Recommended After Studying in Cebu, Philippines! A Thorough Guide to a Non-English-Speaking Working Holiday Country [France / 2025 Edition]

“I studied English in Cebu. Next, I want to use it to see a wider world...” For you, **France is an attractive option that lets you combine “English + a different culture.”**

“It's impossible without French, right?” Actually, not really.

• In tourist cities and Paris, the number of **jobs you can do in English alone** is growing
• Many openings at Japanese restaurants and in Japanese-culture-related work
• The visa system has two application windows a year, no lottery, and **you can aim for it solidly with proper document preparation**
• Food, art, fashion, history... **a country where you experience “authentic culture” with all five senses**

This article carefully explains the following as a [2025 Edition], from the perspective of someone who has studied in the Philippines:

• How France's working holiday system works, how to apply, and the annual quota
• Types of jobs you can do even if you only speak English
• Living conditions and job trends in Paris, Lyon and regional cities
• Why people who studied in Cebu can grow even more through “English + culture”
• Paths and career development after the working holiday

You can work even outside an English-speaking country! A “blended working holiday” of cultural experience and language practice

France's Working Holiday system is based on a reciprocal agreement between Japan and France and is a **program that offers young people opportunities for cultural exchange and language experience**. You may think, “Won't it be hard without French?”, but in reality there are **plenty of workplaces where English or Japanese can be used**, and it works well as a place to put the English you built in Cebu to use.

System Overview (2025 Edition)

Visa Application Process (Basics)

• Check the latest application guidelines on the official website of the French Embassy in Japan
• Prepare a statement of purpose (in French or English; Japanese also accepted) and a resume (in French or English)
• Submit the required documents by post (applications accepted twice a year, usually around April and October)
• Selection results are notified within a few weeks (successful applicants proceed to travel preparations)

Features of the France Working Holiday

• **No application fee, so the value for money is very high**
• In Paris and Lyon, there are **many tourism and food-service jobs that can be done in English alone**
• In addition to English, a willingness to learn basic French makes an even better impression
• You can also attend a language school during the working holiday (up to 6 months)

Differences from Other Countries

“You can't do France without French, can you?” - this is for those who think so. **The English you built in Cebu can be a “weapon that works” in France too.** Moreover, the “culture” and “life experience” that you can get only in France should greatly broaden your horizons.

Reason 1 | Plenty of tourist cities where you can work in English

• In tourist cities such as Paris, Lyon, Nice and Bordeaux, there are **plenty of jobs for international tourists**.
• At Japanese restaurants, Asian eateries, tourist facilities, hostels, duty-free shops and more, **there are many workplaces where English is the main language**.
• You often see openings that say “English only is OK” or “Japanese speakers preferred.”

Reason 2 | A culture and “aesthetic of living” that Japanese people can easily relate to

• Like Japan, France has a culture that values “food,” “beauty” and “the arts.”
• The scale of the cities, the distance between people and the attitude toward work support a **lifestyle of “valuing your own time.”**
• Also, **a culture that values politeness and good manners, with words like “thank you” and “excuse me,” suits the Japanese temperament well.**

Reason 3 | A flexible working holiday system that makes free working styles easy

• A flexible system: no restrictions on type of work or working hours, and study is also possible (up to 6 months)
• Part-time or full-time work can be adjusted at your own discretion
• No lottery and no interview, so **with a solid statement of purpose and preparation, the chance of passing is high**

✅ People who built their skills in an environment like Cebu where you “speak and use first” can, as their next step, **move to France, a free environment where you “learn while using.”**

With France's Working Holiday visa, **there are no restrictions at all on type of work or working hours, whether full-time or part-time.** However, the difficulty and trends of job openings differ by language and city. Here we introduce jobs you can do in English alone and jobs that require French.

✅ Jobs you can do in English only (mainly in Paris and tourist areas)

1. Japanese restaurants and Asian eateries (floor / kitchen)

• **Required language level: English A2 to B1** (simple conversation level)
• Big cities such as Paris and Lyon have many Japanese restaurants, where the work is mainly taking orders in English and assisting with cooking
• Some workplaces accept Japanese, so it is a reassuring environment even for those unsure about their English

2. Hostels, cafes and souvenir shops (serving tourists)

• **Required language level: English B1 to B2** (intermediate to upper-intermediate)
• In facilities for tourists, the common language is often English
• Cash register work, reservation management, customer service and so on require cheerfulness and responsiveness

✅ In tourist areas such as Paris, Nice and Bordeaux, surprisingly many shops are looking for “English-speaking staff.”

3. Japanese-culture-related work (teaching, sales, event support)

• **Required language level: English B2 + native Japanese**
• Helping with Japanese cultural events such as calligraphy, origami, kimono dressing and sushi workshops
• Short-term hires at museums, Japan fairs and similar events also occur

✅ This is a workplace where the “ability to introduce Japan in English” that you built in Cebu is put to use.

✅ Jobs that open up if you have French

1. Local cafes, bakeries and supermarkets

• **Required language level: French around A2 to B1**
• Everyday conversation level is required for dealing with customers and for cash register phrases
• **You can start with set phrases** such as “Bonjour,” “Combien ça coûte?” and “Merci”

2. Childcare assistant / private tutor (using Japanese x English)

• **Required language level: English B2 or above + French around A2**
• There is demand for babysitting and tutoring in bilingual families
• Skills such as “can read picture books in English” and “can cook simple meals” are especially valued

✅ A popular job type among women. Recommended for those who want to work in a homelike environment.

Chart by Language Level

• At first you can start in the “same style as an English-speaking working holiday”
• If you can speak even a little French, your range of jobs, hourly wages and connections expands at once
• The English you learned to speak in Cebu turns into “confidence that works in Europe too”

Culture and job openings differ greatly by region in France. Here we compare **4 major cities plus regional cities**, realistic options for working holiday participants, in terms of living costs, ease of finding work and atmosphere.

Paris | The center of France, a “city where you meet the world”

• **Features**: The well-known capital. Familiar to Japanese people and a multinational city
• **Estimated living costs**: Rent EUR 600 to 1,000/month, total living costs about EUR 1,200 to 1,600
• **Job trends**: Japanese restaurants, hostels, tourist information, support staff at Japanese companies
• **Language environment**: Plenty of jobs where English is OK (especially in tourist areas and international companies)

✅ The ideal city for people who want to “start a working holiday with English only” + “touch French as well”

Lyon | A large regional city of fine food and calm

• **Features**: France's second city. Calmer and more livable than Paris
• **Estimated living costs**: Rent EUR 450 to 800/month, total living costs about EUR 1,000 to 1,400
• **Job trends**: Restaurants, local companies, education, Japan-France cultural exchange related work
• **Language environment**: Somewhat fewer English openings, but there is also demand for Japanese speakers

✅ Less competitive than Paris; for people who want to live while enjoying a cultural atmosphere

Nice | A resort city in the south of France with “sun and sea”

• **Features**: A tourist city on the Mediterranean coast. Warm climate and beautiful scenery
• **Estimated living costs**: Rent EUR 500 to 850/month, total living costs about EUR 1,100 to 1,500
• **Job trends**: Mainly tourism, hotels and food service (many workplaces where English is OK)
• **Language environment**: Some jobs can be done with English plus minimal French

✅ Recommended for “people who want to serve customers in English” or “people who want to live in a tourist town surrounded by nature”

Bordeaux | A relaxed working holiday in the wine capital

• **Features**: A city of wine and history in the west. Many students and a calm atmosphere
• **Estimated living costs**: Rent EUR 400 to 700/month, total living costs about EUR 900 to 1,300
• **Job trends**: Locally rooted work such as cafes, shops and event assistance
• **Language environment**: Mainly French, but there are a fair number of English speakers

✅ Suited to those who want to keep living costs down and focus calmly on language and culture

Regional cities (Strasbourg, Rouen, Annecy, etc.)

• **Features**: Low prices, and it is easy to interact with local people
• **Estimated living costs**: Rent EUR 350 to 600/month, total living costs about EUR 850 to 1,200
• **Job trends**: Farm assistance, customer service at tourist spots, language exchange events, etc.
• **Language environment**: Basically French (fewer chances to speak English)

✅ Ideal for “people who are serious about studying the language” and “people who want to get deeply into local life”

A working holiday in France does not end with having “worked using English” or “lived in a different culture.” In your path afterward, the “international experience” of **language ability, cross-cultural adaptability and flexibility** becomes a powerful weapon.

Here we introduce the **3 routes** that many people actually take after staying in France.

✅ 1. Use it in your career after returning to Japan

• English ability plus life experience in France is **highly rated in tourism, foreign-affiliated companies, education, aviation and more**
• The experience of “having worked in a place that is not an English-speaking country” becomes **proof of adaptability and an international outlook**
• Especially in France-related industries (travel, trade, wine, art), people with local experience tend to be given preference

✅ 2. Switch to the “next visa” locally and extend your stay

• Many people switch to a language school after the working holiday and obtain a student visa
• In France, **language qualifications such as DELF/DALF, and advancement to university or vocational school** are also achievable
• Also, if you can find an employer, switching to a “work visa” comes into view (conditions apply)

✅ For people who want to start studying French seriously, **the working holiday is the ideal system as a “foothold for a long stay.”**

✅ 3. Moving on to other working holiday countries or emigration

• Drawing on their international life experience in France, **some go on to a “second working holiday” in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany and elsewhere**
• Stepping up to French-speaking Quebec in Canada is also popular
• Finding work in Europe, or continuing to live abroad as a freelancer or digital nomad, is also possible

✅ The number of people who “gain confidence in France and then venture out into a wider world” is increasing year by year.

Learn the English You Need to Survive Before Your Working Holiday: The Practical Course Is Back!

If, in addition to building your English in Cebu, you want to **raise your English ability for real-world use before your working holiday**, the [Around-the-World & Working Holiday English Course] offered by 3D ACADEMY is perfect for you.

This course is a **'Survival English' program** designed for English beginners about to leave on a working holiday and for people planning a round-the-world trip.

This course focuses on that kind of practicality and thoroughly trains **'conversational English that beginners need to survive abroad.'**

Course Appeal 1 | Learn 'Survival English' Through Images

In this course, 2 hours of the 4 hours of daily one-on-one lessons are devoted to **dedicated Survival English lessons**.

▶ Survival English 1 (Comic Format)

• Memorize phrases intuitively using illustrated materials
• Repeatedly practice real exchanges in story form
• Go beyond feeling like you have memorized it, to the point where English comes out reflexively

▶ Survival English 2 (By Situation)

• **100 situation-based conversations** covering airports, shopping, restrooms, asking directions, hospitals, and more
• Practice answering questions based on photos and images, responding in English
• Build quick-response skills with more realistic scenarios

Course Appeal 2 | Boost Your Hospitality Skills with Group-Learned 'Tourism English'

Group classes feature 'English for Tourism.' You will learn English expressions for settings such as hotels, restaurants, and tour guiding.

• Learn from both perspectives: handling situations as a customer and as staff
• Includes training in writing an English resume and answering interview questions
• Builds well-rounded English skills useful in tourism and customer service, **the most common workplaces for working holiday makers**

Course Appeal 3 | Regular Practical English (ESL) Classes and Elective Classes Also Available

• The remaining 2 hours of one-on-one lessons and 2 hours of group classes can be **freely customized, just like the ESL Course**
• **Optional classes** (casual discussion, yoga classes, etc.) in the morning, at noon, and in the evening are also open to join freely

Sample Daily Schedule

Course Fees (Includes Dormitory and Meals)

The Around-the-World & Working Holiday English Course Is Perfect for These People!

✅ People who want to brush up their English before traveling abroad ✅ Beginners who feel anxious about a working holiday ✅ People who want to use English in customer service or tourism ✅ People who want to put their English to use right after studying abroad ✅ People who value English that gets understood over grammar

Available again: from April 3, 2023 | Apply by the week!

You can join for as little as 1 week, so it is also recommended as **short, intensive English preparation just before a working holiday or trip**.