When you want to learn French, your dreams are greater than simply repeating the same old phrases in a classroom.

It’s confidently stepping into a café on the left bank in Paris, sweeping your travelling companions off their feet by boldly chatting with the waiter about the specials of the day – and being rewarded with an insider tip for a secret place that only the locals know.

France, just like the French language, is vibrant.
It’s gorgeous and passionate and full of colour.
There is so much to discover – why wait to explore?

You can learn French – no matter who you are!

My name is Devy Baseley (pronounced ‘Tey-vee’). I am the founder of a French school called French Speak, where I help people to connect with the true beauty and culture of my home country.

No matter if you’re learning French for the first time, or returning after a (long!) break, I can help you with programs that let you learn more effectively (let’s learn smarter, not harder!). There are delivery methods to suit even the busiest schedule, from online courses through my French Speak Academy, to immersing yourself in gorgeous guided travel retreats for an authentic and real French experience.

I want you to fall in love

Speaking a language is more than reciting basic phrases from a guide book (there are only so many times you can ask ‘what time is the next train from Cannes?’).

Learning French means unlocking the colour and flavour of the language. It’s immersing yourself in the experience and knowing that you can travel in France – or even just to your local French restaurant – and feel at home.

My students love learning with me as we go beyond the textbook – we live the life. We swap the tedious school grammar and lengthy text reading for more useful French and we have fun getting you ready to confidently converse in French.

Languages have always been my second love (my first loves are, of course, France, and my beautiful family). My own background is quite multicultural – my mum is Irish and spoke to me in English, while my dad is Cambodian, and spoke to me in French.

I was born in the heart of Paris and raised between Paris and Provence, Provence is where my family still live today.

When I moved to Brisbane, people would ask about my background – and almost without exception, would go on to say:

“Oh, I’d love to learn French. One day.”

followed by

‘…but I’m too busy’
‘…but I can’t afford lessons’
‘…but it’s not achievable – I learnt as a kid, I’m too old now’.

It made me so sad to see people missing out on the gorgeous colour, the rich history and the amazing flavours of France.

You’re never too old, when taught well it’s not hard or time consuming, and it doesn’t have to be expensive!

I made it my mission to make learning French enjoyable, affordable and REAL.

As your French teacher, I want to help you do more than stumble through a phrase book. I want you to lose yourself in the beauty of the language and the possibilities that come with travelling like a local.

Learning French means living your life NOW, not ‘one day…’

Grow your mind, boost your confidence, explore the world

Learning French is a beautiful thing to do for yourself.

My French intensive courses, live online programs and our solo or group retreats are popular with people who want to:

  • do something just for them,
  • enjoy the confidence boost you get from learning something new,
  • even protect your mind against ageing by learning a language and exploring the world.

No matter if you’re preparing for your next holiday, looking for a beautiful hobby or rekindling a love for all things French…

Take a journey with French Speak in this French Speak Academy.