Quantum

Dear lovers and loathers of the French language everywhere. It appears that most Brits want something for nothing, yet we all generally agree that in this life you get what you pay for. I'm now in my 5th year of teaching French to the expat population in the South Vienne and as I am fully registered in France, I simply could not do my group lessons for any cheaper than 12€ per hour and a half class - this includes refreshments, worksheet photocopying and resource printing. Given my hours of prep and research I feel that this is a fair price and so do my pupils. Never more than 6 per class - 12 is way too large for the proper teaching of French Brits. In fact more and more of my students are opting for the 1:1 option, for which I unashamedly charge 30€ per hour. And I still never earn enough to start repaying my student loans for my 1st degree and post grad teacher training which were now over 10 years ago! My students will NOT need French lessons for the rest of their lives. Even after just 1 term, they will be equipped with the essential tools to progress with the language on their own. What do you really get for your 3€ conversation class? Normally unprepared, piecemeal provision where learners get lots of practice at hearing other Brits speak bad French. And most disturbingly, this actually puts people off bothering to learn French, when after a year or so they wonder why they haven't really moved forward. I'm not knocking these efforts, as a top up - great. But don't expect miracles. The answer is "Back to basics" and crack on with some good old fashioned but vital grammar. And insist on having this explained in English - total target language teaching is not the most effective method for the average adult Anglophone. If after a course of lessons, you still haven't got a handle on your French DON'T think it's your fault - rather the teaching methods aren't suited to you. Just want to make the world a better place and making your French skills work for you really isn't rocket science. Sincerely Quantum [email protected]  

Bonjour à tous et à toutes, Just wondered if anyone has installed geothermal underfloor heating - something to do with underground heat exchangers? Many thanks Quantum Wanting the grass to be greener

Sacre bleu! Can we all STOP calling "le 14 juillet" or "la fête nationale" by our ignorant Anglo-Saxon terms. Yes, le 14 juillet 1789 was the day that the parisian crowds stormed the Bastille to release no more than half a dozen prisoners! You wont make many French friends by reminding them of this fact. It is a national holiday, a time to celebrate the freedoms of republicanism - not a time to the dwell on the hooliganism of a few. I feel better now Quantum 

Hamish Your view on 'blagging' the residency bit for your daughters marriage, this actually came up in our village yesterday. An English couple (who's parents have been here about 5 years now) wish to tie the knot here in France as their mother is now too ill to travel back to UK. The couple approaced the Mairie, the secretary said no, impossible, the couple retire to the local bar to drown their sorrows, tell the café owner of their woes, she promptly calls the maire herself, who grants permission, pas de problème! One lesson we have learnt from our time out here is that if you give up at the 1st obstacle, you'd never get anything done. As for the blood test, if you are insistant that you dont want children, then they stamp it as Ok anyway. Keep on trying, you won't regret it! Regards Quantum

We do have the clause suspensive and I've been looking into Penal codes most of the night. Thing is, we still want the house and still our bank is dragging its feet. They told us Monday that the offer had been sent out, and today they reveal that there was a mistake, so it will be sent out today. It's the same story every week. The reason the vendor is getting shirty (and who would blame him), is our agent immobilier has told him that we have already signed the offer! OK, she wanted to get him off her back, but to lie, knowing full well what the system is like - I hope she's learnt her lesson. I'm sure it will all be alright in the end, but we've absolutley no confidence in the bank now, so who knows what other mistakes could crop up. This is why I really don't want to sign on my own - even though for me the language isn't a problem. Thanks for all your help - I've a feeling I'll be back for more! Quantum - optimiste, mais crèvée!

Hi Charlie If you have a big French-English dictionary (Collins or Harraps for example) you will find standard letters within the language in use section in the middle. And if you don't already have one, I strongly advise you to seek one out - hours of winter reading in front of the fire. Or just use this "Nous déménageons et notre nouvelle adresse sera ........ à partir du (date) "We are moving and our new address will be .....from the ..... Then just nick a standard letter ending from the numerous examples in the dictionary. Good luck with the move! Quantum

Hi there, just when you think it couldn't get much worse - now the seller wants to take "an action" AGAINST US. Can't quite believe it - despite all my positive thinking and all! Long story, bank cocking up at every step, still no loan offer, although the "en principe" agreement was sealed back in fevrier. Dates set out in compromis have long expired. Seems that le vendeur has finally had enough of being messed around (not by us), and has now decided to get heavy. This only fuels my fear that he has something to hide. Might not sleep so soundly after all tonight! Thank you all for your support in the meantime. Quantum - optimiste, mais fatiguée

Merci beaucoup Touragelle. It's certainly worth considering the Capef. The Capes is really tough, and is not at all connected to how you actually perform in front of a class of 30 teenagers. I'm always looking for new ways to develop as a teacher and want to be "useful" for whom ever I work, but have come the conclusion that I can fill the gap that education nationale leaves empty, by helping students to achieve top marks, by extra tutoring, but from within the private sector  . I have previously worked (4 years) as the English assistant at my local lycée, but recently the policy of recruiting locally has been dropped. This is shameful as now, more than ever, the local education authority has at its disposal a rich resource of educated Brits who could easily fulfill the role of language assistant at any school, thus reinforcing local links. Am working on rectifying this for the good of us all. Will keep you posted. bisous Quantum [email protected]

Yes, teamedup, I realise that eventually I will end up doing the capes, I'm just not ready to be TOLD where I can work. I love living in my area and one of the reasons we left the UK was the endless commuting hours to and from work. So that's the price I pay. I had a colleage at my Lycee who had to delay getting divorced so that she had enough "points" to get a job closer to home. She had to travel from Niort to Civray (hour and a half on a good day). So I've got no grounds for compaint! Regards Quantum

Merci beaucoup Will and TeamedUp Might sleep more soundly tonight! Quantum

Bonjour tout le monde, As our lovely English neighbours prepare to leave France for a new life in New Zealand, I wonder what you wish you knew about life in France before you made the move. It's such a shame that it didn't work out for this family here; they didn't really get on with the language, found it difficult (impossible) to find "legal" work here, were disillusioned by the education system for their two girls and of course the old favourite, winter was too cold for them! For me, I wish that I knew that my teaching qualifications would not be accepted here, (even though my PGCE certificate states "You have the right to teach children up to age 18, anywhere in the EU).    This wouldn't have stopped us coming to live out here, but it would have meant that I'd have set up my own business sooner. Many thanks Quantum [email protected]

Bonjour tout le monde, As our lovely English neighbours prepare to leave France for a new life in New Zealand, I wonder what you wish you knew about life in France before you made the move. It's such a shame that it didn't work out for this family here; they didn't really get on with the language, found it difficult (impossible) to find "legal" work here, were disillusioned by the education system for their two girls and of course the old favourite, winter was too cold for them! For me, I wish that I knew that my teaching qualifications would not be accepted here, (even though my PGCE certificate states "You have the right to teach children up to age 18, anywhere in the EU).    This wouldn't have stopped us coming to live out here, but it would have meant that I'd have set up my own business sooner. Many thanks Quantum [email protected]

Hi there, We're finally at the end of the tunnel with the purchase of our first french house. Unfortunately due to a family bereavement, my husband has to return to the UK, and our agent immobilier wants us to organise power of attourney for me to sign the acte definitive in his absence. She says there is no need for my husband to be present, but I am highly concerned that there may be new complications which could arise at this signing. Does anyone have experience of new information coming to light during the signing of the acte definitive? What could possibly go wrong? Many thanks Quantum - optimiste, mais réaliste  

Hi there, We got married in our village 5 years ago and I believe that you have to be resident for at least 3 months prior to the ceremony. the Mairie give you a little booklet containing all the forms (certificat de célibataire, blood test froms...), then you'll have to get Birth certificates translated by an official translator. Twas easy-peasy!   There's nothing to stop you doing the deal in the UK, then having a church blessing here in France (from one of the "floating" Anglican vicars). Regards Quantum

Hi there I'm based in St Romain en Charroux (86) which is 10 minutes from Civray and Charroux. This is where I have my French classes, but the activity workshops will be wherever there is a positive response and demand. I would like to point out that these workshops are non-profit-making initiatives. The association ACCOR helps (mainly French) newly retired people in the area to meet new people and discover new talents. They contacted me as their members would like to meet up with English folk and as my pupils similarly would like to make more French friends it's a good step in the right direction towards further integration. Any cost involved would be purely to cover photocopies of songs, for example or essential vocabulary to help non-francophones to fully participate in the said activities. Let me know what you all think. Stephanie

Hi all Anyone interested in free or petit prix workshops to do with DIY, Gardening,French cuisine, local history etc. We're hoping to set this up in a salle de fête near you or at my classroom in St Romain en Charroux. Please let me know your locality and any other possible subjects we can discover together. The aim is to meet new friends, both French and English, to learn new skills and hopefully to conduct most of the proceedings in French with ad hoc translation if required. Que pensez-vous? Stephanie Thomas [email protected] in association with ACCOR

Salut tout le monde We're going through the process of obtaining a mortgage in France and although the bank have messed up at every possible stage, we will eventually get a much better deal than from any UK lender. Under 4%, c'est un cadeau! Downside; we've been pushing papers since December and are assured that the offer will arrive sometime next week. This is what they say every Monday though, so I'm not holding my breath. The deal they are offering includes monnies for the notaires fees which is a bonus. And do keep an eye on Credit Mutuelle as they will shortly be offering a sterling account facility where you choose when to transfer your funds and at no extra charge. Hope this helps, if you have any other questions I'm happy to share our torrid experience. Quantum [email protected]

Hi there May be a bit far from you, near Civray and Charroux is an English trained French teacher. The Tournesol Language School 05 49 87 45 23 Hope this helps Quantum

Oui tout à fait, il faut éviter le subjonctif si on peut. Après "pour" c'est toujours l'infinitif donc c'est une bonne nouvelle! Quantum

Thank you for your kind comments about my posting - I normally manage to upset people (perhaps they are not willing to accept a few home truths). Fin, bon... To reply to Joan, already your daughter has had more exposure to French than most of her age that I come across. You have done all that you can to ensure that she keeps her French skills up to date, so she has an invaluable foundation which will set her in good stead. However, most problems for English speaking children are with their written French. Your daughter should come out of education speaking like a native, but perhaps it might be an idea to keep her back in CM1 or CM2 (final years of primary school) just to get her up to speed with the grammatical concepts which will play such a great part in her collège education and beyond. If not there are some great "homework" books available, answers supplied at the back. If you get the CM1 or CM2 version, this would be very useful. Amicalement Quantum

Sorry to reply so late (I'm not yet on half term, flags will be out this Friday!) To adress Margaret's point, referring back the the native tongue is not the same as translation. My pupils are told from their very first lesson that as soon as they stop thinking in English, this will make their French more fluent as there are many traps involved in finding each word from the English base. This seems like an impossible task for beginners but after a few lessons they get into the swing of things. I feel that there is only a limmited value to be gained from immersion lessons once one is living in France full time. There is mass of French out there, everybody can become as immersed as they choose. I recall with great fondness my year 7 (11 and 12 year olds) from the school in Bath where I used to teach. Not one single word of English was spoken during our French lessons. They weren't a particularly gifted class, but they could all follow with mimes and over the top gestures what was going on. Trouble is the more you progress in a language, the more questions one is bound to have, especially when living out here. Otherwise it will be impossible to understand the nuances of language which are so delicate. I feel that it is a very valuable part of a lesson to be able to discuss what you are learning in your own language - this is where the referring back comes into it. If not you are unable to "label" concepts and rules and will require constant prompting when reproducing language outside the classroom. The more practice the better, with guided correction, mistakes are ok, but we have to learn from them. Quantum

Why does everybody presume that the best person to teach French is a "native"? For a start that rules out Monsieur Thomas who from Poland. Indeed one of Michel Thomas' strengths is that he has had to learn the language himself. I'm involved in teaching French to Brits, Americans and Dutch, both adults and children and what all my pupils need is to refer their learning back to their native tongue. Especially when looking at the use of tenses which is remarkedly different in French. Although I am English by birth (and French in my heart), I feel much more "useful" when teaching French (rather than English) as I have struggled with mastering it myself; it's not just something I can do. One of my philosophies of teaching is "to make language memorable" which often involves plays on words, liking the new word back to somethng the pupil is familiar with. For example the word for a head light is "phare" because you hope to see "far" enough ahead. Is this something a "native" even with a decent command of English could do? Michel Thomas CD's are a good "warm up" for tuning in the ear and getting you started before you move out here for good. But once you are living in France full time, you need to be able to adapt your French to your own personal needs, which involves learning the structure and rules of the language. Step by step guidance is the way to make solid, confident progress. Would you feel confident teaching someone English? Just because you can speak a language doesn't automatically mean you will be any good at teaching it. Quantum

One of the major differeces between our two school systems is that in Britain the philosphy of education is very much "show me what you know" whereas here in France the opposite is true. Tests, exams and indeed the whole ethos is "lets see what you don't know." G.C.S.E and A-level exams compartmentalise different subjects, so a poor performance in one area has no effect on the possibility of obtaining a good result in another. For both the Brevet and the Bac, the French approach is an all or nothing affair, and herein lies the problem. Your little darlings are expected to be fairly good at everything across the board. And for many pupils, especially at the lycée, this is simply asking too much. Could this be why France has one of the highest teenage suicide rates in Europe? There are around 200,000 "weakest links" every year who leave French state schooling with nothing. For these youngsters, their various talents go unrewarded and doors to further education are firmly closed. I've worked as a Modern Languages teacher in all types of school out here and in secondary schools in the UK. In my view, the French primary sector in rural areas offers an excellent foundation to its pupils - it teaches them how to learn and inspires their thirst for knowledge. Small class sizes out here show that size does matter! Pupils get so much more individual attention. Reverse all of the above when thinking of collège and lycée. 34 kids in a language classroom and its no wonder standards are slipping. Reforms are abound, but for those who move out here with teenagers, I can only say that your courage astounds me. Above average pupils will flourish, strugglers will continue to do just that. Worth noting that after the age of 11, cerebral receptors involved in language acquisition actually shut down, which makes learning a foreign language more difficult but not impossible. Hope this helps Quantum

I'm glad to see the recent additions to this thread giving a more balanced view of the French education system. The hardest part of schooling out here is the rhythm. Because the Brevet and Baccalaureat examinations assess the pupil's global performance - unlike the subject specific GCSE and A level; this means that pupils have to be reasonably good at everything and voil the root of the problem. As a language teacher, having worked in secondary schools in Britain before taking on the cole primaire, collge and lyce out here, the fundamental difference between the two systems is that in Britain the philosophy of teaching is "Show me what you know", whereas in France it is "Show me what you don't know." There will be an article in the next "Impressions" magazine about this very subject. But before I get on with the next one, I would be very interested to hear from anyone who has a tale to tell about the education of their little darling(s), particularly with regard to language problems and any help (or lack of) offered by the school. Apparently EVERY non-French child is entitled to specialist help with learning the language. I run a private language school where I teach Britkids and adults and I am yet to meet anyone in the Civray/Charroux area who has received this assistance. If you have any experiences to share or would like any advice please get in touch. Merci en avance et bon courage [email protected]

Hi Sasha As a teaching professional in the Poitou area I am amazed at the variety of experiences that anglophone pupils and parents share. From English kids being left to their own devices, engaged in nothing more educational than colouring in and playing on the computer all day, to the other extreme, actually teaching the newer English incumbants French for whole mornings at a time. Having taught here in primary and secondary schools, if you want your children to succeed it is essential that you have regular contact with the teacher(s) in order to chart progression - especially in written French. Although the little darlings may be able to talk the hind legs off a donkey in French, this doesn't necessarily mean that they can write up to accepted standards. This is tough even for French kids, so beware. Obviously the younger you can move your kids over the better, but even after the age of 11, it's hard work for them. And at the age of 14, starting a French school? Forget it. Struggling with a loaded curriculum and learning the language at that age - they will resent you for life. Only very gifted and dedicated teenagers will do well as it's simply too much pressure. I feel that your only option is for an international school. The French 'brevet' exam at 15 is an all or nothing afair, ie pass or fail. At least with GCSE's they come out with something. And remember, your dream of living in France may not be shared long term by your offspring. As I'm often invoved in picking up the pieces - I now teach French full time to expats and their kids, I cannot advise strongly enough that you either delay your move or insist on an international education with exams in the English language at the end of it. For many children - especially where the class teacher speaks little or no english, it's often a good idea to give them a boost with some private lessons. This will reassure the child and enable him to become more proactive in his learning and social relations. With class sizes growing by the year in schools out here, the ordinary classroom teacher just doesn't have enough time to cater for the english pupils' needs. So until I open my own international school in Civray (one day eh!) There your have it. Hope this helps Stephanie