Paris-based language institute ( Ecole de Langues). Classes can be tailored to meet your specific needs and time limitations. The institute can also organise accommodation in a home-stay situation to enhance your French experience.

We’re very pleased to announce that Hotel Arvor has joined the French Collection. In the heart of medieval Dinan, this stylish hotel offers the chance to experience living amid clusters of medieval buildings, with markets, ramparts and lots of atmosphere not to mention cafes, restaurants and shopping. We found Dinan so interesting that we spent most of the week we had in Brittany exploring Dinan, which left limited time to visit the lighthouse-scattered Emerald Coast.  But we did take the short drives to Mont St Michel (the second most visited tourist attraction in France),… Continue reading →

If your school is considering taking students to France, please contact us as we have over 10 years experience in taking and organising school groups to France, including attending the Paris-based ACCORD language institute. We can also provide advice with regard to home-stays, student activities, and student tours outside of Paris.