From September 2026, starting in Grade 7, students can choose Italian as a new foreign language (LVB) and continue studying it up to the baccalaureate. This offering complements the courses already offered in primary school, forming a continuous pathway from primary through high school. We thank the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai for its valuable support.
At the Lycée Français de Shanghai, Italian now fully joins our European language offering, alongside French, English, German, and Spanish.
Available on the Qingpu and Yangpu campuses, Italian is part of a progressive and structured learning pathway:
Discovery from Grade 1
Language course starting in Grade 7 (for the 2026–2027 school year)
Preparation for the baccalaureate in high school
Learning Italian means developing language skills while opening the door to a major European culture.
A Strategic Choice for the Future.
Italian at LFS provides:
FROM GRADE 1 TO GRADE 6 – DISCOVERY AND FOUNDATIONS
In primary school, Italian promotes linguistic and cultural awareness, with 1 to 4 hours per week depending on the grade level. Classes are offered after school or on Saturday mornings.
Two pathways are available:
FROM GRADE 7 (5ÈME): NEW FOREIGN LANGUAGE (LVB) (2026-2027)
From the 2026–2027 academic year, Italian can be chosen as Language B (LVB) starting in Grade 7. Instruction follows the CEFRL (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Italian thus joins German and Spanish as a third European language. In the following years, the progression will continue in Grade 8 and Grade 9, with the intention of offering Italian as LVB and LVC at the high school level.
HIGH SCHOOL – BACCALAUREATE AND INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES
For students who choose Italian for the baccalaureate as a second language or as an option, we offer individualized support and preparation for continuous assessment evaluations via the CNED (French National Centre for Distance Education).
Ultimately, for students who have chosen Italian from Grade 7 onward, Italian is intended to become a subject fully taught at the LFS in high school.
Choosing Italian is a differentiating asset in post-baccalaureate academic applications in France, Europe, and internationally.
Seconded from the Italian Ministry of Education, and with the valuable support of the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai, Anna Cicalese brings over 35 years of experience. A native of Rome, she shares with students her passion for the Italian language and culture.
“One of the moments that is particularly close to my heart is when… a little girl started speaking Italian every day with her father. For me, that is a real success.”
Her commitment guarantees academic rigor and cultural authenticity.
