French Education Office UK

22/07/2026

Who will be listening to our "On the Road" 🛣️francophone playlist on their way to their summer holiday? 🎶📻

A perfect way to stay connected during our August break ☀️
See you back in September for more French educational initiatives and resources! ✏️👋

On the Road - our new playlist is online! Sparkling, sunny and funny. 🌞

A bespoke playlist to be brought with you sur la route des vacances !

▶️ https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/read-watch-listen-list/french-institutes-july-spotify-playlist/

20/07/2026

🗺️ A new month = a new idiom
Ever heard the Francophone expression “Estiver”? ☀️
Literally, it means “to spend the summer somewhere”, often away from the city, in a quieter place 🌿

Originally, the verb described herds moving up to mountain pastures in summer 🐑
Today, in Lebanon, it’s been reimagined for people: escaping the heat to the mountains, the sea, or a family home.
More than a holiday, it’s a whole way of living the summer.

So… where will you estiver this year? 🌊🏡

17/07/2026

What a fun & creative way to wrap up the 2025-2026 school year!🌟

Last month, we hosted the French Pop Video Competition Awards Ceremony with a special performance by Ysé🎤

Congratulations to our National Winners, our Jury’s Coup de Cœur, and our Best French Pop Teacher of the Year for their outstanding achievements! 🏆
Thank you to everyone who took part and see you next year! 🎉

Institut français du Royaume-Uni
La Francophonie au Royaume-Uni

15/06/2026

🎬 The Regional Winners of the French Pop Video Competition 2026 have been announced!

Congratulations to all the talented students and teachers whose creativity and hard work made this year's competition such a success. 👏

Watch the regional winning videos and discover the 2026 playlist here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Nn_wpBF3U&list=PLE5zV1eHIMCOU3hkSWDHbKwqEMyuVTcAW

We're now looking forward to the French Pop Video Competition Awards Ceremony on the 19th of June, where the National Winners and Special Mentions will be revealed. 🏆

Stay tuned!

[catégorie 16-18 ans]Lyrics:À travers le port il y a une fille  ...

12/06/2026

⚽ What if French lessons felt more like a game?

🎤 Introducing Passe la b***e ! , a FREE KS2–KS3 transition project combining football, rap and creativity to inspire French learning.
With 6 ready-to-use lessons, audio resources, printable materials and original rap tracks, pupils build confidence in French while exploring key language and pronunciation skills in a fun and memorable way.

👉 Download the free resources: https://www.institut-francais.org.uk/passe-la-b***e/ #

À vous de jouer!

10/06/2026

Le Saviez Vous ? 🔎

This June, motorsport fans will once again gather for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. 🚗💨

But here’s the fascinating part: when the race was first created in 1923, it wasn’t actually about speed. The goal was to test which cars were the most reliable and could survive 24 hours of nonstop racing, day and night. 🌙⏱️

Unlike Formula 1, drivers at Le Mans share the same car and rotate throughout the race, making teamwork just as important as performance. 🤝

Today, it’s become one of the world’s most iconic sporting events and a true symbol of French motorsport culture every June.✨

Would you stay awake for the full 24 hours, or are any of our followers planning to go this year? 👀

03/06/2026

Who said you have to wait for the warm weather to return to enjoy a bit of sunshine? ☀️

Listen yo our new playlist with songs that evoke summer, holidays and trips to the seaside… This selection of French tracks is a real ray of sunshine to brighten up those grey days.

Our new sunny playlist is online! Enjoy our favourite songs about the sun and chill!   Get a preview of the Spotify playlist: Listen to the playlist   Follow us to discover songs in French and stay tuned for monthly updates. Follow the Spotify channel  

27/05/2026

🗺️ A new month = a new idiom

Ever heard the French expression “Avoir un chat dans la gorge” ? 🤔

Literally, it means "To have a cat in your throat" 🐱

Strange image, right? But don’t worry, no cats are involved!

This expression is used when your voice sounds hoarse, croaky, or like something is stuck in your throat. It’s exactly what you might say when you wake up with a rough voice, just before a big presentation when your voice isn’t cooperating… or even during springtime, when pollen and seasonal allergies can irritate your throat! 🌸

So next time you can’t sing or speak clearly… just blame the cat (or the pollen)!

20/05/2026

Join us on 16 June 2026 (9:30am–4:45pm) at the University of Surrey for a new edition of our regional forum discussing the future of French and Francophone Studies in UK schools and universities.

Bringing together teachers, researchers, students, and sector leaders from across the UK around a key topic “Le français, langue d’avenir”, this will be a great opportunity to:

✨ Explore innovative projects
🎓 Gain new ideas for teaching and professional development
🌍 Discuss employability, international mobility, and the evolving place of French in higher education
🤝 Connect with colleagues and partners from leading UK universities and institutions

Free event - Lunch & refreshments included

Register now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/le-francais-langue-davenir-tickets-1989393368117

13/05/2026

Le Saviez Vous ? 🔎

In France, there’s a fun expression for turning a bank holiday into a longer weekend: “faire le pont”, literally, “to make the bridge.” 🌉
It happens when a bank holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. People often take the day in between off, “bridging” the gap to the weekend.
It’s not an official holiday, but a clever way to enjoy an extra day for rest, family, or short trips! 🏖️

Unlike in France, where many May bank holidays fall on fixed dates and can land midweek, UK bank holidays are typically set on Mondays (like the first or last Monday of May), making long weekends more predictable.

Any nice plans for those long weekends in May? 🌞