French Language in Noumea, New Caledonia

Program Overview

This unique study abroad program allows you to immerse yourself in the French language and culture without the time and cost of travelling all the way to France! Nearby New Caledonia, a French overseas territory and archipelago, provides a perfect setting for French language study, combining the language and culture of France with a pristine Pacific Island backdrop. Study in charming historical buildings by the sea, immerse yourself in the local culture by staying with a local family, and enjoy a relaxed island atmosphere as you improve your French and appreciate the unique culture and landscapes of New Caledonia.

French Immersion – Through small, personalised French language courses, you’ll be able to improve your formal language foundation. You’ll also have the chance to practice your French in your daily activities as you enjoy the French-inspired cafes and restaurants, as the vast majority of residents (about 98%) speak French. Whether you’re a complete novice or just need some refinement, you can choose from 6 levels of French language. We cater for all levels of French language on this program – from absolute beginner to advanced. (Note: there are minimum student numbers per level).

Study by the Sea – Combine authentic French immersion with an idyllic setting, as you study by the sea in quaint historical buildings! The program’s language school provides a beautiful and relaxing setting on a peninsula.

Affordable Alternative to France – Why spend the time, money and effort to go all the way to France for language study, when you could make the most of your Winter break by studying the same language in New Caledonia? This affordable, comprehensive program includes everything you need for a rewarding study abroad program at a fraction of the cost. 98% of the Island’s population are French-speaking.

Pristine Environment – Despite its World Heritage barrier reef, biologically diverse hinterland and pleasant climate, New Caledonia’s tourism economy is admittedly underdeveloped, meaning you can have entire islands, reefs and peaks to yourself! When keeping to the beaten track, you can indulge in the tranquility of New Caledonia’s pristine beaches and harbours as you sip coffee in your petit café.

Island Time – Things may move just a bit slower than on the Parisian boulevards, and you will be warmly welcomed in Nouméa.

Highlights

While you may have to see it to believe it, here are a few highlights of the program in New Caledonia to wet your appetite:

• Affordable and personalised French immersion language studies
• Unique combination of French and French-New Caledonian culture
• Beautiful and tranquil study setting
• Pristine natural environments: reefs, lagoons, beaches, islets, forests, mountains and more!
• Warm and hospitable residents, including your homestay family
• Mega-diversity in ethnicities, cultures, ecosystems and landscapes
• Pleasant climate year-round with consistent sunshine

Choose Your Course

Gain practical language skills through intensive French language classes, at your level of instruction, tailored to your ability and learning goals.

Courses offered at CREIPAC follow the recommendations of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching and Assessment (CEFR), created by the Council of Europe in 2001. CEFR has been adopted worldwide in order to harmonise program conception and teaching.

Course Load:

• Take 1 course (subject/unit), 3 hours of face-to-face instruction per day or 15 contact hours per week.
• Typical schedule is Monday to Friday: 8:15 am–11:45 am (with a 30-minute break).
• Academic credit is awarded by your Australian University. CISaustralia will coordinate with the local host institute in New Caledonia to provide a certificate of completion and attendance with grades awarded for the four different skill levels (or domains) completed: Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking.

Levels & Placement:

• The program offers six levels of French instruction based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): Beginner (A1–A2), Intermediate (B1–B2), and Advanced (C1–C2).
• Minimum numbers per level may apply.
• Before enrolment is confirmed, students will be required to complete an online placement process (in some instances your university academic may advise CISaustralia of you language level). This ensures you are placed in the class level that best aligns with your current language proficiency, helping to maximise your learning outcomes and ensure you are appropriately challenged throughout the program.

Credit Approval:

• To have your course approved you will need to speak with your course convenor (or equivalent ) and/or Learning Abroad office. Helpful support documents include course syllabus, program overviews and contact hours – that CISaustralia provide.
• University of Queensland students – This course is pre-approved for two (2) academic units of advanced French language. Please refer to your University of Queensland Course Convenor for more information or contact CISaustralia for guidance.

Academic Requirement: To qualify for this program, students must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 4.0 (out of 7) or equivalent. If your current GPA falls below the requirement, you may still be considered for the program but will need to be prepared to provide supporting documentation. Please contact us to discuss your situation.

Excursions

3 excursions are included for every 3-week program. These vary program to program. Past excursions have included:

• Visit to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre
• Day trip to Duck Island
• City tour

Other places of interest past students have recommended that you may choose to visit (at own expense) include:

Aquarium des Lagons Nouvelle Caledonie: See species found in New Caledonian waters – including nautilus, sea snakes, stone fish, turtles, sharks and stingrays, as well as living coral displays. Don’t miss the emperor of coral reefs – the Napoleon fish.

Amédéé Lighthouse: After climbing the 247 cast-iron steps, you will be able to enjoy a breathtaking panorama over the beautiful turquoise water of the lagoon, the large reef and the mountains of Grande Terre.

Location

New Caledonia is a French overseas territory (specifically a ‘special collectivity’) in the Pacific Ocean, about a 2-hour flight northeast of Brisbane. The third largest archipelago in the Pacific (18,575 square km), New Caledonia is made up of the main island (Grande Terre), the Isle of Pines to the southeast, the Loyalty Islands (Maré, Lifou, Tiga and Ouvéa) to the east and finally, to the northwest, the Belep Islands and many other smaller islands.

Grande Terre is the largest and most densely populated island in the archipelago, and home to the capital city Nouméa. Along its entire length runs a mountain range, of which highest peaks rise to over 1,600m. The highest points in the range are covered with diverse and often unique forests, which are likely to have been Captain James Cook’s inspiration for the archipelago’s namesake, as he was reminded of the Scottish landscapes.

New Caledonia draws on a variety of cultural and ethnic influences, as it blends characteristics from Melanesia, Polynesia, Europe, Asia and even Africa. Of its roughly 290,000 inhabitants, the current demographic makeup of Nouméa nearly splits the majority between Kanak (original inhabitants of New Caledonia) and European descent. The archipelago’s diversity is reflected in additional ethnic groups, including Polynesian, Tahitian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Chinese and Algerian.

New Caledonia has been called the ‘Island of Eternal Spring’, with its tropical ocean climate and consistent sunshine. There are 2 main seasons with very short spells in-between:

• The hot season from December to March with average temperatures around 25-27°C and brief tropical showers.
• The cool season from April to November with average temperatures around 20-23°C.

The CISaustralia program is based just outside of central Nouméa, New Caledonia’s capital and largest city. Albeit somewhat quaint (especially in comparison with the likes of Paris!), Nouméa offers all you need to enjoy yourself, including museums, shopping, sports activities, beaches, aquatic activities, hiking, etc., as well as amenities and conveniences you can expect from a city of about 170,000. You’ll have quick and easy access getting to and from the language centre, with central Nouméa about 10 minutes by bus.

The University

Founded in 1980, the Centre de Rencontres et d’Échanges Internationaux du Pacifique (CREIPAC) is dedicated to the promotion of the French language in the Pacific area. The Centre is located on a largely undeveloped peninsula just two kilometres west of Noumea, and consists of charming, old historical buildings by the sea, set amid frangipanis and palm trees.

Playing an active role for the past 20 years in French as a Foreign Language, CREIPAC developed a teaching style truly responding to learners’ needs. Courses offered at CREIPAC follow the recommendations of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching and Assessment (CEFR), created by the Council of Europe in 2001. CEFR has been adopted worldwide in order to harmonise program conception and teaching. Moreover, it offers an innovative approach in teaching, being more focused on the needs of the learners. It also allows a better standardisation of diplomas and certificates.

CREIPAC hosts approximately 1,500 students per year, with an average of 120 students at any given time. The majority of students are from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Europe, as well as some local students. The language centre has a library stocked with novels, manuals, newspapers and comics – all in French. A study room is also available for use, with desks and computers with free internet access.

CREIPAC counts on friendly and experienced staff and instructors to create a warm and welcoming environment in which to learn French language while learning about French and French Caledonian culture.

Accommodation

Homestay accommodation
Students on this program will stay with a welcoming local family, where they will be fully immersed in New Caledonian culture. This is a great way to practice conversational or day-to-day French. Homestay rooms may be single or double share with another participant.

Homestay includes breakfast and dinner daily, and the family will drop you off at the school in the morning and pick you up from town in the afternoon. Lunch will be included on weekend days where no excursion is scheduled. Please note that buses from class to town may be limited during the day.

Program Fee & Dates