Around our table
Good company, shared stories and something to look forward to. The latest from our little language community.
You're invited
Saturday 5 December 2026, 12 to 3pm
Longs House, 89–151 Old Castlereagh Road, Castlereagh, inside Sydney Helicopters
French group
Our end-of-year lunch
Let's gather around the table at Longs House to celebrate the year together. Let us know whether you can come and choose your lunch.
RSVP for lunchFrom the group
Languages around the table
Our community began with French, and now we're welcoming Italian too. Whether you're starting with your first words or already love a good chat, there's a place for you.
Carte postale · Dispatches from a member in France
Our regular member Sue is spending several weeks in France, and has been sending back notes and photographs. In Paris she arrived before the city woke, strolled the left bank from her hotel on the Rue de la Huchette, discovered the art in the Petit Palais (free, no booking), took a Seine sunset cruise around the Île Saint-Louis, and caught a concert of Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Mozart and Bizet in the Église Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre.
Then it was the TGV from Gare de Lyon to Avignon and on to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where she became du coin in a week: the Thursday and Sunday markets under the plane trees, Le Petit Train out to the Partage des Eaux, the crystal source of the Sorgue at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse — and linedancing (danse en lignes) with the calls in French.
“Sometimes my French flows, sometimes it comes out awkward; sometimes I understand fully, sometimes I understand nothing — but overall, I understand most, and I can speak French.”
From the October newsletter
October was the fullest month we have had so far. The Sydney French Open at Eastside Tennis Centre raised money for Redkite, Nouvelle Vague brought their bossa nova post-punk to the Metro Theatre, and Le Marché French Markets filled the Entertainment Quarter with raclette, crêpes and live music.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra performed Canteloube's Chants d'Auvergne at the Opera House — sung in Occitan, the old language of the Midi — and The Great Arch opened in cinemas, fresh from eight César nominations. Later in the month came crêpe-making at UNSW's Languages Festival and La Vie Royale, an evening of cabaret beneath Restaurant Hubert.
If you hear of something — a screening, a market, a concert, a class — send it through and it will go in the next issue.
Heard of something — a screening, a market, a concert, a class? Send it through and it will go in the next issue.