Hi, we are a family of 5 with 3 daughters aged 7, 5 and 1 and we are seriously considering a job offer and move to the Perpignon area. We have previously lived in Spain so are not unrealistic about what a move to a foreign-speaking country entails (our children learnt Spanish as toddlers but have now lost it). However, this time our eldest 2 are school age and currently speak no French. My head and all the information available tells me that if we put them straight into a French school that they will learn the language easily but my heart worries about the pain that this will cost. I've read the testimonies on thir forum both good and bad - can anybody give me some more positive feedback! My specific questions are these: Does anybody know about any intensive family French courses that we could attend before moving there? What do they do when they start school - just sit looking at the teacher understanding nothing? Our eldest is at a very formative age, particularly sensitive, very anxious to do well and sometimes cries when she can't do her school work - we are really worried about how she would deal with it. How long would it take before they are comfortable in school? What could we do to ease the transition? They are not especially outgoing but very socialable girls with many friends here in the UK and I am worried about them being lonely until they learn the French - is there anybody out there with similar age children in the Perpignon area? I think just having one or two friends can make all the difference. This whole issue is our biggest stumbling block about whether or not to make the move. Can anybody help us with this decision?!
