Secure your spot on the additional trip by paying deposit below.

• Deposits are refundable until 15 March 2025.

• Trip will be confirmed once minimum numbers have been reached.

• Should spots open up on original trip, deposit holders will have priority.

Register for waiting list on original trip below.

Mon 08 September - Sun 14 September 2025 (6 nights) (SOLD OUT)

Wed 17 September - Tue 23 September 2025 (6 nights) (SPACES AVAILABLE)

• Honfleur, France.

• Charming port town in Normandy.

• Daily lessons

• Three activities

• Welcome and farewell dinner

• Plenty of free time

• Even more opportunities to practise your French in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Honfleur, a picturesque port town in Normandy, France, enchants visitors with its historic charm and artistic heritage.

We were certainly enchanted when we visited in 2018 with a group of our students. The tiny cobbled streets, lined with half-timbered houses, lead down to the vibrant Vieux Bassin, the perfect spot for a post-lesson drink. And the Norman people have a kindness and openness that is surely the result of all that good food, excellent cider and salt air.

The town's rich artistic legacy is evident, inspiring Impressionist masters like Claude Monet. Stroll through the historic Sainte-Catherine Church, France's largest wooden church, or explore the bustling Saturday market. There’s so much within walking distance - it’s the perfect place to wind down.

Though just two and a half hours by car from Paris, it’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of the nation’s capital. On your day off, you may like to hire a car to visit the UNESCO heritage site Mont Saint Michel, or take a shorter trip to Deauville, known as the 21st arrondissement of Paris, such is its popularity as a weekend escape.

If French and travel are part of who you are, Lingua Franca’s Summer Schools are a dream come true. Take the very best of learning with Lingua Franca, add the invaluable authenticity of being sur place* and you have yourself a mélange magique*.

You will be surprised and delighted by the leaps and bounds your French will take, the connections you’ll make and the memories that will last long after you’ve put your suitcase away.

Each morning starts with coffee, pastries and a lesson, in small groups with lessons tailored to your level. With a mix of language and culture classes, you’ll be able to apply what you’ve learned the minute you step out of the classroom.

You have the afternoons free for exploring. Post-lesson, you may wish to do a bit of shopping, visit the splendid Église Sainte Catherine or just lose yourself in the maze of cobbled streets. It’s totally up to you.

You’ll also have three outings and there will be a welcome and farewell dinner to round out the trip.

You’ll do a longer lesson on one of the days so you can have a ‘pupil-free day’ in the middle. Imagine the fun you can have with a whole day stretched out before you in your host city, armed with your new and improved speaking skills. You may never come home!

*of course | *nest | *on site | *magical mix

NOTE: Itinerary subject to change but this gives a good general idea of the tempo of the week.

*terrace | *adventures | *jewel-like

Monday 08 September - Sunday 14 September 2025 (6 nights)

SUMMER SCHOOL

$2950

INCLUDES:

25 hrs tuition tailored to your level
All materials
2 x dinners with wine
3 x cultural activities (guided tours)
Welcome gift pack

NOT INCLUDED:

Flights (from $2300)
Accommodation (from $1080)
Traveller’s insurance (compulsory)
Transfers

There are countless options to reach your destination, though the most common route is via Paris. The flights below are with major carriers and fit in best with our programme, but of course, the choice is yours. You’ll just need to be in Honfleur by Monday 9 September as the bell sounds at 9am for your first day at ‘school’.

Please note: flights have not yet been released for this time period, so we’ve based our recommendations on the times and dates for 2024.

SAT 7 SEP - Brisbane/Paris (via Singapore)
Singapore Airlines SQ 226 / SQ 336
Dep 1445 / Arr 0735 (+1)

SUN 15 SEP - Chennai/Brisbane (via Singapore)
Singapore Airlines SQ 331 / SQ 235
Dep 2240 / Arr 0655 (+2)

Please note: Qantas has recently started flying Perth/Paris non-stop. This may be worth looking into closer to the time.

Please note: you are free to choose alternative accommodation. Our recommendations are simply a selection of our favourites across a range of styles.

Also, La Maison de Lucie has just opened a new property nearby called Petite Lucie which even has a little self-catering studio at a very reasonable price. Scroll right to the bottom for details.

If you wish to extend your stay, there is so much else to do in the region and beyond.

If you don’t have a travel agent of your own, we’d be happy to put you in touch with ours. Please contact us for her details.

How do you recreate Lingua Franca elsewhere?

It’s surprisingly easy, actually. We find you a space with the warmth and heart of Lingua Franca in our target destination, design you some bespoke learning materials, contact our favourite guides and book a couple of fantastic restaurants for your welcome and final dinners. Et voilà*! Your nid* away from home.

Do I have to be a Lingua Franca student to attend?

No, you don’t, we often welcome new people on our trips, whether friends of friends or people we’ve never met before. All you need is a bit of French under your belt and a desire to discover a culture unlike your own. Extra points if you enjoy a bit of a laugh.

Do I have to be an advanced student to join in?

Not at all! All you need is a desire to improve your French and a sense of curiosité*.

We’ve had beginners take part in the past, and it’s amazing how they are able to ‘play up’ to the level of the more advanced students. Everyone learns a lot and if the class exceeds a certain number, we’ll divide the group into two and bring in another tutor to help Katrina.

Where is the school located?

We always choose somewhere really central while avoiding the touristy quartiers* in favour of more interesting areas. It’s important to be centrally located so it’s easy for you to get to school each morning, no matter where you choose to stay. We also find that having the best of a city just outside the classroom door is highly motivating for our Chouchous*.

Why just a week?

We know you’re a busy group of people and you like to get things done. By limiting the lessons to seven days, we can keep the instruction constant and focused. It’s a blast of French that we can’t give you in Australia.

We also know you’re a well-travelled bunch and may be keen to extend your stay to do some more exploring.

Why are flights and accommodation not included for this trip?

We want to give you as much flexibility as possible. As mentioned, we expect many of you to combine the trip with other travel plans in Europe or elsewhere and therefore to stipulate dates of travel would be restrictive. As for the accommodation, we imagine some of you already have a favourite hotel, others may wish to stay with friends or family and we wanted to give you the option of finding a place to stay that suits your particular style and budget. We have provided recommendations for both flights and accommodation above, though, to help with your planning.

What can I expect from the lessons?

The best things about doing lessons sur place* is how immediately useful the content is. The minute you step out the door of the school, you’ll be able to put into practice what you’ve just learned. 

Lessons will start at 9:00am and will go through to 12:30pm or 1pm. At 10:30am, we’ll take a pause-café* (think coffee and pâtisseries*) for you to clear your brain and stretch your legs. In the first session, we’ll focus on the vocabulary, grammar and useful phrases you’ll need to communicate effectively. In the second session, we’ll put all you’ve learned into practice, providing you with situations drawn from real-life interactions you may have.

We’ve been so inspired by the huge improvement we’ve seen in the students who took part in our previous trips and we know you’ll benefit enormously, too, from the semi-intensive format. Never fear, though, Lingua Franca lessons will always remain relaxed and friendly, as we believe happy brains learn best. Plus, you’re en vacances*.

Are there any activities?

There will be three activities spread across the week which are listed above. Tours will last between 2 and 3 hours and will be conducted in a mix of French and English, adapted to the level of the group.

We’ll also give you a ‘pupil-free day’ to give you the chance to explore a little further afield.  

What will a typical day be like?

The school bell will sound at 9:00am, and lessons will be wrapped up by 12:30pm or 1pm, the perfect time for you to go in search of a delicious déjeuner*, whether in the local quartier or somewhere off the beaten track. In the late afternoon, you’re welcome to join us at a local bar for an evening apéro* and the chance to discuss your day.

What about the apéro?

The apéro is not compulsory either, so if you find yourself caught up in the delights of your host city and unable to make it to our chosen bar at the agreed time, ne vous inquiétez pas*. The apéro is just a chance for us to get together as a group, recap our day and have a chat and a drink.

Are there any dinners together?

Oui*, in fact we’ve organised two and they’re included in the price. Our welcome dinner will be held in a local restaurant and will give you a chance to get to know your fellow Chouchous. We get together at the end of the week as well, and this time we invite all Ithe characters you’ve met throughout your time at the summer school for an authentic and convivial French dining experience.

Are friends and family welcome to come to the dinners and participate in the activities?

So long as they’re happy being in an environment with a majority of French spoken (there’s always some English that slips out after a couple of drinks), we’d love to have them come along.

Finally, why is it called a summer school when it’s held in spring?

Glad you asked! Our inaugural summer school was indeed held in summer, around the time of an historic heatwave, in fact. We managed to avoid the worst of it, but realised how risky it was to plan a trip for that time of the year. So we switched to September/October but just couldn’t part with the name. It just sums up the experience perfectly: the joy of learning in situ mixed with scent of les vacances*. Unbeatable.

*of course | *And there you go! | *nest | *curiosity | *areas | *Teacher’s Pets | * on site | *pastries | *French | *on holidays | *area | *shortbread biscuits unmissable | *very chic | *white wine | *lunch | *drink | *don’t worry | *Yes | *holidays

Other questions? Please let us know. We look forward to seeing you on the trip.

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